Nikon AF-S DX 16-85mm f3.5-5.6 G ED VR lens
Manufacturer: Nikon Inc. Part number: 2178
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- A tough, full-featured, well-built medium zoom lens, the Nikon AF-S DX 16-85mm f3.5-5.6 G ED VR's relatively high price tag may nevertheless make you want to consider other options.
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Where to buy
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CNET editors' review
Nikon AF-S DX 16-85mm f3.5-5.6 G ED VR lens price range: $649.99
- Reviewed by: Matthew Fitzgerald
- Edited by: Lori Grunin
- Reviewed on: 06/11/2008
- Released on: 02/08/2008
The good: Solidly built; Vibration Reduction image stabilization; strong manual focus capabilities.
The bad: On the heavy side; price on the heavy side as well.
The bottom line: A tough, full-featured, well-built medium zoom lens, the Nikon AF-S DX 16-85mm f3.5-5.6 G ED VR's relatively high price tag may nevertheless make you want to consider other options.
For those looking to go beyond what a kit lens has to offer their Nikon dSLR, there's Nikon's AF-S DX 16-85mm f3.5-5.6 G ED VR. Compatible with all Nikon DX digital SLRs including the D300, D60, and
| AF-S | Autofocus |
| DX | Designed and optimized for Nikon's digital SLRs, which use the DX-aspect CCD |
| G | No aperture ring |
| ED | Extra-low dispersion glass for improved contrast and reduced chromatic aberration |
| VR | Vibration Reduction. Optical stabilizer to minimize blur from camera shake. |
Providing the 35mm-equivalent angle of view of a 24-127.5mm lens, it delivers a useful zoom range, and its features make it a great everyday lens capable of scenics as well as portraits. Given that it has a rather narrow maximum aperture of f3.5, though, its near-$600 price tag seems relatively hefty.
Design
Solid construction with a quality feel to it, including a black crinkle finish with a metal lens mount and base for added durability.
Weighs 17.2 ounces, measures 3.3 inches long with a 2.8 inch diameter, and accepts 67mm screw-on filters. The filter does not rotate while focusing.
Knurled wide rubber zoom ring at the front of the lens, with a smaller but very useable manual focus ring toward the base of the lens.
Large, easy-to-read zoom markings at 16mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 70mm, and 85mm. Distance scale window that reads in meters and feet, good to have when setting focus manually.
Features
Working focal length of 24mm to 127.5mm on a Nikon DX-based body (1.5x magnification factor)
Variable maximum aperture from f3.5 to f5.6 and a variable minimum aperture from f22 to f36
Vibration Reduction optical stabilization system for sharper handheld photos at slow shutter speeds, especially in low light. The VR compensates in real-time for shake and vibration with no degradation to the image. Besides the normal setting, it has an active mode that is useful if the photographer is moving.
Nikon's exclusive M/A (manual/auto) mode provides full-time autofocus with instant manual-focus override by just turning the focus ring. Also has a full-time manual-focus mode.
Nicely accessorized with a lens hood (HB-39) and a lens pouch (CL-1015) for safekeeping.
Hands-on
No kit lens here: the lens felt solid and well built while we put it through its paces. Although a bit heavy at 17.2 ounces, it's fairly compact and wasn't too bad to carry for an afternoon mounted on a D300. The wide zoom ring sits at the front of the lens within easy reach, especially for quickly zooming to catch a shot. The zoom feels well damped, if even a little tight. The lens handles focusing manually pretty well, too, with a distance scale to show you how far you are focused to. The focus action is moderately well damped (good for an AF lens whose primary design function is autofocusing), focus is relatively smooth and confident, and with the M/A mode you can manually focus at anytime. We found the lens' 15-inch minimum focusing distance gets you close enough for most things, though it's hardly a macro lens.
Performance and image quality
In our lab tests, the lens displayed considerable barrel distortion (where objects appear to curve toward the outside of the image) at its widest--almost excessive for a 16mm lens, especially in this price range. Beyond that, it displays distortion as well, with considerable barreling (where objects appear to curve outward) at 35mm and considerable pincushioning (where objects appear to curve inward toward the center of the image) at 85mm. It delivered excellent sharpness at the center of the image at all points in the zoom range, though, with the 35mm through 70mm range slightly sharper. It also maintained very good corner sharpness down to 24mm, softening at 16mm. While zooming, the lens maintained its maximum aperture of f3.5 from 16mm to 24mm, at which point it shifted to f4, then to f5.6 at about 70mm. It controlled flare very well, though there's a bundled lens hood for bright conditions.
Conclusion
If we evaluated purely on look and feel, this lens would score higher. But it shows noticeable distortion for a lens in its price class. While it's very sharp, and the distortion is correctable if need be for critical applications, you've got other options in its price range. For example, for less than $100 more you can get Nikon's AF-S DX VR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED; it has the same aperture range plus VR, with a zoom range broader than a lot of people will ever need. On the other side of the price fence, Nikon's AF-S DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens sells for less than $200 and offers an option for those who can live with the slightly shorter zoom range and fewer bells and whistles.
