I own both lenses. The 2.8 on the 18-55 is only useful when used on the wide end; as it is not a constant 2.8. I like the size compared to the 16-80 which is a bit bulkier. But the 16-80 is a much sharper lens. My 18-55 may be a bad copy and I never thought it produced sharp images. From what I've seen in other posts, it may be a bit overrated because it has a great build quality for a kit lens.