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This digital-only, 5.3X, wide-to-medium-tele, general-purpose zoom ($600, street) is an attractive upgrade for Nikon shooters underserved by their entry-level 18-55mm kit lens. No longer a beginner? It offers Vibration Reduction, plus extra reach in both directions, scaling up to 24-127.5mm on most Nikon DSLR bodies. Two extra-low dispersion glass elements rein in the image-softening effect of chromatic aberration (a.k.a. color fringing), and three aspheric elements help tackle linear distortion.
HANDS ON:
Slightly bulky for an amateur's general-purpose lens, this zoom is more than an inch longer and 4 ounces heavier than Canon's comparable 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS digital-only zoom ($515, street). At close-focus, the lens (without hood) throws a shadow at all focal lengths when used with a built-in flash. (As subject distances grow, the shadow gradually disappears, first at the long end of the zoom range.)
With a slightly stiff zoom action but well-damped manual focusing, the lens offers fast, accurate, and -- thanks to Nikon's Silent Wave Motor -- extremely quiet autofocus. All switches and collars are adequately sized and marked, and the lens feels solidly constructed, almost pro-quality.
IN THE LAB:
SQF data showed sharpness and contrast in the Excellent range at all tested focal lengths -- not surprising for a Nikkor. In DxO Analyzer 3.0.1 distortion control tests, we found Visible barrel distortion at 16mm (0.49%) and Slight pincushion distortion at 50mm and 85mm (0.20% and 0.19%, respectively). This
is a noticeably stronger performance than the Canon, which showed, for example, Very Visible barreling at 17mm (1.25%). (The Nikon's numbers suggest average distortion control by today's standards, but 10 years ago, they would have been headline news.)
Light falloff was gone from the corners by f/8 at 16mm, f/5.6 at 50mm, and f/6.3 at 85mm -- also an average performance. Maximum magnification ratios at the uniform close-focusing distance of a tight 13.2 inches ranged from 1:14.25 at 16mm to an OK 1:3.8 at 85mm.
In DxO blur tests of the lens' Vibration Reduction system, three users gained between 2 and 2.5 stops of extra handholdability with VR engaged -- not great, but also not surprising as image stabilization is usually most effective at longer focal lengths.
CONCLUSIONS:
If you're an ambitious amateur calling for more optical oomph from your everyday zoom, but you're not ready to take on the physical and financial burden of high-speed pro glass, Nikon has heard you.
SPECIFICATIONS:
16-85mm (16.54-86.42mm tested), f/3.5-5.6 (f/3.34-5.35 tested), 17 elements in 11 groups. Focusing turns 160 degrees clockwise. Zoom ring turns 80 degrees counterclockwise. Focal lengths marked at 16-, 24-, 35-, 50-, 70-, and 85mm.
• Diagonal view angle: 83-18 degrees.
• Weight: 1.22 lb.
• Filter size: 67mm.
• Mounts: Nikon AF.
• Included: Lenshood, softcase.
• Street price: $600.
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