The Nikon AF-S DX 16-85mm f3.5-5.6 G ED VR is a well-built lens with very good sharpness and features to match, although its price puts it in a position for only the serious hobbyist looking for good glass in a medium zoom or for a working professional, such as a wedding photographer, who needs durability but can live with the distortion and the relatively slow f3.5 aperture.
User reviews
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CNET review misses the point of this lens
by GB in HK on July 13, 2008
Pros: Gives Nikon digital users well-priced 16mm option
Cons: Could stand to be a bit faster than f3.5
Summary: I've had this lens (with a D300) for about a month and it's proven to be an excellent choice as a general lens. The distortion referred to in ...
Summary: I've had this lens (with a D300) for about a month and it's proven to be an excellent choice as a general lens. The distortion referred to in the CNET review is not beyond what one might expect in a mid-range lens. What's more, I've found the auto-focus speed to be very quick in just about every situation. Like the review, I would love it if it were faster than f3.5, but given the "film speed" range of the Nikon DX camera line, it's not been a particularly serious hardship.
The key for me, after considering the DX VR 18-200 IF-ED Nikor option, was the additional 2mm on the wide angle end. In my film shooting days, a 24mm prime was always part of my kit, so a DX general zoom that goes only as far as 18mm felt inadequate. I bought this lens, along with Nikon's VR 70-300mm and have been extremely pleased with the range the two lenses provide in concert.
I'd like to see the CNET reviewer reconsider the uniquely wider angle of this lens in an update; to have not focused on it in the original review feels like a serious oversight.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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CNET's Review is well off base and technically flawed
by LanceTJ on January 25, 2009
Pros: Outstanding Sharpness & lack of Chromatic aberration, as good as Nikkor lenses costing 2x as much. Latest VR II vibration reduction adds 2.5 f-stops. Minor distortion at full wide angle is better than how other Nikkor zoom lenses perform.
Cons: None really. If the lens was faster, it would be bigger and heavier, and thus not a good general purpose lens. This lens only weighs 2.2 oz more than the Nikon 18-70mm Yet lens performance is much superior, despite it having a wider zoom range.
Summary: This is a great new lens in the Nikon lineup, and the CNET review does not do it proper justice. As far as size and weight go, this lens is ...
Summary: This is a great new lens in the Nikon lineup, and the CNET review does not do it proper justice. As far as size and weight go, this lens is heavier than other kit lenses. It would not be a good match for smaller Nikon SLR models. But it matches up very well with the larger D80 and D90, as well as the even bigger D200 and D300. Owners of these camera should take a strong look at this lens. And anyone buying one of these cameras would be well served to forgo buying it with a kit lens, and instead just get the camera body, together with this lens.
Note that I did a typo when I was comparing the lens to the Professional Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 lens. The first reference to the lens was correct, but I then accidentally type 15 instead of 17 in the second reference to it.
For an excellent technical review of this lens with actual laboratory test data, checkout this informative web page:
http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/377-nikkor_1685_3556vr
If you compare the test data of this lens against the other zoom lenses in the Nikon lineup, you will begin to appreciate just what a great lens this is. Sharpness and resolution of this lens tested very high, equal or even superior to professional grade Nikon Zoom lenses that cost over twice as much money. In addition, chromatic aberration was also quite low, compared to other zoom lenses.
The CNET review's complaint that the lens has excessive distortion at full wide angle is a most inaccurate and exaggerated statement. Photozone measured distortion in this lens to be quite small at every focal length except full wide angle. However, even then, the measured distortion was only 2.5% This figure is actually lower than almost all of the other Nikon zoom lenses. The less expensive 18-70mm AF-S Nikkor zoom has a measured distortion of 3.5% at full wide angle, despite having a smaller zoom range, and being only 2 oz lighter. It also lacks Vibration Reduction.
When one looks at the Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm lens that CNET instead recommends that users buy, one finds that its distortion at full wide angle is easily the worst yet, at 4.1% Just check the lab test results on the photozone.de website, and you will see these lab test result numbers listed there.
So this CNET review has a made a big mistake. It has criticized a lens for having excessive distortion, when it actually does not in reality. And at the same time, recommended that folks buy a lens that actually has much worse distortion.
Now there are Nikon zoom lenses that do offer lower distortion, but they are professional grade lenses that are:
1) Far more expensive
2) Weight much, much more, and thus not good for everyday normal use
The best example is the 17-55mm Nikkor AF-S It only offers 2.2% distortion at full wide angle, compared to the 2.5% of this Nikkor 16-85mm AF-S VR But consider this:
The Nikkor 15-55mm AF-S:
1) Does not have as wide and versatile of a zoom range
2) It weighs way much more at 26 oz, compared to only 17 oz for the 16-85mm
3) It does not offer any vibration reduction at all, while the 16-85mm has the latest VR II
3) costs more than double the price of the 16-85mm, with a typical street price of $1,200
The only advantage the 17-55mm AF-S Nikkor has is that it is a much faster lens, with a constant max aperture of f/2.8 across its range.
