Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 16 85mm F 3 5 5 6G ED VR Review | 54 Data compared

Despite its strong feature set, the review notes a few key drawbacks that kept it from earning a "Highly Recommended" award. The main con is its lack of highly compelling performance advantages when compared to Nikon's extensive lineup of alternative DX lenses, such as the standard 18-70mm, 18-105mm, or 18-135mm kits. Furthermore, value is a notable concern; the lens sits at a price point where buyers could purchase the much more versatile DX 18-200mm VR super-zoom lens for only a small additional cost. This narrow pricing gap forces photographers to think carefully about whether they prioritize the wider 24mm equivalent perspective over the massive telephoto reach offered by other available options.

The ePHOTOzine review identifies the Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX as an excellent, sharp, and versatile "walkaround" standard zoom for DX-format cameras. Key pros include a practical 16mm wide-angle start, effective Vibration Reduction (VR), and quiet, fast Silent Wave Motor (SWM) autofocus. Conversely, the lens has a variable, relatively slow maximum aperture of f/5.6 at the 85mm end, making it less ideal for low-light shooting. Other noted cons include significant barrel distortion at 16mm and slight softening in corner sharpness at the maximum 85mm focal length.

The Nikkor AF-S 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR DX is a highly attractive, 5.3x all-round zoom lens designed for APS-C DSLRs, offering a versatile 24-128mm full-frame equivalent range that bridges the gap between entry-level and high-end lenses. On the positive side, it features decent build quality with a metal mount, a non-rotating front element ideal for polarizers, and a Silent Wave AF motor providing fast, near-silent operation. Its standout feature is the 2nd generation Vibration Reduction (VR II) system, which offers excellent "handholdability" with a field-tested 3 to 4 f-stop stabilization gain and two distinct modes for normal and active compensation. At a moderate price point of around 600€/US$, it represents a smart compromise between cost and extensive focal coverage for serious amateurs. However, the lens has several notable drawbacks, starting with its relatively slow variable maximum aperture of f/3.5-5.6, which compromises low-light speed in favor of zoom range. Mechanically, the outer body is made of plastic, the zoom action is quite stiff, and it utilizes a dual-cam extending design that lacks an aperture ring, raising long-term reliability concerns for a...

The Nikon AF-S 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR DX zoom lens is a compact, high-quality, and versatile option designed specifically for Nikon DX-format SLR bodies. On the positive side, it features quick and quiet autofocus driven by a silent-wave motor and incorporates an effective two-mode Vibration Reduction (VR-II) system to eliminate camera shake. Optically, the lens delivers excellent sharpness, keeping resolution curves above critical levels from maximum aperture down to f/16 across its entire focal range, while maintaining almost non-existent chromatic aberration. Priced between £400 and £500, it is considered a fair value and a bargain at the lower end of that scale. However, the lens suffers from notable design and operational flaws. Its variable maximum aperture means the smallest available f-stop drops from f/22 at 16mm to a highly diffraction-limited f/36 at 85mm, resulting in a dramatic plunge in resolution that users should avoid. Ergonomically, the manual-focus ring is slightly too narrow for comfortable use, and the third control slider for selecting VR modes is awkward to reach while shooting. Finally, the included petal-type lens hood obstructs the zoom ring...

📸 Review Breakdown The Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G DX is an exceptionally balanced, highly versatile "walk-around" lens designed to replicate a 24-135mm equivalent focal range on DX bodies. It handles remarkably well with a small form factor at 16mm, a responsive full AF-S wave motor system that allows manual focus override, and effective VR II image stabilization. Optically, center sharpness is impressively high across the entire zoom range, even when shooting wide open. The sweet spot is at 24mm, where the lens achieves near-maximum performance and linear distortion is virtually nonexistent. Additionally, flare is decently controlled, and its distortions are uniform enough to be easily corrected using software. The lens does exhibit minor performance drawbacks, particularly at its widest and longest focal lengths. While center sharpness remains strong, the corners are distinctly softer at 16mm, accompanied by obvious barrel distortion of about 2.5% and over a stop of vignetting at f/3.5. Pincushion distortion also hovers around 1% from 35mm through 85mm. Chromatic aberration is another slight weakness, being regularly visible at 16mm and slightly more pronounced at 85mm. Physically, the zoom...

