We invite you to read our reviews of the best Nikon lenses to have the best Nikon lens for your DSLR cameras.
Today I come with an update of the list with “the best Nikon lenses”, yes, we are talking about amateur lenses, so we are interested in this list to include the best models in terms of value for money and benefits designed for the amateur photographer or advanced. And that you can cover the different types of use that you could have as a photographer.
And it is that, assembling the ideal team of lenses that will accompany you throughout your entire adventure as a photographer can be confusing. Nikon, for example, offers more than 200 alternatives in its range of lenses called Nikkor, so you can transform the photos you have in your mind into reality. Each of these objectives will serve you for a specific type of photography. If we add to that all the brands that make compatible lenses for Nikon, the offer becomes really overwhelming.
If you do a search on the web or if you do a little research directly on the manufacturer’s page you will realize how difficult it is for the amateur photographer to assemble his ideal lens kit.
Also, read our other guides on the best DSLR camera for beginners, memory cards for 4K video recording, 360 cameras, and mirrorless Digital Cameras.
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The best Nikon lenses on the market: our recommendations
We have created the following list for you to know which are some of the most popular Nikon lenses on the market. We have chosen them with the needs of any amateur photographer in mind, be they beginner or advanced. From off-road zoom lenses, which are suitable for almost any situation, to bright lenses, which can help you explore your photographic creativity.
Nikon AF-S 50mm f / 1.8 G
As with Canon, this lens is one of the essential ones due to its value for money and helps us understand the meaning of what a fixed focal length is. It is light, compact, and very bright thanks to its aperture of up to 1.8, which is extremely useful in situations where we have little light or when what we want to obtain in our photo is a very shallow depth of field.
It’s THE ideal portrait lens at a very low price. Our portrait will come out perfectly clear and differentiated from the background, taking all the prominence of the image. The soft and attractive bokeh effect that it brings out in the photos will make us fall in love. Its approach is also very fast and silent. It works for both full-frame and DX-format cameras.
Also, see the best 50mm lenses for your DSLE cameras.
Nikon AF-S 85mm F1.8 G
A great lens to complement the 50mm. This lens is great for portraits and detailed photography. It has an excellent build, good autofocus, and is very sharp.
Similarly, little is possible at the level of defects. It is light, but at the same time it feels solid, and internally it is a marvel of technology. Lovers of Nikon fixed focal lengths have to try this 85mm.
It is also designed for Nikon FX, but can be used on APS-C. Although with a change in focal length.
If you are a lover of portraits and close-ups, don’t miss it. A huge leap in quality for those who come from zooms.
AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G
This model is of special interest to owners of DX cameras. Why? Because due to the crop factor, this 35mm becomes a real 50mm on our camera, and this lens is specifically designed for this type of camera.
Like its 50mm companion, it is a great lens based on its value for money. The sharpness in the images is very good, the lens is very comfortable to carry, has a fast focus, and is also very bright. Thanks to that wide luminosity we can obtain spectacular portraits, and emphasize the point of interest in the protagonist of the photo, since with that 1.8 depth of field there is little, and that does not do without emphasizing the attention at the point that we want. This option is even more interesting than the 50mm itself, in the case of DX-format cameras. It is suitable for DX-format cameras.
Also, see the best 35mm lenses for your digital cameras.
Nikon AF-S DX VR 18-105mm G f / 3.5-5.6
This lens is a very interesting option and an improvement over the usual 18-55mm lens in the standard kit. With its wide focal range, we will get a good zoom on the same lens.
Compact, affordable, and powerful, this lens becomes an option to consider. It has a Vibration Reduction (VR) system so you don’t have problems if your pulse shakes a bit or you use slow exposure speeds. It performs well in low light, the autofocus is fast, and its motor is a silent wave.
Ideal for trips, where constantly changing optics is neither the most comfortable nor the safest thing for our team. Thanks to its wide focal range, it allows us to cover a lot of fields without the need to change optics, which makes it very versatile.
Tamron A16NII SP AF 17-50mm f / 2.8
If your kit lens falls short, a great substitute might be the Tamron A16NII SP AF 17-50mm f / 2.8, for DX cameras, which you can find on Amazon for around $ 368 (at the time of writing). Normally, kit lenses tend to have low luminosity and low definition, and this is something that we can make up for with this fantastic lens.