So when CNET says in their review that this lens is not a great value, and the price is high, they could not be more completely wrong. This lens is a great value, when one considers all of the outstanding features it has, and the fantastic performance that it delivers.
Here are links to a couple of recent photos that I took with my Nikkor AF-S 16-85mm VR II. First, here is one at full wide angle:
http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo264/lancespring/Rosa%20Parks%20Plaza/DSC_0300BON.jpg
Tell me, does distortion appear to be at all excessive in this photo? Of course not, because it simply isn't.
And here is another photo, showing the great sharpness and clarity of the lens:
http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo264/lancespring/Rosa%20Parks%20Plaza/DSC_0350BON.jpg
Very few camera lenses deserve a 5 star rating. But this is one of those very few that clears deserves it. If you are buying a Nikon D90 or D300, this is the zoom lens to get to use with your camera. You won't regret it.
Updated on Jan 26, 2009
Again, I want to emphasis that BOTH of the lenses that CNET recommended as alternatives to this lens ( the 18-70mm and 18-200mm ) have far WORSE distortion than this lens. Respectively, they have 3.5% and 4.1% wide angle distortion, compared to only 2.5% on the 16-85mm.
The Nikon Kit lenses also have worse distortion, with the 18-105mm kit lens having 3.5% distortion at full wide angle, and the 18-55mm DX 2.7% distortion at full wide angle.
The simple fact is that all zoom lenses exhibit some distortion. And the Nikon AF-S DX 16-85mm VR II lens does a better job at minimizing distortion than the vast majority of zoom lenses.
Updated on Feb 22, 2009Update: Support for this lens was just recently added to DxO Optics Pro. So for any distortion freaks, the minor distortion that this zoom lens has can now be totally eliminated using DxO In fact, I cannot recommend DxO Optics Pro more highly to fellow camera owners. They added support for the D90 a few months ago, and they now support all of the Nikon kit lenses, some of their most popular Pro lenses, and now this lens too. So the much worse distortion on the kit 18-105mm or 18-200mm Nikon lens can be fixed with DxO also.
DxO also offers advanced lighting correction, very similar to Nikon's D-Lighting. And it also includes great correction tools for both noise and Chromatic Aberration. And it supports the Nikon Raw Image format.
In any event, for just $100, this software is really a good additional editing tool to get, in my opinion.
http://www.dxo.com/us/photo
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Updated on Apr 1, 2009Well known Nikon Expert Thom Hogan has now written a detailed review of the the Nikon AF-S DX 16-85mm f3.5-5.6 ED VR lens.
He has confirmed that this lens is exceptionally sharp, rivaling Nikon's Pro lenses. For a zoom lens with such an exceptional range, this is really great performance.
Read Thom's review, and you will agree with both he and I that this is the best all around lens for Nikon DX cameras like the D90, instead of going with either the kit lens, or the 18-200mm
See:
http://www.bythom.com/Nikkor16-85lensreview.htm
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Updated on Apr 21, 2009Here are active hotlinks to the two other reviews of this lens that I mentioned earlier:
<a href="http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/377-nikkor_1685_3556vr"></a>
<a href="http://www.bythom.com/Nikkor16-85lensreview.htm"></a>1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Nikon Inc.
- Part number: 2178
- Description: This compact and highly versatile 5.3x zoom includes Nikon's VR image stabilization technology and delivers incredible optical performance.
General
- Length 3 in
- Diameter 2.8 in
- Weight 17.1 oz
Lens System
- Lens System Zoom lens
- Special Functions Zoom
- Intended For Digital SLR
- Focal Length 16 mm - 85 mm
- Lens Aperture F/3.5-5.6
- Minimum Aperture F/22 - f/36
- Optical Zoom 5.3 x
- Magnification 1 / 4.6
- Min Focus Range 15 in
- Focus Adjustment Manual, Automatic
- Zoom Adjustment Manual
- Max View Angle 83 degrees
- Min View Angle 18.8 degrees
- Lens Construction 11 group(s) / 17 element(s)
- Filter Size 67 mm
- Diaphragm Blades 7
- Lens Coating Nikon Super Integrated Coating
- Mounting Type Nikon F
- Features ED glass, Aspherical lens, Silent Wave Motor (SWM), Internal focusing system, VR (Vibration Reduction)
Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Dust cap, Lens cap, Lens case, Lens hood
Manufacturer info
- Nikon Inc.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Nikon Inc. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.nikonusa.com/
- Address:
1300 Walt Whitman Rd.
Melville, NY 11747 - Phone: 516/547-4200
- Fax: 631-547-4025








