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Canon EF 20-35mm f/2.8L - Review / Lab Test Report |
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Lens Reviews -
Canon EOS (APS-C)
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Review by Klaus Schroiff, published February 2006
Special thanks to Anthony Harling for providing this lens!
Introduction
The Canon EF 20-35mm f/2.8L is one of the oldies in the Canon lens lineup.
Released back in 1989 it has been discontinued in the mid '90s in favor
of the EF 17-35mm f/2.8 USM L (replaced by the EF 16-35mm f/2.8 USM L now).
Regarding its initial release date it is obviously a full frame lens but
as usual this review focuses on the performance on an APS-C DSLR
where the field-of-view is equivalent to
32-56mm so it's more a limited standard zoom here.
The optical construction is made of 15 elements in 12 groups with one
high quality ground aspherical element.
Its aperture mechanism has 8 aperture blades.
The minimal focus distance is 0.5m resulting in a max. magnification
of 1:11 at 35mm. The lens features a floating system for improved
close focus performance.
With a weight of 570g and a size of 89x79mm it is not especially small
but still in line with other pro grade lenses in this range.
The tested sample has seen some use over time so its quality impression
is surely worse compared to its initial state. Nonetheless it's still
a level up from the average consumer zooms out there.
The length of the lens remains constant regardless of the chosen
zoom or focusing setting. However, the inner tube moves a little
during zooming (see the product shots) - this is the same with most
Canon ultra-wide zooms. The front element does not rotate so using a
polarizer remains easily possible.
The rubberized zoom and focus control rings operate pretty very smooth
but not really well damped which is probably related to its age.
The lens uses a fast but conventional arc form drive (AFD) for
focusing so full-time manual focusing (FTM) in not possible in AF mode nor really needed
with such a lens
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