In this article, I want to talk to you about the best Nikon wide-angle lens, specifically how to make the choice also based on use.

I want to show you the strengths and weaknesses of these splendid lenses, to finally understand which model is right for you.

Before getting to the heart and discovering the best Nikon wide-angle lens, let’s briefly analyze the main characteristics of wide-angle lenses, thus discovering the potential of this very useful class of lenses.

Best Wide Angle Prime Lens For Nikon

In this guide we will help you to determine which is the best Nikon wide-angle to associate with your camera, describing the most popular lenses of the moment and making the appropriate considerations on their characteristics.

In the mirror below we have anticipated the list of Nikon wide-angle lenses included in our selection and by clicking on the name of a model you will go directly to the section dedicated to it. However, if you are not very experienced, we strongly recommend that you read the introductory part of the guide first!

Best Wide Angle Prime Lens For Nikon | Comparison table 2022

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Nikon Wide Angle Lens: What It Is and Why Buy One

Using a wide-angle lens allows you to frame a greater angle of view than standard lenses (we will quantify precisely later).

If you have so far used the camera only with the lens supplied in the kit, which typically starts at 18mm, you will certainly have encountered scenes that are too wide for them to fit into the frame.

When these situations begin to occur frequently enough to prevent you from seizing important photographic opportunities, it means that the time has come to buy a Nikon wide-angle lens.

Typically, this need is associated with landscape photography, which usually requires very extensive shots in both natural and urban contexts. Other situations in which it is necessary to shoot a high angle of view are the interiors, in which the limited room for maneuver prevents us from moving away, but also, more simply, group photos.

Furthermore, using a wide-angle allows you to obtain very interesting creative effects, thanks to the enhancement of the perspective typical of these lenses.

The Most Important Features of Nikon Wide Angle Lens

The key features for choosing a Nikon wide-angle lens are above all the focal length, brightness, and resistance to optical distortions.

Focal Length

The focal length is that parameter expressed in millimeters that indicates, in an inversely proportional way, how wide the angle of view framed with a given lens will be. The shorter the focal length, the greater the angle of view that you can embrace.

For example, if you are used to photographing with the 18-55 lens, the one most often sold in kits with reflex cameras, the shortest focal length available to you will be 18mm. Using a Nikon 10mm wide-angle lens, the angle of view will be 80% wider and pushing us to 9mm, this would even double.

In the diagram below we have compared all the starting focal lengths of the Nikon wide angles that we will describe later.

The innermost square corresponds to the frame that you would have at 18mm, ie with the basic lens. As you can see, the shots obtained at lower focal lengths are considerably wider.

We advise you to take this diagram as a reference to realize what frame you can get at a given focal length, when you read the reviews of the best Nikon wide angles, later on.

Almost all the lenses we have selected for you are of the zoom type, which means that you will have a certain range of focal lengths, more or less wide. Obviously, since we are talking about wide angles, we are mainly interested in the shorter one.

Brightness

The brightness of a lens corresponds to the maximum aperture available. All things being equal, optics that offer a very open aperture (for example f / 2.8) are preferred.

Each Nikon wide-angle lens that we will analyze has its own maximum aperture, which in the case of zooms often varies according to the focal length used.

Although this is a key parameter, normally, when choosing a lens, wide angles are somewhat of an exception. For most of their fields of application, it will be necessary to use, regardless, rather small apertures.

We advise you to take this aspect into consideration when choosing the Nikon wide-angle lens only if you plan to dedicate yourself to astrophotography or photos that require selective focus. Otherwise, even a less than excellent brightness will not compromise the use of the lens.

Optical Distortions and Deformations

A wide-angle lens, Nikon like any other brand, is more subject than other lenses to some particular deformations of the image.

The barrel distortion, for example, manifests itself as an unnatural bulge image and a consequent bowing of the straight lines (see the left edge in the example image).

These imperfections are rarely seen as a major problem in the case of natural landscapes, while they can represent a strong limitation in architectural photos. In fact, when the subjects photographed have regular shapes, the distortion appears more evident.

If you photograph strictly amateur, we frankly advise you not to give too much weight to this aspect: it will hardly affect your photos in a heavy way. If, on the other hand, you specialize in architectural photos and expect high-level results, it may be worth investing a little more for a high-end Nikon wide-angle lens, which minimizes this defect.

The flare, on the other hand, is a deformation of the image due to light rays that bounce between the various lenses of the objective and are recorded in the photo in the form of halos, haze or glare.

If you often photograph sunrises and sunsets (including the sun in the frame) it may be worth spending a little more on a lens with a good flare response.

In the mini-reviews of the best wide-angle lenses for Nikon, we have reported the optics that respond better or worse to this annoying defect.

