Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 32mm
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
Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 32mm
The Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 is praised for its exceptional image quality, particularly in color rendition and sharpness. Users appreciate the distinctive 'Zeiss look' and build quality, but note that autofocus can be slow and noisy, and the rubberized focus ring design is sometimes criticized. A few reviewers have reported mechanical issues or lens defects.
Pros
- Exceptional color reproduction
- Very sharp across the frame
- Pleasant bokeh
- Solid build quality
- Compact and light
Cons
- Noisy autofocus
- Slow autofocus in some conditions
- Rubber focus ring flush with barrel
- Poor lens cap tether attachment
- Firmware update required for some users
Scores
Specifications
| Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm | Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 32mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | standard |
| Focal Length Min | 16 mm | 32 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 85 mm | 32 mm |
| Elements | — | 8 |
| Groups | — | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | 1 |
| ED Elements | 2★ | — |
| Coating | Super Integrated Coating | Carl Zeiss T* anti-reflective coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/1.8 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/1.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon F | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | — | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.48 kg | 0.20 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 52 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | AF-S | Auto Focus |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 380 mm | 300 mm★ |
Pros & Cons
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
Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 32mm
- Strong bokeh (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong aperture (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong build (84th percentile)84th %ile
- Strong social proof (71st percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (32nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (35th percentile)
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 6 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 21 specs.