Best Lens for Wildlife Photography
| Last Updated: May 20, 2019
A camera body is only as good as the lens you are shooting with, so you need to find some pretty high-performance, robust lenses to pair well with the professional level Nikon D850 camera body.
We narrowed our list down to our top 6. They include lenses for micro, wide-angle, portraiture, travel, action and all-around photographers.
These lenses range in price and function. Every photographer should be able to find one or two lenses on this list that will suit their needs.
In general, we tried to limit our selections to high quality, high-value lenses. We noted why lenses were still included when they had shortcomings.
6 Best Nikon D850 Lenses
Best Overall: Nikon 35 mm f/1.4 G
- Focal Length: 35mm
- Minimum Focus Distance: 1 foot
- Weight: 1 lbs 5.2 ounces
- Filter Thread: 67mm
- Image Stabilization: None
Pros: Shallow depth of field, large aperture, great low light performance, versatile focal length
Cons: Expensive
What Makes this Lens Our Top Pick?
This lens is high-performance and versatile. It has great performance in portraiture, wedding photography, astrophotography, travel and landscape.
Even though the lens was announced in 2010, it has a suite of robust, current optical technology. It works well with FX and DX sensors. Images taken with this lens are clear and crisp. They have detailed contrast even in low lighting.
The lens is weather-sealed to protect it from dust or moisture. The 9-blade diaphragm helps create even bokeh when photographers want to separate a subject from the background.
The incredibly large aperture allows the lens to function well in low light. It helps it to perform particularly well for creating video or portrait images.
The outer casing is made of plastic, but it is high-quality and durable. It doesn’t feel cheap at all. This also helps keep the weight of the lens relatively low compared to similar lenses made with metal casings.
The lens comes with a Rear Focus feature. That enables the front of the lens to stay still during use. That’s a feature that comes in handy if you like to use filters.
What Do Reviewers Say?
This lens is ideal for photographers who want a professional quality all-around lens or are looking for one all-around NIkon lens to purchase that can cover a wide range of situations.
The focal length isn’t too long or too wide. That makes it an ideal all-around or travel lens, and the high quality build means it holds up well under continuous use.
It is larger than lenses from other manufacturers at similar focal lengths. However, this lens has more updated technology and the performance more than justifies the size.
The autofocus motor works quickly and accurately, even in lower light situations. The Silent Wave Motor technology means the lens also focuses silently. That is ideal for delicate or discreet situations.
Reviewers liked that the lens came with its own soft pouch, front and back lens caps and a hood. While it is definitely heavier than other lenses, the short 3.5 inch barrel more than balances with the weight. It is easy to use, feels sturdy and balances well with most DSLR camera bodies.
Features and Considerations
The biggest downside to this lens is the high cost. If you are able to afford it though, this is a great everyday lens. It could even function as the only lens in a photographer’s kit bag.
Some reviewers criticized the non-standard 67mm filter size. They were confused that Nikon didn’t push the filter size to a more standard diameter like 77mm.
Filters are relatively inexpensive, though. The performance more than justifies the slight inconvenience.
It is also larger and heavier than lenses at similar focal lengths. However, again, the high performance makes up for this slight inconvenience. Photographers also found that they were able to get used to the added size and weight.
A Close Second: Nikon 28 – 300 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR
- Focal Length: 28 – 300mm
- Minimum Focus Distance: 1.6 feet
- Weight: 1.76 lbs
- Filter Thread: 77mm
- Image Stabilization: Yes
Pros: Versatile super zoom focal length, image stabilization, affordable for a super zoom lens
Cons: Expensive, heavy, could be faster
What Makes this Lens Special?
Nikon designed this lens to be versatile and affordable. They have accomplished both of those goals.
The price has stayed below $1,000. The weight is low enough that it is a good option for travel photographers as well as general photographers who don’t have to carry their equipment quite as far.
The lens was designed for FX, or full-frame, cameras. However, it is also compatible with DX crop-body cameras. If you do use it on a crop body camera, make sure you multiply the focal lengths by 1.5, which would come up with an equivalent focal length of 42 – 450mm.
