Best Lenses for Nikon Z5 in 2023
Looking for the best lenses for Nikon Z5? Here is the guide for you to get the top recommended Z-mount lenses for Nikon Z5 mirrorless camera.
Compact and capable, the Nikon Z5 (Amazon, B&H, Adorama) is an entry-level FX-format mirrorless camera with a well-rounded feature-set to suit both photo and video needs. Featuring a 24.3MP FX-Format CMOS Sensor and an EXPEED 6 image processor, the Nikon Z5 supports a native sensitivity range from ISO 100-51200 (ISO 102400), UHD 4K video recording at up to 30 fps and Full HD recording at up to 60 fps, a top full-resolution continuous shooting rate of 4.5 fps as well as the ability to take 8MP when recording video. The built-in 5-axis sensor-shift Vibration Reduction (VR) mechanism that compensates for up to five stops of stabilization regardless of the lens in use. In addition, a high-resolution 3.6m-dot OLED electronic viewfinder allows for high-res eye-level viewing while a rear 3.2″ 1.04m-dot tilting touchscreen LCD accommodates working from high and low angles. For those new to mirrorless or creators looking to push the limits of their craft with the power of full-frame, the compact Nikon Z5 will exceed expectations.
So, what are the best lenses to pair with the Nikon Z5? The Nikon Z5 features the Z-mount, which support Nikon’s line of Z-mount lenses. And it has full compatibility with all existing Nikon F-mount lenses via an optional FTZ Mount Adapter. When used with the optional Mount Adapter FTZ, more than 90 F-Mount NIKKOR lenses maintain all of their sharpness, resolving power and functionality and gain the advantages of the Z5’s in-body VR, silent shooting, PDAF focusing system, 4K video and more. So, if you have some Nikon F-mount lenses, you can just get the Nikon FTZ Mount Adapter to make full use of your Nikon F-mount lenses.
If you don’t have any Nikon F-mount lenses, or don’t want to get the adapter, and just want to get a professional-like shot, here we looked at all Z-Mount lenses from Nikon and other companies, and selected the most suitable native full-frame Z-Mount lenses for Nikon Z5 mirrorless camera based on good price, usefulness and high image quality, including leading prime and zoom options from wide-angle to telephoto for portraits, wedding, landscapes, street, macro, videos, sports and wildlife and more. Just choose the one you need!
Best Lenses for Nikon Z5
Full List of Recommended Nikon Z5 Lenses: To help you decide on the best lens for your intended use, I have categorized the lenses into the following groups. You can click any of the below links to jump to the type of lens that interests you the most.
Kit Lenses | Standard Zoom Lenses | Standard Prime Lenses | Portrait Lenses | Macro Lenses | Wide-angle Zoom Lenses | Wide-angle Prime Lenses | Telephoto Zoom Lenses
Nikon Z5 Kit Lenses
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3
A great lens for street, travel, interiors, landscapes and everyday shooting.
For $300 more than the cost of the Nikon Z5 camera body alone, you can get a compact standard zoom covering wide-angle to normal focal lengths that is ideal for street photography, interiors, landscapes, portraits as well as everyday shooting. A stepping motor provides quick, quiet, and precise autofocus performance along with full-time manual focus override to suit both stills and video applications. Also, a programmable control ring can be set for intuitive adjustment over a variety of camera and exposure settings. This Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 lens is also extensively weather sealed against dust and moisture, making it ideal as a walk around, do-anything lens. So, if you are in the process of buying the Z5 body, we really love the value of the Nikon Z5 with 24-50mm lens kit. If you already own the Nikon Z5 body, there are some other attractive options below.
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR
A versatile all-in-one zoom that covers every shot along the way with remarkable true to life detail.
The NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR is an 8.3x high-power telephoto zoom lens that covers the wide-angle 24mm to telephoto 200mm range of focal lengths, and packs outstanding resolution into a compact and lightweight package weighing approximately 570g. Its superior agility makes it the perfect, all-in-one lens for taking on walks or even on vacation to capture a wide variety of subjects and scenes, from portraits to landscapes. Adoption of a stepping motor (STM) and control ring ensures quiet operation that makes it an excellent choice for video recording. Nikon’s exclusive anti-reflection coating, ARNEO Coat, has also been adopted to effectively reduce ghost and flare effects. The impressive zoom reach is also benefitted by Vibration Reduction image stabilization, which minimizes the appearance of camera shake by up to 5 stops for sharper handheld shooting. Immersive landscapes, arresting architecture, captivating portraits, candid street photography and everything in between – all with a single compact, lightweight lens.
