Best nikon lens for nature photography

If you are a proud owner of Nikon D3500 and looking for the best lenses to shoot wildlife photos, then you’re in the right place. Cick on the button below to read our buying guide of best lenses for wildlife photography with step-by-step instructions.

Nikon d3500 is famous for the budget user, which performs very well in nature photography. The thing I like most about this lens is clarity and sharpness of picture. Nikon’s wildlife lens is excellent in capturing birds, mammals and wildlife action. When considering to capture your nature landscape photography, you are going to want to take an optical zoom lens so you can get very close without disturbing the wildlife

Best wildlife lens for nikon d7500

1/3 of the photographers use Nikon so, to make easy for you, I’m going to share my list of best nature photography lenses. Which lens to use depends on what you are trying to shoot. Do you want portraits? Some of the lenses take really nice portraits and look really sharp. Are you looking for landscapes or animals? Well, if you want to do landscapes, then buy the lens which gives nice landscapes and if you are shooting animals then try to go around with a long focal length lens because animals can come close but dashing away quickly.

One of the most common questions asked by wildlife photographers who are looking to purchase a new camera is “what’s the best lens for wildlife photography?” The answer will always be “It depends.” However, that doesn’t help anyone, does it?

Best nikon lens for nature photography

In this blog post, we are going to discuss some of the best lenses for wildlife. Wildlife photography is a whole new level which requires a specific kind of lens to be able to click the perfect shot. As we have seen cameras turning into an integral part of today’s life, wildlife photography is too on the same lines. Every wildlife photographer wishes for unique shots with regard to various wildlife species. We are here with some tips and tricks that if followed would help you in making your wildlife photos amazing and worth every penny spent in purchase of camera lens.

Best wildlife lens for nikon d7500

When you’re looking for the best lens for wildlife photography Nikon, there are a few things you’ll want to consider. Will you be taking photos of birds up close or from a distance? Are you looking for a lens that zooms or one that doesn’t? One of the bonuses of having such a diverse range in wildlife is that it also means choosing a lens can be more difficult! How do you know which is the best? Well, our handy guide will help.

The Nikon D3500 is a small DSLR model with an APS-C sensor and an 11-point autofocus system. It has a 24 megapixels sensor and its body is composed of polycarbonate.

The best lenses for wildlife photography has to be a lens that can resolve distant, potentially small objects and bring them into sharp focus in the final image. Distance is one of two keys. That explains why a zoom lens is needed on a camera body like the Nikon D850 which offers high resolution at low cost in comparison to an interchangeable-lens camera camera bodies. The ability of the lens to focus sharply is the other key.

Best nikon lens for nature photography

Best Nikon Lenses for Wildlife Photograph

What are the best Nikon lenses for wildlife photography? Our readers often ask us about lenses for nature photography and while I have already written about which Nikon lenses I consider to be the best for landscape photography, I have received numerous requests to write about lenses for wildlife photography as well. In this article, I will not only talk about which Nikon lenses I believe are the best for wildlife and nature photography, but also when I use a particular lens, along with plenty of image samples from each lens. Please keep in mind that the information I present below is a personal opinion based on my experience so far, which is subject to change. If you have a favorite lens of yours for wildlife photography that is not listed below, please feel free to add a comment on the bottom of the page with some information and links to pictures (if you have any that you would like to share).

When photographing wildlife, whether shooting bears in Alaska, or capturing birds in flight, one of the most important factors in choosing a lens is its focal length. Generally, the longer the lens (in focal length), the better. Unlike landscape and portrait photography, where you could get away with a cheap lens and still get great results, wildlife photography pretty much requires high-quality, fast-aperture telephoto optics. This obviously translates to a high price tag, with the lowest end of the spectrum averaging between $500 to $1,500, and the highest-quality / best reach lenses costing as much as $10,000+. Without a doubt, wildlife photography is a very expensive hobby to have (unless you are so good that you can sell your pictures and make good money), especially once you add up all the gear and travel costs.

Table of Contents

Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR

Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II

Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S

Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II

Nikon 400mm f/2.8G VR

Nikon 500mm f/4G VR

Nikon 600mm f/4G VR

Nikon 400mm f/2.8 vs Nikon 500mm f/4 vs Nikon 600mm f/4

1) Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR

If you want to get into wildlife photography on a tight budget, the Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR is the lens you want to get. It is a great buy that will get you to 300mm at under $600 USD. Its autofocus is pretty good in daylight and its versatile zoom range of 70-300mm is great for large animals and perched birds. The lens is light and compact, making it easy to carry it around when scouting for wildlife in parks and wildlife spots. It is capable of producing relatively good bokeh, especially on its longest end, although its sharpness performance also drops quite a bit at 300mm. Having VR is a definite plus when hand-holding the lens.

In daylight conditions the Nikon 70-300mm VR can overall produce great results, but its performance does suffer in low-light situations – something to be expected from a slow variable aperture zoom lens. Unfortunately, the Nikon 70-300mm VR cannot be used with any teleconverters, so its range is limited at 300mm.

Here are some sample images from the Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR:

NIKON D300 @ 165mm, ISO 450, 1/1000, f/5.0

NIKON D300 @ 300mm, ISO 200, 1/1250, f/5.6

NIKON D300 @ 300mm, ISO 200, 1/1600, f/5.6

See my old Nikon 70-300mm VR Review for more information on this lens.

2) Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II

The next step-up from the 70-300mm lens is the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, a superb lens not only for portraiture, but also for wildlife photography. While its rather short on the long side, it is one of the few Nikon lenses that works with all current Nikon teleconverters. The Nikon TC-14E II makes it a 100-280mm f/4 lens (1.4x focal length multiplication), the Nikon TC-17E II makes it a 120-340mm f/4.8 lens (1.7x) and the latest Nikon TC-20E III doubles the focal length to 140-400mm (2.0x) at f/5.6. A truly versatile lens indeed. The latter combination needs good light for reliable AF and should be stopped down to f/8 for best results (there is some sharpness degradation at f/5.6).

Unlike the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR, the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II is a very sharp lens from 70mm all the way to 200mm. It sports some of the best Nikon technologies, including fast AF, Nano Coating and VR II.

NIKON D700 + 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 340mm, ISO 800, 1/640, f/5.0

NIKON D3S + 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 400mm, ISO 320, 1/1250, f/5.6

NIKON D3S + 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 340mm, ISO 3200, 1/80, f/4.8

See my detailed Nikon 70-200mm Review for more information on this lens.

3) Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S

The next lens is one of my all-time Nikon favorites, the Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S. It is a pro-level lens with superb optics and very fast autofocus. Optically, it is a world better than the Nikon 70-300mm, better than the Nikon 70-200mm VR II + teleconverters and pretty close to its much bigger and heavier brother, the Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II.

