THE BEST LENSES FOR YOUR NIKON SLR CAMERA [UPDATED]

Today I come with an update to the list with "the best Nikon lenses", yes, we are talking about amateur lenses, so we are interested in including the best Nikon lenses in this list in terms of value for money and features 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 objectives that will accompany you throughout your adventure as a photographer can be confusing. Nikon, for example, offers more than 200 alternatives in its range of proprietary lenses called Nikkor, so you can transform the photos you have in your mind into reality. Each of these lenses will serve you for a specific type of photography. If we add to that all the brands that manufacture 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 equipment.

So I hope that this list is useful to you!

AF-S DX-Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
AF-S VR-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G
Nikkor AF-S VR Micro 105mm f/2.8 G IF-ED
AF-P DX-Nikkor 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR
AF Fisheye Nikkor D 10.5mm f/2.8 Lens
Samyang 85mm f1.4 IF MC
Tamron 70-300mm, f/4-5.6, Macro, AF
Tokina 11-16mm AT-X Pro DX II f/2.8
Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM Art

WHAT IS THE FOCAL LENGTH OF A LENS?

Before looking at them one by one, I consider it essential that you be clear about this concept when choosing a goal. If you already have it clear, you can skip this section, otherwise, pay attention.

The focal length of an objective, measured in mm, comes to be, in a simple way so that you can easily understand it, the part of the scene that it covers. The smaller the number is in mm, the larger the angle and the larger part of the scene it will cover. They are short focal lengths.

The higher the mm number, the more zoom and less part of the scene. The easiest thing is to see it in the following graph, surely you understand it better.

To learn more about the focal length of your lens, don't miss this detailed article.

WHAT IS A FIXED FOCAL?

This is another question that may arise throughout the article that you must solve before continuing if you do not know what it is.

A fixed focal length is one with which you cannot zoom, that is, it has a fixed focal length. For example, if it's a 50mm, you only have a 50mm focal length.

However, there are other objectives that cover different focal lengths, which are the ones with which you can zoom more or less. For example, the typical one for the kit, the 18-55mm, which means that you can use it between 18mm and 55mm.

And if you wonder which is better, "a fixed or a zoom?" It is best that you read this article.

WHAT DO ALL THESE LETTERS AND NUMBERS MEAN ON NIKON LENSES?

We have already revealed what the "mm" mean, but the letters on the objectives can be very dizzy if you do not know what they mean. Also, you can break your head thinking why two identical lenses have such an abysmal price difference, "Is it because of the buyer?" , you think. No, it is because of this little letter (or another) that seems so insignificant and it is not.

So we are going to see some of the letters that you will find in these Nikon objectives so that you know what they refer to, something essential when deciding which Nikon lenses to buy.

WHAT DOES AF MEAN ON NIKON LENSES?

In Nikon AF it is related to the focus motor, like in any other lens, however, let's see the specifications in Nikon lenses.

AF: Does not have a built-in autofocus motor and has to use the one in the camera body, if it has one.
AF-I: has an internal motor.
AF-S: It has an integrated internal motor (Silent Wave Motor (SWM)) that is also faster, more precise and quieter.
AF-P: This is the state-of-the-art focusing motor to date for quickly and quietly changing the focus of the lens. It is ideal for both static photo and video.

WHAT DOES ED MEAN ON NIKON LENSES?

And if you're wondering what ED stands for , it's because optics are developed to correct chromatic aberrations.

WHAT IS THE VR OF NIKON LENSES?

When you see VR on a Nikon lens it means that it has a vibration reduction feature.It is especially useful and important on long focal length lenses (telephoto lenses) where vibrations are more evident.

Using this feature, you can use slower shutter speeds than you could without it.

WHAT DOES THE LETTER G MEAN ON NIKON LENSES?

The letter G in Nikon lenses means that it has an electronic diaphragm control, that is, the diaphragm opening is made from the camera.

WHAT DOES IF MEAN ON NIKON LENSES?

IF refers to internal focusand this system, among other advantages, offers a faster focusing system and prevents any external element from moving.

Now yes, let's go with what was promised, the best Nikon lenses for your SLR camera.

THE BEST NIKON LENSES FOR THE HOBBYIST AND ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHER

1. AF-S DX-NIKKOR 35MM F/1.8G

If you're looking for a lens for social photography or for taking great portraits, the Nikkor 35mm 1.8G is probably your best bet. Because? Because for about 200 eurosYou will have in your hands a comfortable, lightweight, extremely sharp, bright lens that focuses very quickly and is very solidly built. What more could you ask for?

Its effective focal length is 50 mm (35mm x 1.5, which is the crop factor of the DX format ), so it could be said that it is the effective " Prince of lenses ", ideal for taking social photos, at events, some incredible portraits with the background completely out of focus, landscapes and even macro photography, since despite being a fixed focal length, it is extremely versatile.

This objective will be a great ally to defeat your worst enemy: darkness .

PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN WITH THE NIKKOR AF-S DX 35MM F/1.8 G

2. AF-S VR NIKKOR 70-300MM F/4.5-5.6G

This telephoto lens is another of the objectives that should not be missing in your photographic backpack. Nikon 's 70-300mm VR is the best option you'll have within reach if you want to get “closer” to your subjects. And it is not only because of its price that is around 600 euros, but for its size, its weight, the speed of the focus and, above all, for its quality that is truly surprising.

You will find this lens ideal for shooting sports and nature, although it performs really well 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 450mm (300 x 1.5), and if you plan to use it on a Full Frame format, this will be 300 mm. However, if you have a full frame camera, I would recommend getting a telephoto lens in a range that matches the quality of your camera.

EXAMPLES OF PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN WITH AN AF-S VR 70-300MM F/4.5-5.6 G NIKKOR

3. NIKKOR AF-S VR MICRO 105MM F/2.8 G IF-ED

As for "macro" or close-up photography , this Nikon lens takes the cake. It is currently the best macro lens from the Japanese giant and one of the best on the market.

Despite not being as cheap 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 does it cost? Approximately 800 euros on Amazon, which although it may seem somewhat excessive, is worth every penny.

This lens is ideal for use in both macro and portrait photography or as a short telephoto lens. It is extremely bright, which will ensure that you get not only correctly exposed photos but also very attractive blurs.

The Nikkor 105 f/2.8 VR is almost perfect except for one small detail: when 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 approaching or moving away from the subject directly.

With this objective you will be able to discover a whole new world, the world of detail.

EXAMPLES OF PHOTOS TAKEN WITH THE AF-S VR MICRO 105MM F/2.8 G IF-ED NIKKOR LENS

4. NIKON AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20MM F/4.5-5.6G VR

If you had to put together a "dream team" made up of only Nikon lenses, this incredible wide angle could not be missing.

Although you can use this lens for a variety of situations, thanks to its variable focal length, it is ideally intended for use in landscape photography, indoors , architectural photography, or any type of photography where you need a large portion of of the scene into your frame.

The Nikkor 10-20mm is a high quality wide angle lens specially designed for medium format or DX cameras, with fast, quiet and precise focusing. It is ideal to immerse yourself in this type of photography, although if you want professional performance, it is better to look at other options (which obviously increase in price).

It is a very light (230g) and quite compact. The best thing is that it has a very attractive price, you can find it on Amazon for €316.98, although keep in mind that it is not very bright.

We recommend you check the compatibility with your camera before buying it ;).

You can see some examples of photographs taken with this lens here. And I leave you with the video presentation of the brand.

5. AF FISHEYE NIKKOR D 10.5MM F/2.8 LENS

If you are thinking of giving a radical change to your photographs, you cannot miss this fisheye lens.

Fisheye lenses are “extreme wide angle” so fisheye and wide angle are not mutually exclusive. In fact, if your pocket allows it, you will do well to get both. This objective costs around 750 euros on Amazon. You will not lose money if you invest in this objective.

The uses that you can give to this objective are very varied: from landscape and urban photography to macro photography since its minimum focusing distance is very small. With fisheye lenses, your imagination will be the limit.

SOME EXAMPLES OF PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN WITH THE AF FISHEYE NIKKOR D 10.5MM F/2.8 LENS

OTHER COMPATIBLE LENSES FOR NIKON SLR CAMERAS

Luckily for our pockets there are other objectives that are not from the Nikon brand but that you cannot lose sight of because they are great options to take into account.

6. SAMYANG 85MM F1.4 IF MC

A super-bright prime lens ideal for taking gorgeous portraits. The good news is that it works for both Full Frame and DX cameras. The bad thing is manual focus. Indicated for those who seek sharpness and heart-stopping bokeh. You will find it on Amazon for about 300 euros.

7. TAMRON 70-300MM, F/4-5.6, MACRO, AF

This telephoto lens is incredibly low priced for what it offers. It works for both Full Frame and DX format cameras. You find it on Amazon for only N/A

And how is it so cheap? Look at the brightness, it is not bright, it does not have a stabilizer either. But for that price these are lesser evils. If you have an idea of using it with a tripod, this is the best option at the best price to introduce you to the world of long focal lengths. Ideal for those who chase the moon or wildlife , for example.

8. TOKINA 11-16MM AT-X PRO DX II F/2.8

This objective is not as affordable as the previous one, you can find it for N/A, but it offers features that will not disappoint you, especially if your thing is landscape and night photography or architectural photography. Its focal length and brightness make it really attractive for these disciplines. If you want to see photos taken with it, click here.

9. SIGMA 18-35MM F1.8 DC HSM ART

If you can't decide between an angle lens or a more standard focal length, but you also don't want to give up the brightness of a fixed lens, this is your best option. With a constant aperture of no less than f/1.8, it covers a focal range of 18-35mm (an effective focal length of 27-52mm approx.) and with not inconsiderable quality, you only have to see how happy users are with he. It is a very versatile lens that will serve you for landscapes, portraits, wedding photographs or other events, travel, nature, street, etc.

The downside is that it is only for DX format, well, and its weight (approx. 800g). Its current price on Amazon is €730.64