Here Are The First Nikon Lenses You Should Buy (After The Kit Lens)

When you first purchase your DSLR, you're probably quite happy with the standard, 18-55mm kit lens you often get with the camera but it will get to a point when you need a lens that's more specifically designed for the shooting you have in mind. 

From wides, to telephotos, 'nifty fifties' to macros... there are plenty of lens choices out there and that's even before you decide if you want a prime or zoom, camera manufacturer specific lenses or a lens built by a third-party brand. 

This article will look specifically at lenses you can use on Nikon DSLRs so new Nikon owners can start building the best lens collection that's right for their specific needs. 

Under each photography style, we list budget and 'if money is no option' prime and zoom lens options (where applicable) to help you find your next camera lens upgrade. Each lens is linked to our review of the specific product and, if you want to, you can purchase/find more information about each lens by clicking the Amazon buttons. 

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If you know what you're looking for in terms of type, use the navigation points below to go to a specific suggestion. 

• I Want A 50mm Prime Lens
• I Want A Macro Lens
• I Want A Wide-Angle Lens
• I Want A Telephoto Lens
• I Want A Standard Prime Lens
• I Want A Portrait Lens
• I Want A Travel Lens

50mm Prime Lens

There are plenty of 50mm lenses currently available, both from third-party lens manufacturers as well as Nikon, which means we had plenty to choose from but the best scoring 50mm prime in our top 27 list that fits Nikon cameras is the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens while those on a tighter budget should take a look at the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G Lens.

Budget Prime - Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G Lens

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G is what you'd call a "plastic fantastic" lens, offering outstanding quality. Build quality is excellent and it handles very well. Optically, it is also superb, offering outstanding quality at a very reasonable price.

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Price: £120/$168 (at the time of writing)

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Ultimate Prime - Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens

The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens is a lens that delivers outstanding performance at a reasonable price. This combination of price versus performance will almost certainly win many fans for this lens, even despite its large size and weight for a 50mm optic. 

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Price: £471/$949 (at the time of writing)

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Macro Lens

Lenses which are designed to capture excellent macro images and close-up photos are something we've taken a very close look at (pun intended) over the years and Nikon users aren't lacking in choice when it comes to this style of lens. Plus, as well as detailed close-up shots, these types of lenses can also be great for portraits so you're getting a 2-4-1 if you buy one. 

Budget Prime - Meike 85mm f/2.8 Macro

In the arena of macro shooting, the Meike 85mm f/2.8 Macro lens comes into its own, being what it is clearly designed for. Very often Manual Focus (MF) is the method of choice for macro shooting anyway. All the accuracy of the focusing is concentrated in the macro range and the image snaps clearly into focus in the viewfinder or on the monitor screen.

The Meike 85mm f/2.8 Macro lens is a well made, well-priced lens that will do the job efficiently and to an excellent standard.

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Price: £264.99/$168 (at the time of writing)

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Ultimate Prime -  Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC USD

The new Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC USD is an outstanding updated macro lens ideal for all short telephoto applications. This one takes performance to a new peak and is very comfortable to use. Plus, the price point is excellent. 

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Price: £579.49/$699.99 (at the time of writing)

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Wide-Angle Lens

Wide-angle lenses are the go-to kit for landscape photography fans and Nikon users have a fair bit of choice when it comes to what lens they should buy. We've just listed a couple below but you will find more options in our '42 Best Wide-Angle Landscape Lenses' guide. 

Budget Prime: Samyang 16mm f/2.0 ED AS UMC CS

This is a bit more expensive than other budget lenses we've listed but where performance vs price is concerned, this is one of the best less expensive options available.

The Samyang 16mm f/2.0 ED AS UMC CS is a manual focus wide angle lens for APS-C format cameras that offers a fast f/2 maximum aperture and when used with an  APS-C sensor camera, this lens provides an angle of view equivalent to a 24mm lens used on a 35mm camera. Even though this lens is keenly priced for its specification, the build quality is very good and sharpness is excellent. Some photographers may find manual focusing off-putting, spending a little time practising and getting used to how the lens behaves will pay dividends in the long run. This is especially true when considering how little this lens costs for what you get. 

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Price: £344/$393 (at the time of writing)

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Ultimate Prime: Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/1.4

The Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/1.4 lens is a bright, high-quality optic with smooth bokeh and a very well balanced set of properties. It handles beautifully and is a pleasure to use. It exudes a feeling of quality. It is very likely that it will last for many years before needing any attention. The manual focus is utterly smooth and the point of focus is very easy to achieve.

High quality, ease of handling and a classic focal length make the Milvus a superb lens.

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Price: £1698/$1999 (at the time of writing)

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Budget Zoom: Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR

The Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR is an inexpensive, light, compact and fantastic lens to use. Handling with the Nikon D7500 is just spot on, so the lens is a really attractive proposition. The focal length range is extremely versatile and the images are bright, sharp and punchy. Highly recommended, an ideal travel lens for those with a slightly tighter budget. 

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Price: £300.87/$306.95 (at the time of writing)

Ultimate Zoom: AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED

Nikon's 14-24mm f/2.8 extreme-wide zoom lens is a professional optic truly deserving the extreme title. 14mm is very, very wide on a full-frame camera lending itself perfectly to landscape photography. Most of the body of the 14-24mm is constructed of metal and the zoom ring moves with quite a light touch, which is quite an achievement considering the sheer amount of glass being moved around by the zoom mechanism. In terms of resolution, handling and even its resistance to flare and ghosting, this lens is excellent. 