Having made the appropriate premises, let’s now see which are the most interesting models of the moment.

Conclusions on best nikon wide-angle lens for beginners

At this point, I hope you have a clearer idea of ​​the best Nikon wide-angle you can buy for your photography.

Have you decided to buy your first  Nikon wide-angle lens? If you have any other questions or doubts, comment on the article.

Keep following me for more information on photography products.

I am often asked what is the best focal length for portraits or what is the best lens for portraits. This is one of those questions that I usually expect to receive from those who have recently started photography.

There is nothing wrong with that, which is why I made this episode since the theme can still be interesting and inspiring for everyone.

Best Lense For Portrait

First of all, it is good to understand that portrait lenses are not such because someone decided it, but simply because they guarantee particular performances that are suitable, precisely, in portraits.

Specifically, the best lens for portraits is the one that could include at least two of these characteristics among its characteristics:

• guarantees less distortion
• allows you to get a good blur
• it allows you to take a portrait from a distance (some people are interested in this aspect).

Best Lense For Portrait | Comparison Table 2022

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Unrivaled Guide to pick The Best Lense For Portrait in 2022

Best focal length for portraits full frame

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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How to choose the Best Prime Lens For Nikon in 2022 | Unrivaled 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.

Conclusion

After reading this guide on Best Prime Lens For Nikon you will know have a fair knowledge of the  Best Prime Lens .

In this guide, we will help you choose the best Nikon telephoto lens to pair with your SLR or mirrorless camera.

There are many long focal length optics proposed by the company and these are accompanied by compatible lenses, made by third-party manufacturers (such as Sigma and Tamron ). Below we have selected the most valid options and provided a brief description of the main features for each model.

In the mirror below you will find the list of the best Nikon telephoto lenses currently in the guide. Click on a model name to go directly to the part dedicated to it. If you want to know more about this type of lens or have doubts about compatibility with your camera, we recommend that you read the introductory section of the page.

Best Telephoto Lenses for Nikon 2022

Best Telephoto Lenses for Nikon | Comparison Table 2022

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Best Nikon Telephoto Lens: Which to Choose? The Features to Evaluate

There are about a dozen telephoto lenses for Nikon that are part of this guide, and although they are all in the same category, they are very different from each other. Not surprisingly, their price also varies from a few hundred euros to several thousand, for the most advanced optics.

So let’s try to clarify what are the key characteristics of telephoto lenses , those on the basis of which each model differs from the other.

The most important properties of lenses, in general, are the focal length and aperture. In the case of telephoto lenses, a very important role is then covered by some options and particular optical characteristics.

Focal Length

The focal length, which as you probably already know is expressed in millimeters, is that parameter that indicates the angle of view that you can frame with a lens.

Low values ​​(such as 24mm ) correspond to a wide angle of view, typical of wide angles, which allows you to shoot very large scenes, such as landscapes.

On the contrary, high values ​​( 100mm, 200mm, 300mm …) allow to frame a narrow-angle of view. This has the effect of concentrating the shot on a particular, which appears all the more magnified as the focal length increases. Exceeding the 70mm focal length, you enter precisely the field of competence of telephoto lenses, the subject of this guide.

In the diagram below we show the shot that would be obtained by shooting from the same point (the terrace of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris) using a different focal length.

Although technically, an 85mm also belongs in all respects to this category, we think that if you are looking for a Nikon telephoto lens you are oriented towards much longer focal lengths, which involve a significant magnification of the subject. For this reason, we have only considered lenses that reach at least 200mm of maximum focal length.

However, most of the lenses we have considered are of the zoom type and offer a remarkable focal range. Many of them also cover more moderate focal lengths, from medium-telephoto, such as the various 70-200mm or 70-300mm, which guarantees considerable versatility.

Aperture (Brightness)

The second parameter to consider when choosing a Nikon telephoto lens is its maximum aperture.

This value, as well as the focal length, is always indicated in the model name, preceded by “ f / “. As a general rule, a large maximum aperture, which corresponds to a low value (such as f / 2.8 ) is preferable to a narrow one (higher values, such as f / 5.6 ).

The most virtuous lenses, from this point of view, are called bright in jargon, as opposed to those defined as dark. A large aperture has several positive effects on photography. Below, we mention the most significant ones:

• Open apertures allow you to reduce shutter speeds, limiting the risk of finding yourself with blurred photos.
• A wide aperture allows you to keep the background out of focus and focus interest on the subject, an effect normally sought in genres consistent with long focal lengths.
• A very wide maximum aperture makes it possible to use teleconverters (if compatible) without serious repercussions on the performance of the lens.