Lens | Buy Now |
Nikon Z5 with 24-50mm Lens | Amazon | B&H |
Nikon Z5 with 24-200mm Lens | Amazon | B&H |
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 | Amazon | B&H |
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR | Amazon | B&H |
Best Standard Zoom Lenses for Nikon Z5
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
The Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S Lens is an indispensable standard zoom lens for professionals, advanced photographers and video creators – ideal for environmental portraits, landscapes, weddings, events, studio and street photography, all with stunning clarity, high resolution and natural bokeh. Characterized by its bright f/2.8 constant maximum aperture, this NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens is suitable for working in a variety of lighting conditions and also offers increased control over depth of field for isolating subjects and working with selective focus. The optical design incorporates a pair of extra-low dispersion elements along with four aspherical elements, which help to control chromatic and spherical aberrations throughout the zoom range for improved clarity and sharpness. Elevated by a new Multi-Focus System, next generation lens flare correction and advanced S-Line features and functionality, the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is a must-have lens that marks the sweet spot of performance, precision and optical superiority.
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S
If you can’t afford the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, you can choose the f/4 version. With a highly versatile zoom range for both stills and video, yet a wonderfully compact, lightweight design, the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S is a great travel and walk-around lens and perfect for landscapes, portraits and weddings. The fast, silent, and precise AF performance, as well as the full-time manual focus override, allow for more creative control and extremely sharp results. Meanwhile, to ensure professional imaging, it features an aspherical extra-low dispersion lens element and three aspherical elements for significantly reduced aberrations and distortions throughout the full zoom range, resulting in exceptional sharpness and clarity. The downsides of this lens are the distortion when shooting at the wide, and the f/4 aperture will be not big enough when in the low light condition. But overall, the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S is an ideal travel companion.
Best Standard Prime Lenses for Nikon Z5
Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S
The NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S Lens is a powerful and compact prime lens that offers a fixed “normal” field of view at 50mm and a bright maximum aperture of f/1.8. Its natural perspective is ideal for capturing portraits and reducing image distortion, making this handy “Nifty Fifty” variation a must-have in every photographer’s bag. Meanwhile, the wide aperture and its nine rounded blades allow the lens to perform remarkably well in low-light shooting conditions while enabling greater control over depth of field so you can produce images with beautiful, creamy bokeh. The optical design includes two aspherical elements and two extra-low dispersion elements, which greatly reduce both spherical and chromatic aberrations for increased sharpness and clarity. It also features Nano Crystal and Super Integrated lens coatings to minimize reflections – which typically result in flare and ghosting – and to deliver higher contrast images and greater color accuracy. Capable of delivering striking, decisive images in nearly any light and ideal for all manner of videos. Really a compact, well-versed prime lens for Nikon FX-format mirrorless cameras.
Nikon NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct
The NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct is positioned at the very top of the S-Line, and serves as the symbol of the superior optical performance achieved with NIKKOR Z lenses. Noct is a specialized lens that delivers the ultimate in fine details, sharpness, bokeh and point-light rendering. Characterized by its advanced optical design and exceedingly bright f/0.95 maximum aperture, this lens excels in low-light conditions and also affords extreme control over depth of field for isolating subject matter. Made possible by innovations of the Z mount, it achieves a new dimension of performance – vast depth-of-field control and elaborate bokeh for portraiture and video, superb point-image reproduction and low-light performance for night landscapes and astrophotography, outstanding resolving power for industrial and scientific applications – all in an immaculately constructed lens with precision feel and brilliant operability. From stunning portraits to landscapes or astrophotography, all images are rendered beautifully thanks to its vast depth-of field control, seductive bokeh and superb point-image reproduction.
Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 III
Offering a natural 50mm perspective along with an ultra-fast f/0.95 maximum aperture, the Nikon Z-mount Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 III from Mitakon-Zhongyi is an exceptionally fast normal-length prime with enhanced flare resistance. Obviously distinguished by its f/0.95 maximum aperture, this lens excels in low-light situations and affords impressive control over depth of field. Its optical design incorporates one high refractive index element along with five ultra-low dispersion elements to produce well-corrected imagery void of spherical and chromatic aberrations. The lens’s manual focus design permits working with subjects as close as 1.6′ away and an 11-blade diaphragm contributes to a pleasing bokeh quality. This is the cheap alternative to the NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct lens.