At the wider focal length range, you can achieve a good all-purpose wide-angle Nikon lens range for shooting landscape, travel shots and even some real estate images. At 300mm photographers have a longer telephoto range that is versatile but still easy to use.
Basically, this lens is an excellent choice for photographers who want an all-around lens that can potentially serve as the only lens in their photography bag.
What Do Reviewers Say?
Reviewers praise this lens for being a good all-around option for most photographers but did note that it isn’t quite up to the standards of Nikon’s professional grade lenses. This is actually a good thing for photographers who want high-quality images but don’t need them to be quite as professional as others since they will avoid paying thousands of dollars for this lens.
The lens has a toggle switch between two types of vibration reduction: Active and Normal. Normal is optimal for general, everyday photography, while Active compensates for more extreme vibration like what you might experience when you’re photographing from a moving vehicle. Both of these functionalities are relatively robust and work well in creating more sharply focused images.
The lens is large and solid-feeling but isn’t so heavy-duty that it is difficult or uncomfortable to use. Nikon did a good job of including a good amount of technology but keeping the lens relatively lightweight, especially when compared to other lenses at this focal length.
Features and Considerations
Professional photographers may want to consider a more expensive, professional grade lens, as the autofocus is a little bit slower than desired. Images also aren’t quite as sharp as they are with professional level lenses, but they are more than sharp enough for most. Again, this consideration is really meant for professional photographers who are looking for the sharpest lens that money can buy.
The focus ring also isn’t as precise as may other lenses, but most photographers will use this lens in Autofocus mode anyway. You definitely get what you pay for with this lens, but the utility and versatility make it a good value despite some of these features it lacks.
Best Landscape Lens: Nikon 14 – 24 mm f/2.8
- Focal Length: 14 – 24mm
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.9 feet
- Weight: 2.2 lbs
- Filter Thread: Requires special 150mm filter holder
- Image Stabilization: No
Pros: Incredibly sharp images, high performance in low light, high performance
Cons: Expensive, heavy
What Makes this Lens Special?
This lens is regarded as being so impressive that many professional photographers have tried to mount it to non-Nikon camera bodies. It takes images that are razor sharp at pretty much all f-stops, is particularly good in low light and has a soft shell case to keep it clean and safe when you travel or store it. Basically, this lens is hard to overlook if you are in the market for a versatile wide-angle lens.
While the lens doesn’t come with vibration reduction, Nikon camera bodies do, so this shouldn’t be too big of an issue. The lens also has 9 aperture blades that create strong bokeh effect and is weather-sealed to keep out moisture and dust. There is also a Nano coating and a super integrated coating to reduce internal reflections, and the anti-scratch coating on the front is particularly robust.
The lens balances well with pro bodies like the D850 and D5 and has minimal chromatic aberration. The aberration is worse at longer focal lengths but is still hard to see unless you really look for it. The wide-angle range makes it ideal for landscape photography, architecture and real estate images, along with general travel or walking around photography.
What Do Reviewers Say?
Reviewers who used this lens with professional Nikon camera bodies like the D850 and the D750 absolutely loved it. Images are amazingly sharp and crisp, colors are well contrasted and there is a good amount of detail in the highlights and shadows. It focuses quickly and holds up well even under adverse shooting conditions.
Even though the front lens element is larger than most, it is difficult to scratch and stays pristine with reasonable cleaning and care.
This lens is definitely built for pros, however, and isn’t worth the cost on lighter or more enthusiast-level camera bodies. It has slight vignetting around the edges and has almost imperceptible distortion, which can be pretty easily corrected in post processing if it bothers photographers.
The focal length and sharp performance make it a versatile lens for professional photographers and enthusiasts with a professional camera body, and should definitely be considered for any camera bag.
Features and Considerations
The front element is so large that photographers need to purchase a special filter holder if they want to use lens filters, which can be a little annoying if you frequently use polarizing filters. The holder isn’t terribly expensive, however, and is relatively easy to use.
The lens is also very expensive, making it difficult for most photographers to add to their bag unless they have a larger budget or find that the focal length range meets most of their needs. The chromatic aberration and vignetting are also slight downsides but aren’t terribly noticeable at most focal lengths.
