Canon EOS EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II
Canon
49 Overall Score
vs
Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
Nikon
84 Overall Score
What Buyers Say
Canon EOS EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II
No customer feedback yet
Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
88 out of 100 low confidence 8 reviews
The Nikon 16-85mm VR is widely praised as an excellent all-around zoom for DX cameras, delivering sharp images across the focal range with effective VR. Users note it outperforms kit lenses like the 18-105mm and even rivals the pricier 17-55mm in sharpness, though it is heavy and somewhat slow (f/3.5-5.6). Build quality is solid with a metal barrel, and the 16mm wide end is a key advantage for landscapes. Some caution about vignetting with thick filters and barrel distortion at 16mm, but overall it is considered a worthy investment for enthusiasts.
Pros
- Excellent sharpness across focal range
- Effective VR II image stabilization
- Solid build with metal barrel
- Useful 16-85mm zoom range
- Great for landscapes and travel
Cons
- Heavy weight (3.1 lb with D90)
- Slow aperture (f/3.5-5.6)
- Expensive for an f/3.5-5.6 lens
- Barrel distortion at 16mm
- Vignetting with thick filters at 16mm
Image quality 7
Build quality 5
Vibration reduction 5
Weight 4
Value for money 4
Focal range 4
Scores
Budget
Portrait
Macro
Street
Video Cinema
Travel
Landscape
Professional
Wildlife Sports
Specifications
| Canon EOS EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II | Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 55 mm | 85 mm |
| Aspherical Elements | — | 3★ |
| ED Elements | — | 2★ |
| Coating | — | Super Integrated Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/32 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | f/3.5 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | — | 7★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF-S | Nikon F |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weight | — | 0.48 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | AF-S |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 4 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 250 mm★ | 380 mm |
Pros & Cons
Canon EOS EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II
- Strong social proof (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong versatility (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Below average bokeh (4th percentile)4th %ile
- Below average aperture (5th percentile)5th %ile
- Below average optical (19th percentile)19th %ile
Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
- Strong versatility (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong stabilization (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong user sentiment (81st percentile)81st %ile
Verdict
Winner: Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
Scores 84 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 18 specs.