Lens | Buy Now |
Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S | Amazon | B&H |
Nikon NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct | Amazon | B&H |
Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 III | Amazon | B&H |
Best Portrait Lenses for Nikon Z5
Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S
Popular for portraiture, the NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S lens offers extreme sharpness, stunning bokeh, unwavering focus and lifelike accuracy compensation, and it will thrill and inspire those who shoot portraits, headshots, fashion, weddings, tight video shots, street photography or any situation that highlights the human form. The NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S’s 85mm perspective is within the sweet spot for portraits and fashion, rendering faces naturally and beautifully, free of distortion. The bright f/1.8 maximum aperture strikes a balance between size, weight, and speed, offering suitable speed for working in difficult lighting yet remaining sleek enough for handheld use. In terms of optics, two extra-low dispersion elements are featured, and help to reduce color fringing and chromatic aberrations in order to achieve high clarity and color fidelity. Also, both Nano Crystal and Super Integrated Coatings are used to suppress flare and ghosting for greater color fidelity and higher contrast. In addition, it has Eye-Detection autofocus, ultra-quiet focus motors, a control ring, and minimized focus breathing, making it a suitable lens for portraits, headshots, and videos. Superior control, efficient operability, and a robust build make the new NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S Lens a must-have for photographers and videographers alike.
Best Macro Lenses for Nikon Z5
Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO
100mm is a more popular focal length for macro photographers. Characterized by its close-focusing capabilities and apochromatic design, the Nikon Z-mount Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO from Venus Optics is a unique and versatile short-telephoto prime. Featuring a pair of low dispersion elements, color fringing and chromatic aberrations have been virtually eliminated throughout the focusing range in order to achieve high clarity and color accuracy. The lens’s manual focus design also suits its macro capabilities, which permit working with subjects as close as 2:1 with a minimum focusing distance of 9.7″. Not only it is an exceptional macro lens, the Laowa 100mm f/2.8 is also a very decent portrait lens when focus to infinity. The 12 elements in 10 groups optics design delivers a crystal sharpness image in both macro and infinity distances. The bright f/2.8 and circular aperture renders softly diffused bokeh and isolates the subject from its background. Additionally, a 13-blade diaphragm contributes to a pleasing bokeh quality.
Lens | Buy Now |
Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO | B&H | Adorama |
Meike MK-85mm f/2.8 Macro | B&H | Adorama |
Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro | B&H | Adorama |
Best Wide-angle Zoom Lenses for Nikon Z5
Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S Lens
An ideal lens for landscape, travel, event, and architecture photographers and videographers.
With its ultra-wide angle of view and truly compact dimensions, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S lens is especially well-suited to landscape, architectural, and astrophotography applications, and the constant f/4 maximum aperture maintains a consistent exposure throughout the zoom range. Four extra-low dispersion (ED) and four aspherical lens elements help reduce aberrations and distortions to produce sharper, clearer, and more accurate image details. Nano Crystal and Super Integrated Coatings on the lens also suppress flare and ghosting, resulting in higher contrast images with greater color fidelity. Complementing the optics, a stepping motor provides quick, quiet, and precise autofocus performance along with full-time manual focus override to suit both stills and video applications. It’s a lens for those who need to pack light without sacrificing image quality – an ultra-wide-angle lens that delivers portability and performance that pushes the boundaries of what is optically possible in a lens of its size.
Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6
This is currently the world’s widest zoom lens for Nikon Z full frame cameras.
Characterized by its especially compact and lightweight form factor, the Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom from Venus Optics is a petite and flexible ultra-wide-angle zoom for Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras. Its sleek size and versatile range of wide-angle focal lengths make it ideal for landscape, nature, and architectural shooting as well as astrophotography applications. Its optical design incorporates both extra-low dispersion and aspherical elements in order to correct a variety of aberrations and distortions for sharper, clearer image quality and accurate color rendering. A Frog Eye Coating has also been applied to repel dust and moisture from the front element of the lens to benefit working in trying environmental conditions. Additionally, the manual aperture ring can be de-clicked for smooth, silent aperture changes to suit video applications, and the rear of the lens is threaded to accept 37mm screw-in filters.
