From: RichA on
The 16-85mm is a very good zoom. Compact and good performance for
it's price tag. But not quite as good as the 70-200mm f2.8, at least
not on 16-85mm's long end. Raw to JPEG, nothing done except 60%
sharpening.

http://www.pbase.com/andersonrm/nikon_70200mm_f28_versus_nikon_1685mm_f3556