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Best Nikon Lenses

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An expert product reviewer with over a decade of experience dissecting the latest gadgets and gear across various industries.
Updated

Main Features

  • F/2.8 constant aperture
  • Vibration Reduction (VR)
  • Aspherical, ED, and HRI elements
  • Nano Crystal Coat
  • Weather-sealed design

Product Overview

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR is designed for photographers who demand the utmost in image quality. The lens features an f/2.8 constant aperture, which allows for excellent low-light performance and depth of field control.

The addition of Vibration Reduction (VR) technology helps to minimize camera shake, making it easier to achieve sharp images even in challenging shooting conditions. The lens is also constructed with aspherical, ED, and HRI elements, which help to reduce chromatic aberrations and distortions, resulting in images with exceptional clarity and color accuracy.

The Nano Crystal Coat further reduces ghosting and flare, ensuring that your images have high contrast and rich color saturation. The rugged build quality and weather-sealed design make this lens suitable for professional use in a variety of environments.

PROS
  • Excellent image quality
  • Fast and constant aperture
  • Effective Vibration Reduction
  • Durable and weather-sealed
CONS
  • Heavy and bulky
  • Expensive

Product Specifications

  • Focal Length 24-70mm
  • Maximum Aperture f/2.8
  • Minimum Aperture f/22
  • Lens Construction 20 elements in 16 groups
  • Minimum Focus Distance 0.38 m
  • Filter Size 82mm
  • Weight 1070 g

Main Features

  • Ultra-wide 14-24mm range
  • F/2.8 constant aperture
  • ED glass elements
  • Nano Crystal Coat
  • Silent Wave Motor (SWM)

Product Overview

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED is a professional-grade ultra-wide-angle lens that is highly regarded for its sharpness and image quality. It is ideal for landscape, architecture, and interior photography due to its wide field of view and fast f/2.

8 aperture. The lens features ED glass elements and Nano Crystal Coat to reduce ghosting and flare, providing clear and contrast-rich images. The Silent Wave Motor (SWM) ensures fast and quiet autofocus performance, while the robust build quality with weather-sealing makes it suitable for use in challenging conditions.

Despite its wide-angle capabilities, the lens delivers minimal distortion, making it a favorite among professionals who require precise and high-quality images.

PROS
  • Exceptional sharpness
  • Wide-angle capabilities
  • Fast aperture
  • Durable build quality
CONS
  • Heavy
  • Expensive
  • No filter thread

Product Specifications

  • Focal Length 14-24mm
  • Maximum Aperture f/2.8
  • Minimum Aperture f/22
  • Lens Construction 14 elements in 11 groups
  • Minimum Focus Distance 0.28 m
  • Filter Size Not supported
  • Weight 1000 g

Main Features

  • F/1.4 maximum aperture
  • Nano Crystal Coat
  • Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
  • Manual focus override
  • Weather-sealed design

Product Overview

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G is a top choice for portrait photographers seeking a lens that provides beautiful bokeh and sharp subject isolation. The fast f/1.4 aperture allows for excellent low-light performance and creates a shallow depth of field that makes subjects stand out against blurred backgrounds.

The lens is constructed with Nano Crystal Coat and Super Integrated Coating to reduce ghosting and flare, ensuring high contrast and vibrant colors. The Silent Wave Motor (SWM) ensures fast and quiet autofocus, while the manual focus override allows for precise control.

The durable build quality and weather-sealing ensure that the lens can withstand professional use.

PROS
  • Beautiful bokeh
  • Fast aperture
  • Sharp images
  • Durable build
CONS
  • Expensive
  • No image stabilization

Product Specifications

  • Focal Length 85mm
  • Maximum Aperture f/1.4
  • Minimum Aperture f/16
  • Lens Construction 10 elements in 9 groups
  • Minimum Focus Distance 0.85 m
  • Filter Size 77mm
  • Weight 595 g

Main Features

  • 18-300mm focal range
  • Vibration Reduction (VR)
  • ED glass elements
  • Aspherical lens elements
  • Silent Wave Motor (SWM)

Product Overview

The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR is an all-in-one zoom lens that covers a wide focal range, making it an ideal choice for travel and general photography. The lens features Vibration Reduction (VR) technology to minimize camera shake and ensure sharp images, even at longer focal lengths.

The lens is constructed with ED glass elements and aspherical lens elements to reduce chromatic aberrations and distortions, providing high-quality images across the zoom range. The compact and lightweight design makes it easy to carry, while the Silent Wave Motor (SWM) ensures fast and quiet autofocus.

This lens is perfect for photographers who want a single lens that can handle a variety of shooting situations.

