Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
Sirui Sniper 75mm f/1.2 75mm
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
Sirui Sniper 75mm f/1.2 75mm
The Sirui Sniper 75mm f/1.2 lens receives high praise for its build quality, beautiful bokeh, and excellent value for money, especially for portrait and product photography. However, a significant negative review highlights severe customer service issues, including unresponsiveness and a defective unit with unusable image quality at wide apertures. While most users love the lens's performance and aesthetics, the poor warranty support is a major concern.
Pros
- Beautiful bokeh
- Excellent build quality
- Great value for money
- Compact form factor
- Good autofocus speed
Cons
- Terrible customer service
- Defective unit issues
- No aperture ring
- Slow autofocus on some cameras
- Not weather-resistant
Scores
Specifications
| Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm | Sirui Sniper 75mm f/1.2 75mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 16 mm | 75 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 85 mm | 75 mm |
| Elements | — | 13 |
| Groups | — | 9 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3 | 4★ |
| ED Elements | 2 | 4★ |
| Coating | Super Integrated Coating | — |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | 3.5-5.6 | f/1.2 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 15★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon F | Nikon Z |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | — | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.48 kg | 0.47 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | AF-S | STM★ |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 380 mm★ | 700 mm |
Pros & Cons
Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
- Strong versatility (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong stabilization (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong user sentiment (81st percentile)81st %ile
Sirui Sniper 75mm f/1.2 75mm
- Strong optical (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
- Below average stabilization (35th percentile)
Pricing
Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm offers 2.0x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 88 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 21 specs.