Overall, the performance is hard to criticize. Photographers just have to decide if they want to commit the amount of money necessary to add this lens to their camera bag.
Best Macro Lens: Tamron SP 90 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Macro
- Focal Length: 90mm
- Minimum Focus Distance: 11.8 inches
- Weight: 14.2 ounces
- Filter Thread: 62mm
- Image Stabilization: Yes
Pros: Sharp images, fast and silent autofocus, no chromatic aberration, minimal distortion
Cons: Filter thread size is not standard, exposes images a half step too dark
What Makes this Lens Special?
Tamron has branded themselves as creating professional level lenses at more affordable prices, and they have definitely accomplished that goal with this lens.
This lens was upgraded from previous Tamron models with more metal being used in the actual construction, improved weatherproofing and additional coatings on the different elements, a better auto-focus motor and optimized bokeh.
The additional coatings, including fluorine on the front element and eBAND and BBAR, which are both proprietary to Tamron, all cut down on flares, ghosting and reflections beautifully. The weatherproofing makes this lens more waterproof than other lenses, and the fluorine makes the front lens particularly water and fingerprint resistant.
The vibration compensation system is also particularly robust and includes an accelerometer that helps compensate for x – y plane shakes. This is excellent for a Nikon macro lens, and has allowed photographers to get sharp, blur-free images even inside where the light is less than ideal.
What Do Reviewers Say?
Reviewers found the image quality with this lens to be excellent, and particularly enjoyed the strong, modern, elegant design of the lens. The metal construction makes the lens feel solid and dependable, and the internal elements deliver strong, consistent images in a range of shooting conditions.
The Autofocus motor is more robust than previous models, with the Ultrasonic Drive (USD) autofocus motor operating silently and instantaneously. The bokeh effect was also optimized, and the lens creates bokeh that is pleasantly round and consistent.
Chromatic aberration is almost non-existent, and flare and ghosting are rare as well. The lens also comes with a 6-year warranty, which is the longest in the industry, and is relatively affordable for photographers at many different skill levels.
Features and Considerations
The biggest complaint with this lens is common to many Tamron lenses: they tend to expose images just a little bit too dark. This can easily be corrected by opening your aperture or decreasing your shutter speed slightly, but it is another step to have to think about.
Also, the filter thread is not a standard size, which will likely necessitate purchasing new filters. This expense isn’t huge if you enjoy macro photography though, and most photographers have enjoyed the lens enough to buy a few extra filters.
Best Travel Lens: Sigma 50 mm f/1.4 ART
- Focal Length: 50mm
- Minimum Focus Distance: 2 inches
- Weight: 1.8 lbs
- Filter Thread: 77mm
- Image Stabilization: No
Pros: Sharp images, neutral clean bokeh, all metal barrel, standard filter size,
Cons: Heavy, not weather-sealed, expensive
What Makes this Lens Special?
This lens performs consistently and impressively, and more than stands up against other professional grade lenses. The build is incredibly solid, with a metal barrel, and it handles smoothly and easily. The 77mm filter diameter also means standard filters can be used with this lens, and photographers won’t have to go to the trouble and expense of purchasing a second set.
Since the lens is part of Sigma’s Art class, the performance is especially sharp and crisp, with an impressive minimum focal distance of just 2 inches. The focusing ring is large and functions smoothly, which is ideal for shooters who like using manual focus or filming DSLR video. There is also a lens hood shaped like flower petals that cuts down on reflections and ghosting well.
The lens comes with Sigma’s hyper-sonic autofocus motor (HSM), which is laser-fast and accurate. It can track objects with extreme accuracy and rarely misfocuses. The autofocus is just as accurate and quick in low light also thanks to the wide open minimum aperture.
What Do Reviewers Say?
The lens is three times as heavy as Nikon’s 50mm f/1.4 G lens, largely because of the metal construction. This does make it feel solid and hold up well to small bumps and scuffs. While some DSLRs are front heavy with this lens, it balances professional level cameras pretty well.
The biggest downside here is the lack of weather sealing, but unless photographers plan on using their setup in adverse conditions, this shouldn’t be too big of an issue.
