Best Z-Mount Lenses for Nikon Z6 and Z7 Cameras

In August 2018, Nikon introduced the Nikon Z6 and Z7 cameras with a full frame sensor and a new lens mount for mirrorless cameras: The Z-mount. 

This page provides an overview of the growing catalog of Z-mount full frame (FX) lenses. These are mostly autofocus lenses, but selected manual focus lenses may also be included. DX lenses which can be used on smaller cameras are listed separately.

For every lens, the following major characteristics are given:

  • Focal length.
  • Maximum aperture. It has a strong influence on the light conditions in which the lens can be used, and how shallow the depth of field can be. Fast lenses also tend to be much more expensive. Green labels indicate fast lenses (> f/2), red labels indicate slow lenses (< f/4).
  • Filter size. It serves as a representative of the length, diameter and weight of the lens. Green labels indicate compact lenses (filter size < 60 mm), red labels indicate big lenses (> 70 mm).
  • Minimum focus distance (MFD). It has a major influence on the magnification that can be achieved, as well as the depth of field.
  • Another interesting point is of course the price, but it is different in every market and currency. Instead, links to independent reviews are given.

1 Prime lenses

Lenses with a fixed focal length

1.1 Fisheye lenses

Ultra wide angle lenses with purposeful strong distortions

make type* focal length max. aperture filter size MFD rvws.
    mm   mm m  

1.2 Wide angle lenses

make type* focal length max. aperture filter size MFD rvws.
    mm   mm m  
Nikon Nikkor Z S 20 1.8      
Nikon Nikkor Z S 24 1.8 72 0.25 CL
Nikon Nikkor Z 28        
Nikon Nikkor Z S 35 1.8 62 0.25 CL

1.3 Standard lenses

Focal length similar to the image sensor diagonal of 43 mm. These lenses show the relation of foreground and background magnification more or less like the human eye.

make type* focal length max. aperture filter size MFD rvws.
    mm   mm m  
Nikon Nikkor Z 40        
Nikon Nikkor Z S 50 1.2      
Nikon Nikkor Z S 50 1.8 62 0.40 CL
Nikon Nikkor Z S Noct** 58 0.95 82 0.50 CL

1.4 Telephoto lenses

make type* focal length max. aperture filter size MFD rvws.
    mm   mm m  
Nikon Nikkor Z S 85 1.8     CL

1.5 Macro lenses

Lenses capable of a magnification of 1 : 1 or more

make type* focal length max. aperture filter size MFD rvws.
    mm   mm m  
Nikon Nikkor Z Micro 60        
Nikon Nikkor Z S Micro 105        

2 Zoom lenses

Lenses with a variable focal length

2.1 Wide angle zoom lenses

make type* focal length max. aperture filter size MFD rvws.
    mm   mm m  
Nikon Nikkor Z S 14-24 2.8      
Nikon Nikkor Z S 14-30 4 82 0.28 CL

2.2 Standard zoom lenses

Zoom range from moderate wide angle to moderate telephoto

make type* focal length max. aperture filter size MFD rvws.
    mm   mm m  
Nikon Nikkor Z S 24-70 2.8 82 0.38 CL
Nikon Nikkor Z S 24-70 4 72 0.30 CL
Nikon Nikkor Z S 24-105        

2.3 Superzoom lenses

Like standard zooms, but with an approximately 10x zoom range

make type* focal length max. aperture filter size MFD rvws.
    mm   mm m  
Nikon Nikkor Z 24-200        

2.4 Telephoto zoom lenses

make type* focal length max. aperture filter size MFD rvws.
    mm   mm m  
Nikon Nikkor Z S 70-200 2.8      
Nikon Nikkor Z S 100-400        
Nikon Nikkor Z 200-600        

3 Teleconverters

Teleconverters extend the focal length of matching telephoto lenses by a certain factor.

make type* focal length max. aperture filter size MFD rvws.

*Additional designations such as VR are omitted.

**Manual focus lens, possibly no digital coupling between lens and camera.

References

The linked reviews are by CameraLabs (CL), LensTip (LT), MirrorLessons (ML) and OpticalLimits (OL). LT and OL focus on laboratory testing, CL and ML on real world photography. Links in brackets refer to tests of earlier models.

13 November 2019