N-Photo

STANDARD DX ZOOMS

FEATURE-RICH, BUT A BIT PRICEY IT’S NIKON’S VETERAN STANDARD DX ZOOM

Nikon AF-S DX 16-80mm

f/2.8-4E ED VR £ 8770 , $ 10070

Nikon AF-S DX 17-55mm

f/2.8G IF-ED £ 980 , $ 1500

Despite not being a constant-
aperture lens, this new Nikon
lens’s aperture range of f/2.8 to
f/4 is still relatively fast, and in
other respects it serves up a
feast of features. It’s the only
lens in the group to have an
electromagnetically controlled
diaphragm, enabling greater
consistency in exposure settings
during continuous shooting.
Other highlights include
revamped VR and ring-type
ultrasonic autofocus systems,
compared with Nikon’s older
16-85mm lens. Optically,
there’s a generous four ED
elements, plus Nano Crystal
Coatings to reduce ghosting
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also facilitates easy cleaning.

Performance

Centre sharpness is very good
throughout most of the zoom
range, but there’s still room for
improvement at the long end,
and in image corners at all focal
lengths. Performance isn’t quite
great in terms of distortions or
colour fringing either, but these
are easily corrected in post-
production, and overall image
quality looks very impressive.

Big and chunky at 86x111mm

and 755g, this lens is both

bigger and heavier than the

Sigma and Tamron f/2.8

constant-aperture zooms on

test, and dwarfs DX bodies like

the D3300 and D5500. As you’d

expect from a veteran pro-

grade lens, it looks much more

at home on a full-size pro-class

body like the D2X.

It feels solid and robust, with

an excellent standard of build

quality throughout. The optical

design incorporates three ED

elements, while ring-type

ultrasonic autofocus is swift

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but the lack of optical

stabilisation can, naturally,

have an adverse effect on

handheld photography.

Performance

Image quality is very good

in terms of sharpness and

contrast. Indeed, it’s the best

lens in the group at maintaining

high levels of corner-to-corner

sharpness throughout its entire

zoom range. However, colour

fringing is a bit on the high side,

especially at shorter zoom

settings, and barrel distortion

i s h igh at 17m m.

Very good overall, but could be sharper

at 85mm, and in image corners.

Sharpness is excellent throughout the

zoom range and across the whole frame.

f/4-5 f/5.6 f/8 f/11 f/16 f/22 f/32

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

f/2.8-3.5

16mm 24mm 50mm 80mm

f/4-5 f/5.6 f/8 f/11 f/16 f/22 f/32

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

f/2.8-3.5

17mm 24mm 35mm 55mm

Centre sharpness (Higher is better) Centre sharpness (Higher is better)

Short 3.23 Mid 2.13 Long 1.78

Average at 16mm, but fringing gets less

as you extend through the zoom range.

Edge fringing (f/8) (Lower is better)

Short 2.91 Mid 2.54 Long 2.05

Fringing scores are poor at 17mm, and

worse than average at longer settings.

Edge fringing (f/8) (Lower is better)

Features

Build/Handling

Performance

value for money

OVERALL

Boasts superb handling and very good

image quality, but it’s pricey in the UK.

Verdict

Features

Build/Handling

Performance

value for money

OVERALL

For overall performance, it loses out to

Nikon’s much newer 16-80mm lens.

Verdict

Barrel distortion is apparent at 16mm,

and pincushion is visible at 50-80mm.

There’s noticeable distortion at 17mm,

b u t i t ’s n e g li g i b l e a t l o n ge r fo c a l l e n g th s.

Distortion (Nearer 0 is better) Distortion (Nearer 0 is better)

-3 -2 -1 0 123

SHORT -2.54

MID 0.58

LONG 1.05

-4 -3 -2 -1 0 123

SHORT -3.14

MID 1.57

LONG 1.42

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com March 2016 133