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Price: £1604/$1086.95 (at the time of writing)

Telephoto Lens

If you photograph wildlife, and other subjects you can't really get close to, then a telephoto prime or zoom lens is a worthwhile investment. If you want a clearer image and better bokeh, then you should look at a prime lens. Although these lenses tend to have a high price tag, they will give you the best quality image and guarantee the best glass. Having said that, there are plenty of decent telephoto zoom lenses on the market, new and old, that will get you the frame-filling shots you're after without having to go hungry for a year to fund its purchase. 

Budget Prime: There Isn't One

As we have already said, this amount of glass comes at a premium so a telephoto prime lens isn't something a beginner, or those with a limited budget, will be looking at. 

Ultimate Prime:  Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR

The NIKKOR 300mm lens sports Vibration Reduction and fast, silent autofocus with full-time manual override. The lens also has Nikon's Nano Crystal optical coatings to suppress ghosting and flare as well as fluorine elements. It also has an electronic aperture diaphragm, to ensure accurate exposures when using it to shoot at fast frame rates. It also features a Phase-Fresnel optical element. This cleverly shaped piece of glass helps to reduce the overall size and weight of the lens, without compromising the optical design. It scored a 'highly recommended' rating for excellent sharpness and fast focusing. 

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Price: £1469/$1996.95 (at the time of writing)

Budget Zoom: Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 G ED VR

The Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 G ED VR as a relatively new lens that sports VR and a very attractive 35mm format equivalent of 105-450mm. Overall, the lens performs brilliantly, giving sharp, flare-free images at wider to mid apertures, with lovely bokeh and virtually no CA. Add to that a superb VR performance and the package is hard to beat. It's an outstanding lens and it's currently available at a fantastic price, too. 

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Price: £245.95/$396.95 (at the time of writing)

Ultimate Zoom: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/4G ED VR

Covering the popular 70-200mm range and offering a constant f/4 aperture, this is a lens that's found its way into many kit bags. It delivers sharp, contrasty images, focuses fast and isn't so heavy that you'd regret packing it in your camera bag. With the price of the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/4G ED VR still hovering above the £1000 mark, it may seem like a lot of money to shell out for a lens with a maximum aperture of f/4 but when you take its optical performance into consideration, it's worth it (even more so if you're after a similar performance to the f/2.8 equivalent).

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Price: £1172.99/$1396.95 (at the time of writing)

Standard Prime (35-70mm range) Lens

If you want a lens that you can use to capture a wide variety of subjects then a standard prime could be for you. These two lens suggestions sit in the 35-70mm range.

Budget Prime: Tamron SP 45mm f/1.8 Di VC USD

Tamron has created an excellent 45mm lens which is certainly more than capable of delivering excellent results in a wide range of conditions. Travellers, in particular, will appreciate the relative lightweight for its size, Vibration Compensation, weather sealing and robust build. We know it's not the cheapest 'budget' lens but as it's a prime lens, which tend to be a bit more pricey, it's the best we could find. 

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Price: £491.17/$399 (at the time of writing)

Ultimate Prime: Tamron SP 35mm f/1.8 Di VC USD

The Tamron SP 35mm f/1.8 Di VC USD is the first of three lenses from Tamron appearing in our top list and it offers weather sealing, silent autofocus and Vibration Compensation. It is certainly capable of delivering excellent images, with high sharpness in the centre of the frame and its build quality is impressive, too. 

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Price: £596.17/$599 (at the time of writing)

Portrait Lens 

Blurry backgrounds and shallow depths of field are the names of the game with portrait lenses so your subject 'pops' from the frame. Think subject separation, beautifully blurred backgrounds and pin-sharp subjects. For more detailed information on portrait lenses, check out our guide to the top portrait lenses currently available. 

Budget Prime: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G

It's an oldie but a goodie available at a bargain price. The Nikon 50mm f/1.8 lens is optically superb offering outstanding quality and excellent sharpness in the centre at maxium aperture. 

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Price: £186.49/$216.95 (at the time of writing)

Ultimate Prime: Tamron SP 85mm f/1.4 Di VC USD

The Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD lens features built-in vibration correction (VC), which is rare on a portrait lens, and should help in low-light situations where you are forced to use a slower shutter speed. 

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Price: £740.54/$764 (at the time of writing)

Travel Lens

When it comes to travel, you want a lens that has plenty of reach but at the same time can be used for wide shots and portraits, without compromising on quality or struggling with heavy weight and this is where superzooms shine. Superzooms are versatile, space-saving pieces of kit that give you focal lengths from wide-angle to telephoto in one piece of kit. You're also less likely to miss a shot as you don't have to worry about digging in your kit bag to change lenses and as you'll not be swapping lenses, there's less chance dust and dirt will reach your sensor.

Budget Zoom: Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC

The relatively new 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC lens, as the VC suggests, features Vibration Compensation for Nikon shooters to take advantage of and it has an impressively low price. The lens is light, balances well and focus is acquired efficiently and swiftly with little or no hunting. The 18-200mm from Tamron performs very well and is an inexpensive, versatile lens that's perfect for holiday or travel lens.

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Price: £199/$199 (at the time of writing)

Ultimate Zoom: Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD

It's not the most expensive lens on our list but it tops our '11 Best Superzoom Lenses For Travel' feature which makes it a top choice for Nikon shooters. 

The Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD covers a huge range and sports silent autofocus and VC. Considering the massive range this lens covers, it is surprisingly compact, and at only 450grams, it is lightweight too. During testing, it proved itself more than capable of decently sharp, contrasty images, especially when used at optimum apertures. Its lightweight, compact design makes the lens perfect for travel, especially when paired with a more compact SLR body.

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Price: £275/$202 (at the time of writing)

More Top Lists & Equipment Suggestions

For more lens choices, top camera suggestions, accessories you need to own and more, have a look at our 'Best Gear' section of the site.