Author Topic: DX 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR  (Read 1930 times)

RogerB

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DX 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR
« on: January 06, 2016, 21:45:18 »
B&H list the Nikon DX 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR lens as the "kit" lens with the newly announced D500.

The camera specs for the D500 overwhelm me, but I've been out of the DX realm (except for a D2Hs for my grandkids field sports) for quite a while. Nothing specifically left in the DX format for lenses.

How does this lens measure up on the high resolution DX bodies? This lens plus the D500 would be my new travel camera. With some wildlife options on the side.

Any comments for a quality midrange zoom that includes 16mm and doesn't break the scale are appreciated.

Thanks, and it's good to find Nikongear healthy and moving ahead.

Roger

Bjørn Rørslett

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Re: DX 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR
« Reply #1 on: January 06, 2016, 21:52:54 »
With D500 and the DX format, alternatives such as the 16-85 VR f/3.5-5.6 should also be a candidate. This is a slower, yet very sharp and capable performer and of course, with a D500 you just dial in a higher ISO anyway and are good to go.

Only used the 16-85 VR for IR, but do recall it delivered excellent image quality. Besides, the lens is pretty small and light weight.

The 16-80 f/2.8-4 is considered 'pro' by Nikon and accordingly costs much more than the humbler 16-85.

RogerB

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Re: DX 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2016, 23:28:59 »
Bjorn,

Thanks, I've been out of the DX business long enough that I'm really behind on the serious evaluations. With the plethora of 18-XX lenses, I thought the DX lenses were being vigorously pursued by Nikon. On more detailed review, it seems like there are several holes in the lineup. I would prefer a couple of compact WA primes.

Roger

Bjørn Rørslett

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Re: DX 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR
« Reply #3 on: January 07, 2016, 00:06:00 »
Not much benefit to making a DX wide-angle prime if the lens be reasonably fast. Zoom designs are slightly different and can be matched better to the format, yet again high speed implies a much larger lens even for a DX system.

When the focal length increases, the scenario becomes pretty confusing. For example, Nikon has the two DX Micro-Nikkors 40 mm f/2.8 and 85 mm f/3.5, both of which are quite compact in size. They didn't bother with any longer Micro as the size advantage would be small to non-existing. They do have FX and DX format 35 mm f/1.8 designs, but direct comparison is difficult as the DX version is a 'normal' lens and the FX is a wide-angle, thus the optics are very different.  You could just as well put the FX 35/1.8 on a DX camera and regard that as a 'normal' lens, but then the design has not been simplified according to the smaller image circle to cover.

For long lenses, a special DX makes less sense as the size of the lens largely is set by the speed not the sensor size. A 300/2.8 is the same size whether made for m43, DX, or FX. For even larger formats, size may or may not change depending on whether the lens operates as a long 'telephoto', or 'normal' design. Of course, zoom designs again follow slightly different rules.