There can be slight blurring at the corners, which is not abnormal for a fast prime lens, but this blurring is barely noticeable. Images are detailed and contrasted well at all f-stops and focal lengths, and the bokeh is super consistent and neutral. There is vignetting when the aperture is wide open, but the lens handles vignetting better at almost every other f-stops.
There is very little ghosting or flare in final images, even when there are bright lights behind subjects. Images are contrasted remarkably well in almost all conditions, and the lens yields images that are truly professional quality.
The detail in the highlights and shadows is particularly noticeable in subjects that are backlit, and many reviewers claimed this was one of the best options for lenses that handled light well in this manner.
Features and Considerations
The biggest downside of this lens is that it isn’t weather-sealed and doesn’t have a rubber gasket at the lens mount. This means dust and moisture may get into your camera body or the interior of your lens. While you certainly shouldn’t use this lens in the rain or dust storms, it should be fine in average shooting conditions.
Also, while it is less expensive than other professional level lenses, it is still more expensive than enthusiast level lenses. For the high performance however, this lens is definitely a good value, and shouldn’t be overlooked if you can afford to add it to your camera bag.
Best Telephoto Lens: Nikon 200 – 500 mm f/5.6E ED VR
- Focal Length: 200 – 500mm
- Minimum Focus Distance: 7.2 feet
- Weight: 5 lbs 1.2 ounces
- Filter Thread: 95mm
- Image Stabilization: Yes
Pros: Lightweight, compact, affordable, razor sharp images, good performance in action photography
Cons: Focus is slower than more expensive telephoto lenses
What Makes this Lens Special?
This lens is truly impressive, with advanced vibration reduction that allows photographers to use it without a tripod at any focal length. There is also a SPORT VR mode that enables the lens to track subjects that move unpredictably pretty well.
There is no vignetting around the corners, and the lens hood that is included helps cut down on flares and ghosting as well.
The lens comes with a carrying case and a travel tripod mount, which are nice inclusions especially when considering the affordable price for such a long range telephoto zoom lens.
It also can shoot action at 10 frames per second. While it is heavier than other more expensive telephoto lenses, the versatility and price tag more than make up for the added weight.
The Silent Wave Motor enables autofocus to function with speed and accuracy, and the silent focus makes this lens ideal for situations like wildlife photography where discretion is important. The constant f/5.6 aperture enables this lens to perform impressively even in low light situations.
What Do Reviewers Say?
Reviewers rate this lens as one of the best telephoto lenses Nikon ever created, and praise the advanced vibration reduction, compact nature and affordability and razor sharp images in particular. This lens is ideal for photographers who shoot wildlife, birds, sports, motorsports and more.
The barrel is mostly high-quality plastic which helps keep the weight relatively low for such a long range telephoto zoom lens, and there are 19 elements in 12 groups inside, including a number of glass elements. The three extra-low dispersion lens elements on the front help the lens take images that are sharp and well-contrasted, and the large zoom ring is easy to use.
The biggest complaint is the single threaded tripod foot, since this style requires a tripod plate and prevents photographers from connecting this lens to Arca-Swiss tripods. The tripod also connects pretty far back on the lens barrel, which makes the lens slightly unbalanced when you use it on a tripod.
Many photographers found they were able to get used to this eventually, and since the vibration reduction allows this lens to be used handheld, a number of photographers opted to skip the tripod altogether.
Features and Considerations
This lens was created for long-distance focusing and can capture extreme detail even a mile away from a subject. That being said, it doesn’t focus as fast or as close as other, more expensive Nikon telephoto lenses
Again, the tripod connection is far back on the lens barrel and only connects to tripod plates, which is a downside, but certainly doesn’t outweigh the benefits of this affordable, versatile lens.
Selection Criteria: How We Ranked Our Choices
Choosing a camera body is only half of the battle. Your camera can only perform as well as the lens you are photographing with.
Since there are so many Nikon lenses and third-party lenses out there, it can be difficult to narrow the list down to the perfect one or two lenses to add to your camera bag. So we created a list that is comprehensive and versatile.
Here are some of the main considerations to take into account when choosing the right lens to fit your needs.
Focal Length
The focal length is a good starting point when you are lens shopping. Your specific photography needs will dictate the focal length lens you need to look for.
