Ive been shooting with the R6 Mark II for a few months now and honestly the autofocus is a dream, especially coming from my old 5D Mark IV. Most of my work is event photography and some low-key real estate stuff on the side, but lately Ive been getting more requests for architectural interiors in these super cramped spaces here in Chicago. My trusty 24-70 f/2.8 just isnt cutting it anymore because I keep hitting walls literally. I need something wider but Im having a total meltdown trying to decide between native glass or adapting older stuff.
So I was thinking, maybe the RF 15-35mm f/2.8 is the obvious choice right? But that price tag is honestly giving me anxiety, especially with rent due and a wedding season coming up. My logic was maybe I could grab the RF 16mm f/2.8 prime to save space and cash, but is it sharp enough for professional work? I read some reviews saying the distortion is a nightmare unless you let the software fix it and Im not sure I want to rely on that for every single shot. Then I looked at the EF 16-35mm f/4 IS because I dont always need f/2.8 for real estate anyway and the stabilization is nice but does it still hold up on the high-res sensor?
I really need to figure this out before a big shoot next month. Budget is around 1500 max, maybe a bit more if I can find a deal. Should I just bite the bullet and go native RF even if it breaks the bank or is there a smarter play here that wont kill my image quality? I just dont want to regret the purchase a week later when I find out the corners are mushy or the vignetting is impossible to recover. Does anyone have experience using these ultra-wides on the R6 II specifically or should I just stop overthinking and just pick one...
> I read some reviews saying the distortion is a nightmare unless you let the software fix it and Im not sure I want to rely on that for every single shot. Youre totally right to be cautious about that little pancake lens. If you need professional architectural results, the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM definitely struggles with corner sharpness and barrel distortion. It feels kinda like a toy compared to L-series glass. Since you have a 1500 budget, you should look into the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM. It is way sharper than the 16mm prime and honestly, for real estate, you really want that extra reach on the wide end. The edge-to-edge performance is solid enough that you wont be fighting the corners in post. It works well with the R6 II IBIS too, so no complaints on the handheld front. Trust me, the extra width is a game changer in cramped Chicago apartments.
Forget the prime! Grab the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM used. It is incredibly sharp for real estate and the stabilization is amazing for those dark interior shots!
