Cameras Ranked

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

Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM vs Canon RF 16mm F2.8 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, or your body has no in-body stabilization or you shoot handheld video (focal length: 15-35 mm vs 16 mm; stabilization: 5 stops vs No). Pick the Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM if you carry it all day or travel light, or you want cheaper filters (weight: 840 g vs 165 g; filter thread: 82 mm vs 43 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 16mm F2.8 STM: length 40.2 mm, diameter 69.2 mm, filter thread 43 mm.126.8 mmCanon 15–35840 g40.2 mmCanon 16165 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 16mm F2.8 STM: length 40.2 mm, diameter 69.2 mm, filter thread 43 mm.126.8 mmCanon 15–35840 g40.2 mmCanon 16165 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

3points

Wins on focal length (longest) and optical stabilization.

Canon 16

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 on its ownAll Canon RF lenses

Where they differ

6 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 16165 g2

    675 g apart (5.1×), to the Canon 16

    2points

  2. Focal length (longest)

    Importance 2

    Canon 15–3535 mm3Canon 1616 mm4

    19 mm apart (2.2×), to the Canon 15–35

    2points

  3. Optical stabilization

    Importance 1

    Canon 15–35Yes1Canon 16No

    Only the Canon 15–35 has it

    1points

  4. Filter thread

    Importance 0.5

    Canon 15–3582 mm1Canon 1643 mm2

    39 mm apart (90.7%), to the Canon 16

    0.5points

  5. Focal length (widest)

    Importance 2

    Canon 15–3515 mm3Canon 1616 mm4

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

    0points

  6. Closest focus, wide end

    Importance 1

    Canon 15–350.28 m1Canon 160.13 m2

    0.15 m apart (2.2×), not counted: compared only between lenses of the same focal length (widest)

    0points

Also different, no weight reads them6

  1. Length

    Canon 15–35126.8 mm1Canon 1640.2 mm2

    86.6 mm apart (3.2×)

    Not weighted

  2. Diameter

    Canon 15–3588.5 mm1Canon 1669.2 mm2

    19.3 mm apart (27.9%)

    Not weighted

  3. Maximum magnification, wide end

    Canon 15–350.21x1Canon 160.26x2

    0.05 apart (23.8%)

    Not weighted

  4. Elements

    Canon 15–35161Canon 1692

    7 apart (77.8%)

    Not weighted

  5. Groups

    Canon 15–35121Canon 1672

    5 apart (71.4%)

    Not weighted

  6. Aperture blades

    Canon 15–3591Canon 1672

    2 apart (28.6%)

    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 16mm F2.8 STM: 16 to 16 mm.Canon 15–35Canon 16+19 mm−1 mm1016243550
The focal lengths each maker states.

Specifications

SpecificationsCanon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USMCanon RF 16mm F2.8 STM
Focal length15-35 mm316 mm4
Closest focus0.28 m10.13 m2
Maximum magnification0.21x10.26x2
Stabilization5 stops1No
TypeZoomPrime
Weight840 g1165 g2
Length126.8 mm140.2 mm2
Diameter88.5 mm169.2 mm2
Filter thread82 mm143 mm2
On sale fromSep 20195Oct 20216
Elements16192
Groups12172
Aperture blades9172
Weather sealedYes1No2
Focus motorNano USM1STM2
HoodEW-88F1EW-65C (sold separately)2

Same on both

  • Widest aperture f/2.87
  • Mount Canon RF1
  • Covers Full frame

Full specifications, side by side†

Show all 12 rows
Full specifications, side by sideCanon 15–351Canon 162
Diagonal angle of view110°30′– 63°00′ (Diagonal)108°10′ (Diagonal)
Horizontal angle of view100°25′– 54°00′ (Horizontal)98°00′ (Horizontal)
Vertical angle of view77°20′– 38°00′ (Vertical)74°10′ (Vertical)
Closest focusing distance0.28 / 0.920.13 / 0.43
Lens construction12-16 (Groups Elements)7,9 (Groups Elements)
Diameter and length88.5 × 126.8 (Approx.)69.2 × 40.2 (Approx.)
Drive systemNano USMSTM
Filter size8243
Max magnification0.210.26
Minimum aperture2222
Diaphragm blades97
Weight840 (Approx.)165 (Approx.)
Rows only one maker lists: 7

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

Anti-dust and moistureSupported
Lens capE-82 II
Lens hoodEW-88F
Lens bagLP1222

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

Included lens capLens cap E-43 & Lens Dust Cap RF (included)
Lens hoodLens Hood EW-65C (sold separately)
Lens caseLens Case LP1014 (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 16mm F2.8 STM, checked Oct 6, 2026
  3. www.canon.at: Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM, cited by Wikidata for Focal length (Wikidata checked Oct 9, 2026; we didn't read this page)
  4. www.canon.at: Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM, cited by Wikidata for Focal length (Wikidata checked Oct 9, 2026; we didn't read this page)
  5. global.canon: Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM, cited by Wikidata for On sale from (Wikidata checked Oct 9, 2026; we didn't read this page)
  6. global.canon: Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM, cited by Wikidata for On sale from (Wikidata checked Oct 9, 2026; we didn't read this page)
  7. Wikidata, checked Oct 9, 2026 (CC0 1.0)

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.
  • Read from the lens name: Sony marks optically stabilized lenses OSS, Canon IS, Nikon VR, Fujifilm OIS, Panasonic O.I.S., Tamron VC and Sigma OS; a lens from these makers without the mark has no optical stabilization.

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.

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