Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm
Pentax HD Pentax-DA 21387 16-85mm
What Buyers Say
Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm
This Nikon 18-55mm lens is widely praised for its sharpness, light weight, and excellent value for money, especially as a kit lens. Users highlight its vivid colors and quiet autofocus, though some note the plastic build feels fragile and the barrel can wobble at extended focal lengths. Overall, it's considered a fantastic starter lens that outperforms its modest price point.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Lightweight and portable
- Excellent value for money
- Vivid color reproduction
- Quiet autofocus
Cons
- Plastic build feels fragile
- Barrel wobbles at extended focal lengths
- No image stabilization
- Loose tolerances can affect focus
Pentax HD Pentax-DA 21387 16-85mm
The Pentax DA 16-85mm lens is widely praised for its sharpness, weather sealing, and versatile zoom range, making it a favorite walk-around lens for outdoor and travel photography. Users appreciate the solid build and consistent image quality, though some note slower autofocus in low light and a variable aperture as minor drawbacks. A few isolated reports of inconsistent quality exist, but overall sentiment is very positive.
Pros
- Excellent sharpness
- Weather sealing
- Versatile zoom range (16-85mm)
- Solid build quality
- Fast and accurate autofocus
Cons
- Variable aperture (f/3.5-5.6)
- Slow autofocus in low light
- No distance scale on focus ring
- Relatively expensive
- Inconsistent quality control in some units
Scores
Specifications
| Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm | Pentax HD Pentax-DA 21387 16-85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 18 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 55 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 7 | 16 |
| Groups | 5 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Super Integrated Coating | HD Coating, SP (Super Protect) Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | 22-38★ |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon F | Pentax K |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | — | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.20 kg★ | 0.49 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 72 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | pulse stepping motor★ | DC |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 55 mm★ | 350 mm |
| Max Magnification | — | 0.26x★ |
Pros & Cons
Nikon NIKKOR 20059 18-55mm
- Strong macro (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong stabilization (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
Pentax HD Pentax-DA 21387 16-85mm
- Strong versatility (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong optical (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong build (71st percentile)
- Strong social proof (68th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Verdict
Scores 97 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.