Best Nikon Lenses for Videography
Even people who are not interested in photography and videography must be aware that Nikon makes great camera lenses and camera equipment. As a videographer, you’ve probably heard that it’s more important to get hold of some solid lenses rather than spending all your money on a fancy camera.
Professionals often tend to go for cinematic lenses as opposed to still ones, with built-in stability features, so you’re not always required to shoot on a tripod. You might also be interested in considering lenses that keep focus breathing to a minimum and have a large focal length range. Additionally, cine lenses will have more aperture blades so that you get a smoother bokeh output.
Some Nikon lenses can run up the bills, but you should keep in mind that lenses, if properly taken care of, generally have a long lifespan. They’re invaluable additions to your videography equipment kit and are worth the investment.
However, if you’re worried about spending too much in one place, Nikon also has several budget options available, which will do the job quite well. If you’ve heard of the brand, you know they make reliable stuff. So take a look at some of the best Nikon lenses for videography.
LIST OF BEST NIKON LENS FOR VIDEOGRAPHY
IMAGE | BRAND | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | NIKON NIKKOR Z | ||
 | Nikon AF-S DX | ||
 | Nikon AF-S DX | ||
 | NIKON NIKKOR Z | ||
 | NIKON AF-S FX |
10 BEST NIKON LENSES FOR VIDEOGRAPHY REVIEW
1. NIKON NIKKOR Z 14-30MM F/4 S ULTRA-WIDE ANGLE ZOOM LENS
The first option on my list is probably mid-range in terms of price. It is over 1K, but it’s common for decent lenses to be priced a bit steep, and this is one of the best Nikon lenses for videography that’s on the market.
I'm in love with this ultra-wide angle lens because it collapses to 3.5 inches, which makes it a particularly good travel companion. It packs some great optics, and the glass is fluorine-coated so that any smudge, water, or dirt is easily wiped away.
The Stepper Motor allows you to autofocus silently but smoothly, and the lens has a multi-function control ring when you want to switch to manual. With the VR feature for image stabilization, you won’t have to deal with any camera shakes when you shoot video handheld. The zoom ring has the mm positions marked and turns quickly and easily.
When you shoot very wide angles, you might experience some vignetting, but it’s not a big deal and nothing that can’t be fixed in production later. You won’t face any distortion issues otherwise. There won’t be any coma, ghosting, chromatic aberration, or anything else to mess up your clean video, with edge-to-edge sharpness in each frame.
I would like to conclude by saying that this great compact lens will serve you well for years.
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2. NIKON AF-S DX NIKKOR 12-24MM F/4G IF-ED ZOOM LENS
The second on my list is the Nikkor 12-24mm particularly good for real estate videos and landscape shots. This is another mid-range model and particularly well-suited for use with Nikon DSLRs.
I found the lens to have comparatively shorter focal range but can capture video at a very high resolution and is small and light. Video will be sharp from center to corner, although total close-ups might cause a slight drop in resolution, this is a minor change.
With ED glass elements to reduce chromatic aberrations and an SVM (Silent Wave Monitor) for quick and quiet autofocusing, you can expect this lens to be worth every penny you pay.
Now coming to my user experience: Zooming is very smooth, and Nikon’s SIC (Super Integrated Coating) feature gives me very accurate color reproduction. Internal focus makes autofocusing seamless, and you can switch to manual easily via the focus ring.
This lens uses a 77mm filter, so I didn’t need to worry about distortion. The quality of sharpness you’ll get with this lens is unrivaled and will bring out the best in any digital camera.
Overall, It’s a very solid basic lens to add to your kit, particularly if you already own a Nikon DSLR.
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3. NIKON AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55MM F/3.5-5.6G VIBRATION REDUCTION II ZOOM LENS
If you’re wondering where the budget options are, this lens will be ideal for you. If you’ve been on the hunt for a macro lens, you can get this instead because it will smoothly capture all the crisp video close-ups you have in mind for whatever project you’re working on.
It has a retractable design and is quite small and optimized for travel and movement. Often, you have to pay a lot more for this kind of compactness, but this is a very affordable lens and also very light. You can use this for FX cameras, but it’ll play to its strengths in a DX digital camera.
Are you asking me about its performance? Wait, I have a lot to speak about them. The VR feature is great for handheld shooting, and you can also shoot at lower shutter speeds in low light. It’s perfect for capturing both wide-angles and close-ups, and the seven-bladed diaphragm gives a great, natural feel to bokeh.
I noticed that autofocus is decent in terms of speed, accuracy, and switching to manual focus via a switch is quick and easy. Zooming is well-spaced and has a great feel.
You can’t go wrong with this lens for the great quality you’re getting, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find many best Nikkor lenses out there that perform as well at this price. Get one soon!
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4. NIKON NIKKOR Z 24-70MM F/2.8 S STANDARD ZOOM LENS
I wanted to include a premium lens in my list, so presenting you the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens. As, said it won’t come cheap, but you’ll be getting quality optical performance for the price.
This zoom lens is made for Nikon cameras in the Z series and has a multi-focusing system to give you a precise and fast autofocus function.
