Viltrox Air AF 9mm f/2.8 Air 9mm
Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
What Buyers Say
Viltrox Air AF 9mm f/2.8 Air 9mm
The Viltrox 23mm f/1.4 lens for Fuji X mount receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its sharpness, fast and quiet autofocus, and excellent build quality at a budget price. A few users note the lack of an aperture ring and some corner softness, but most consider it a great value compared to the Fujifilm equivalent. One reviewer received a wrong hood, and another found it heavy and less sharp than the Viltrox 35mm Air lens.
Pros
- Excellent sharpness
- Fast and quiet autofocus
- Great build quality for the price
- Good value compared to Fujifilm
- Nice color rendering
Cons
- No aperture ring
- Slight corner softness
- Heavy for some users
- Received wrong hood
- Less sharp than Viltrox 35mm Air
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
| Viltrox Air AF 9mm f/2.8 Air 9mm | Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | wide-angle | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 9 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 9 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 13 | — |
| Groups | 11 | — |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 3★ | 2 |
| Coating | Specialized Multi-Layer Coating Technology | Super Integrated Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/16 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | — | 7★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Fujifilm X | Nikon F |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | — |
| Weight | 0.17 kg★ | 0.48 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM + Lead screw focus motor★ | AF-S |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 4 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 130 mm★ | 380 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.13 m★ | — |
Pros & Cons
Viltrox Air AF 9mm f/2.8 Air 9mm
- Strong build (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong social proof (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong af (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong optical (84th percentile)84th %ile
- Below average bokeh (31st percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
- Strong versatility (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong stabilization (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong social proof (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (80th percentile)80th %ile
Verdict
Scores 88 overall, wins 3 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 22 specs.