Wide-angle focal length lenses tend to range from 21 to 35mm, with extreme wide-angle lenses being wider than 21mm. These are ideal for architecture, landscape, street photography and other situations where you need to capture a lot of the scene in front of you with sharper focus.
Normal focal length ranges from 35 to 70mm, with true normal being about 50mm. This is ideal for street and documentary photography. These lenses tend to be some of the most versatile. With them, you can also get away with shooting landscape, portraiture and a number of other situations.
Telephoto ranges from 70 and longer, with some lenses ranging up to 600 or 700mm. Medium telephoto lenses between 70 and 150 are great for Nikon portraiture. That is because they separate the subject from the background with minimal distortion. However, wider telephoto lenses are generally used for action, sports or wildlife photography.
Aperture
The aperture determines how much of your photo will be in focus and how much light will be let in to the sensor. A wide open aperture means better separation of the subject from the background when you are closer to an object, with more of the background being out of focus, while a smaller aperture means more of the photo will be sharply focused.
Also, the lower the number of the maximum aperture is, the better your camera will perform in low light situations.
Prime vs. Zoom
The next question you should consider is whether you want a Prime lens with a fixed focal length or a zoom lens that covers a range of focal lengths.
Zoom lenses are the best choice for many photographers since they tend to be more versatile. However, they can also sacrifice some of the higher level performance features that prime lenses have. These sacrifices are often so small that most photographers won’t even notice the difference.
Prime lenses tend to have superior sharpness and take the absolute best, professional level images. These are great for professionals with the need and budget to afford them. However, most zoom lenses are more than sufficient in terms of final image quality.
| Lens | Prime vs. Zoom |
| Nikon 35 mm f/1.4 G | Prime |
| Nikon 28 – 300 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR | Zoom |
| Nikon 14 – 24 mm f/2.8 | Zoom |
| Tamron SP 90 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Macro | Prime |
| Sigma 50 mm f/1.4 ART | Prime |
| Nikon 200 – 500 mm f/5.6E ED VR’ | Zoom |
Professional vs. Affordable
That leads us to our next consideration, which is expensive top-quality lenses or more affordable, versatile lenses. There is a time and a place for each, and obviously if budget is no option then professional grade lenses are preferable.
However, most photographers don’t have an unlimited budget and need lenses that are versatile and have a reasonable price tag.
The biggest drawback to more affordable lenses is that they don’t tend to have a full suite of the most current technology, meaning you may see some chromatic aberration, or the image may not be quite as sharp as with more expensive lenses.
Generally speaking, when you get to DSLR level photography, even enthusiast level images are so far above point and shoot camera images or cell phone photos that it’s hard to classify affordable lenses poorly.
Versatility
In compiling our list, we really tried to select lenses that were versatile, whether we chose a great all-in-one lens or lenses that covered a range of applications. The one you need depends on the type of photography you plan to do.
For instance, if you want a general lens or a travel lens, you need one that is more versatile, whereas real estate photographers need a wide-angle lens that is built for that purpose.
Whether the lenses we included were all around lenses or specific purpose lenses, we tried to choose equipment that was high-value. Either the price was high, but the technology included justified the price, or the lens had great technology despite having a lower price tag.
| Lens | Best For |
| Nikon 35 mm f/1.4 G | Portraiture, weddings, astrophotography, landscape, travel |
| Nikon 28 – 300 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR | General photography |
| Nikon 14 – 24 mm f/2.8 | Landscape, architecture |
| Tamron SP 90 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Macro | Macro |
| Sigma 50 mm f/1.4 ART | Travel, general photography |
| Nikon 200 – 500 mm f/5.6E ED VR | Action photography, sports, wildlife |
Nikon D850 Lenses FAQ
The expert-level Nikon D850 is a professional DSLR worthy of the best photographers. Choosing the right lens for this camera is just the beginning, and you need to have something powerful enough to match its performance and power.
We’ve answered a few FAQs about Nikon’s lenses to give you everything you need to choose the right fit, so read on to see what you can learn.
Can I Use A DX Lens On Nikon D850?