The electronic diaphragm makes shooting video a very quiet process, and weatherproof seals help to lend extra protection to the lens. Fluorine coating also repels water, dust, and dirt, and ARNEO and Nano-Crystal Coating combine to prevent any ghosting or flare issues.
One of my research team members possesses this lens and gave me valuable feedback regarding the product. Let me explain about them in a nutshell. This lens is quite solid and heavy, but in terms of performance, it’s a real winner. As one of the best Nikon lenses for videography, it’ll give you beautiful results with bokeh and allows you to get up close and personal with focused shots.
While this lens has no built-in VR (Vibration Reduction) feature, it’s meant to work with your Nikon camera’s image stabilization, so you should be able to achieve smooth, sweeping panoramas as long as you’re using a decent camera.
The lens has three rings: for zoom, manual focus, and custom parameters. There’s also an OLED display that allows you to check aperture, focus distance, and depth-of-field. This is a functional, tough, and well-built piece of equipment. If you can afford it, it’s worth getting.
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5. NIKON AF-S FX NIKKOR 24-70MM F/2.8E ED VIBRATION REDUCTION ZOOM LENS
This is another zoom lens that’s priced somewhere in the mid-range bracket. Now, let me get in straight to its features. A great lens for pros, you can expect sharp results from this, although it is a bit heavy and is, on balance, perhaps more plastic than metal.
It uses 82mm filters, and the VR feature makes shooting on handheld a real treat. Since it has an electronic diaphragm, it might not work with very old cameras and does best with FX cameras (although you can also use it for DX cameras). Whatever distortion you might experience when shooting on this lens is minimal, and it’ll be quite easy to fix.
I use this lens to shoot panoramic videos, and I occasionally find some softness at the center when shooting on this, but this is rare, and largely you’ll get results that are sharp as a blade. Zooming is easy and well-spaced. If you’re shooting wide open, you might get some minor vignetting, but it’s not a big deal unless you’re very picky.
Coming to its portability: This might be a bit challenging to carry around, but you won’t need a tripod to shoot, and you’ll find this lens is worth every cent. It certainly delivers premium performance.
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6. NIKON NIKKOR Z 70-200MM F/2.8 S TELEPHOTO ZOOM LENS
This lens can seem like a pretty big investment, but if you’re a professional videographer and you like to use cameras in the Nikon Z system, then you should think about buying this.
This is a zoom lens that shoots very well in low light, so it’s great for indie films or night shoots. It’s got a great optical performance, and switching to manual just requires you to turn the focus ring.
You can also achieve a great close focus and can make easy adjustments using the control ring for a real theatrical feel to your shooting style. The Optical VR works for up to 5.5 stops as well, so you don’t need a tripod.
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7. NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 70-200MM F/2.8E FL ED VR LENS
Looking for a very modern lens for you to add to your kit? Then, go for this Nikon Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 E lens. With up to 4.0 stops of image stabilization, you can shoot easily with this even if you’re not an expert with the camera.
One thing I liked the most about the lens is that it's got a special Sports Mode for shooting sports video and Tripod Mode if you happen to shoot with a tripod to minimize vibrations. Enhanced focus is a major plus, and the lens has a special weather-sealing design, so it’s built for all climes.
The lens is also coated with the usual technologies to minimize ghosting and flare issues.
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8. NIKON AF FX NIKKOR 50MM F/1.8D LENS FOR NIKON DSLR CAMERAS
This is another budget option that can still help you deliver outstanding results when you shoot on video. The lens gives you beautiful bokeh at wider apertures, and the Super Integrated Coating (SIC) Nikon will give your shots a beautiful, accurate color.
Overall, A great basic lens, that won’t set you back much at all in terms of finances.
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9. NIKON NIKKOR Z 35MM F/1.8 S WIDE ANGLE FAST PRIME LENS
Nikon has dubbed this a ‘desert-island lens for many photographers and videographers out there, and the optical quality is outstanding.
This is a Z lens with up to 5.0 stops of VR. It’s a versatile lens and can be used for anything from wedding videos to serious filmmaking, with a nine-bladed diaphragm to make your out-of-focus shots look as dreamy as the ones that are in sharp detail.
This lens is also relatively affordable, so if you want a prime lens at a decent price, add this to your cart now!
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10. NIKON MICRO NIKKOR 105MM F/2.8 LENS
I am coming to the final product in my list of best Nikon lenses for videography. This macro lens is another somewhat affordable option if you’re aiming for above budget but below mid-range. It’s highly compatible and will work well with a lot of Nikon cameras.
With a 1:1 reproduction ratio and a VR feature for sharp optics, you can expect to shoot a smooth video on this. It’s also great for shooting stills, particularly portraits and nature close-ups.
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CONCLUSION
Now that you’ve had a look through some of the best Nikon lenses for videography, you know what you need to take your shooting skills to the next level. The lens is just as (if not more) important than the camera, so choose wisely.
Whatever you buy, particularly if it’s from Nikon, is guaranteed to last you through many projects, no matter the lighting setup or the difficult weather. Nikon makes lenses that appeal both to hobbyists and professionals, so no matter what stage of your videography career you’re at, you’ll probably find your next favorite lens on this list. Thank you for reading!