That said, the brightness of a telephoto lens must always be evaluated in relation to its range. As the focal length increases, it is increasingly difficult (for design reasons) to find oneself with large apertures, if not investing a very high budget.

For a lens that reaches 200mm (we will see many telephoto lenses for Nikon on this cut) an aperture of f / 4 can be considered satisfactory, f / 2.8 excellent, and f / 5.6 mediocre. Going up to 400mm, however, an aperture of f / 5.6 is considered more than appreciable, while the few options available at f / 4 are purely professional in nature. A 400mm / 2.8 complex, on the other hand, would cost more than a small car!

In the case of tele-zoom lenses, two different maximum apertures are often indicated (ex: 70-300 f / 4-5.6 ). In these cases, the widest aperture refers to the minimum focal length and the narrowest aperture to the maximum focal length. At focal lengths between minimum and maximum, an intermediate diaphragm opening can be used.

However, the subject is too broad to be explained in detail here. If you want to know more, we recommend that you read our guide to the lens aperture.

Reproduction Ratio

The reproduction ratio is another feature that – depending on your needs – could be important to consider for choosing a Nikon telephoto.

This is the maximum magnification that you will be able to obtain in close-up shots and refers to the ratio between the dimensions of the subject in focus and those of the sensor. In the case of macro lenses proper, the reproduction ratio would be 1x (or 1: 1). You could then fully shoot a subject with the same sensor size.

We have dedicated a separate guide to lenses of this kind (see: best macro lenses for Nikon ), while here we will not deal with such high magnifications. However, some of the telephoto lenses for Nikon that we will analyze have a very interesting reproduction ratio, such as 0.4x or 0.3x for example. In the datasheets of the individual models, further on, we have reported the most performing optics from this point of view.

The ability to obtain high magnifications in the close-up pictures depends, technically, on a high ratio between focal length and minimum focus distance.

Obviously, we advise you to consider this parameter if you are interested in shooting details and close-ups (butterflies, insects, flowers…). If not, it’s a feature that can easily take a back seat.

Image Stabilizer

Among the possible options of telephoto lenses, the image stabilizer is certainly the most interesting. This device makes it possible to obtain perfectly clear photos even using relatively long shutter speeds in relation to the focal length used.

As a rule, to have a good chance of avoiding blurry photos, you should use a faster time than the inverse of the focal length, for example, less than 1/200 when shooting at 200mm or less than 1/400 when shooting at 400mm.

In the case of a stabilized lens, this safety threshold is significantly lowered and makes it possible to shoot at super-telephoto focal lengths even with rather long times (eg: 400mm @ 1/90 ).

The importance of the image stabilizer, especially for telephoto lenses, is such that its presence has become somewhat of a standard on this type of lens. Almost all Nikon telephoto lenses that we will see are in fact equipped with them. Older models generally provide a maximum gain of about 3 stops of time, while the latest generation optics also reach 5.

Telephoto Lens Compatibility with Nikon Cameras (Reflex / Mirrorless, DX / FX)

The choice of a lens must always be made according to – as well as your needs – also the camera in possession: reflex or mirrorless. Each Nikon telephoto lens has a specific amount, which makes it compatible with one of two types of cameras.

Most of the lenses that we will see, in truth, are designed for SLR cameras. Nikon Z telephoto lenses for mirrorless cameras (to which we dedicated the last part of the guide) are in fact available, for the moment, in a very limited number of models.

Considering the considerable commitment the company is showing in this segment, it is easy to foresee that a number of new lenses will be introduced for these cameras shortly.

In the meantime, if you own a mirrorless camera and can’t find a natively compatible model that’s right for you, you can use a telephoto lens designed for reflex cameras using the simple FTZ adapter.

This adapter is often supplied as a kit with the camera itself, but you can also buy it separately. Its use does not alter in any way neither the optical quality of the lens nor the autofocus performance.

Beyond the type of camera, a priori distinction must be made regarding the type of sensor integrated into it. Except in rare cases (appropriately highlighted in the guide), the Nikon telephoto lenses that we will see are suitable for both FX cameras (full-frame) and DX cameras (APS-C).

However, if associated with the latter, their focal length will be 1.5x higher due to the crop factor. For example, a 70-200mm used on a DX camera will behave like an “equivalent” 105-300mm. The range of the telephoto lens will therefore be even more boosted.

In the individual cards, to dispel any doubts, we have written in black and white which types of cameras each lens is suitable for and what its equivalent focal length is.

Tamron SP AF 70-300mm f / 4-5.6 Di VC USD

The first telephoto lens for Nikon that we want to describe to you is one of the cheapest options among those present in this guide.