Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM

Canon
88 Overall Score
vs
Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm

Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm

Nikon
89 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM

90 out of 100 medium confidence 13 reviews

The Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM lens receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its sharpness, fast autofocus, and lightweight design. Users appreciate it as a versatile upgrade from kit lenses, especially for mirrorless cameras like the R7 and R5 Mark II. A single negative review is due to a delivery issue, not product quality.

Pros
  • Sharp image quality
  • Fast and accurate autofocus
  • Lightweight and compact design
  • Great value for the price
  • Versatile for various settings
Cons
  • Possible delivery mismanagement
👍 Image quality 4
👍 Autofocus performance 3
👍 Weight and portability 6
👍 Value for money 4
👍 Versatility 2
👎 Delivery experience 1

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

Professional
Canon
92
Nikon
64
Video Cinema
Canon
90
Nikon
71
Portrait
Canon
88
Nikon
81
Travel
Canon
87
Nikon
71
Street
Canon
84
Nikon
75
Budget
Canon
79
Nikon
84
Wildlife Sports
Canon
82
Nikon
61
Landscape
Canon
80
Nikon
68
Macro
Canon
70
Nikon
73

Specifications

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STMNikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
Optics
Typezoomzoom
Focal Length Min28 mm16 mm
Focal Length Max70 mm85 mm
Elements14—
Groups11—
Aspherical Elements23★
ED Elements22
CoatingSuper Spectra Coating (SSC)Super Integrated Coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.8f/3.5
Min Aperturef/2.83.5-5.6
Constant✓★✗
Diaphragm Blades—7★
Build
MountCanon RFNikon F
Formatfull-frame★APS-C
Weather Sealed✓★—
Weight0.49 kg0.48 kg★
Filter Thread67 mm67 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeSTM★AF-S
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops5.5 stops★4 stops
Focus
Min Focus Distance270 mm★380 mm
Max Magnification0.24x★—

Pros & Cons

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM

  • Strong stabilization (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
  • Strong user sentiment (88th percentile)88th %ile
  • Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile

Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm

  • Strong versatility (94th percentile)94th %ile
  • Strong stabilization (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
  • Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Strong aperture (83rd percentile)83rd %ile

Pricing

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM

No current pricing available

Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm

Verdict

★ Winner: Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM

Scores 88 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 22 specs.

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM Better at:

StreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm Better at:

MacroBudget

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