Question 1

What image quality improvements are people seeing over the 18-105, if any? Apart from the obvious build quality.

Accepted Answer

hi nigel, I was attracted to this lens because of what it offers at the wide end of the focal range. What is effectively 24 mm in old money is quite significant in my opinion, compared to the "standard" wide angle of 27-28mm, (18mm on a DX lens), when capturing interiors or landscapes. That said the lens is very sharp and has performed well in numerous tests in the last few years. Unfortunately I am unable to compare it to the 18-105 in terms of sharpness, because I have never used that lens. It depends on your priorities but what i do know is that tests have commented that if there is a weakness in sharpness in the 16-85mm it is at the telephoto end. But I havn't noticed to be honest. If the telephoto reach is what attracts you to the 18-105, I am sure it performs at least as well as the suggested alternative. If you want stunning landscapes with big sky however, I can heartily recommend the 16-85. Not sure I have helped really? Good luck.

Question 2

Will this lens really make that much of a difference compared to my kit lens on the Nikon D3200?

Accepted Answer

Optically not very much; it only improves contrast and flare management a little over and above the kit lens.  The 18-55 kit lens is a very good lens but is poorly made compared to the 16-85 and of course doesn't have the telephoto range.  I've been very pleased with mine on a d5100 and now a D7000.  If you've got the money, it's the best zoom covering this focal length range currently on the market.

Question 3

What type of mount does this lens have metal or plastic?

Accepted Answer

HiIt has a metal mount.RegardsJanet

Question 4

How robust is the lens hood? Is it likely to break if knocked?

Accepted Answer

The lens hood is as robust as it needs to be. Admittedly when in use the wings of the hood do stick out from the lens body, but they are fairly robust and i would imagine it would take a fairly hefty whack to snap the wings off. I've found that when the hood is not in use i can reverse it so that the wings of the hood are facing inwards toward the body of the camera. This ensures that the whole unit fits snuggly into the camera bag and the wings are no longer susceptible to damage.

ASIN	B0013A1XDE
Best Sellers Rank	16,628 in Electronics & Photo ( See Top 100 in Electronics & Photo ) 86 in Camera Lenses
Box Contents	AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED Vibration Reduction Zoom Lens for Nikon DSLR Cameras, CL-1015 Soft Case, HB-39 Bayonet Lens Hood, LC-67 Snap-on Front Lens Cap, LF-4 Rear Lens Cap
Brand Name	Nikon
Camera Lens	Nikkor AF-S DX 16-85mm zoom lens with f/3.5-5.6 maximum aperture and vibration reduction (VR) for image stabilization. Designed for Nikon DSLR cameras with DX sensor. Offers an effective focal length of 24-128mm on cameras with APS-C sensor. Includes ED glass elements for superior image quality.
Colour	black
Compatible Camera Models	Nikon D40, D60, D80, D90, D300
Compatible Devices	Nikon Cameras, Nikon Digital SLRs
Compatible Mountings	Nikon F (DX)
Country of Origin	China
Customer Reviews	4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (402)
Exposure Control Type	Automatic
Fixed Focal Length	85 Millimetres
Focus Type	Auto Focus
Global Trade Identification Number	00182080217896
Has Self-Timer	No
Image Stabilization Type	Optical
Item Part Number	JAA800DA
Item Weight	485 Grams
Lens Coating Description	BBAR Coating
Lens Design	Zoom
Lens Mount	Nikon F
Lens Type	Zoom
Manufacturer	Nikon
Manufacturer Part Number	JAA800DA
Maximum Focal Length	127.5 Millimeters
Maximum Shutter Speed	1/16 second
Media Type	ProductImage
Minimum Aperture	36
Minimum Focal Length	16 Millimeters
Model Name	2178
Model Number	2178
Model Series	AF-S DX
Number of Diaphragm Blades	7
Number of Items	1
Number of Packs	1
Photo Filter Size	67 Millimeters
Screen Size	3.4 Inches
Shooting Modes	Manual Focus
UPC	182080217896 018208021789
Video Capture Resolution	1080p
Viewfinder Type	Optical viewfinder
Water Resistance Level	Not Water Resistant
Zoom Ratio	1:5.3

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Lens

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