16-35L II & 17-40L Wde Angle Zoom

This weekend coming up I get to participate in a Canon Destination workshop at a hot air balloon festival. The nice thing about this is the hands on training I will get and I plan on coming away from this with a much better understanding of how to set my camera correctly in different lighting.
Canon will be providing gear for us to try and although I have some good glass myself and cameras, I don't have the above two mentioned lenses.
I plan on bringing my 5D2 with the 24-105 and my 70-200 2.8 II
Something tells me that mostly I would want to use/have a 16-35 or 17-40 for this type of shooting.
I am sure Canon will have both the 16-35 and 17-40 based on the discussion I had with person who is in charge of registration so I will get to try these.
I would love to hear your comments about these two lenses.
I have been looking at the 16-35L II as an addition to my lenses.
Any comments are welcome.
Thanks
Karl

I'm looking at the comparrison chart and there doesn't seem to be a lot of difference between these lenses.

Stopping down to f8 the 17-40 almost looks better.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com …omp=0&FLIComp=4​&APIComp=4

Only reason I would get the 16-35 would be for the extra 1mm. I wouldn't use it for 2:8 since main uses would be for landscapes. I think you will be just fine with the 17-40 and if it is a little dark, bump up the iso. You can do 3200 or 6400 witht the 5dii very easily with little noise redcution in pp. When I went up in a hot air balloon, I took my 17-40. Since I have a 1dmkiv I still felt it was long at some points. Just my two cents.

I've owned both and have the 16-35L II now. Much better than the 17-40L IMO in terms of sharpness and bokeh.

I've not used either lens, but have been considering both as well. For my use the faster end is irrelevant (landscapes), and I've seen some stunning images from 17-40s when stopped down to f/16 or f/22, with proper use of filters and some light PP.
I've looked at many comparos and oither than the fast end, I really don;t see much difference in favor of the 1635.

Maybe I'll let the other folks use the 16-35 and I'll borrow the 17-40.
LOL

Seriously though, I think I need one of these lenses.
My friend has the 17-40 and he loves it.
I don't imagine that we can bring a whole lot of gear up in the balloon. Weight ya know.

Is the 24-105 OK to use while I'm there or should I use something wider?

Thanks

You are not going to have a lot of room, I brought the 17-40 and would not have brought the 24-70:

I meant the 24-105. Typo
If we have a choice I think I am going to use the 17-40. Need to get one I think.

I have both. 17-40 is f/4 and the 16-35 is f/2.8. If you have the money, need the speed and do not mind carrying heavier gear the 16-35 is the way to go.

If money is an issue, don't need the speed or want something light then the 17-40 is the way to go.

Mind you the 16-35 uses a 82mm filter that vignettes if you do not use a slim type of screw in.

Because I have the 70-200 2.8 II, with the filter and polarizer it makes sense doesn't it to go with the 17-40 being 77mm ?

OK
I just pulled the trigger on a Canon refurb 17-40mm.
I couldn't bring myself to get one on ebay even though they were going for mid 500's.

I won't have it for the weekend balloon festival but Canon will have WA lenses for us to use.
Amazing how I talk myself into these things.

Hi, I'm Karl and I have a Lens problem.

LOL

Am about to order one as well.

I owned both for some time and wound up selling the 16-35 since I only do landscapes at these FLs. The 16-35 is good for low light indoor work. As far as the sharpness, yes I've seen all the charts but in my real world comparison of shots from each they were indistinguishable. Congrats on the purchase.

The folks at Canon told me on the phone that there were two in stock so there is one left.
Ask them to give you free shipping.
Thanks K6AZ

I'll just use one of Canon's this weekend as I only have a 24-105.
I wonder if I should bring the big dog along as well.
70-200 2.8 II
Maybe those 2 and their 17-40.

Hi Karl,

I've photographed and even crewed a bit at quite a few balloon festivals ....

First of all, most have a hare and hound chase format, starts well before dawn...

Both a telephoto and a fast, wide lens might be useful. The first balloon to go is the "dawn patrol" and goes out in the dawn or as it's just starting to break. There can be good shooting opportunities as it lights up as they do "a burn" in the dark sky.

A wide angle lens is useful right around the balloon as it's being inflated, or even inside it (ask first, of course).

It will also be useful later during the mass ascension of large groups of balloons. Between half and hour and 45 minutes later the rest of the balloons are released. Usually you can walk among them as they inflate... initially with blown air from big fans, then with the burners and hot air. It's usually still pre-dawn. A mass ascension of a large number of balloons can be quite dramatic... Often right at the crack of dawn. You'll have to decide whether you want to shoot the ascension backlit or with the sun behind you, or off to one side or the other. All can be good choices.

Once the balloons are in the air, you'll probably want your telephoto. You might be able to chase them. They will be trying different altitudes, looking for an air current that will take them in the direction of the hare balloon. Their goal is simply to land the closest to the hare that left earlier. Depending upon air currents, they can scatter slowly or quickly, and might end up going a lot of different directions. It's all up to the whim of local breezes.

It can be great fun to get onto one of the chase vehicles. (Though it's even more fun to get into one of the balloons!) Landings are often exciting!

Often the whole thing is over by 8 or 9 am (and we all headed for a big pancake breakfast). Many places, it's too windy later during the day to balloon safely.

I haven't been too involved with ballooning since moving to California, but used to go to festivals in Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. There were as many as 600 balloons in mass ascensions at some of the larger festivals.

Have fun!