Panasonic Leica DG Summilux H-X09 9mm
Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
What Buyers Say
Panasonic Leica DG Summilux H-X09 9mm
The Panasonic 9mm f/1.7 lens is highly praised for its sharp optics, wide angle, and lightweight design, making it ideal for landscape and vlogging on Micro Four Thirds cameras. Users appreciate the autofocus, weather resistance, and smooth focus ring, though some note the plastic build and high price as drawbacks. A few find the bokeh unimpressive compared to full-frame equivalents, but overall it's considered a great value for the system.
Pros
- Sharp optics
- Wide angle field of view
- Lightweight design
- Fast autofocus
- Weather resistant
Cons
- Plastic body construction
- High price point
- Unimpressive bokeh for MFT
- Single focal length
- No optical image stabilization
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
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Leica DG Summilux H-X09 9mm | Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | wide-angle | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 9 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 9 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 12 | — |
| Groups | 9 | — |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 2 | 2 |
| Coating | Multi-Coated | Super Integrated Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/1.7 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.7 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Nikon F |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | APS-C★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | — |
| Weight | 0.13 kg★ | 0.48 kg |
| Filter Thread | 55 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | AF-S |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 4 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 95 mm★ | 380 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.25x★ | — |
Pros & Cons
Panasonic Leica DG Summilux H-X09 9mm
- Strong build (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong aperture (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong bokeh (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong optical (77th percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
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
Pricing
Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm offers 2.4x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 4 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.
