Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
IRIX Blackstone 15mm f/2.4 Blackstone 15mm
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
IRIX Blackstone 15mm f/2.4 Blackstone 15mm
The IRIX 15mm f/2.4 lens gets high marks for its sharpness, build quality, and value. Users love it for landscape and astrophotography, praising the weather sealing, filter use, and electronic aperture control. Some find the manual focus ring stiff, and there are occasional concerns about quality control and decentering.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Sharp image quality
- Great for astrophotography
- Weather-sealed design
- Electronic aperture control
Cons
- Stiff manual focus ring
- Occasional decentering issues
- Quality control concerns
- Tricky lens cap in the dark
- Infinity mark may be inaccurate
Scores
Specifications
| Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm | IRIX Blackstone 15mm f/2.4 Blackstone 15mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 16 mm | 15 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 85 mm | 15 mm |
| Elements | — | 15 |
| Groups | — | 11 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | 2 |
| ED Elements | 2 | 2 |
| Coating | Super Integrated Coating | Neutrino coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/2.4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon F | Nikon F |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | — | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.48 kg★ | 0.69 kg |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 95 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | AF-S | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 380 mm | 280 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
IRIX Blackstone 15mm f/2.4 Blackstone 15mm
- Strong optical (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong macro (72nd percentile)
- Strong social proof (69th percentile)
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average bokeh (25th percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.