PROS
  • Wide focal range
  • Effective VR
  • Compact and lightweight
  • Good image quality
CONS
  • Variable aperture
  • Not the best in low light

Product Specifications

  • Focal Length 18-300mm
  • Maximum Aperture f/3.5-6.3
  • Minimum Aperture f/22-40
  • Lens Construction 16 elements in 12 groups
  • Minimum Focus Distance 0.48 m
  • Filter Size 67mm
  • Weight 550 g

Main Features

  • 1:1 reproduction ratio
  • F/2.8 maximum aperture
  • Vibration Reduction (VR)
  • ED glass elements
  • Nano Crystal Coat

Product Overview

The Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED is a specialized macro lens designed for close-up photography. With a 1:1 reproduction ratio, this lens is capable of capturing subjects at their actual size, making it ideal for photographing small objects, insects, and flowers.

The fast f/2.8 aperture allows for excellent control over depth of field and low-light performance. The lens features Vibration Reduction (VR) technology to minimize camera shake, ensuring sharp images even at close distances.

The ED glass elements and Nano Crystal Coat reduce chromatic aberrations and flare, providing high-quality images with accurate colors and fine details. The Silent Wave Motor (SWM) ensures fast and quiet autofocus, while the internal focusing (IF) system keeps the lens length constant.

The durable build and weather-sealing make this lens suitable for outdoor use.

PROS
  • Excellent for macro photography
  • Sharp images
  • Effective VR
  • Durable build quality
CONS
  • Expensive
  • Heavy

Product Specifications

  • Focal Length 105mm
  • Maximum Aperture f/2.8
  • Minimum Aperture f/32
  • Lens Construction 14 elements in 12 groups
  • Minimum Focus Distance 0.31 m
  • Filter Size 62mm
  • Weight 720 g

Understanding Your Needs

Before diving into specific lenses, it's important to understand what you need from a lens. Consider the following factors:

  1. Purpose and Usage: Are you shooting landscapes, portraits, wildlife, sports, macro, or everyday photography? Each genre has specific lens requirements.
  2. Budget: High-quality lenses can be expensive, but there are often affordable options that perform remarkably well.
  3. Camera Compatibility: Ensure the lens you choose is compatible with your Nikon camera body. Nikon lenses come in different mounts, primarily F-mount for DSLRs and Z-mount for mirrorless cameras.

Key Lens Categories

Prime Lenses

Prime lenses have a fixed focal length and are known for their sharpness and wide apertures, making them excellent for low-light conditions and achieving a shallow depth of field.

  • Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G: This is a classic lens that many photographers start with. Its wide aperture allows for beautiful bokeh and it's great for portraits and general photography.
  • Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S: For mirrorless users, this lens offers exceptional sharpness and is perfect for street and landscape photography.

Zoom Lenses

Zoom lenses offer a range of focal lengths, providing flexibility in various shooting situations.

  • Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR: This lens is a workhorse for professionals, offering a useful range from wide-angle to short telephoto. It’s known for its sharpness and reliability.
  • Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S: This is a more compact and affordable option for Nikon's mirrorless system, providing excellent image quality and a convenient focal range.

Telephoto Lenses

Telephoto lenses are essential for capturing distant subjects, making them ideal for wildlife, sports, and certain types of portrait photography.

  • Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR: This lens is a favorite among professional photographers for its sharpness, fast aperture, and fast autofocus.
  • Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S: For Z-mount users, this lens delivers outstanding performance and is a must-have for serious photographers.

Wide-Angle Lenses

Wide-angle lenses are perfect for landscapes, architecture, and interiors, giving you a broader field of view.

  • Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED: This lens is renowned for its sharpness and minimal distortion, making it a top choice for landscape photographers.
  • Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S: This is a more compact and versatile wide-angle option for Nikon's mirrorless system, offering great image quality and portability.

Macro Lenses

Macro lenses are designed for close-up photography, allowing you to capture fine details of small subjects.

  • Nikon AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED: This lens is excellent for macro photography, offering superb sharpness and a good working distance.
  • Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S: For mirrorless users, this lens provides exceptional detail and clarity for macro work.

Additional Considerations

  1. Image Stabilization: Many Nikon lenses come with Vibration Reduction (VR) technology, which helps reduce camera shake and allows for sharper images at slower shutter speeds.
  2. Weather Sealing: If you often shoot in challenging weather conditions, look for lenses with weather sealing to protect against dust and moisture.
  3. Weight and Size: Consider the portability of the lens, especially if you plan to carry it for extended periods or travel frequently.

Conclusion

Finding the best Nikon lens involves balancing your specific needs, budget, and the type of photography you enjoy. By understanding the different categories of lenses and their unique attributes, you can make a more informed decision. Whether you're a professional or an enthusiast, Nikon offers a range of high-quality lenses that can significantly enhance your photographic capabilities.