Best Nikon Zoom Lens For Your Camera
While you can easily get a kit lens when you purchase a new DSLR or mirrorless camera, chances are you might not necessarily be given the best quality. Kit zooms are often largely made of plastic and have very little weather-sealing to protect them. And they’re ranked in the lower range when it comes to lens quality. A good zoom lens has a bit more substance, and what you end up buying will depend on what you’re going to be photographing.
If you’re primarily into wildlife photography, you might prefer a telephoto zoom lens for the long reach from a far distance. While wide-angle zooms are great for travel photography. Macro lenses, on the other hand, can be great for birding and taking pictures of insects, as they can get up close and personal.
If you’re in the market for a good zoom lens, Nikon should be your go-to brand for photography equipment. Their lenses come in several price brackets, depending on what you can afford, and they’re always well-built and reliable. They also have a variety of options available for both amateur and professional photographers.
With that said, let me take you through some of the best Nikon zoom lenses that are available on the market.
LIST OF BEST NIKON ZOOM LENS
10 BEST NIKON ZOOM LENS REVIEW
1. AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105MM F/3.5-5.6G ED - BEST ZOOM LENS FOR NIKON D3300
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES: This is a solid alternative to a kit lens and will work as a great all-around lens for anyone who doesn't want to invest thousands in a new piece of equipment.
This is primarily built for DX Nikon cameras, although you can technically use it on FX cameras. It probably won't work too well with the film, though, as you'll be shooting in a cropped mode.
DESIGN: Nikon has used high-quality plastic in this lens's manufacture, so the lens is pretty sturdy. The best part I liked about this lens is that it doesn't creep even though there is no zoom lock feature. Great!
Moving on, the lens has a 3.0 stop Vibration reduction control to help your videos remain stabilized throughout the clip.
The focus and zoom rings of the lens are smooth and also easy to rotate. Though there is no dedicated override switch, you could use manual focus while in AF (Manual focus override).
The internal optical structure of this lens includes a seven-bladed diaphragm for giving a mid-quality bokeh, one aspherical element, along with an ED element to help improve the color accuracy of this lens.
PERFORMANCE: The lens is considered one of the best Nikon zoom lenses because it has a focal range starting from wide-end 18mm to the longer end 105mm. So, you can pretty well use this lens for all types of shooting, be it landscape, portrait, and to capture subjects that are slightly far from you.
The narrow aperture range of f/3.5-5.6 states that the lens is pretty sharp with fewer chromatic aberrations. Those wanting an end-to-end sharpness in their pictures or videos will love using this lens.
However, for low-light shots and instances where you need the best background separation, this lens will not be useful. In that case, go for the AF-S NIKKOR 70-200MM F/2.8E FL ED VR lens.
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2. AF-S FX NIKKOR 200-500MM F/5.6E ED - BEST ZOOM LENS FOR NIKON FX CAMERAS
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES: Are you interested in bird photography? Then, try using this NIKKOR 200-500MM F/5.6E super-telephoto lens. Professionals usually choose this lens when they need to capture a very far subject without getting close to them.
Apart from having an ultra-long focal range, the lens also has excellent features like Vibration reduction, high-speed Autofocus, and super-sharp image quality.
DESIGN: When comparing this 200-500mm lens with the 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G lens, the former is very big in size as well as heavy (2.3 kg). However, it is more sturdy as it is fully made of metal.
You will notice a few switches on the lens:
- A manual override switch
- A VR switch
- A focus limiter switch
- A normal-sports mode switch
You can use the sports mode while taking pictures and videos of fast-moving bikes/cars and for action photography.
Lastly, the focus and zoom rings are smooth, so you will not have any issues while focusing/zooming with this lens.
So, overall I was satisfied with this lens's build quality.
PERFORMANCE: This 200-500mm f/5.6E is probably the best Nikon zoom lens you can buy at this price if you regularly take close-up shots and macro shots. This is because this has a lot of reach (although zoom power will differ depending on whether you're using a DX or FX camera), with a minimum focus distance of 7.2ft.
ED elements in the lens helps improve clarity and optical performance, and large, responsive zoom and focus rings make this lens quite easy to operate. But the best feature of this lens is probably the VR, which ensures improvement up to 4.5 stops, and is extremely effective.
Autofocus isn't lightning-quick, but it's very precise and will serve you well for sports or nature photography. The smooth bokeh you get also makes this a very good lens to pick if you're interested in portraiture.
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3. AF-S NIKKOR 70-200MM F/2.8E FL ED VR - BEST NIKON TELEPHOTO ZOOM LENS
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES: Wedding, sports, and interior building photographers shouldn't miss out on this amazing low-light telephoto lens from Nikon. It is costly but guarantees 100% results in terms of both image and video quality.
Additionally, it has a four-stop Vibration reduction technology that will allow slower shutter speeds and less ISO in low-light shootings.
DESIGN: The build quality of this lens is quite decent; it has a metal mount with a nice, smooth focus and zoom rings on the lens barrel.
6 ED elements and a Fluorite element are sure to manage any distortion issues, and you shouldn't have to deal with any glare issues. These elements also help enhance the overall optical quality, so you should see beautiful colors and contrast in your photos.
Additionally, all 9 parts of the lens are weather-sealed, so you can easily take this along on walks or treks or shoot with it in harsh weather.
PERFORMANCE: I include this lens in the list because the lens is impressively sharp, starting from 70mm to 200mm. In addition, the combination of the 9 blades, large focal length, and fast aperture (f/2.8) gives the perfect background isolation you need for your family portrait and wedding photographs.
This is probably the best Nikon zoom lens that a pro would use, so even if you're a hobbyist or an amateur, you could definitely give this a go if you're looking to upgrade your photography kit.
It works pretty well on both DX and FX cameras, although it might not work with very old cameras.
Autofocus is also fast and flawless with this lens, and the lens has 4 AF buttons. With minimal distortion and brilliant macro performance, this is a stunner of a lens and will be a great addition to your tech collection.
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4. AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300MM F/4.5-6.3G ED VR - BEST BUDGET ZOOM LENS FOR NIKON
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES: Want to possess a lens for your sports and wildlife photography? Well, then this 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR will help you get that done. The autofocus performance of this lens is what makes it the best Nikon zoom lens for DX cameras; it is ultra-fast, accurate as it uses a Pulse type Stepper motor.
DESIGN: The lens is wholly made of high-quality plastic; it is sturdy and not bulky. Moreover, the lens is so light that you can easily shoot on the handheld as well.
Despite the largely plastic body, this lens has a ton of good features. With a 4.3x zoom, you have a large range to experiment with, and the zoom ring is well-sized and turns smoothly. The ED element in the lens will handle any aberrations, and the stepping motor that Nikon uses makes Autofocus fast and very quiet.
Also, the lens has a vibration reduction technology; for a price of around 400$, a lens to have these excellent features is worthy of being noted. But note that the lens has no VR switch, so you have to turn it on or off using your camera's menu.
PERFORMANCE: Those looking for a low-light zoom lens can try using the 70-200mm f/2.8E FL VR as this lens is beneficial for bright daylight shoots.
I really loved the focusing capability of this lens; it is top-notch, you can view even the finer details of the subject accurately in photography mode.
In video mode, make sure you're not taking a video of a very far subject as the focus may slightly vary as you zoom in and out.
Moving on, the VR stabilization worked very well with this lens, both for handheld photo and video shoots. I hardly found any image blur in my footage.
Another feature I liked about this lens is that the image quality is excellent; it is super-sharp at even 300mm, and the barrel distortion is almost negligible with this lens.
Overall, a wonderful budget-friendly lens that has excellent features, good build quality, and appreciable performance.
With this lens on your Nikon camera, you are sure of achieving very crisp and clear shots throughout the zoom range. So if you're on the hunt for an affordable zoom lens with outstanding performance, then you should buy this.
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5. NIKKOR Z 24-70MM F/2.8 S - BEST NIKON WIDE-ANGLE ZOOM LENS
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES: Those who own a Nikon Z camera like the Z 7II and want a great general-purpose zoom lens for everyday photography can go for this Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens.
The lens is too high-end but, you can never go wrong with your photo and video shoots if you have this lens on your camera.
DESIGN: The build quality of this lens is commendable. It is fully made of metal, slightly big but not oversized. I really liked that the lens has a weather-sealed gasket to provide resistance against dust and moisture.
The unique feature of this lens is its customizable control ring that will allow you to change the aperture, ISO settings, and exposure rate when needed.
Also, an LED display will show the current aperture value and the focal length you are currently using. This is something unique when compared to physical distance scale markings or a window-type display.
The internal optics of this lens consists of 2 ED glasses, four aspherical elements coated with a Nanocrystal coat, Super Integrated Coating, and an ARNEO Coat to improve the optical performance of the lens.
PERFORMANCE: As mentioned already, the optical quality of this zoom lens is splendid. Even at wide apertures the, corner-to-corner image sharpness is excellent.
Normally zoom lenses don't have a wide aperture, whereas as this is a standard focal length lens, you get a maximum aperture of f/2.8, which will allow more light to enter the lens. Thus making the lens apt for low-light photography as well.
The autofocus of this lens also works quite well. It is fast, accurate as well as less noisy. Thanks to Nikon's Silent wave motor!
The only drawback I feel with this lens is that it doesn't have an image stabilization feature, so if you're planning to take videos with this lens, make sure the camera you're using has an in-body stabilization control.
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6. NIKON AF-P NIKKOR 70-300MM F/4.5-5.6E ED VR
PRODUCT DETAILS:
At close to the $600 mark, this is a good option if you want to shell out a little extra money for something slightly above budget but still affordable. This is probably the best Nikon zoom lens you can get at the entry-level stage for full-frame shooting, and it’s pretty light, which makes it easy to carry around for wildlife or nature shoots.
It works fine on FX and DX cameras and includes a single ED element. With Nikon’s Stepping Motor, autofocus should be quick and very quiet as well, and the sharpness of the lens will take your photography up a notch for sure.
With VR ensuring up to 4.5 stops of improvement, camera shake is an issue of the past. With a solid zoom range at your disposal and optical excellence guaranteed, this is an overachiever of a lens.
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7. NIKON AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II
PRODUCT DETAILS:
This is a great budget option to start with. At a little over $300, it should be a bargain for an amateur or a hobbyist looking for a light, portable lens with a good zoom. This is probably the best Nikon zoom lens available at this price.
The lens is great for travel photography as it’s very easy to carry around and won’t weigh down your luggage. The ED elements in the makeup of the lens will reduce any distortion, so even if you’re shooting in unpredictable lighting conditions, your shots will still look brilliant. Up to 200mm of telephoto reach gives you a lot of room to play with, so you can definitely take this along bird-watching as well if you like.
When it comes to VR, this lens promises up to 4.0 stops of improvement, and the fact that it is quite light makes it very easy to take handheld shots with this lens. So no tripod will be required and your images will be blur-free, and you can also take shots in low light without worrying that the results will be underwhelming.
Overall, this is a great starter zoom lens and is even perfect for family photographs. Your kids’ sports days and prize days will look great when snapped with this lens!
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8. NIKON 18-135MM F/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Going back to more affordable options, this is a light and quick zoom lens that is very convenient and easy to use. It works well for wide-angle shots, close-ups and portraits. Also the internal AF speed is pretty good, as well as silent.
You get instant manual override just by adjusting the focus ring. However, if you’re an amateur, you might want to opt for an alternative because this lens has no VR feature, which might result in blurry photos if you don’t know what you’re doing. Otherwise, it’s a solid option.
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9. NIKON AF-S FX NIKKOR 80-400MM F.4.5-5.6G ED
PRODUCT DETAILS:
This is a pretty versatile lens that’s perfect for all kinds of shooting scenarios, and even for HD video. Nikon’s VR system gives you up to 3.5 stops of improvement for blur-free, smooth shooting, and sharp video.
The ED glass elements and Nano Crystal Coating will improve the optical excellence of your shots, and you can focus as close as 5.7ft with this lens. It’s particularly good for portrait studies and landscape shots and works like a charm even in low lighting.
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10. NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 120-300MM F/2.8E FL ED SR VR
PRODUCT DETAILS:
This is a pretty versatile lens that’s perfect for all kinds of shooting scenarios and even for HD video. Nikon’s VR system gives you up to 3.5 stops of improvement for blur-free, smooth shooting, and sharp video.
The ED glass elements and Nano Crystal Coating will improve the optical excellence of your shots, and you can focus as close as 5.7ft with this lens. It’s perfect for portrait studies and landscape shots and works like a charm even in low lighting.
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BUYING GUIDE FOR BEST NIKON ZOOM LENS
1. LENS FORMAT
You need to purchase Nikon cameras lenses according to your camera format. If you have a Nikon FX camera, it means it uses a full-frame sensor, FX mount lens. However, you can also use a DX (APS-C sensor) lens on a Nikon FX camera, provided you consider the crop factor of 1.5x.
Similarly, a standard DX camera allows using a DX (APS-C) lens with it. You could also use an FX lens on a DX camera body. However, the angle of view will be smaller.
2. FOCAL LENGTH
Like, I have mentioned in my article on types of lenses, every lens has its purpose. If you're looking for a standard zoom lens that you can use for your everyday photo and video shoots, choose a lens that has a focal length range of 16mm to 70mm.
However, if you want a zoom lens for a specific style of photography, say for a wedding, nature, wildlife, sports, portrait photography, a telephoto zoom lens (minimum focal length above 60mm) is a must. If the subject is very far from you, like for wildlife, moon, and bird photography, a super-telephoto zoom lens (minimum focal length should be greater than 300mm) is recommended.
3. APERTURE
The disadvantage of a zoom lens over a prime lens is that they don't have fast apertures. Meaning zoom lenses with a larger focal range usually have narrow apertures ranging from f/3.5-5.6. This range can be used for bright daylight shoots and for photography that requires end-to-end sharpness, like landscape and street photography.
However, if you're specific that you need a zoom lens that can be used in low-light, it is a must it has a maximum aperture of f<2.8. This will be helpful for night photography, shooting music videos, and portrait photography.
4. IMAGE STABILIZATION
If you're using a tripod/monopod, then an IS feature is a must in a lens. This will help to get rid of camera shakes or image blur while you shoot video handheld. It will also help you to shoot at slower shutter speeds than normal.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is the best all-purpose Nikon zoom lens?
In my opinion, the Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR Lens can be used for all purposes, including shooting portraits, group photos, macro shots, and objects that are distant from you. However, this lens will not suit landscape photography.
If you want a lens that can take landscapes as well, try considering the Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR lens.
2. What is the longest zoom lens from Nikon?
The AF-S Nikkor 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR, released in April 2013, is the longest zoom range available in the case of Nikon Zoom lenses.
CONCLUSION
So there you have it; there are plenty of lens options here to lend some versatility to your photography kit. You can find the best Nikon zoom lens for every situation/environment, and there will be something here that meets your criteria or price range.
Whether you’re an amateur or a professional, you’ll always benefit from having a sharp and optically precise lens in your kit. Also, skill matters a great deal when you want to take sharp images and videos. So, try different photography techniques to succeed in this career.
