Sony G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS
Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
What Buyers Say
Sony G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS
The Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS lens is widely praised for its sharpness, compact size, good image stabilization, and versatile zoom range. Many users highlight its excellent build quality, fast autofocus, and balanced handling on full-frame and APS-C bodies. However, drawbacks include a lack of a tripod collar, occasional autofocus hunting in low light, and some reports of sample variation or softness at certain focal lengths. Several reviewers note it feels heavy, especially on smaller cameras, and some find the variable aperture limiting in dim conditions.
Pros
- Sharp images across zoom range
- Compact and lightweight design
- Effective Optical SteadyShot stabilization
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Lacks tripod collar
- Autofocus hunts in low light
- Variable aperture limits low-light performance
- Heavy for smaller camera bodies
- Sample variation (decentered/soft copies)
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
| Sony G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS | Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 70 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 300 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 16 | — |
| Groups | 13 | — |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | 3 |
| ED Elements | 2 | 2 |
| Coating | Nano AR Coating | Super Integrated Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/29 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | 4.5-5.6 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9★ | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon F |
| Format | full-frame★ | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | — |
| Weight | 0.85 kg | 0.48 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 72 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear Autofocus Motor | AF-S |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 4 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 900 mm | 380 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.31x★ | — |
Pros & Cons
Sony G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS
- Strong optical (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong versatility (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong stabilization (79th percentile)
- Below average aperture (8th percentile)8th %ile
- Below average bokeh (9th percentile)9th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (17th percentile)17th %ile
- Below average macro (31st 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 6.8x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 22 specs.
