Although there are several manufacturers who design competitive camera lenses, for Nikon DSLRs, you should prefer using Nikon lenses because of their many advantages over the third party lenses.
Professional photographers always choose to go with the first party lenses due to their excellent build and optical quality. Additionally, Nikon specifically keeps its cameras in mind when designing its lenses, avoiding any compatibility issues.
So, the one thing that should be considered before buying Nikon lenses is the result they produce. They work on all of the cameras that Nikon designs but deliver different results.
For instance, a full-frame lens fitted on a small sensor camera would produce images with the exact resolution that you expect, whereas a full-frame camera with a small size lens would deliver the images with a small resolution size. It’s because of the crop factor of the lenses.
Some new and advanced features like Pulse Motor autofocus systems and Electromagnetic aperture control are also being added to Nikon lenses, therefore you won’t be able to use these advanced lenses if you have an older DSLR.
In the list below, you can find some of the best Nikon lenses that are available today.
1. Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR
The Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR is a lightweight, affordable, and versatile wide-angle lens that many Nikon users wanted. With its widest field of view, it’s probably the best wide-angle zoom lens being offered by the company.
The lens has a focal length of 10-20mm, which makes it ideal for taking images of architecture, interiors and landscapes. One of the most highlighted features in the lens is its built-in optical stabilization, which is useful when shooting in marginal light.
It is equipped with an advanced Pulse Motor autofocus system which makes the autofocusing quieter and easier. However, before making the decision to buy this lens you need to check your Nikon DSLR is less than five years old, to ensure compatibility.
2. Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
If you are a photographer with a full-frame Nikon DSLR who loves to create great portraits, the Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G is for you. This lightweight and super sharp DX-format lens manages to produce a cropped field of view equivalent to 50mm if used with a full-frame DSLR.
This large-aperture portrait lens delivers great results in low light situations and allows you to produce amazingly blurred backgrounds for creative effects. It will have the same results no matter what size sensor your camera has. With these great benefits and affordable price tag, there is no reason this lens shouldn’t be in your camera bag.
3. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G
A “Nifty Fifty” lens is an essential part of your camera gear no matter what type of photographer you are. Here’s where the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G comes in. It is one of the best fast prime lenses that Nikon offers. It’s appreciated among the photographers for its very sharp results, normal field of view and unbelievably narrow depth of field (produces lovely bokeh). The body of the lens is small and lightweight, and all these benefits come at a very affordable price.
Although Nikon has designed this state-of-the-art lens for its full-frame cameras, small sensor (DX-format) DSLR users have also been using it and it became very popular among them as well. The lens is based on AF-S autofocusing system, which means it can also be used with entry-level D3000-series and D5000-series cameras.
4. Nikon AF-S DX 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR
The Nikon AF-S DX 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR is simply the latest and best DX-format standard zoom lens you will find out there. Not only does it offer a spectacularly large field of view, but it also boasts an incredible zoom range and a maximum aperture of f/2.8.
It features an electromagnetic diaphragm control along with a ring-type ultrasonic autofocus system that is designed to provide a more precise aperture control and a fast, quiet, and accurate subject autofocusing. This new wide-angle lens with zoom extension has gained the attention of many photographers, however, it’s not an easy-to-afford lens like the ones previously discussed.
5. Nikon AF-P 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR
Nikon AF-P 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR offers a much longer zoom range than many of the premium Nikon lenses, but for a significantly lower price. It’s the newest and most budget-friendly telephoto zoom.
The lens is the reinvented version of the well-respected 70-300mm VR lens, and has been introduced with some great improvements such as electromagnetic diaphragm control for more precise apertures, pulse motor autofocus system to acquire super-fast, accurate and quiet subject autofocusing, image stabilization feature for up to 4.5 stops of shake reduction, and Sport VR mode to easily track the moving subjects.
6. Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
When it comes to greater focal lengths, the Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR, a full-frame (FX-format) lens comes into mind, which offers an incredible telephoto reach at a more reasonable price compared to the pro-level 70-200mm and above. If fitted on a full-frame camera, its crop factor enables you to reach up to 750mm.
The lens’ fixed aperture of f/5.6 and its effective vibration reduction feature even at maximum zoom range certainly make it one of the most exciting Nikon full-frame lenses for Nikon cameras. It’s best suited for Sports and action photographers, and those with interest in wildlife and astrophotography also won’t find a better option than this.
Picking the Best Nikon Lenses
Nikon has introduced a number of lenses in the camera market and they offer different sets of features at different prices. Some of them are small size lenses and others are full-frame lenses designed for large sensor (FX-format) cameras.
In our list, we have carefully selected some of the best Nikon lenses that are equipped with advanced features that aren’t too expensive as well. These lenses cover the needs of almost every type of photographer. We are pretty sure this list will help pick the best lens for you.
