Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm

Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm

Nikon
88 Overall Score
vs
TTArtisan APS-C 50mm f/1.2 50mm

TTArtisan APS-C 50mm f/1.2 50mm

TTArtisan
50 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm

88 out of 100 low confidence 8 reviews

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
👍 Image quality 7
👍 Build quality 5
👍 Vibration reduction 5
👎 Weight 4
🤔 Value for money 4
👍 Focal range 4

TTArtisan APS-C 50mm f/1.2 50mm

88 out of 100 high confidence 43 reviews

The TTArtisan 50mm f/1.2 lens is overwhelmingly praised for its exceptional build quality, all-metal construction, and superb value for money. Users consistently highlight the beautiful bokeh, vibrant colors, and solid feel, though many note it is noticeably heavy for its size. A few minor complaints include the fiddly screw-on metal lens cap and slight softness at the edges when shooting wide open at f/1.2.

Pros
  • Excellent build quality
  • All-metal construction
  • Great value for money
  • Beautiful bokeh
  • Vibrant colors and contrast
Cons
  • Heavy for its size
  • Screw-on metal lens cap is fiddly
  • Soft corners wide open at f/1.2
  • No lens hood included
  • Manual focus only
👍 Build quality 18
👍 Value for money 15
👍 Bokeh 12
👎 Weight 10
👍 Image quality 14
👎 Lens cap 5

Scores

Budget
Nikon
87
TTArtisan
46
Portrait
Nikon
79
TTArtisan
41
Macro
Nikon
73
TTArtisan
37
Street
Nikon
72
TTArtisan
38
Video Cinema
Nikon
71
TTArtisan
38
Travel
Nikon
68
TTArtisan
33
Landscape
Nikon
65
TTArtisan
30
Professional
Nikon
62
TTArtisan
35
Wildlife Sports
Nikon
61
TTArtisan
25

Specifications

Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mmTTArtisan APS-C 50mm f/1.2 50mm
Optics
Typezoomprime
Focal Length Min16 mm50 mm
Focal Length Max85 mm50 mm
Elements—7
Groups—5
Aspherical Elements3★—
ED Elements2★—
CoatingSuper Integrated CoatingSonnar Optical Concept
Aperture
Max Aperturef/3.5f/16
Min Aperture3.5-5.6f/1.2
Constant✗✓★
Diaphragm Blades710★
Build
MountNikon FL-Mount
FormatAPS-CAPS-C
Weight0.48 kg0.34 kg★
Filter Thread67 mm52 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAF-Smanual focus only
Stabilization✓★✗
Stabilization Stops4 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance380 mm★500 mm
Max Magnification—0.5x★

Pros & Cons

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 (81st percentile)81st %ile

TTArtisan APS-C 50mm f/1.2 50mm

  • Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
  • Strong user sentiment (81st percentile)81st %ile
  • Strong build (70th percentile)
  • Below average af (14th percentile)14th %ile
  • Below average versatility (34th percentile)

Pricing

TTArtisan APS-C 50mm f/1.2 50mm is €320 cheaper (3.7x less).

Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm0.200score per dollar
vs
TTArtisan APS-C 50mm f/1.2 50mm0.422score per dollar

TTArtisan APS-C 50mm f/1.2 50mm offers 2.1x better value for money

Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm

TTArtisan APS-C 50mm f/1.2 50mm

Verdict

★ Winner: Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm

Scores 88 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.

Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm Better at:

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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