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CNET editors' rating:
3.5 stars
Very good
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Product summary
The good: Solidly built; Vibration Reduction image stabilization; strong manual focus capabilities.
The bad: On the heavy side; price on the heavy side as well.
The bottom line: A tough, full-featured, well-built medium zoom lens, the Nikon AF-S DX 16-85mm f3.5-5.6 G ED VR's relatively high price tag may nevertheless make you want to consider other options.
Specifications: Weight: 17.1 oz See full specs
Price range: $548.95 - $649.95
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 06/11/2008
- Released on: 02/08/2008
For those looking to go beyond what a kit lens has to offer their Nikon dSLR, there's Nikon's AF-S DX 16-85mm f3.5-5.6 G ED VR. Compatible with all Nikon DX digital SLRs including the D300, D60, and
| AF-S | Autofocus |
| DX | Designed and optimized for Nikon's digital SLRs, which use the DX-aspect CCD |
| G | No aperture ring |
| ED | Extra-low dispersion glass for improved contrast and reduced chromatic aberration |
| VR | Vibration Reduction. Optical stabilizer to minimize blur from camera shake. |
Providing the 35mm-equivalent angle of view of a 24-127.5mm lens, it delivers a useful zoom range, and its features make it a great everyday lens capable of scenics as well as portraits. Given that it has a rather narrow maximum aperture of f3.5, though, its near-$600 price tag seems relatively hefty.
Design
• Solid construction with a quality feel to it, including a black crinkle finish with a metal lens mount and base for added durability.
• Weighs 17.2 ounces, measures 3.3 inches long with a 2.8 inch diameter, and accepts 67mm screw-on filters. The filter does not rotate while focusing.
• Knurled wide rubber zoom ring at the front of the lens, with a smaller but very useable manual focus ring toward the base of the lens.
• Large, easy-to-read zoom markings at 16mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 70mm, and 85mm. Distance scale window that reads in meters and feet, good to have when setting focus manually.
Features
• Working focal length of 24mm to 127.5mm on a Nikon DX-based body (1.5x magnification factor)
• Variable maximum aperture from f3.5 to f5.6 and a variable minimum aperture from f22 to f36
• Vibration Reduction optical stabilization system for sharper handheld photos at slow shutter speeds, especially in low light. The VR compensates in real-time for shake and vibration with no degradation to the image. Besides the normal setting, it has an active mode that is useful if the photographer is moving.
• Nikon's exclusive M/A (manual/auto) mode provides full-time autofocus with instant manual-focus override by just turning the focus ring. Also has a full-time manual-focus mode.
• Nicely accessorized with a lens hood (HB-39) and a lens pouch (CL-1015) for safekeeping.
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Nikon AF-S DX 16-85mm f3.5-5.6 G ED VR lens:
