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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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8
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135678
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10/14/2012
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Recommended By
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Average Purchase
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100% of reviewers
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$1,249.00
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| Reader Review Rating Averages |
Readers' rating for
Construction Quality
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Readers' rating for
Image Quality
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Readers'
Overall Rating
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9.29
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9.29
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9.14
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CraigH
Registered: October 2011
Posts: 6
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Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor review by CraigH
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Review Date: 10/14/2012
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: $1,250.00| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Very sharp, fairly light weight, perfect ultra wide range, balances nicely
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Cons:
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None
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I preordered this lens when it was announced, something I don't ever do, but I wanted an ultra wide for FX to go the the Grand Tetons with. I read the initial reviews posted by the internet forum nay-sayers and felt a bit discouraged. Then I got the lens and actually used it. What a pleasant surprise. Goes to show why not to listen to the intitial views of the pixel peeping measurabators.
This lens might be one of the sharpest, most contrasty lens in my kit. If I do my part, the output is stunning to say the least. This lens is usually mounted to my D700, D3S or my D800 and finds itself at paid assignments as well as pleasure photoshoots.
The 16-35 f/4 is a tough lens. Situated on the side of a mountain in driving sleet and snow for six hours waiting for after storm light, I just kept knocking sludge off of it and the D700. No damage and no fear of it. It just kept doing what it was designed to do.
My sweet spot in FX extra wide is around 24mm. My rational for not getting the 14-24 f/2.8 was that I'd always be fighting that 24mm area and need to change to a longer lens. The 16-35 f/4 allows plenty of room both side of 24mm so I am always able to adjust. Just makes sense.
This lens has incredible barrel distortion at 16mm and goes away fairly fast as you zoom in. The thing is that if you don't want it, it's so simple to process it away in or out of the camera. It's not a problem unless you're stitching panos at that length. It's a very simple type of barrel distortion.
Now, let me say this and I'm sure I'm rare, but I love a good bit of barrel distortion at times and have been known to add it in on some images. A fisheye has a ton of it and can really be creative. Your eye has a huge amount of barrel distortion your brain doesn't allow you to notice unless you try. I sometimes love the look which really only is seen on a straight horizon or with lots of horizontal lines. It can be very fun. Correct it if you don't like it, though.
This lens is a real work horse as well as a fun creative chunk of high quality glass. I highly recommend it.
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dhale001
Registered: November 2011
Posts: 6
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Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor review by dhale001
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Review Date: 8/3/2012
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: $1,195.00| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharp, good contrast , not to heavy, VR
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Cons:
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On camera flash shadow at 16mm
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I use this lens on a Nikon D800E as a daytime walk-around lens for photography in an urban environment, landscape, or flash photography of indoor parties.
I use an SB-600 to avoid the on-camera flash shadow.
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jtorral
Registered: September 2010
Posts: 9
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Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor review by jtorral
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Review Date: 1/19/2011
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 0
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To see hundreds of photos with this lens and compare to others look here:
http://nikonimages.com/standardgallery.php?lenstype=971&showall
You can get an idea of how this lens performs with different camera.
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jwphoto
Registered: October 2010
Posts: 2
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Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor review by jwphoto
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Review Date: 10/31/2010
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: $1,300.00| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Very sharp, good contrast , living colors , not to heavy, VR
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Cons:
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distortion at 16 mm, vignetting
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Nice and easy to handle. bought it as wideangle expansion to my new 28-300 nikkor zoom ( is also very good for the money ) Give's very sharp images but need to stop down to 5.6 or 6.3 , also less fall off with these settings. Use it on my also new D700 . compared to the 24-70 a bit more chrom.abbr. but thats no problem when shooting Jpeg. Its far better then my 'old' nikkor 12-24 DX
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pc998
Registered: September 2010
Posts: 5
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Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor review by pc998
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Review Date: 10/17/2010
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Very sharp even at F4, VRII, closest focusing distance is around four inches (from front element)
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Cons:
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Too long (lens dimension), distortion (but can easily be fixed)
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Build: Pro grade lens with Nano Crystal Coat, magnesium alloy barrel and weather sealing. The ability to accept filter is important. Lens and hood are made in Japan. The new 24-120 F4 VR is made in Thailand but still selling at pro grade price level. This is one of the reason why I buy this 16-35 F4 VR. 680g is not heavy and 77mm filter size is excellent. Lens elements are extremely clean (can’t find any dust particles). I like the hood because of its size (small enough). However, is it necessary to make the lens 4.9 inches long?