I love this lens because it is light (compared to the big 300mm+ guns below), compact, sharp, capable of producing beautiful bokeh and works extremely well with the Nikon TC-14E II 1.4x teleconverter. In fact, I have my TC-14E II permanently glued to this lens, because it performs so well wide open at f/5.6 (the 1.4x TC slows the lens down from f/4 to f/5.6) and gets me to 420mm. This is the lens I prefer taking with me on a plane when travelling. It does have a couple of annoyances that I hope Nikon fixes on a future version of this lens. First, the lens has no VR. Second, its lens collar is not designed for good stability and you will have to replace it with a better one. Third, it has no rear optical element, all the way to the lens diaphragm, so you will have to be careful when shooting in dusty conditions (that’s another reason why I keep the TC-14E II mounted on it).

When hand-holding a telephoto lens with no VR, you always have to make sure that your shutter speed stays fast enough not to cause camera shake. Always remember that the longer the focal length of the lens, the more prone it is to camera shake. A general rule of thumb is to keep your shutter speed faster than the focal length of the lens. So if your focal length is 300mm, then your shutter speed should be faster than 1/300 of a second. If you use a DX camera, then don’t forget to multiply the number by 1.5x, which in this case would be around 1/450. Obviously, it all depends on your hand-holding technique. If you have very strong hands and a good hand-holding technique, you might be able to get great results with much slower shutter speeds, while those with shaky hands might need to increase the shutter speed even more to get acceptably sharp images. I explain all this in detail in my “how to photograph birds” article.

One question that I get a lot from our readers, is which combo to get – the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II + TC-20E III, or the Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S + TC-14E II. I have both and I certainly prefer the latter combo (300mm f/4 + TC-14E II). First, as I have already stated earlier, the 70-200mm + TC-20E III should be stopped down to f/8 for best sharpness, while the 300mm f/4 + TC-14E II is sharp wide open, so there is a stop of advantage right there. Second, AF speed and accuracy with the 300mm f/4 + TC-14E II is much better – you will get a lot more consistent results. What about VR (or lack thereof)? When I use the Nikon 300mm f/4 lens, I always keep the shutter speed fast, knowing that I do not have VR. It helps to shoot with a good low-light camera like the Nikon D700 or Nikon D3s that can handle high ISO, because I can set Auto ISO to regulate camera ISO when light conditions change. I definitely prefer faster and more accurate AF to VR.

Many of my wildlife photographs that I posted as wallpapers on this website have been shot with this lens. See my old Nikon 300mm f/4 Review for more information on this lens.

Some image samples from the Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S:

NIKON D4 + 300mm f/4 @ 300mm, ISO 400, 1/100, f/8.0

NIKON Df + 300mm f/4 @ 300mm, ISO 220, 1/2000, f/5.6

NIKON D3S + 300mm f/4 @ 420mm, ISO 450, 1/1250, f/5.6

NIKON D3S + 300mm f/4 @ 300mm, ISO 3200, 1/250, f/8.0

NIKON D3S + 300mm f/4 @ 420mm, ISO 450, 1/1000, f/10.0

NIKON D3S + 300mm f/4 @ 420mm, ISO 200, 1/1600, f/5.6

What about the Nikon 80-400mm VR lens? Forget about it – its AF is slow in comparison. I have tried the 80-400mm and would not consider it for fast-action photography, especially birding.

4) Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II

The next big jump (in terms of size, weight and cost) gets us to the Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II – a phenomenal lens, one of Nikon’s best lenses to date. It is a workhorse tool used by professionals for sports, wildlife and portrait photography. I used the Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II for several months and I was very impressed by its performance, especially when coupled with teleconverters. In fact, Nikon specifically released the TC-20E III together with this lens, which makes this lens almost like a “reference” lens for use with teleconverters (with the TC-20E III, the lens becomes a 600mm f/5.6 lens). It is loaded with Nikon’s latest technologies like VR II and its optics are simply outstanding. AF performance is top notch, with super fast and accurate autofocus acquisition, even in low-light situations.

I have been shooting with the Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VR lens for the last 4-5 years and I can assure you that the Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II is overall a better lens to buy (unless you shoot large animals from a close distance, like bears in Alaska). I bought the Nikon 200-400mm for its zoom capabilities, but the lens turned out to be heavier, bulkier and it just does not tolerate anything longer than the TC-14E II. This leaves me with 560mm of effective focal length to work with on the long end, which seems to be very close in terms of IQ to the 300mm f/2.8G VR II @ 600mm. But its biggest problem is not the 40mm shorter focal length – it has one notable weakness, which only shows up when you photograph anything at a distance. Up close, the 200-400mm creates beautiful images, but as soon as you start shooting subjects over 200+ feet, its autofocus accuracy starts to suffer. Mind you, this does not typically happen when shooting lone birds in the sky, but primarily when there is something immediately behind the subject. For example, when I was photographing bears in Yellowstone, 8/10 times I would get grass behind the bear in focus. When I first noticed this behavior 3-4 years ago, I thought that it was just my bad camera/focusing techniques. I tried reacquiring focus, using only the center AF point and tried all kinds of tricks and the problem did not go away. I then thought that something was wrong with my lens, so I calibrated it like crazy, only to find that there was nothing wrong with it. Then I read complaints from other 200-400mm owners on various forums, who reported exactly the same problem with this lens and that’s when I realized that it was the lens that was the problem. I tried the 300mm f/2.8G (along with 400mm and 500mm lenses) in very similar conditions and they do not have the same problem.

NIKON D3S + 300mm f/2.8 @ 500mm, ISO 450, 1/1250, f/5.6

NIKON D3S + 300mm f/2.8 @ 600mm, ISO 640, 1/500, f/8.0

NIKON D3S + 300mm f/2.8 @ 500mm, ISO 1600, 1/250, f/5.6

NIKON D3S + 300mm f/2.8 @ 300mm, ISO 1250, 1/1000, f/5.6

NIKON D3S + 300mm f/2.8 @ 500mm, ISO 1600, 1/800, f/8.0

See my detailed Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II Review for more information on this lens.

5) Nikon 400mm f/2.8G VR

The next best wildlife lens is Nikon’s heavyweight super telephoto bazooka, the Nikon 400mm f/2.8G VR. This is the lens that will get you to 800mm at f/5.6 with a 2x teleconverter! Weighing a whopping 4.6 kilos, it is almost as heavy as Nikon’s longest 600mm f/4 lens (more on the 600mm below) and almost twice as heavy as the Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II. It is a massive lens for a reason – its large aperture of f/2.8 requires huge glass elements to transmit so much light into the camera. Similar to the Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II, it also works exceptionally well with all teleconverters, including the Nikon TC-20E III.

