Cameras Ranked

15–35 Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM vs 16–28 Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM

Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM vs Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM: no overall pick, it depends on what you need. Pick the Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM if you want more reach at the long end (focal length: 15-35 mm vs 16-28 mm). Pick the Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM if you carry it all day or travel light, or you want cheaper filters (weight: 840 g vs 445 g; filter thread: 82 mm vs 67 mm).

To one scale. Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM: length 126.8 mm, diameter 88.5 mm, filter thread 82 mm; Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM: length 91 mm, diameter 76.5 mm, filter thread 67 mm.126.8 mmCanon 15–35840 g91 mmCanon 16–28445 g
Both to one scale, from each maker's length and diameter, the filter thread in yellow. The rings are drawn, not measured.
To one scale. Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM: length 126.8 mm, diameter 88.5 mm, filter thread 82 mm; Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM: length 91 mm, diameter 76.5 mm, filter thread 67 mm.126.8 mmCanon 15–35840 g91 mmCanon 16–28445 g
Both to one scale, from each maker's length and diameter, the filter thread in yellow. The rings are drawn, not measured.

The pick, in points

Lead for a pick: 1

Canon 15–35

2points

Wins on focal length (longest).

Canon 16–28

2.5points

Wins on weight and filter thread.

Each real difference scores its importance for the side that wins it; a lead under 1 is “it depends”. How the weights work

The Canon 15–35 on its ownThe Canon 16–28 on its ownAll Canon RF lenses

Where they differ

5 of 19 specs

Each bar is the gap as a share of the smaller value, on one scale from 0 to 100%; an arrow end is a gap past 100%. The dashed tick marks where a gap starts to count.

  1. Weight

    Importance 2

    Canon 15–35840 g1Canon 16–28445 g2

    395 g apart (88.8%), to the Canon 16–28

    2points

  2. Focal length (longest)

    Importance 2

    Canon 15–3535 mm3Canon 16–2828 mm4

    7 mm apart (25%), to the Canon 15–35

    2points

  3. Filter thread

    Importance 0.5

    Canon 15–3582 mm1Canon 16–2867 mm2

    15 mm apart (22.4%), to the Canon 16–28

    0.5points

  4. Focal length (widest)

    Importance 2

    Canon 15–3515 mm3Canon 16–2816 mm4

    1 mm apart (6.7%), under the 2 mm bar

    0points

  5. Closest focus, wide end

    Importance 1

    Canon 15–350.28 m1Canon 16–280.25 m2at 16 mm

    0.03 m apart (12%), not counted: compared only between lenses of the same focal length (widest)

    0points

Also different, no weight reads them5

  1. Length

    Canon 15–35126.8 mm1Canon 16–2891 mm2retracted

    35.8 mm apart (39.3%)

    Not weighted

  2. Diameter

    Canon 15–3588.5 mm1Canon 16–2876.5 mm2

    12 mm apart (15.7%)

    Not weighted

  3. Maximum magnification, wide end

    Canon 15–350.21x1Canon 16–280.11x2at 16 mm

    0.1 apart (90.9%)

    Not weighted

  4. Groups

    Canon 15–35121Canon 16–28132

    1 apart (8.3%)

    Not weighted

  5. Stabilization effect

    Canon 15–355 stops1Canon 16–285.5 stops2lens only

    0.5 apart (10%)

    Not weighted

Side by side, to scale

Focal length on one log scale

Focal length on one log scale: Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM: 15 to 35 mm; Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM: 16 to 28 mm.Canon 15–35Canon 16–28+7 mm−1 mm1016243550
The focal lengths each maker states.

