Compare lenses

Nikon AF-P DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR vs Nikon AF-S DX 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

The Nikon AF-P DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR and the Nikon AF-S DX 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Nikon AF-S DX 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR if you want more reach (to 128mm equivalent) and a wider view (from 24mm equivalent). On these specs the Nikon AF-P DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR has no clear advantage: choose it if the price, the handling or a lens you own decides it.

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Nikon AF-P DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR and the Nikon AF-S DX 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
SpecNikon AF-P DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VRNikon AF-S DX 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR
MakerNikonNikon
Focal length18-55mm (zoom)16-85mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent27-82mm on APS-C24-128mm on APS-C
Maximum aperturef/3.5-5.6f/3.5-5.6
Made forAPS-CAPS-C
MountsNikon FNikon F
Stabilisedyesyes
Autofocusyesyes
Zoom range3.1×5.3×more range
Cameras it fits17 in this guide17 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

142435508513520040080027-82mm equiv.AF-P DX 18-55mm
Nikon AF-P DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR: 18-55mm on APS-C, like 27-82mm.
142435508513520040080024-128mm equiv.AF-S DX 16-85mm
Nikon AF-S DX 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR: 16-85mm on APS-C, like 24-128mm.

Aperture

f/3.5
Nikon AF-P DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR: f/3.5 wide open.
f/3.5
Nikon AF-S DX 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR: f/3.5 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

AF-S DX 16-85mm at 16mm · 74°AF-P DX 18-55mm at 18mm · 67°AF-P DX 18-55mm at 55mm · 25°AF-S DX 16-85mm at 85mm · 16°
How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

17 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body.

Nikon AF-P DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

and 7 more

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

and 7 more

On their own pages