Due to its massive size, this lens requires a good tripod setup. Forget about trying to hand-hold it, even if you have arms as big as Schwarzenegger’s. It has very impressive optical features and it delivers exceptionally good-looking images, especially at its maximum aperture of f/2.8. However, its weight and size are its biggest enemy. This is not the lens you would pack in a backpack for hiking.

NIKON D3S + 400mm f/2.8 @ 400mm, ISO 250, 1/1000, f/2.8

NIKON D3S + 400mm f/2.8 @ 550mm, ISO 200, 1/1600, f/4.0

NIKON D7000 + 400mm f/2.8 @ 550mm, ISO 200, 1/1000, f/5.6

A summary on which super telephoto lens I would recommend and my thoughts on 400mm f/2.8, 500mm f/4 and 600mm f/4 lenses is provided at the bottom of this article.

See my detailed Nikon 400mm f/2.8G Review for more information on this lens.

6) Nikon 500mm f/4G VR

The Nikon 500mm f/4G VR is sort of a “sweet middle” between the 400mm and 600mm lenses. Due to its slower f/4 aperture, it is actually a much lighter lens than the 400mm f/2.8G VR (by almost a kilogram) and only slightly heavier than the Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VR II. This is the only super telephoto lens that I would even consider hand-holding for short periods of time. Optically it is an insanely sharp lens, I would say about the same as the Nikon 600mm f/4 below. Again, not much to complain about in terms of optics and features.

Unlike the Nikon 400mm f/2.8G VR, the Nikon 500mm f/4G VR only works well with the TC-14E II teleconverter, giving an effective focal length of 700mm at f/5.6. Unless you shoot with the new Nikon D4 that can handle autofocus up to f/8, forget about using either the TC-17E II or the TC-20E III on this lens. I tried them both on the D3s and I was disappointed. Not just because I was getting softer images, but also because AF with the TC-17E II is very inaccurate and manual focus with the TC-20E III at 1000mm is very painful and cumbersome.

NIKON D3S + 500mm f/4 @ 700mm, ISO 500, 1/1250, f/5.6

NIKON D3S + 500mm f/4 @ 700mm, ISO 1600, 1/500, f/5.6

NIKON D3S + 500mm f/4 @ 500mm, ISO 3200, 1/160, f/4.0

NIKON D3S + 500mm f/4 @ 700mm, ISO 800, 1/1600, f/5.6

I will soon publish a detailed review of the Nikon 500mm f/4G VR lens, along with more image samples.

7) Nikon 600mm f/4G VR

And lastly, I present you the Cadillac of all Nikon super telephoto lenses: the Nikon 600mm f/4G VR – the longest, the heaviest, the bulkiest and the priciest lens of them all. This is the lens that many wildlife photographers get, especially those that photograph birds. It goes without saying that you need a good support system for this lens – a very sturdy Gitzo Systematic series tripod with a Wimberley Gimbal head is what I would get to hold this monster. Couple it with a professional camera body like the Nikon D3s, and we are talking about a whopping 6.5 kilograms here!

Again, your only choice for longer reach is to use the Nikon TC-14E II, which will give you 840mm of effective focal length to work with at f/5.6. Neither the Nikon TC-17E II nor the new Nikon TC-20E III work reliably well with the 600mm f/4 lens. Yes, in good light you can get some decent results with the TC-17E II, but the lens will occasionally hunt. As for the TC-20E III, AF is very unreliable and all over the place. Lens hunts even in good light with the 2x TC.

Nikon 400mm f/2.8 vs Nikon 500mm f/4 vs Nikon 600mm f/4

Choosing between the three Nikon super telephoto lenses can be difficult, given the weight/size considerations and how many different combinations you can do with teleconverters to get to a certain focal length. While you can do all kinds of math to see what you would get with each lens and shoot charts to see which combination wins, at the end of the day, it is all about which lens gives you the longest focal length with the least amount of problems like weight, size and transportation considerations. What is optically better? The Nikon 400mm + TC-20E III @ 800mm, the Nikon 500mm + TC-17E II @ 850mm or the Nikon 600mm + TC-14E II @ 840mm? The Nikon 600mm + TC-14E II performs the best wide open with the 500mm + TC-17E II coming in second and 400mm + TC-20E III coming last, but when all three are stopped down to f/8, those differences pretty much go away. The most important factor to consider is not how a lens performs sharpness-wise when shooting a test target from a distance, but how reliably its AF functions in mixed light environments. How good is sharpness if you cannot even lock AF on your subject? In this case, the Nikon 600mm f/4 is always going to be the top choice. As for 400mm f/2.8 vs 500mm f/4, the 400mm will give you more options and working AF with all three teleconverters, while the 500mm has a weight/bulk advantage. In summary: if you need the reach, you get the 600mm f/4. If you want to be able to hand-hold a lens, you get the 500mm. And lastly, you get the 400mm f/2.8 for its versatility – if you want to be able to use all three teleconverters with working autofocus. If your plan is to always use a tripod, then either get the 600mm f/4 or the 400mm f/2.8, depending on your budget. Here are the price differences between the three lenses:

Nikon 400mm f/2.8G VR – $8,199

Nikon 500mm f/4G VR – $8,399

Nikon 600mm f/4G VR – $10,000

As you can see, the price difference between the 400mm and the 500mm lenses is minimal, while the 600mm is priced significantly higher.

Now with the upcoming D4, things might change quite a bit. If AF accuracy on the Nikon D4 is indeed better than on the D3s when teleconverters are used (with working AF at f/8), then the Nikon 500mm might be a better choice over the 400mm (850mm with TC-17E II and 1000mm with TC-20E III vs 800mm with TC-20E III) for reach.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

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Best Nikon Lens For Nature Photo

Nature is Earth’s biggest photo op, and the best part is that she shares her beauties with us for free. I took a look at the Nikon lens lineup to find the best options for shooting in the great outdoors. If you’re a Nikon shooter and find yourself taking a long hike in the woods or traipsing across the family farm my pick for the best Nikon lens for nature photography is the 200-400mm f/4 ED VR II.

In those golden moments, having the correct lens can make all the difference between lackluster results and a work of art worth framing to hang on your wall.

Best Overall | Nikon 200-400mm f/4 ED VR II

If nature photography is more than just a hobby and you’re ready to go all in with a big investment for stellar results, the Nikon 200-400mm f/44 ED VR II is your obvious choice.