Specifications

SpecificationsCanon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USMCanon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM
Focal length15-35 mm316-28 mm4
Closest focus0.28 m10.25 m at 16 mm, 0.2 m at 28 mm2
Maximum magnification0.21x10.11x at 16 mm, 0.26x at 28 mm2
Stabilization5 stops15.5 stops (lens only)2
Weight840 g1445 g2
Length126.8 mm191 mm (retracted)2
Diameter88.5 mm176.5 mm2
Filter thread82 mm167 mm2
On sale fromSep 20195Not stated
Groups121132
Focus motorNano USM1Leadscrew-type STM2
HoodEW-88F1EW-73E (sold separately)2

Same on both

  • Widest aperture f/2.86
  • Mount Canon RF1
  • Covers Full frame
  • Type Zoom
  • Elements 161
  • Aperture blades 91
  • Weather sealed Yes1

Full specifications, side by side†

Show all 9 rows
Full specifications, side by sideCanon 15–351Canon 16–282
Diagonal angle of view110°30′– 63°00′ (Diagonal)108°10′ to 75°00′ (Diagonal)
Horizontal angle of view100°25′– 54°00′ (Horizontal)98°00′ to 65°00′ (Horizontal)
Vertical angle of view77°20′– 38°00′ (Vertical)74°10′ to 46°00′ (Vertical)
Drive systemNano USMLeadscrew-type STM
Filter size8267
Minimum aperture2222
Diaphragm blades99
Anti-dust and moistureSupportedAvailable
Weight840 (Approx.)445
Rows only one maker lists: 16

Also on the Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM spec page1

Closest focusing distance0.28 / 0.92
Lens construction12-16 (Groups Elements)
Diameter and length88.5 × 126.8 (Approx.)
Max magnification0.21
Lens capE-82 II
Lens hoodEW-88F
Lens bagLP1222

Also on the Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM spec page2

Closest focusing distance0.25/0.82 (f=16mm)
Closest focusing distance0.2/0.66 (f=28mm)
Lens construction13, 16
Diameter and length76.5 × 91.0 (Retracted)
Max magnification0.11x (f=16mm)
Max magnification0.26x (f=28mm)
Included lens capLens Cap E-67II & Lens Dust Cap RF (included)
Lens hoodEW-73E (sold separately)
Lens bagLP1116 (sold separately)

How the pick works

  1. Widest aperture3

    Lower wins once they are 0.3 apart.

  2. Weight2

    Lower wins from a 12% gap.

  3. Focal length (longest)2

    Higher wins from a 15% gap.

  4. Focal length (widest)2

    Lower wins once they are 2 mm apart.

  5. Optical stabilization1

    Having it wins.

  6. Closest focus, wide end1

    Lower wins from a 15% gap. Compared only between lenses of the same focal length (widest).

  7. Filter thread0.5

    Lower wins once they are 5 mm apart.

  8. Lead for a pick1

Our pick or our take adds up the importance of each real difference, with these importances and thresholds: a gap smaller than its row's threshold is too close to call and counts as the same. They are our editorial choice, not a measurement, the same on every page, and they never read prices, sales or who sells it.

Paid placements0

How we rank, in full

Sources

  1. Canon product specifications: Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM, checked Oct 6, 2026
  2. Canon product specifications: Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM, checked Oct 6, 2026
  3. www.canon.at, cited by Wikidata for Focal length (Wikidata checked Oct 9, 2026; we didn't read this page)
  4. Wikidata: Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM, checked Oct 9, 2026 (CC0 1.0)
  5. global.canon, cited by Wikidata for On sale from (Wikidata checked Oct 9, 2026; we didn't read this page)
  6. Wikidata: Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM, checked Oct 9, 2026 (CC0 1.0)
  7. www.canon.de, cited by Wikidata for Widest aperture (Wikidata checked Oct 9, 2026; we didn't read this page)

Worked out by code, not stated by a source

  • Read from the lens name: each maker marks the sensor size a lens covers (Sony FE/E, Canon RF/RF-S, Nikon DX, Tamron Di III/Di III-A, Sigma DG/DC); every Fujifilm X lens is APS-C and every Micro Four Thirds lens is Four Thirds.
  • Prime or zoom, read from the focal length in the lens name.

Each value is checked automatically against the source it links, on the date shown. How we build these pages

† The makers' own tables, row by row, with labels in our plain words (translated where the maker's page isn't in English); each row's numbers are checked against the page it links.

What we don't know yet

  • On sale from for the Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM: our sources don't state it yet.

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