Nikon has long been a trusted name in photography, offering a wide range of lenses that cater to both amateur and professional photographers. With 2024 bringing new advancements in lens technology, Nikon’s lineup continues to impress with its quality, versatility, and performance. Whether you’re shooting portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or videos, here are the best Nikon lenses for 2024 that you should consider adding to your gear.
1. Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
The Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is a versatile zoom lens that has become a favorite among professionals. It offers a constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range, making it ideal for low-light situations and creating a beautiful bokeh effect. The sharpness and clarity of this lens are exceptional, and it’s well-suited for everything from portraits to landscapes. Its fast and accurate autofocus, combined with excellent weather sealing, makes it a reliable choice for various shooting conditions.
2. Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S
For portrait photographers, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S is a game-changer. This lens offers a super-wide f/1.2 aperture, providing incredible depth of field control and allowing you to create stunningly sharp portraits with a smooth, creamy background blur. The build quality is top-notch, and the autofocus is both fast and accurate. If you’re serious about portrait photography, this lens is a must-have in your kit.
3. Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S
When it comes to ultra-wide-angle photography, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S stands out as one of the best options for 2024. This lens is perfect for landscape, architecture, and astrophotography, offering a wide field of view with minimal distortion. The constant f/2.8 aperture ensures excellent performance in low light, and the lens is built to withstand the elements, making it a reliable choice for outdoor photography.
4. Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S
Telephoto zoom lenses are essential for wildlife, sports, and event photography, and the Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S is one of the best in this category. This lens offers a constant f/2.8 aperture, which is crucial for capturing fast-moving subjects in challenging lighting conditions. The built-in Vibration Reduction (VR) helps minimize camera shake, ensuring sharp images even at longer focal lengths. The optical performance is outstanding, with excellent sharpness, contrast, and color rendition.
5. Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S
The Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S is a prime lens that offers incredible value for its price. With a wide f/1.8 aperture, this lens excels in low light and delivers beautiful bokeh, making it a great choice for portraits, street photography, and general-purpose use. The lens is compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry around, and the image quality is superb, with sharp details and vibrant colors.
6. Nikon NIKKOR Z 105mm f/2.8 VR S Micro
Macro photography enthusiasts will appreciate the Nikon NIKKOR Z 105mm f/2.8 VR S Micro. This lens offers a 1:1 reproduction ratio, allowing you to capture incredibly detailed close-up shots of small subjects like insects, flowers, and textures. The built-in Vibration Reduction (VR) helps to stabilize your shots, while the f/2.8 aperture ensures you can achieve a shallow depth of field with pleasing background blur. The lens also doubles as an excellent portrait lens, thanks to its focal length and image quality.
7. Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S
For those who love wide-angle photography with a bit more flexibility, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S is an excellent choice. This prime lens offers a fast f/1.8 aperture, making it great for low-light situations and achieving a shallow depth of field. The 20mm focal length is ideal for landscapes, architecture, and environmental portraits. The lens is sharp across the frame, with minimal distortion and excellent color reproduction.
8. Nikon NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct
For photographers who demand the best in low-light performance and depth of field control, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct is a remarkable lens. With an ultra-wide f/0.95 aperture, this lens offers unparalleled light-gathering capabilities, allowing you to shoot in extremely low-light conditions while creating an incredibly shallow depth of field. The manual focus design provides precise control, making it a favorite among fine art and portrait photographers who require the highest level of image quality.
9. Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8
The Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 is a versatile and more affordable alternative to the 24-70mm f/2.8 S. It offers a slightly different focal range but still delivers excellent performance with a constant f/2.8 aperture. This lens is great for photographers who need a reliable all-around zoom lens for everyday use, covering a variety of shooting scenarios from wide-angle to short telephoto.
10. Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S
For professional wildlife and sports photographers, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S is a powerhouse lens. This super-telephoto lens offers a built-in 1.4x teleconverter, allowing you to extend the focal length to 560mm with the flip of a switch. The f/2.8 aperture provides excellent light-gathering ability, even in challenging conditions, and the Vibration Reduction system ensures sharp images at these extreme focal lengths. The optical performance is outstanding, with incredible sharpness, contrast, and detail.
Conclusion
Nikon’s lens lineup for 2024 offers something for every photographer, whether you’re a professional or an enthusiast. From versatile zooms to specialized primes, these lenses provide the quality, performance, and reliability that Nikon users have come to expect. Investing in one or more of these lenses will help you capture stunning images, no matter your subject or shooting conditions.