Click below to compare prices and check availability…

This lens is, quite frankly, enormous, weighing nearly 7.5 lbs. and measuring over 14” in length. However, all that bulk is for good reason.

Nikon calls this lens “the ultimate super-telephoto zoom lens”, designed to be an all-purpose piece of equipment for even the most demanding nature photography assignments. With weather-sealing and rugged construction, it has been intentionally designed to withstand a variety of field conditions.

With the 200-400mm f/4 ED VR II, you’ll be able to capture breathtaking wildlife images rivaling your wildest dreams. The extended focal length range assures that you’re able to get up close and personal with skittish wild animals without scaring them away. Using a teleconverter also allows you to zoom in even more.

The focal length capacity coupled with background separation provided by the decently wide f/4 aperture (which also helps with low light shooting) means that your wildlife images will have stunning gallery clarity. It is worth mentioning here, however, that some users do note a slight edge softness at 400mm focal length.

Nikon has also designed this lens with various tech elements to help ensure clear, consistent results. The ED glass resists distortion, the Nano Crystal Coat fights against various light-related flares and the included VR technology reduces blurry images caused by increased sensitivity to handshake at extended focal lengths.

Not surprisingly, with all that it offers, the Nikon 200-400mm f/4 ED VR II comes with a hefty $6000+ price tag that rivals the bulk of its physical size, although buying refurbished or used can potentially save you $2000. At the time of publishing, even directly through Nikon, new models were out of stock, which does make us wonder if an upgrade is in the works.

Pros
-Impressive 200-400mm focal length range
-Compatible for use with a teleconverter
-Designed to meet the conditions for wildlife photography

Cons
-Very expensive
-Heavy and huge
-Probably too much lens for the casual shooter

Budget Pick | Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

If you’re passionate about nature photography but can’t swing the high price tag on the 200-400 mm, Nikon’s 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens could be a great addition to your camera bag. This solid FX zoom lens offers versatility at a much more accessible $850 price range.

Click below to compare prices and check availability…

Like our top pick, this lens includes elements like VR technology and ED glass to help produce clearer images free of distortion. On top of that, its zoom capabilities make it adaptable to a broader range of nature photography situations, including landscape, macro and some wildlife photography.

Obviously, with this lens you exchange an extra 100 mm of focal length for shorter (but also wider) framing possibilities. When used at its maximum 300mm focal length, the 28-300mm only reaches a maximum aperture of f/5.6 which inevitably affects its ability to perform in lower light conditions, limiting hand-held shooting possibilities.

Other compromises to consider with the 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR are its more economic construction and what some users note to be a slight lack of crispness in images. Its overall construction is also not weather-sealed, although the mount is.

This is not a small lens, but, weighing in at roughly 1.75 lbs. and measuring 4.5” in length, it’s far less bulky than a longer telephoto lens would be. This makes the 28-300 an easier option to pack along in the field, because it allows you to shoot a wide variety of nature photography with one (more or less) compact piece of glass.

Pros
-Versatile zoom lens
-More compact option for use in the field
-Accessible price range for the serious nature photography enthusiast

Cons
-Maximum aperture only f/5.6 at 300 mm
-Slight lack of crispness when compared with a prime lens
-Not weather-sealed

Best for Crop Sensor Nikon Cameras | Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR

Our previous two picks are not suitable options for shooters using DX bodies, due to being designed specifically for FX (full frame) models. Instead, for crop sensor bodies, Nikon has created the 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR.

Click below to compare prices and check availability…

In many ways, this lens compares closely to the 28-300mm FX model. Both are telephoto zoom lens offering practically the same range of focal length. This means that the 18-300mm DX model will equally be applicable to landscape, macro and some wildlife shooting, just as the FX version.

This lens also includes practically the same design elements to produce sharper images, including ED glass and VR technology. Selling for roughly $625 and weighing just a little over a pound, this lens looses even more of the bulk of our previous picks, in both price and size.

Unfortunately, the 18-300mm only offers a maximum f/6.3 aperture at 300mm, which inevitably ends up affecting low-light shooting and bokeh. That’s not to say that it can’t be used in lowlight or that you won’t have background separation.

It’s just important to be aware that you may have to make some adjustments to your shooting settings. The 18-300mm is fully capable of producing stunning images, but don’t expect to find the crispness of a prime lens when you zoom in on your photos.

That being said, the 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR is a solid, well-loved lens. Many users mention that they end up using only the 18-300mm during entire trips because of the consistent performance, portability and adaptability to most shooting scenarios that it offers. Like our previous pick, only the mount, not the overall construction, of this lens is weather sealed.

Pros
-Versatile and reliable option for DX models
-Includes ED and VR technology to help produce clear images with less distortion
-Not overly bulky

Cons
-6.3 maximum aperture at 300mm
-Images not as crisp as produced by a prime lens
-Not weather-sealed

Best for Nikon Z Cameras | Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S

For those shooters using a mirrorless camera body from Nikon’s Z series, the obvious option is the Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S. While some of Nikon’s DSLR lenses can be used on Z series bodies with an adapter, the Z 70-200mm is a telephoto zoom lens designed specifically for Nikon Z cameras.

Click below to compare prices and check availability…

Maybe one of the most outstanding features of the Z 70-200mm is the wide f/2.8 maximum aperture even at 200mm. This not only creates beautiful background separation and blur, but also allows hand-held shooting in more low light conditions.

This lens is adaptable to a wide variety of shooting scenarios, making it a great one-lens option for your landscape shooting events. It’s sealed against both dust and moisture to help it hold up in the field and boasts a short 18” minimum focusing distance, allowing you to get closer than ever when shooting macro.

Clearly, at a maximum focal length of 200mm, wildlife shots may be a bit more complicated if the animal is further away. However, thanks to the wide aperture, if getting physically closer is an option, you can usually leave the tripod behind and move in with just your camera to capture your shot.

The Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S is part of the S-line label reserved for Nikon’s Z series lenses. This means the lens has been designed with numerous elements focused on superior optical quality as well as with the exclusive Nano Crystal Coat used only on Nikon’s top of the line lenses to fight light reflection problems.

You can use this lens on the full-frame Z6 and Z7 series as well as the crop-sensor Z50, which made our list of the Best Mirrorless Cameras Under $1000.

Not surprisingly due to the wide aperture, this lens is on the larger side measuring 8.7” and weighing a hearty 4 lbs. However, thanks to the Z series mount design, the overall bulk of the body plus lens is more compact, which compensates at least a little for the heftiness of the lens.