The Focus Review of the Nikkor AF-S DX 16-85 mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED VR lens evaluates this 2008 all-purpose zoom lens designed specifically for Nikon's APS-C (DX-format) SLR cameras. Tested on a 24-megapixel Nikon D3200 body, the lens delivers a versatile focal range equivalent to a 24-128mm lens on full-frame cameras, offering a highly practical walk-around option that outperforms standard 18-55mm kit lenses in both breadth and build quality. On the positive side (pros), the lens boasts a highly flexible zoom range, incredibly low chromatic aberration due to its specialized aspheric and Extra Low Dispersion glass elements, and a compact, decent plastic construction equipped with a robust metal mount. Furthermore, its integrated second-generation Vibration Reduction (VRII) system provides an effective 3-stop stabilization advantage, while the Silent Wave Motor ensures almost silent autofocusing with seamless manual override. However, the review highlights several drawbacks (cons), particularly concerning its optical limitations at extreme focal lengths. The lens suffers from moderate optical performance in the corners throughout the range, along with a drop-off in center sharpness when zoomed all the way out to 85mm....

The Imaging Resource review highlights the Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR DX AF-S Nikkor as a remarkably sharp, high-performing everyday zoom lens designed specifically for APS-C (DX) format digital sensors, where it provides an effective 24-128mm field of view. The lens excels in optical sharpness across the frame, reaching its optimal peak performance when stopped down to f/5.6. Additionally, it features excellent tolerance to chromatic aberration, which remains virtually non-existent in the center of images and across the mid-range focal lengths. Other notable advantages include an effective VR2 vibration reduction system offering up to four stops of stability, an integrated distance scale, silent autofocus via an ultrasonic motor with full-time manual focus override, a highly solid build with a metal lens mount, and a non-rotating front element that makes using polarizers simple. Conversely, the review notes a few key drawbacks, explicitly stating that prominent corner shading (vignetting) and distortion are the trade-offs for its exceptional sharpness. When used wide open at 16mm and f/3.5, corners can be over a full stop darker than the center, requiring users to stop down...

The LensTip review of the Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 16-85 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR concludes that it is a highly versatile, solid, and reliable walk-around standard zoom lens for amateur DX-format photographers. Its primary strength lies in its excellent image resolution at the center of the frame across all focal lengths, generating exceptionally crisp and detailed photos. The lens offers an incredibly practical 5.3x zoom range starting at a wider 16mm (24mm full-frame equivalent), featuring a robust build with a metal mount and weather sealing. Additionally, it boasts well-corrected chromatic aberration in the mid-range, minimal astigmatism, highly effective optical VR II image stabilization, and a silent, accurate SWM autofocus system. However, the review identifies several notable drawbacks that hold it back from absolute perfection. Optical performance at the wide open maximum aperture falls below the standard "decency level" along the frame edges and corners, resulting in visible softness that requires stopping down to fix. Optical flaws also become apparent through massive vignetting at 16mm f/3.5, which results in a massive 49% light loss in the corners that never completely drops...

The Nikkor AF-S DX 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED VR is highly regarded as one of the benchmark standard zoom lenses for Nikon's APS-C (DX) format cameras. Tested on a Nikon D7000 body, the lens features a decent build quality consisting of a plastic outer body, metal inner tubes, and a sealed metal mount. Mechanically, it excels with a duo-cam design that extends significantly without wobbling, an internal focusing mechanism that stops the front element from rotating, and a fast, quiet ultrasonic silent-wave autofocus motor. Additionally, its second-generation optical stabilization (VR II) delivers impressive real-world performance, allowing photographers to successfully shoot at shutter speeds up to three stops slower when dealing with static subjects. Optically, the lens stands out as one of the sharpest standard zooms available for crop-sensor bodies, offering excellent center resolution that remains very strong even at the telephoto end when stopped down to f/8. However, it does possess notable optical drawbacks. Its primary limitations include a rather slow maximum aperture that restricts creative background bokeh, harsh out-of-focus rendering at the 50mm setting, and minor field curvature in the...

The AF-S Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF SWM VR is a highly versatile and durable walkaround lens designed for Nikon DX cameras, prized for its unique 16mm wide-angle starting point and effective VR II image stabilization. Mechanically, it features excellent build quality with smooth zoom and manual focus rings, a non-rotating front element ideal for polarizers, and a dual-mode stabilizer (Normal and Active) capable of providing a 4-stop advantage. Optically, the lens delivers unique sharpness across the entire focal range—even wide open—along with highly saturated colors, low distortion at 16mm, and rapid, silent autofocus powered by its ultrasonic motor. However, the reviewer notes several drawbacks, most notably its slow maximum aperture of f/5.6 at the 85mm long end, which limits indoor shooting without a flash and prevents the creamy bokeh found in faster prime lenses. Additionally, its complex 17-element optical design occasionally yields images that are not as clean as simpler lenses, and it is prone to lens flare artifacts if used without its plastic hood when facing the sun. Despite being constructed from plastic and carrying a relatively high retail...