Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM 24mm
What Buyers Say
Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
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
Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM 24mm
The Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens is widely praised for its compact size, sharp image quality, and excellent value. Users love it as a lightweight walk-around lens for travel, street photography, and landscapes, with many noting its surprisingly good macro mode and low-light performance. A few criticisms mention vignetting at wide apertures, noisy autofocus, and lack of image stabilization, but overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight design
- Sharp image quality
- Excellent value for money
- Great for travel and street photography
- Surprisingly good macro mode
Cons
- Vignetting at wide apertures
- Noisy autofocus in some cases
- No image stabilization
- Not compatible with full-frame cameras
- Slow autofocus for video
Scores
Specifications
| Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm | Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM 24mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 16 mm | 24 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 85 mm | 24 mm |
| Elements | — | 6 |
| Groups | — | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | 1 |
| ED Elements | 2 | 2 |
| Coating | Super Integrated Coating | Super Spectra coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon F | Canon EF-S |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | — | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.48 kg | 0.13 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 52 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | AF-S | STM★ |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 380 mm | 160 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | — | 0.27x★ |
Pros & Cons
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
Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM 24mm
- Strong social proof (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong build (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Verdict
Scores 88 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 22 specs.