Its biggest advantage is that we have a maximum aperture of 2.8 in the entire focal range, so it becomes a very bright lens, so it will be useful both for taking pictures in low light conditions and for playing with unfocused backgrounds.
Nikon AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f / 4-5.6 G
This lens is the one that follows the one that usually comes in the standard kit of our Nikon camera, the 18-55. It is a good option to consider to be able to get closer, without moving, to photograph the action. It is quite versatile and helps us to start with a telephoto lens at an affordable price.
The lens includes a vibration reduction system so that our freehand photos come out sharp, as well as those we take at a low speed. It also has a fast, precise, and quiet focus motor.
NIKKOR AF-S VR 70-300MM F / 4.5-5.6 G
This telephoto lens is another of the objectives that should not be missing in your photographic backpack. The 70-300mm VR Nikon is the best choice you’ll have to reach if you want to “get closer” to the grounds. And it is not only because of its price, but because of its size, its weight, the speed of focus and, above all, its quality that is really surprising.
This lens will be ideal for shooting sports and nature, although its performance is actually very good in almost any situation, especially when taking portraits. Of course, as long as the lighting conditions are adequate since its downside is that it is not really very bright.
The Nikkor 70-300 VR is compatible with both DX and Full Frame sensor cameras, but if you plan to use it on a DX camera, its effective focal length will be equal to 450mm (300 x 1.5), and if you do it on a camera Full Frame format, this will be 300 mm. However, if you have a full-frame camera, I would recommend that you get a telephoto lens in a range according to the quality of your camera.
Nikon 24-70mm f / 2.8 G ED
If you are into professional or semi-professional sights, the Nikon 24-70 f / 2.8 is a true classic among photographers. A tough, rocky all-rounder, one of those goals that should last you a lifetime.
It is one of the favorites of photojournalists, and it is a sure one for its quality, its sharpness, and the speed of focus it has. Not suitable, yes, for arms that do not support a lot of weight. It is a rock, and it has an imposing solidity. But it is not the version with a stabilizer, which is even more expensive.
It is expensive, but it is worth up to the last euro it costs. But of course, only for those who want a professional team. Those who do not will find other great options in this selection.
NIKKOR AF-S VR MICRO 105MM F / 2.8 G IF-ED
When it comes to “macro” or close-up photography, this Nikon lens takes the cake. It is currently the best macro lens of the Japanese giant and one of the best on the market.
Despite not being as economical as the other lenses presented here, its price difference is justified: its excellent construction, its brightness (f / 2.8) and excellent quality will guarantee your investment. How much? Approximately 879 dollars on Amazon, although it may seem somewhat excessive, it’s worth every penny.
This lens is ideal for use in macro photography as well as for portraits or as a short telephoto lens. It is extremely bright, which will guarantee you get not only correctly exposed photos but also very attractive blurs.
The Nikkor 105 f / 2.8 VR is near perfect save for one small detail: using the internal focus motor, the image varies too much while focusing, which can be very annoying in macro mode. In any case, it is easily solved by moving closer to or further away from the subject directly.
Nikon AF-S 14-24mm F2.8 G Lenses
This goal is big words. We are talking about a professional zoom lens, which is considered among the best in the world in the group of angles and wide angles.
It weighs almost 1 kilogram but is packed with good construction and top-notch materials. It’s sharp, has little distortion, and is perfect for interior and landscape photography.
It is worth what it costs, without a doubt. Even users of other brands, such as Canon, use it with an adapter. It is, without a doubt, among the best lenses Nikon has made.
Summary
We have done a review of the best lenses that Nikon offers us. We have tried to focus on lenses for everyone. From professional-focused lenses to amateur lenses.
We have also taken into account that there will be Nikon lenses for full-frame, and also for APS-C Nikon Lens. The two reflex formats that Nikon has. Take that into account when buying one.
Another factor that you have to take into account is whether the lens is a fixed focal or zoom focal point. Also the brightness and construction of the lens. And, of course, the price. They are not cheap, but they are world-renowned for their quality.