A DX lens can be used on the Nikon D850 or any of the other FX camera bodies from Nikon.
The DX and FX label of a lens refers to the size of the format sensor, with the DX being the smaller option and more optimized to this type of camera, however, they can be interchangeable and still deliver good results.
The best lenses for a Nikon D850 are those designed for use with DX cropped body cameras, but that doesn’t mean you’re limited to only those.
You can still use lenses designed for full-frame cameras, as long as you know how to multiply the focal length by 1.5 so that it matches up.
Other advantages of using a DX lens are the smaller size, lighter weight, and affordable price tag, so it’s not all about shopping for a specific camera format.
Nikon’s Nikkor brand ensures their lenses are versatile and compatible wherever possible, which is one of the reasons for their huge success with photographers of all skill levels.
Is DX Or FX Better?
When choosing a digital SLR, you’ll need to decide which camera format you prefer, and the two common options are DX or FX.
These labels are determined by the size of the image sensor and each comes with its advantages and disadvantages, with many photographers having a preference.
The DX-format sensor is the smaller one, sized 24x16mm, and the FX-format is considered full-frame and measures 36x24mm.
There is no clear winner in the debate between DX and FX as it all depends on the user’s preferences.
There are several Nikkor lenses available for either camera sensor size and some that work with both. However, for the best results, you should use DX lenses with a DX camera and FX lenses with FX cameras.
To determine whether a lens is DX or FX, you can look at the name and it should be displayed clearly.
The DX lenses are usually smaller in size, lighter, and more budget-friendly, and perfectly optimized for use with these types of digital SLRs. Both have selections in a range of focal lengths and with various zoom options, so you’re spoilt for choice with any of the Nikkor options.
What Does D And G Mean On Nikon Lenses?
Nikon’s Nikkor brand responsible for manufacturing their lenses and two common types are their G and D lenses. The D lenses are older style lenses and feature a D-type lens and aperture control lens.
The G lenses from Nikkor don’t have an aperture control ring and work with most modern D-SLRs from the brand and are considered the newer version.
G-Type Nikkor Lenses can be easily identified by their lack of aperture control ring, but they can sometimes be classified as a D-type lens because they relay information like the subject-to-camera distance, just as the older models do. However, the same couldn’t be said for a D-type lens.
You can use both D and G type lenses on D-SLRs but each will require something different, so it’s important to understand the settings required for either type of lens.
More specifically, the D-type lens needs its aperture control ring locked into the smallest aperture, whereas the G-type lens should have its aperture controlled by the camera body.
What’s The Difference Between Nikon And Nikkor Lenses?
When looking at lenses for your Nikon camera, you’ve probably come across two styles branded Nikon and Nikkor. Although they seem different, they’re the same thing, as Nikon’s lens brand subsidiary is called Nikor.
There are technically no Nikon lenses on the market, even if they are advertised that way by third-party sellers, and all lenses made by this company are under the Nikkor brand.
This is simply a way to highlight that Nikon has made them, even if they are the parent company, and it helps people to find the right lens to suit their Nikon branded camera.
The Nikkor brand was created in 1932 and it was originally only used for the highest quality optics that they created, but today, Nikkor is the name given to all of their lenses.
Their range includes F-mount lenses, 1-mount lenses, amphibious lenses, and those made for their S-series cameras.
Match the Performance of the Nikon D850
Not many cameras come close to the quality and performance that the Nikon D850 captures, and if you want a professional-level DSLR, there’s no better choice.
However, just as important as choosing the right body, having the perfect lens is a must-have for any photographer, no matter their skill level or experience.
Any good photographer knows the importance of having a selection of lenses at the ready in their camera bag and if you’ve committed to a professional DSLR like the D850, having these choices is even more rewarding.
Although it can be costly to invest in a few, the payoff is worth it when you see the level of the images you capture.
These lenses we’ve selected for the Nikon D850 are the only ones worthy of matching its performance and will ensure you get the very best out of this camera.
With every type of lens covered including landscape, macro, and telephoto, there’s something for every occasion and made with the same level of finesse that the body itself was created with as well.
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Thanks… much appreciated Nikon D850 body reviewing 18 – 400 mm lens for this body Tamron looks good