Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
7Artisans 35mm f/1.4 Mark III 35mm
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
7Artisans 35mm f/1.4 Mark III 35mm
The 7Artisans 35mm f/1.4 is a budget-friendly manual focus lens that many users find fun and engaging, especially for street photography and everyday carry. Image quality is praised in the center but criticized for softness and color fringing at the edges, particularly wide open. While some find the controls cumbersome or the build lacking compared to pricier alternatives, most agree it offers great value for the price and a unique, vintage feel.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Compact and lightweight
- Fun manual shooting experience
- Beautiful bokeh at f/1.4
- Sharp center image quality
Cons
- Soft edges with color fringing
- Cumbersome manual controls
- Not suitable for full-frame sensors
- Focus and aperture rings too close
- Build quality not premium
Scores
Specifications
| Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm | 7Artisans 35mm f/1.4 Mark III 35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 16 mm | 35 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 85 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | — | 8 |
| Groups | — | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | — |
| ED Elements | 2★ | — |
| Coating | Super Integrated Coating | Multilayered Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon F | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weight | 0.48 kg | 0.23 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 49 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | AF-S | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 380 mm | 350 mm★ |
Pros & Cons
Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
- Strong versatility (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong stabilization (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong user sentiment (81st percentile)81st %ile
7Artisans 35mm f/1.4 Mark III 35mm
- Strong build (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
- Strong social proof (70th percentile)
- Strong macro (65th percentile)
- Below average af (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
- Below average stabilization (35th percentile)
Verdict
Scores 84 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 20 specs.