Best Z-Mount Lenses for the Nikon Z30, Z50 and Z fc Cameras

In October 2019, Nikon introduced the Nikon Z50 as its first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera with a Z-mount and a DX (aka APS-C) sensor. The retro style Nikon Z fc followed in June 2021, and the vlogging style Z30 in June 2022.

This page provides an overview of the so far limited, but growing catalog of Z-mount DX lenses. These are mostly autofocus lenses, but selected manual focus lenses may also be included. Note that Z-mount FX lenses can also be used on these cameras.

For every lens, the following major characteristics are given:

  • Focal length.
  • Maximum aperture. It has a strong influence on the lighting conditions under which the lens can be used, and how shallow the depth of field can be. Fast lenses also tend to be much bigger, heavier, and 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 important point is of course the price, but it is different in every market and currency. Instead, links to independent reviews are given which will help you to find the best lens for your needs.

Note that additional designations such as VR that are not necessary to identify a lens are omitted. Manual focus lenses are marked by an asterisk (*), purely mechanical lenses with no digital coupling to the camera are marked by a double asterisk (**).

1 Prime lenses

Lenses with a fixed focal length.

1.1 Fisheye lenses

Ultra wide angle lenses with purposeful strong distortions.

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m

1.2 Wide angle lenses

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Sigma DC DN | Contem­porary 16 1.4 67 0.25
Nikon Nikkor Z DX 24 1.7 46 0.18

1.3 Standard lenses

Lenses with a focal length similar to the image sensor diagonal of 28 mm. Images created with these lenses are generally perceived as looking natural.

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Nikon Nikkor Z SE 28 2.8 52 0.19 LT
Sigma DC DN | Contem­porary 30 1.4 52 0.30

1.4 Telephoto lenses

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Sigma DC DN | Contem­porary 56 1.4 55 0.50

1.5 Macro lenses

Lenses with a high magnification.

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m

2 Zoom lenses

Lenses with a variable focal length.

2.1 Wide angle zoom lenses

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Nikon Nikkor Z DX PZ 12-28 3.5-5.6 67 0.19

2.2 Standard zoom lenses

Zoom range from moderate wide angle to moderate telephoto.

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50 3.5-6.3

2.3 Superzoom lenses

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

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Nikon Nikkor Z DX 18-140 3.5-6.3 62 0.20-

2.4 Telephoto zoom lenses

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Nikon Nikkor Z DX 50-250 4.5-6.3

3 Teleconverters

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

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws

References

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