I recently took a trip to the American Southwest in preparation for a workshop that I will be leading there in the fall of 2015. The Canon 16-35 f/2.8 L II was the primary lens I used to photograph the spectacular landscapes of this region. Although Canon has recently released an f/4 version of this lens…the f/2.8 version is still my go-to wide angle lens because it offers a little more versatility and more appropriately accommodates my photographic style. The ability to open up to f/2.8 is important for the astrophotography that I do as well as limit depth of field when I decide to.
Bell Rock at Sedona Arizona
The knock on the 16-35 f/2.8 is that it is not quite as sharp at the edges as it is in the center. And although this is true of a lot of lenses, this doesn’t mean that the edge sharpness is so low that it produces unacceptable images. Quite frankly, you really have to look hard (really zoom in) to notice any discernible difference in sharpness between the center and edge portions of the image. You will not be disappointed with this lens.
Here are some images, using the Canon 16-35 f/2.8 L II, from my recent trip to the Southwest:
Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Horseshoe Bend in Page, AZ
Slide Rock State Park, Sedona, AZ
Mark Buckler is a photographer based on the Outer Banks of NC. He offers engaging photography workshops and photo tours to various destinations. You can get more information at his website: www.bucklerphoto.com