Pros
-Wide f/2.8 aperture telephoto zoom lens
-Designed for optical quality and professional-level results
-Short focusing distance

Cons
-Only for Z series camera bodies
-Bulky
-Expensive ($2600)

Best for Wide Angle Landscapes | Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4 DI OSD

For those interested in shooting primarily landscapes, a wide-angle lens that permits you to capture as much as possible of what your naked eye sees will be a far more practical option than a telephoto lens. If macro or wildlife photography is not your passion, the Tamron 17-35 f/2.8-4 DI OSD could be the lens that you’re looking for to take your landscape photography to the next level.

Click below to compare prices and check availability…

This piece of glass offers wide angle shooting in a compact, easy to transport package, designed to give you reliable results. Tamron’s 17-35mm weighs in a just over a pound and measures a mere 3.5” in length, making it easy to transport. It’s also moisture-resistant to help protect the lens elements from drops of water or rain.

It is worth noting that the maximum aperture available does drop to f/4 when zoomed into a 35mm focal length, but depending upon your shooting conditions, that may or may not affect you in the least. And thanks to the short maximum focusing distance of 11”, if you shoot at a 17mm with the maximum 2.8 aperture, it’s still possible to achieve some degree of background blur for certain macro images.

Not surprisingly, one of the most attractive features of the Tamron 17-35 f/2.8-4 DI OSD is its reasonable price point. At $600, it is a solid option that many users claim rivals or exceeds the performance of similar Nikon models. Reviews rave about the sharpness and consistent performance offered by this lens.

Pros
-Wide angle lens for landscape shooting
-More affordable price point
-Compact

Cons
-Not suitable for wildlife photography
-May produce soft images in low-light conditions due to a lack of image stabilization
-Cheaper construction

Runner Up | Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2

If you’re looking for a telephoto zoom lens option lighter on both your wallet and your back, you may want to consider Tamron’s 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. Thanks to it’s wide maximum f/2.8 aperture even at 200mm, you’re guaranteed great depth of field in your wildlife shots, as well as more control over low light conditions.

Click below to compare prices and check availability…

Selling for approximately $1300, this Tamron lens offers similar performance to the equivalent Nikon model and at over $1000 less. Considering all that Tamron has packed into this lens, including vibration control mechanisms and teleconverter capability, you really end up getting a lot of bang for your buck.

It is also made to hold up to the elements with moisture-proofing and a dust-resistant construction.

Obviously, this lens doesn’t reach as far as our top pick, so if you’re looking to shoot close-ups of skittish wildlife at long ranges, you may find yourself somewhat limited. On the other hand, however, it is a prime lens in a decently compact package. At 3.28 lbs. and 7.5” in length, this Tamron model is definitely more user friendly for carrying over long distances and in tight spaces.

Users continually rave about the sharpness and great low-light performance of the SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2, frequently mentioning that any advantage the Nikon version may offer is so slight that it’s practically unnoticeable.

Pros
-Affordable prime telephoto zoom lens
-Comparable performance to the Nikon model
-More compact for use in the field

Cons
-Shorter reach than our top pick
-Limited use for wildlife photos
-Will crop out a decent amount of landscape photos

Features to Look for in a Nature Lens

With so many options to choose from, lens shopping can quickly become an overwhelming experience for any photographer—and a near impossible task for the indecisive shutterbug unsure of what they truly need. Thankfully, when it comes to choosing a nature lens, there are just four basic features that you need to consider.

Reach/Zoom

Overall focal length and zoom capabilities will be one of the most important features to look for when picking a nature lens. While fixed length lenses or short-range lenses are appropriate and even preferred for some other types of photography, these lenses are generally not your best options for nature shots.

Unless you are only interested in landscape shots, you’ll want to look for a telephoto zoom lens that gives you the flexibility to quickly adapt to changing photo opportunities as you find them in the field.

Depending upon if your goal is to reach very long distances you may be ready to invest in a longer reach lens that extends all the way to 400mm. But it’s also quite possible that a middle of the road option that goes up to 200mm may be ideal to let you experience a little of everything in a more compact package.

Weather Sealing and Ruggedness

Nature photography will expose your equipment to potential damage perhaps more than any other type of photography. From dirt to rain to bumps and drops, nature can be unforgiving to electronics. For that reason, you need a lens made to withstand the elements.

While more expensive models generally have a more durable construction and are sealed against moisture and dust, many economic models compromise both in materials and weather sealing.

That’s not to say that you have to buy a $2000+ piece of glass in order to feel safe taking it out on a hike, but the durability of the lens is an important element to consider when choosing which lens will meet your needs.

Weight and Size for Traveling

Perhaps one of the biggest downfalls of many telephoto zoom lenses is their bulk. Due to their focal range, aperture and rugged construction, most end up being enormous pieces of equipment that not only take up a lot of space in your camera bag. They’re also incredibly heavy to carry around for several hours.

If extreme zoom capabilities and pro-quality images are paramount for you, lugging a big lens around may be more than worth it. However, for the casual shooter or someone who doesn’t want to feel like a packhorse, a really heavy lens may end up spending more time at unused home than out in nature.

Affordability

Buying camera equipment is always a big investment and nowhere does that show up more than when looking for new glass. For many shooters a lens costing several thousand dollars simply is not a practical option.

Thankfully, it’s not at all necessary to buy the biggest and best telephoto zoom lens on the market in order to enjoy the satisfaction of shooting beautiful nature photography. There are many budget-friendly options available, including some of our top picks, that also perform with excellence.

Ultimately, when it comes to choosing a nature lens for your Nikon camera, it’s all about recognizing what features are important to you in a lens, thinking about your photography goals and deciding what compromises you’ll be willing to make to find the best piece of glass for you.

APRIL172020

Best Nikon lenses for landscape photography in 2021

Aching after a long hike in the mountains I thought it was about time I started to scale down my camera gear, unfortunately I am not getting any younger and these long hikes carrying a heavy rucksack is really starting to take its toll.  With that in mind my greatest weight saving is to reduce my lenses which got me thinking what are the best Nikon lenses for landscape photography?

I have been shooting with Nikon cameras for over 10 years and have tried pretty much every lens going and to my wife’s great displeasure own many of them.  The trouble is I am a great believer in the right tool for the job and lenses are the most important tools a photographer has at his disposal to capture those quality landscape images we all crave but if I have to choose only one which Nikon lens would it be?

First of all I have to point out that there is no one lens that fits all and you have to match the lens to a scene and how you want to capture it.  What I am talking about here is what I believe to be the best all rounder and if I could only purchase one lens then which would I choose above all others.  What lens is best for me might not necessarily be the best lens for you as this all depends on what you want to capture and your particular style.

