16-45 vs 16-85 (in the 16-45 range)

GossCTP wrote:

I have both of them. The 16-85 has a better build quality and a quieter af. I haven't warmed up to it though, as it seems to never focus right. IQ wise, I can't tell much difference between the two. I miss the close focus ability at wide angle the 16-45 had. Also, the 16-45 was often criticised for blocking the pop up flash at 16mm, yet the 16-85 has flash vignetting at all focal lengths. Also, I'm not a fan of the focus ring on the 16-85.

GossCTP,

My 16-85 focuses okay and I haven't had a problem with vignetting except in rare lighting situations , but I like the idea of the 16-45 coupled with the 55-300 for certain sorts of hikes.  After sending back the 16-45 I mentioned above (with the broken piece on the aperture blades) I found another one being sold by Adorama and sent for it.  I haven't used it yet but physically it is in much better shape than the one I sent back.

There is a good deal of hit and miss as well as subjectivity in regard to lenses.  No lens maker has the level of quality control that would guarantee that each individual lens is exactly like every other lens being produced.  It sounds as though my 16-85, for example may be better than yours . . . although I should add that the one time I actually tested the lens by comparing it with the 18-135 (two different outings were involved) the 18-135 surprised me by producing  better, perhaps a little better than those of the 16-85, but the lighting on the two days was different and I don't really believe that day after day the 18-135 would out-perform the 16-85.  On the other hand I think that the profile used for the 18-135 in Lightroom brings the performance of the 18-135 much closer to the 16-85 such that taking the 18-135 on days when I want to go light makes much more sense to me.

But if I wanted to use the 55-300 on a hike, what would I use to cover the focal lengths below 55?  I have the 16-84 and 18-135 but I like the idea of avoiding the overlap.  I have primes I could use but which one or ones should I take, the 15, 21, 23, 35 or 40?  I like primes, but I also like the idea of a 16-45 if I can get a good copy.

Lawrence