Focusing and related features: For an ultra-wide angle zoom, VR is more useful than F2.8. AF-S is fast and quiet. Low light focus capability (using D700) is very good. Focus holds while zooming. Internal focus, no external movement during focus. Internal zoom, the optics move inside the barrel. The very close focusing distance is an added bonus and indeed very useful.
IQ: Very sharp even at F4 across the whole zoom range. It seems the best aperture range is between F4 and F8 with maximum center sharpness at F5.6. There is distortion but it can automatically be corrected during NEF conversion in Capture NX2.
Overall impression: It’s a very capable ultra-wide angle zoom. This is the first of its kind that has image stabilization. Last but not least, it’s a more affordable alternative to 17-35 f2.8 and 14-24 f2.8. I gave a rating of 9 (not 10) because of the length of this lens. Would it be, longer is better (in terms of IQ)?
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cputeq
Registered: January 2010
Posts: 4
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Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor review by cputeq
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Review Date: 8/30/2010
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: $1,300.00| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Image quality, VR, accepts filters
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Cons:
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Large-ish, distortion on the wide end.
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I bought the 16-35 lens as an alternative to the very popular 14-24 f/2.8. For me, it was very important to have the ability to use filters, as I'm addicted to my B&W 77mm circular polarizer. Also, I thought VR II would be more useful than an extra stop of light, in the instances I would want to do landscapes hand-held.
I must say overall I am very impressed with the lens. It lives up to all my expectations. Very sharp images, autofocus is decently fast (not like you need fast AF in an ultra-wide angle lens). Construction is very good.
VR II works awesomely. Additionally, the lens is very good with flare - I actually see flare in my viewfinder that I DO NOT get in the final image - it's almost immune.
My only complaint, if you want to call it that, is the distortion. More specifically, distortion at 16mm and closer-focused targets. The lens can throw some crazy distortion on near targets - far targets, like landscapes, are FAR LESS PRONE to the distortion, though you'll notice it.
For landscapers or anyone else, I wouldn't hesitate to suggest this lens. For architecture or people that really need the straightest of lines, I would probably avoid this lens.
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foto_fhantom
Registered: July 2010
Posts: 1
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Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor review by foto_fhantom
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Review Date: 7/26/2010
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharp, Quick focus , Surprising Very Near focusing Distance and very Versatile
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Cons:
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slightly longer than the 2.8
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* It is a great lens no doubt about it.... f4 is more than enough. The VR II good for low light condition and keeps the image sharp.....
* Image output are sharp
* Lens built is solid
* Lens Value for money
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shineofleo
Registered: May 2010
Posts: 1
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Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor review by shineofleo
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Review Date: 5/25/2010
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: $1,200.00| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Lighter than F2.8 lens; Sharp; Close Focus; VR
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Cons:
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Distortion on 16mm
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Just bought and used this lens with my D3, with outdoor landscape, nightscene, indoor photography where is very dark.
* Construction. It is very well built, although some of it is plastic. However, this is advanage compare with heavy 17-35. I quite like it and the quality is not bad at all. But it is quite long and you still prepare a bigger bag for it.
* Sharpness. Very good, no complaint. From a quick look, the pictures shot by F4 and F8 are not obviously different.
* Distortion. It is not uncommon for a wide lens, but the distortion at 16mm does have some impact. You may want to do some correction in the PS.
* VR. Handy, especially in dark.
* F4. I think I will not pursuing F2.8 with this lens in my hand. It is good enough.
* Macro. Interstingly, it can focus at a short distance. This is useful when you want to do a quick macro without changing lense.
Enjoy!
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