Here I will go through all the Nikon Lenses I have used or still use regularly, when and why I use them and give you my overall thoughts on each after years of using them in the field.  It is worth bearing in mind that I shoot full frame so will focus on Nikon FX lenses and not DX APSC or Mirrorless lenses in this post.

The lenses that I will be focusing on are in order of focal length and not preference are:

AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED

AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm f/4G ED VR

AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED VR

AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR

AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 ED VR II

AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/4 G ED VR

Here you can skip straight to my conclusion The best Nikon lens for landscape photography

Explanation of Nikon Lens Abbreviations

Nikon Lens Codings

I thought it best just to give a brief summery of exactly what the letters and numbers on each lens means as I know for some this can be confusing.

A-FS: Auto Focus Silent

Focusing on these lenses is driven by what is known as “Silent Wave” motors within the lens rather than a focusing drive motor within the camera body.  AF-S lenses will give you faster focusing than standard AF lenses and almost completely silent.  Do not get this confused with AF-D where the D means the lens can report focus distance information to the camera body which the camera can use for for determining exposure which most Nikon lenses have.

Nikkor

This is simply the Nikon branding for their lenses that are produced by the Nikon Corporation

Focal length and Angle of View

The next set of numbers you will see on a lens such as 14-24mm is the distance between the lens and the image sensor on the camera when the subject is in focus which is usually stated in millimetres.  Here in this example there are two numbers and this is for zoom lenses giving both the minimum and maximum focus lengths.

The angle of view is how much of the scene is captured by the image sensor and stated as an angle.  Simply put wide angle lenses capture larger areas of a scene than a smaller angle lens.  This is important because changing the focal length changes the angle so a Wide angle lens such as 14mm will capture more of the scene than a 50mm.  Therefore the longer the focal length the smaller the angle of view which leads to less of the scene captured by the image sensor.  One final key factor to understand with focal length is that as the the focal length increase the subject appears larger to the image sensor.

Maximum Aperture – Minimum F Number

This number such as 1:2.8 on a lens identifies the maximum diameter of the lens opening referred to as its maximum aperture or minimum f number.  The f number is the minimum f number that can be selected for the lens.  This is also often referred to as the speed of the lens where a larger diameter with a smaller f number is faster than a lens with a smaller diameter with a larger f number.  For example a f2.4 is faster than a f4 lens.

If a lens has two number markings such as 1:3.5 – 5.6 this indicates that the lens has a variable aperture which will change as the focal length changes indicating its minimum and maximum aperture on some zoom lenses.

‘G’ Abbreviation

If you see the letter G (Gelded) on a lens it means that it does not have an aperture ring like on the old Nikon lenses.  All modern Nikon lenses are G simply because the aperture ring is only needed for old manual focus camera bodies.

‘ED’ Abbreviation

This stands for Extra-low Dispersion glass which is an optical glass that Nikon developed to aid the correction of chromatic aberrations.  Most modern top of the line Nikon lenses contain ED glass, which also claims to delivers better sharpness and colour fringing in photographs.

‘VR’ Abbreviation

VR stands for Vibration Reduction which is image stabilisation technology to minimise blur by camera shake.  This is used for static subjects in low light condition and mostly used when shooting handheld.  In landscape photography where a camera is fixed to a tripod this should be turned off however I have used it in extreme weather condition with large lenses that are getting buffering from the wind to remove camera shake.

1.  AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED

AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8G ED Lens

AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED SpecificationAperture Blades9Autofocus MotorSWMEnlargement Ratio1:6.7Focal Length – Min (mm)14Focal Length – Max (mm)24Focal MechanismInternal FocusingLens MountNikon F (FX)Lens TypeWide Angle ZoomMaximum Aperture – Min FL2.8Maximum Aperture – Max FL2.8Minimum Aperture22Number of Lens Elements14Number of Lens Groups11Sensor FormatFXSize98 x 131.5 mmWeight (g)970Minimum Focus Distance (m)0.3Cost (Approx.)£1479.00

The Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 AF-S is an ultra wide zoom lens intended for use on FX and 35mm cameras.  There is no reason why you can’t use this on DX format cameras, I have done in the past but its a whole lot of lens to just use the centre and the Nikon 12-24mm f/4 AF-S DX would be a much cheaper option.

This lens I have to say is pretty incredible with superb image quality and sharpness and is one of best lenses for producing high quality images that I actually own.  In my experience of using this lens over the years it nocks the socks of prime lenses within it focal range such as the Nikon 14mm f/2.8 AF-D ED.  The edge to edge image sharpness is crazy and has no coma or softness throughout its entire aperture range.  Under extreme scrutiny you could say the lens is slightly softer at the extreme edges of the frame at f2.8 but definitely something you would never notice.

So after me singing its praises and in my opinion probably one of the best ultra wide zoom on the planet it does have its drawbacks.  The first issue is its price but it has come down now and you can get it for £1,479 or cheaper if you shop around and this is certainly not a deal breaker for the quality of images it produces.

Due to its design it has a huge bulbous front element which has always made me extremely cautious when using it as not to damage it.  The biggest drawback due to this design is not having the possibility to use filters and although it is possible a specific system will need to be purchased and also the actual ND filters required are large, cumbersome and very expensive.

The greatest issue of this lens for me above all is its physical size and weight.  This is a huge lump of a lens with the front element measuring 98mm in diameter and overall length coming in at 132mm.  Weighing 970g this is not a light lens you wouldn’t want it in your rucksack trekking 6 miles up a mountain no matter how good it is and for me is its greatest issue.

I still use this lens as I can’t find it in myself to part with such a magical piece of engineering but the uses now have become limited due to other lenses I own.  Its greatest use now is astrophotography if I don’t have far to walk and even with a maximum aperture of just f2.8 I find this sufficient in most cases.  If I have a long hike to my destination then I leave it at home and take my Samyang lenses which are brilliant and although produce fantastic results they can’t live with the quality produced by the AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED.

2.  AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm f/4G ED VR

AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm f4G ED VR Lens

AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm f/4G ED VR SpecificationAperture Blades9Autofocus MotorSWMFocal Length – Min (mm)16Focal Length – Max (mm)35Filter Thread Size (mm)77Lens MountNikon F (FX)Lens TypeStandard ZoomMaximum Aperture – Min FL4Maximum Aperture – Max FL4Minimum Aperture22Number of Lens Elements17Number of Lens Groups12Sensor FormatFXSize82.5 x 125 mmWeight (g)685Minimum Focus Distance (m)0.3Cost (Approx.)£980.00

Now after my glowing reference of the last lens you would think that it is impossible to get any better but the AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm f/4G ED VR is a very special lens indeed.  There has been numerous comparison tests between the two with lab results showing that this lens is actually sharper than 14-24mm.