Best Wide-angle Prime Lenses for Nikon Z5
Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S
Combining the unique, ultra-wide perspective of a 20mm prime with the speed and low light capabilities of an f/1.8 maximum aperture, the NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S is a versatile prime well-suited to a range of subject types, from architecture to interiors to landscapes. Its angle of view excels at landscape and wide interior shooting, while its speed makes it superb for environmental portraits with lush, soft backgrounds and low light shots that are sharp and clean with faithful point light reproduction. An advanced optical design uses aspherical and ED elements to produce sharp, well-corrected imagery with high clarity and color accuracy, and both Nano Crystal and Super Integrated Coatings are also used to suppress flare and ghosting for greater color fidelity and higher contrast. Complementing the optical design, a multi-focus system, which employs two stepping motors, helps to realize impressively fast, accurate, and quiet focus performance, along with full-time manual focus override, to suit both stills and video needs. Additionally, a programmable control ring can be set for intuitive adjustment over a variety of camera and exposure settings.
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24mm f/1.8 S
Presenting a wide field of view and an optimized design, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24mm f/1.8 S is a versatile wide-angle lens well-suited to a range of subjects, including landscape, architecture, and reportage. Featuring an advanced optical layout, this prime lens incorporates a series of aspherical and extra-low dispersion elements, which produce sharp, well-corrected imagery with a high degree of clarity. Also, both Nano Crystal and Super Integrated Coatings are used to suppress flare and ghosting for greater color fidelity and higher contrast. The NIKKOR Z 24mm f/1.8 S handles wide-angle applications with gorgeous resolution throughout the entire frame and naturally soft bokeh. Ideal for landscapes, cityscapes, environmental portraits, architecture and group shots with a bright, fast f/1.8 aperture that makes it extremely versatile in low light. It’s also a staple for video applications, covering essential establishing shots and much more.
Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S
A favored focal length for everything from landscape to street shooting, the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S is a prime wide-angle lens characterized by its versatility and bright f/1.8 maximum aperture. With a maximum aperture of f/1.8, this impressive NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 wide-angle lens helps capture well-exposed images with stunning background bokeh even in challenging shooting situations. Furthering its merits, the optical design features two extra-low dispersion elements and three aspherical elements, which reduce a variety of aberrations and distortion to produce imagery with high sharpness, clarity, and accurate color rendering. Both Nano Crystal and Super Integrated Coatings are used, too, to suppress flare and ghosting for greater color fidelity and higher contrast. The NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S Lens is ideal for landscapes, street photography, weddings, environmental portraits, and more.
Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D
A truly wide-angle prime featuring a rectilinear optical design, the Nikon Z-mount Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D from Venus Optics is specifically meant to limit distortion for clear and accurate portrayals of landscapes and architectural subjects. The optical construction also incorporates a pair of aspherical elements and three extra-low dispersion elements to control both spherical and chromatic aberrations for improved sharpness and reduced color fringing. A Frog Eye Coating has been applied, too, to repel dust and moisture from the front element of the lens to benefit working in trying environmental conditions. Benefitting the optical attributes, this lens also features a precise manual focus design along with a floating optical system to maintain accurate rendering throughout the focus range, from 7.09″ to infinity. Additionally, a petal-shaped lens hood is also incorporated into the lens’ design to reduce flare and ghosting when working in strong lighting conditions. Great lens for landscape and architecture photography.
Lens | Buy Now |
Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S | Amazon | B&H |
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24mm f/1.8 S | Amazon | B&H |
Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S | Amazon | B&H |
Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D | Amazon | B&H |
Laowa 15mm f/2 Zero-D | Amazon | B&H |
Rokinon MF 14mm f/2.8 | Amazon | B&H |
Best Telephoto Zoom Lenses for Nikon Z5
Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S
A popular zoom among sports, wedding, event, and portrait photographers.
The NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 represents a pivotal lens for the Z series and a must-have for those shooting action, weddings, events, news, wildlife and portraits. Equipped with a versatile focal range, fast f/2.8 aperture and an impressive 5 stops of built-in optical VR image stabilization, the NIKKOR Z 70-200mm gives mirrorless shooters the flexibility to capture astoundingly sharp images and videos in a variety of scenarios. The fast maximum aperture suits working in available lighting conditions and also affords increased control over depth of field for isolating subjects with selective focus. The optical design incorporates a series of ED, fluorite, and SR elements, which help to reduce color fringing and chromatic aberrations throughout the zoom range for improved clarity and color accuracy. And, ARNEO and Nano Crystal Coats, as well as a Super Integrated Coating, have been applied to suppress flare, ghosting, and surface reflections for improved contrast and color fidelity. The NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S captures astoundingly sharp images with captivating resolution and glorious clarity all the way to the edges of the frame. It’s superior VR performance ensures exceptional sharpness when shooting handheld. Additionally, multimedia and content creators using the lens will appreciate the stepping motor (STM) for extremely quiet autofocus operation and reduced focus breathing.