Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
Nikon
89 Overall Score
vs
Tamron 18-400mm
Tamron
53 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
Tamron 18-400mm
No customer feedback yet
Scores
Budget
Portrait
Macro
Street
Travel
Video Cinema
Landscape
Professional
Wildlife Sports
Specifications
| Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm | Tamron 18-400mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 16 mm | 70 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 85 mm | 180 mm |
| Elements | — | 20 |
| Groups | — | 15 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3 | 3 |
| ED Elements | 2 | 4★ |
| Coating | Super Integrated Coating | BBAR-G2 (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection Generation 2) Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon F | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | — | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.48 kg★ | 1.46 kg |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | AF-S | VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops | 6 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 380 mm | 180 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | — | 1:3.2★ |
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
Tamron 18-400mm
- Strong stabilization (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong optical (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong macro (84th percentile)84th %ile
- Below average social proof (6th percentile)6th %ile
- Below average build (11th percentile)11th %ile
- Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
Pricing
Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
Tamron 18-400mm
No current pricing available
Verdict
Winner: Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
Scores 89 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 1 of 22 specs.
