Canon 16-35 f/2.8 Vertical Distortion

[Tim Gray]

I use the 1DMKII so don't have the same issue with edge softness. I think MR has done a review of th 16-35 in the 1DS somewhere on this site.  I use http://epaperpress.com/ptlens/index.html  to correct the distortion.

[Kirk Anderson]

I recently jumped from Nikon to Canon to get the full sized sensor in the Mark II 1Ds.  I had never had any vertical distortion problems with Nikon's 17-35mm f/2.8 lens when the camera was level when shooting architecture.  My Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 lens distorts so obviously even after carefully leveling that it makes me long for my Nikon lens of old.  I am also seeing obvious out of focus areas (very soft) at the edge of the frame (left and right sides on horizontal images).  I have even sent my new lens back to Canon service and find it is still doing the same thing.  Are there any other architectural shooters out there experiencing the same issues?  I would have thought Canon would be on par with Nikon, but my images say no.  I really need the zoom capabilities and speed of shooting in the smaller format.  I do shoot a 4x5 view camera for some jobs.

[Jonathan Wienke]

Oddly enough, you can use the Nikon lens on a Canon camera with an appropriate adapter, but not the other way around. Google Cameraquest or Zork (or Zoerk). You give up autofocus, but can still use the camera meter in Av mode.