I am not a big fan of lab tests in all honesty but comparing images I have took out in the field with both lenses it would be very difficult to spot the difference if anything I would say that the 14-24mm was slightly sharper but that’s just splitting hairs and certainly nothing worth noting in comparison.  I also like the extra zoom of 35mm over the previous lens at it gives me that little bit of extra reach which has saved me on several occasions.

This lens is ultra sharp, I do notice a little fall off at the edges down at 16mm and also distortion is noticeable at 20mm and below but all easily fixed within a photo editing suite.  The VR is great so it will give you an extra stop or two in low light with static subjects.

The weather sealing on this lens is superb and anyone who follows my work will testify I use and abuse my gear by exposing it to the elements.  I have never had an issue with this lens even out in torrential rain and it has become one of my most used lenses.

ND filters and Filters systems can also be fitted to this lens with its attachment ring of 77mm which is a huge improvement over the 14-24.

Weight and size of this lens is fantastic with a front flange diameter of approximately 82.5mm and overall length 125mm.  Weighing in at 680g it feels great in the hand and fits into a camera bag with ease.

I use this lens extensively in my landscape photography and I find myself using it over and over again.  Due to the zoom range and quality of this lens it totally removes the requirement for me to carry prime lenses below a focal length of 35mm when out shooting landscapes.  Yes it would be great if it was faster like f2.8 but beggars cant be choosers and f4 is fine for most of my photography other than Nightscapes.

This lens I would have absolutely no problem in recommending to anyone due to its versatility and quality of the images it produces and also come at a reasonable cost of around £1000.

3.  AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED VR

AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8G ED VR Lens

AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED VR SpecificationAperture Blades9Autofocus MotorSWMFocal Length – Min (mm)24Focal Length – Max (mm)70Filter Thread Size (mm)82Lens MountNikon F (FX)Lens TypeStandard ZoomMaximum Aperture – Min FL2.8Maximum Aperture – Max FL2.8Minimum Aperture22Number of Lens Elements20Number of Lens Groups16Size88 x 154.5 mmWeight (g)1070Minimum Focus Distance (m)0.38Cost (Approx.)£1750.00

Where do I start with this lens, well maybe by the nickname I call it “The Tank”.  I can well and truly say I have a love hate relationship with this lens simply because it is my most unluckiest lens by that I mean I always seem to have mishaps when using it!

I have dropped it, had tripods blown over in severe winds whilst using it and got it absolutely soaked in torrential rain too many times to count.  Obviously no fault of the lens but something always seems to happen whenever I use it but after all the abuse it has had it still works without a problem and why I call it the Tank.

Nikon strengthened the construction of this lens over its predecessor and added fluorine coating to the front and rear elements of the lens to actively repel water, dust, and dirt without compromising any image quality.  This coating is designed to make cleaning easier without scratching the glass.

Image quality and sharpness is second to none over its focal range producing amazing clarity and sharpness edge to edge of the frame on my copy.  I say my copy because I have read reports where other people are finding it soft in the centre but I do not have this issue with mine.

I do find that there is quite a bit of vignetting with the aperture wide open and even at f8 there are slight signs of it at the extreme edges of the frame.  This is not much of an issue for me though as I find that photo editing suites do a very good job of removing it with their built in lens profiles.

It has a front filter thread of 82mm which makes it compatible with ND filters and most Filter systems which is a great plus and something you would expect in this day and age.

The VR (Vibration Reduction) on this lens is fantastic with Nikon’s latest version giving you up to 4 stops and have hand held it shooting down to quarter of a second without issue.

However, this lens is not small and certainly not light at a size of 88 x 154.5mm and weighing in at 1070g again another lens that is fantastic but a burden to carry on long demanding treks.

The only other chink in its armour is its price, although it has now come down in price slightly it still carries a hefty price tag of around £1749 but its like everything you get what you pay for.

If you want a robust, fast, sharp wide to medium telephoto lens and can cope with the weight then there is no need to look any further at other Nikkor lens within this focal range as this lens is so sharp care needs to be taken not to cut yourself.  It seriously is that good!

I use this lens as and when required from grand vistas to coastal and woodland work and find it extremely reliable and one of my main lenses I use often.The one thing about this lens is its pure versatility due to having a maximum aperture of f2.8 which means it is also great in low light and for fast moving objects so caters for many different photography situations you might find yourself in and reaching for the camera.

4.  AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8G ED Lens

AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED SpecificationAperture Blades9Autofocus MotorSWMFocal Length – Min (mm)24Focal Length – Max (mm)70Filter Thread Size (mm)77Lens MountNikon F (FX)Lens TypeStandard ZoomMaximum Aperture – Min FL2.8Maximum Aperture – Max FL2.8Minimum Aperture22Number of Lens Elements25Number of Lens Groups11Size83 x 133 mmWeight (g)900Minimum Focus Distance (m)0.4Cost (Approx.)£1359.00

This lens could be a more cost effect option to the newer f/2.8 VR listed above and although a much older lens in my opinion still an option worth considering.

The lens had been the main choice for many Nikon photographers for years until the new version came out in 2015 which does not make this a bad lens and still produce top quality pin sharp images throughout its entire focal range.

With most of my Landscape photography being carried out with the camera firmly fixed to my trusty tripod and rarely using VR when taking my landscapes unless in extreme conditions having no VR is not necessarily a deal breaker.  Therefore the lack of it on this trusty old friend is really not a problem for me and I would not upgrade to the newer version unless I needed it.

I will say I do find the newer version marginally sharper and produces deeper colours than this lens which I can’t really explain but it is noticeable when I place the same image side by side taken with both lenses.

This lens is slightly smaller and lighter than the newer version at 83 x 133mm and weighing in at 900g so has this as an advantage.

Obviously being older and not having VR it is cheaper where you can pick one up for under £1300 if you shop around.

Again this is a solid lens with weather sealing but does have a different filter thread of 77mm and is fine with most FD Filter kits and reducer rings if required.

All in all like a say it is still a good lens and you could probably get a good second hand example to really cut the cost down so for anyone on a limited budget I certainly would not dismiss it.  However if I had the choice and could afford it then I would purchase the latest version for all round performance improvements and the added VR.

5.  AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR

AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f4G ED VR Lens

AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR SpecificationAperture Blades9Autofocus MotorSWMFocal Length – Min (mm)24Focal Length – Max (mm)120Filter Thread Size (mm)77Lens MountNikon F (FX)Lens TypeStandard ZoomMaximum Aperture – Min FL4Maximum Aperture – Max FL4Minimum Aperture22Number of Lens Elements17Number of Lens Groups13Size84 x 103.5 mmWeight (g)710Minimum Focus Distance (m)0.5Cost (Approx.)£1000.00

Yes that’s right its a consumer lens but don’t let lens snobbery put you off this is truly a fantastic lens!

