Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm

Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm

Nikon
89 Overall Score
vs
Viltrox TCL-X100VI 50mm

Viltrox TCL-X100VI 50mm

Viltrox
73 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

Viltrox TCL-X100VI 50mm

85 out of 100 medium confidence 15 reviews

The Viltrox 50mm f/2 Air is widely praised as a sharp, lightweight, and affordable alternative to pricier Sony and Nikon lenses. Users consistently highlight its excellent image quality, silent autofocus, and solid build for the price. A few note slower autofocus in low light and some illumination fall-off, but overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive.

Pros
  • Excellent sharpness
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Silent autofocus
  • Great value for money
  • Solid build quality
Cons
  • Slower autofocus in low light
  • Illumination fall-off at edges
  • No weather sealing
  • No manual aperture ring
  • Slightly slower focus than Sony lenses
👍 Sharpness 8
👍 Value for money 7
👍 Build quality 6
🤔 Autofocus performance 5
👍 Low light performance 4
👍 Weight and size 4

Scores

Budget
Nikon
87
Viltrox
68
Portrait
Nikon
81
Viltrox
58
Street
Nikon
73
Viltrox
71
Macro
Nikon
73
Viltrox
63
Wildlife Sports
Nikon
61
Viltrox
72
Video Cinema
Nikon
71
Viltrox
60
Travel
Nikon
69
Viltrox
68
Landscape
Nikon
65
Viltrox
58
Professional
Nikon
63
Viltrox
62

Specifications

Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mmViltrox TCL-X100VI 50mm
Optics
Typezoomtelephoto
Focal Length Min16 mm50 mm
Focal Length Max85 mm50 mm
Elements—5
Groups—4
Aspherical Elements3★1
ED Elements23★
CoatingSuper Integrated Coatingmulti-layer nano coatings
Aperture
Max Aperturef/3.5f/16
Min Aperture3.5-5.6f/2
Constant✗✗
Diaphragm Blades79★
Build
MountNikon FFujifilm X
FormatAPS-Cfull-frame★
Weather Sealed—✓★
Weight0.48 kg0.23 kg★
Filter Thread67 mm67 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAF-SSTM★
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops4 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance380 mm50 mm★
Max Magnification—0.11x★

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 (82nd percentile)82nd %ile

Viltrox TCL-X100VI 50mm

  • Strong build (88th percentile)88th %ile
  • Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
  • Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
  • Strong stabilization (79th percentile)
  • Below average versatility (33rd percentile)

Pricing

Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm

No current pricing available

Viltrox TCL-X100VI 50mm

Verdict

★ Winner: Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm

Scores 89 overall, wins 6 of 9 usage categories and 2 of 22 specs.

Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm Better at:

MacroBudgetStreetPortraitLandscapeVideo Cinema

Viltrox TCL-X100VI 50mm Better at:

Wildlife Sports

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