After posting the popular list for Canon it only seems fair to do the same for Nikon, as they are both the biggest in the DSLR market. While there are well over 60 lenses available (excluding third-party brands), you should use this list to see what’s popular and what most people like to use.
Here is a compilation of 15 most popular lenses for Nikon cameras. They’re not posted in any particular quality order, just what most of the readers from my photography websites purchase through Amazon (everything you buy through the links helps our blog, as we’re a part of their program and you get the same prices).
1. Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX
It’s no surprise that the cheapest lens would be the most popular! Mounted on an DX camera, the 35mm actually has the same field of view as a 50mm lens on a Full Frame camera, making it the perfect option for all around shooting. It’s razor sharp and delivers high quality images!
2. Nikon 50mm f/1.8G AF-S FX
Unlike the lens above, the 50mm is designed to fit perfectly on all Nikon’s DSLR cameras. There aren’t any big differences in terms of quality, but the 50 is slightly bigger and heavier.
3. Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR
For sports and wildlife, it’s usually better to have a telephoto lens. The 55-200mm is a great choice for those on a budget that still want high quality images! Keep in mind though, you will have to raise your ISO in darker conditions.
4. Nikon 40mm f/2.8G AF-S DX
Unlike with point and shoot cameras, that offer (usually bad) macro modes, you have to get an actual macro lens for DSLR cameras. The 40mm f/2.8 is your cheapest option, and is also amazing as it has a true 1:1 magnification ratio.
5. Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX
If you got $400 to spend on a telephoto zoom lens, this is your best option! 100mm longer than the one above, better optics and faster auto focusing speed. There’s also Vibration Reduction to help you stabilize images in situations where it’s hard to be steady.
6. Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF
In case the 50mm on top is too expensive, there’s always the “old school” version available. It will not auto focus on cameras with no AF motor built in (D5200 and lower models), so this is only for those who have more advanced DSLRs, or don’t have any issues with manual focus.
7. Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 SLD DG Macro
Buying from third-party brands is always a cheaper option, and if you’re lucky you might just get the same quality, if not even better for the price! Sigma 70-300mm is similar to 55-200mm in terms of quality and all, but it may feel a bit cheap to some. While it’s in no way intended for professional use, anyone with basic skills can get great images!
8. Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX
Lenses that tend to cover wide to extreme telephoto ranges have always been popular among those want to keep their gear to minimum, but a couple of years ago you had to sacrifice image quality for that! The 18-300mm will cost you a little bit under $1,000, but is definitely worth if you want to be covered no matter what situation you are in.
9. Nikon 85mm f/1.8G AF-S
For high quality portraits with beautiful bokeh, it hardly gets better than this! Long focal distances compress faces nicely, compared to wide angle lenses that make us all look weird (in most cases). With aperture f/1.8 you can shoot at pretty much any location without a tripod.
10. Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S
In case you thought lenses were super cheap, take a look at the 24-70mm f/2.8 for almost $2,000. Don’t get me wrong though, it’s worth every dollar if you want to take photography to the next level. Professionals in all sorts of fields use it, due to its high quality, fast AF, great build and large aperture. Now you know why such a high price!
11. Nikon 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX
The newly announced 18-140mm replaces the “old” 18-105mm, a great lens to get instead of the kit 18-55mm. It covers a great range for all around use (vacations, walks, action and landscape), and is also good when it comes to quality.
12. Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro
The one and only micro lens on the list (there’s also the 60mm version) that will allow you to shoot bugs, flowers, products and pretty much anything else you can think of. All macro lenses are razor sharp and have colors etc., you just have to figure which focal length is good for you, and whether you need VR in case you don’t use a tripod that often.
13. Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S
Just by looking at the price tag ($2,400), it’s already obvious that the 70-200mm lens is no joke. Every DSLR company has at least one of these, and they are used by photojournalists, sports and wedding photographs (pretty much everyone).
14. Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Macro
It’s 50mm shorter than the Nikon’s version, has a slightly smaller aperture at the long end, but that’s why it’s nowhere near that price! It fits on all Nikon DSLRs and will auto focus properly, so if you just want something cheap to go with your camera and forget about everything else, this is it.
15. Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD IF
There are a whole lot of confusing acronyms in its name, but there’s nothing confusing about its price and performance. For $200 you get a pretty good all around zoom for moments when you just can’t carry a lot with you. Tamron didn’t include Image Stabilization, so I recommend it mostly for outdoor purposes.
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