Specifications#
- Brand
- Nikon
- Model
- Nikkor AF-S 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G DX ED VR
- Lens type
- Standard zoom
- Focal length
- 16–85 mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/3.5–5.6
- Image circle
- APS-C (23.5×15.6 mm)
- Mount(s)
- Nikon F
- Projection
- Rectilinear
- Stabilisation
- Yes (optical)
- Autofocus motor
- silent wave (AF-S)
- Lensfun correction profile
- Yes — distortion/vignetting/TCA
Equivalent focal length on different cameras#
Field of view and depth-of-field equivalence when this lens is used on bodies with different sensor sizes (natively or via an adapter).
| Camera format | At 16 mm | At 37 mm | At 85 mm | Equiv. aperture (DoF) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APS-C | 24 mm · 83° | 56 mm · 42° | 128 mm · 19° | f/5.2 |
| APS-C (Canon) | 26 mm · 80° | 59 mm · 40° | 136 mm · 18° | f/5.6 |
| Micro Four Thirds | 32 mm · 68° | 74 mm · 33° | 170 mm · 15° | f/7.0 |
Depth of field & background blur#
Computed on its native APS-C format (CoC 20 µm). “Blur @2 m” is the size of an out-of-focus point at infinity, as a percentage of frame width, with the subject at 2 m — a simple bokeh index. Full table: 16 mm f/4 on aps-c.
| Focal | Aperture | at 1 m | at 2 m | at 5 m | at 10 m | Hyperfocal | Blur @2 m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | f/3.5 | 56.5 cm | 2.95 m | ∞ | ∞ | 3.76 m | 0.2% |
| 16 mm | f/4 | 66.1 cm | 3.83 m | ∞ | ∞ | 3.29 m | 0.1% |
| 16 mm | f/8 | 1.88 m | ∞ | ∞ | ∞ | 1.65 m | 0.1% |
| 37 mm | f/3.5 | 9.7 cm | 39.6 cm | 2.64 m | 13.3 m | 20.0 m | 0.8% |
| 37 mm | f/4 | 11.0 cm | 45.4 cm | 3.08 m | 16.8 m | 17.5 m | 0.7% |
| 37 mm | f/8 | 22.3 cm | 94.5 cm | 8.36 m | ∞ | 8.79 m | 0.4% |
| 85 mm | f/3.5 | 1.7 cm | 7.3 cm | 46.7 cm | 1.90 m | 106 m | 4.6% |
| 85 mm | f/4 | 2.0 cm | 8.3 cm | 53.4 cm | 2.17 m | 92.4 m | 4.0% |
| 85 mm | f/8 | 4.0 cm | 16.6 cm | 1.08 m | 4.50 m | 46.3 m | 2.0% |
Handheld & night-sky limits#
NPF assumes typical 20–24 MP sensors (≈6 µm pixels on full frame, ≈3.9 µm on APS-C, ≈3.3 µm on Micro Four Thirds).
| Body | Min. handheld shutter (longest focal) | 500 rule at 16 mm | NPF at 16 mm, f/3.5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| APS-C | 1/125 s | 21 s | 15 s |
| APS-C (Canon) | 1/125 s | 20 s | 15 s |
| Micro Four Thirds | 1/160 s | 16 s | 14 s |
Compatible cameras#
Bodies in our database with a native Nikon F mount. Full-frame bodies switch to an APS-C crop with this lens.
- Nikon D6 crop mode
- Nikon D780 crop mode
- Nikon D3500 2018
- Nikon D7500 2017
- Nikon D850 crop mode
- Nikon D5600 2016
- Nikon D3400 2016
- Nikon D500 2016
- Nikon D5 crop mode
- Nikon D5500 2015
- Nikon D7200 2015
- Nikon D4S crop mode
- Nikon D750 crop mode
- Nikon D810 crop mode
- Nikon D3300 2014
- Nikon D7100 2013
- Nikon D5300 2013
- Nikon D610 crop mode
- Nikon Df crop mode
- Nikon D3200 2012
- Nikon D4 crop mode
- Nikon D5200 2012
- Nikon D600 crop mode
- Nikon D800 crop mode
- Nikon D5100 2011
- Nikon D7000 2010
- Nikon D3100 2010
- Nikon D3000 2009
- Nikon D300S 2009
- Nikon D3S crop mode
- Nikon D5000 2009
- Nikon D60 2008
- Nikon D3X crop mode
- Nikon D700 crop mode
- Nikon D90 2008
- Nikon D3 crop mode
- Nikon D300 2007
- Nikon D40x 2007
- Nikon D40 2006
- Nikon D80 2006
Adapt it to other systems#
Similar lenses#
- Nikon Nikkor AF-S 16-80mm f/2.8-4E DX ED VR f/2.8–4
- Nikon Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G DX IF-ED f/2.8
- Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM f/2.8
- Tamron AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD (Model A16) f/2.8
- Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) f/2.8
- Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II VC LD Aspherical (IF) f/2.8
- Nikon Nikkor AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR f/3.5–5.6
- Nikon Nikkor AF-S 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G DX ED VR f/3.5–5.6
- Nikon Nikkor AF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX ED f/3.5–5.6
- Nikon Nikkor AF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR f/3.5–5.6
- Nikon Nikkor AF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR II f/3.5–5.6
- Nikon Nikkor AF-S 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G DX IF-ED f/3.5–4.5
Frequently asked questions#
Is the Nikon Nikkor AF-S 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G DX ED VR full frame?
No — it is designed for APS-C sensors. On a full-frame body it vignettes or triggers crop mode.
What is the Nikon Nikkor AF-S 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G DX ED VR equivalent to on APS-C?
Its focal length is already the real value for APS-C: 16–85 mm frames like 25–130 mm on full frame.
What is the Nikon Nikkor AF-S 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G DX ED VR good for?
As a standard zoom it suits everyday shooting, travel, events and walkaround use.
Sources & licences#
- Lensfun lens database — CC BY-SA 3.0
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources