9+ Best Prime Lens For Nikon 2022 | Ultimate Guide & Reviews

Zoom, wide-angle, fisheye, or macro: which is the best Nikon lens? What are its characteristics, its quality and what kind of photography is it best suited for? In this guide on Nikon lenses, you will find a selection of the Best Prime Lens For Nikon available today divided by needs and budget.

Best Prime Lens For Nikon 2022

If you have just bought a Nikon SLR and want to experiment with different types of photography and optical qualities, or if you are already experienced and want to expand your range of lenses, the question you are asking is “which lens to buy?”

Portraits, landscapes, sports, macros, weddings, nature, catalogs… the list is very long. In fact, there are various types of photography, each with different characteristics and needs, therefore a “best lens” does not exist, but there is rather the right lens for that particular type of photography.

You won’t have to buy all the lenses and all the focal lengths, just understand your needs and get one or two lenses that can open the door to different types of photography.

Small note, for those looking for a lens for the new full-frame mirrorless Nikon Z7 and Nikon Z6 (which accept Nikon Z mount lenses), in this ranking we will only deal with models with Nikon F mount, therefore compatible with all SLR DSLRs. of the same brand. For Nikon mirrorless owners, you can evaluate one of these lenses and use the specific FTZ (F to Z) adapter.

Another due clarification, important for those who have a Nikon reflex camera, the DX marked optics are specifically designed for Nikon APS-C sensor., come la Nikon D3500 o la Nikon D5600.

The optical FX is designed for full-frame, such as the Nikon D850, but is still compatible with bodies APS-C machine.

So let’s find out which are the best Nikon lenses available today, to provide you with an extensive overview of the world of Nikon lenses and help you choose the best one for your needs.

Best Prime Lens For Nikon | Comparison Table 2022

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Best Prime Lens For Nikon | 2022 Reviews

How to choose the Best Prime Lens For Nikon in 2022 | Ultimate Guide

There is an almost infinite range of Nikon and third-party lenses available, so how do you choose the right one? Here are the most important things to consider before making your purchase.

What kind of photography do you do?

The first thing to consider when choosing a lens is the type of photography you are doing – a clear idea of ​​its intended use is key to making the right choice.

Landscape and architecture photographers will prefer wide-angle lenses to include more scenes in the frame. Portrait photographers can opt for a sharper, mid-range lens, which can produce beautiful bokeh.

Bird photographers and wildlife photographers should turn to a telephoto lens that allows them to discreetly shoot animals from afar. Those who want to capture insects, textures, or small details can choose a macro lens.

Zoom and Prime lenses

The “focal length” refers to the distance between the lens and the image sensor, usually measured in millimeters. Wide-angle lenses have shorter focal lengths, while telephoto lenses have longer focal lengths.

The focal length can be fixed (main lenses) or adjustable (zoom lenses). Both have their advantages and disadvantages: so which is the best between prime and zoom ?

Prime lenses usually perform better in low light conditions and tend to produce sharper images, with a more elegant bokeh effect. The downside is that it is not possible to zoom, which means that in order to change the framing, you have to move or change the lenses.

Zoom lenses are not as effective as main lenses in low light conditions, but they are more versatile as they can cover multiple focal lengths.

Should you choose Nikon or third-party lenses?

Nikon lenses are designed to work with Nikon camera bodies, so they’re always a safe bet. There are, however, other manufacturers who produce excellent lenses for Nikon cameras.

While not all brands can be trusted, Sigma and Tamron have a long tradition of producing quality lenses, selling products that are the same or even better than their Nikon counterparts.

Need good low-light performance in a lens?

If you know you’re shooting in low light conditions, lenses with wider apertures will be preferable over small apertures. The aperture of a lens can be fixed or variable. A lens with a maximum aperture of f1.8 or less will allow you to take crisp, sharp photographs even without a strong light source, while a lens with a maximum aperture of f5 will not be very effective in low light conditions.

best Nikon FX lenses: beware of lens distortion

The distortion refers to when a straight line appears bent in a photograph. Wide-angle lenses tend to suffer more from distortion – price is usually a good indicator of performance.

Prime lenses produce less distortion than zoom lenses, however, with super wide-angle lenses (like a fisheye ), natural distortion is inevitable.

Light distortion can be easily repaired with Lightroom or Photoshop, but if you often shoot architectural or geometric patterns, a lens with minimal distortion is essential.

Consider the size and weight of a lens

Lenses can vary greatly in both size and weight, and this can be a headache. With some exceptions, zoom lenses tend to be heavier than main lenses. But keep in mind that they are also more versatile – one zoom lens can cover the same focal length as three or more main lenses.

Consider where you will store the lens: Camera bags and backpacks are often too small to fit a telephoto lens attached to a camera body. As a result, you may miss some shots due to the time it takes to attach and remove the lens.