This lens is a highly popular lens due to its focal range of 24-120mm and fixed aperture of f4 and let me just say is pretty damn sharp too.  I do see a small amount of light fall off towards the edges of the frame at 24mm with the aperture wide open at f4 but it is much more manageable at f5.6 and above.

I say pretty sharp its not at the level of the other pro lenses mention but neither would I expect it to be but it is sufficient and has never caused me any issues in the years I have been using it.

The build quality is as good as you would expect from a Nikon consumer lens but obviously not at the level of all the other lenses I have mentioned here and has a complete plastic outer body with a mixture of plastic and metal internals.  My biggest gripe with the lens is the zoom tube with the 1st extension being metal but the second that fixes to the lens being plastic and on full extension this is the weakest part of the lens.

No surprise, but I have damaged mine during a big storm at the end of last year where it got blown over and took a knock.  I now get pixel shift when I focus in and out and the front element is a little loose so I need to get it off to be repaired when I get round it but it is still usable.

Although not weather sealed to the level of the pro grade lenses it does have a dust/rain gasket at the mount and I have used it in some pretty bad weather without any problems but I do try to use a rain jacket where ever I can.

The filter thread is 77mm so there is no problem in fitting HD filters and most filter kits with use of reduction rings if required although I would be cautious of hanging heavy filter combination on the end when fully zoomed in while it gets buffered by high winds.

This lens also has VR II with two setting Normal and Active which is claimed to give up to 3.5 stops and on the limited times I have tried it I have been very please with the results.  Usually I would take the AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED VR if I know I am going somewhere to shoot static subjects in low light handheld.

For size it’s a peach of a lens measuring  approximately 84 x 103.5mm and weighs just 700g which is great for putting away in your camera bag whether attached to your camera body or not.

Price wise you can get it below £1000 which for what your getting and the options it gives you as a photographer I think it is great value.

This lens is still one of my main goto lenses and pretty much always in my bag simply because of the versatility the 24-120mm zoom gives me and I have found this invaluable over the years.

6.  AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 ED VR II

AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 ED VR II Lens

AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 ED VR II SpecificationAperture Blades9Autofocus MotorSWMFocal Length – Min (mm)70Focal Length – Max (mm)200Filter Thread Size (mm)77Lens MountNikon F (FX)Lens TypeTelephoto ZoomMaximum Aperture – Min FL2.8Maximum Aperture – Max FL2.8Minimum Aperture22Number of Lens Elements22Number of Lens Groups18Size88.5 x 202.5 mmWeight (g)1430Minimum Focus Distance (m)1.1Cost (Approx.)£1999.00

Most photographers probably would not mention Telephoto Zoom lenses as a typical Landscape Lens but I do use mine quite extensively.  It is one of those lenses that you don’t think you need until you do and once you have it in your bag will open up extra dimensions to your photography.

I will say right here that this wouldn’t be my choice as the only landscape lens you need but while I am running through the lenses I uses for my landscape work I thought it worth bringing them to the table.

The AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 ED VR II is a brilliant lens in both build quality and the images it produces.  Image colour is amazing and sharpness awesome through its range.  If you couple this with VR II and a fixed f/2.8 you have an amazing lens that will cater for any needs needing these focal lengths.

This lens is weather sealed and I have used it in absolutely atrocious weather and it has performed flawlessly.

Size and weight wise well it is a larger lens in length to the others at approximately 88.5mm in diameter and 202.5mm in length, weighing 1430g.  Yes this is a big lens to be logging round on long treks as you can imagine and I have done it countless times and it takes its toll on you believe me.

One major factor in anyone decision for this lens is the price and it will set you back around £2000 at the time of writing.  Yes it is an astonishingly good lens and I wouldn’t discourage anyone from buying it if you need a fast telephoto zoom lens with its fixed f2.8 maximum aperture.

But we are talking landscapes here and for this you don’t need f2.8 so I would highly recommend you look at my final lens the f4 version.

7.  AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/4 G ED VR

AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f4 G ED VR Lens

AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/4 G ED VR SpecificationAperture Blades9Autofocus MotorSWMFocal Length – Min (mm)70Focal Length – Max (mm)200Filter Thread Size (mm)67Lens MountNikon F (FX)Lens TypeTelephoto ZoomMaximum Aperture – Min FL4Maximum Aperture – Max FL4Minimum Aperture32Number of Lens Elements20Number of Lens Groups14Size78 x 178.5 mmWeight (g)850Minimum Focus Distance (m)1.0Cost (Approx.)£1349.00

I love this lens and if you want to buy a telephoto zoom 70-200mm purely for landscape work then do yourself a favour and buy this one.  I can’t say it any other way but comparing this great lens to the superb f2.8 equivalent there’s not a lot in it.

This lens is razor sharp and I have seen lab test even though I am not fan where it compares to the f2.8 if not even surpasses it.  The colour reproduction is stunning and will give you everything you need providing f4 is fast enough for your needs and in terms of landscape photography is absolutely fine.

Weather sealing is great and again I have used this in all weather conditions and once during a hurricane I got swept off my feet by a huge rouge wave and the lens got soaked but it was absolutely fine.  Its taken knocks and bashes and pretty abused but still keeps giving.

The filter thread is 67mm and again fine with HD filters and filter kits by way of reducer rings if you need them.

You can get a removable tripod collar for the lens if you require one but I find it fine on large bodied DSLRs such as my Nikon D750 and D850 and rarely use one unless in extreme weather.

Size and weight is also an improvement over the f2.8 measuring 78 x 178.5 mm and weighing a conservative 850g.  Although not compact and super lightweight the weight to quality ratio of this lens in my opinion is superb and well worth carrying it around in my backpack when I need to.

Last but not least the price, I managed to buy mine offline for £1000 but typical price is approximately £1349 which I think is an absolute steal at even these prices £750 cheaper than the f2.8.

I use this lens for all types of landscape photography where I need to get in close to a subject and isolate it from its surroundings and is a lens quite frankly I could not live without.

My Choice for Best Nikon lenses for landscape photography

So that’s a rundown on what I feel are the best Nikon lenses for landscape photography but what if I could choose only one, which would be the the ultimate lens.

Like I said initially there is no lens that fits all and if you were starting up in landscape photography and asked me what Nikon lenses are best to get then it would be these 3 focal lengths, the holy trinity of lens.