Rokinon HD 8mm f/3.5 HD Fisheye 8mm
Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
What Buyers Say
Rokinon HD 8mm f/3.5 HD Fisheye 8mm
This Rokinon 8mm f/3.5 fisheye lens is praised for its excellent value, solid build, and creative potential, especially on APS-C cameras where it delivers a full-frame diagonal fisheye effect. Users love the fun perspective it adds to landscapes, portraits, and skateboarding or astro shots, though they note it requires manual focus and aperture control. Some edge softness and chromatic aberration are mentioned, but these are correctable in post. Issues with full-frame cameras (heavy vignette) and inconsistent compatibility with certain Nikon bodies (e.g., D3500) are recurring drawbacks, and a few users reported a broken focusing ring or cheap-feeling barrel.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Solid build quality
- Fun and creative perspective
- Sharp when stopped down (f/5.6-f/8)
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- Manual focus only
- Soft edges wide open
- Chromatic aberration at edges
- Not ideal for full-frame cameras (heavy vignette)
- Incompatible with some Nikon bodies (e.g., D3500)
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
Scores
Specifications
| Rokinon HD 8mm f/3.5 HD Fisheye 8mm | Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | fisheye | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 8 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 8 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 10 | — |
| Groups | 7 | — |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | — | 2★ |
| Coating | super multi-layer coating | Super Integrated Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | f/3.5 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 6 | 7★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF | Nikon F |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | — |
| Weight | 0.43 kg★ | 0.48 kg |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | manual focus only | AF-S |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 4 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 305 mm★ | 380 mm |
Pros & Cons
Rokinon HD 8mm f/3.5 HD Fisheye 8mm
- Strong social proof (77th percentile)
- Strong macro (67th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (6th percentile)6th %ile
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
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
Rokinon HD 8mm f/3.5 HD Fisheye 8mm offers 1.2x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.
