Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
7Artisans 50mm F1.4 APS-C Frame Tilt-Shift
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 50mm F1.4 APS-C Frame Tilt-Shift
The 7Artisans 50mm f/1.4 Tilt-Shift Lens receives mixed feedback from users. One verified reviewer praises its tilt functionality for adjusting focus and transitions, noting excellent resolution and contrast on high-megapixel sensors, but finds the shift range insufficient for architecture. Another criticizes the glass quality, calling it "not so good" and suggesting the price reflects the build. Overall, the lens seems to excel in specific tilt applications but disappoints in general optical performance.
Pros
- Excellent tilt functionality
- Good resolution and contrast
- Low chromatic aberration
- Works well on high-megapixel sensors
- Useful for still life and tabletop
Cons
- Poor glass quality
- Insufficient shift range for architecture
- Price does not match build quality
Scores
Specifications
| Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm | 7Artisans 50mm F1.4 APS-C Frame Tilt-Shift | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | tilt-shift |
| Focal Length Min | 16 mm | 50 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 85 mm | 50 mm |
| Elements | — | 7 |
| Groups | — | 6 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | — |
| ED Elements | 2★ | — |
| Coating | Super Integrated Coating | multi-coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/1.4 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 12★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon F | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weight | 0.48 kg | 0.36 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 46 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | AF-S | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 380 mm | 50 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 50mm F1.4 APS-C Frame Tilt-Shift
- Strong bokeh (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong aperture (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong macro (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (2nd percentile)2nd %ile
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Verdict
Scores 88 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 20 specs.
