Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
Tamron Di III F050 20mm
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
Tamron Di III F050 20mm
The Tamron 20mm f/2.8 lens for Sony E-mount is widely praised for its excellent value, sharp image quality, and compact design. Users highlight its close-focusing ability and good performance for landscapes and astrophotography, though some note the autofocus is noisy and a bit slow, especially for video. Overall, it is considered a great budget-friendly wide-angle prime that delivers impressive results for the price.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Sharp image quality
- Compact and lightweight design
- Good close-focusing capability
- Great for landscapes and astrophotography
Cons
- Noisy autofocus motor
- Slow autofocus for video
- Lacks weather sealing
- Feels a bit cheap to some
- Not as wide as f/1.8
Scores
Specifications
| Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm | Tamron Di III F050 20mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 16 mm | 20 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 85 mm | 20 mm |
| Elements | — | 10 |
| Groups | — | 9 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | 1 |
| ED Elements | 2 | 3★ |
| Coating | Super Integrated Coating | Fluorine Coating for protection and safe cleaning |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon F | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | — | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.48 kg | 0.23 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | AF-S | OSD |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 380 mm | 109 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | — | 1:2★ |
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 Di III F050 20mm
- Strong macro (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong build (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 5 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 22 specs.