Picking the best lenses for the Nikon Z6 line of cameras is a balancing act between glassware good enough to make the most of this excellent mid-range mirrorless camera series, but also not blowing the budget on some of Nikon’s more wildly specced pro lenses, which come with price tags to match.
The Nikon Z6 III is one of the best mirrorless cameras around, certainly one of the best Nikon cameras, and also one of the best cameras for enthusiasts. But while we have a big guide to the best Nikon Z lenses all round, I wouldn't necessarily recommend them all for the Z6 III (or its predecessors, the Z6 II and Z6). Good quality but sensibly priced glass is the way to go.
So I’ve picked a set of lenses that cover a wide range of uses, but, for the most part, stay at reasonable price levels. But, of course, the entire range of full-frame Z-mount lenses is compatible, so also see my Nikon Z8 lens recommendations for top-end glass, or the best lenses for the Nikon Z5 II for more budget-oriented options.
Whatever your budget, here are what I think are the best lenses for the Nikon Z6 III (and Z6 II and Z6) right now.
Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens tester and a Nikon aficionado, and has personally handpicked all the lenses in this guide as perfect companions to the Nikon Z6 III, Z6 II, and, indeed, the original Z6.
Best lenses for the Nikon Z6 III / Z6 II / Z6
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Best everyday lens for the Nikon Z6 III / Z6 II / Z6
Nikon liked the original version of this lens so much that it made its own version with a Nikon badge on it. However, the original Tamron lens was never made in the Nikon Z-mount, only in the Sony E-mount. The ‘Generation 2’ Tamron comes in both flavors and is a significant upgrade: a new optical layout increases resolution and all-around image quality; the autofocus system is twice as fast; there’s more tactile feedback from the zoom and focus rings; and a customizable function button has been added.
That’s all great news, but what made the original Tamron (and Nikon) lens such a hit remains just as attractive in the G2 edition. The fast and constant f/2.8 aperture rating makes this a viable alternative to a ‘trinity’ standard zoom, and while it doesn’t go quite as wide-angle as a 24-70mm lens, you gain marginally more telephoto reach. And the best bit is that it’s comparatively compact, lightweight, and affordable, compared with typical trinity standard zooms.
Read more: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD G2 review
Features ★★★★★ |
This alternative ‘trinity’ f/2.8 standard zoom features a voice-coil autofocus system and customizable L-fn button. |
Design ★★★★★ |
Build quality feels very robust and features extensive weather-seals, although optical stabilization is omitted. |
Performance ★★★★★ |
Levels of sharpness are excellent throughout the zoom range, although there’s a reliance on automatic in-camera corrections for color fringing and distortions. |
Value ★★★★★ |
It’s much less expensive than typical ‘trinity’ standard zooms and top value for money. |
Most versatile lens for the Nikon Z6 III / Z6 II / Z6
If you would like even more zoom range than the 24-70mm f/4 kit lens, this one goes all the way to 120mm with a 5x zoom range. This does make it somewhat heavier and more expensive, but more versatile too.
The Z 24-120mm f/4 S is a mirrorless revision of a popular 5x standard zoom made for F-mount DSLRs. The advanced Z lens mount brings advantages that include improved sharpness over the whole frame, as well as a relatively compact build for a lens of this type.
Read more: Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S review
Features ★★★★★ |
Features include a L-fn button and additional, customizable control ring, along with a powerful 5x zoom range. |
Design ★★★★☆ |
The overall design and build quality are great but it’s naturally bigger and heavier than the Z 24-70mm f/4. |
Performance ★★★★☆ |
Performance is highly impressive but corner-sharpness drops off a bit towards the long end of the zoom range. |
Value ★★★★☆ |
It’s competitively priced for a lens with such a generous and versatile zoom range. |
Best wide-angle lens for the Nikon Z6 III / Z6 II / Z6
Nikon has released two more ultra-wide zooms since this one – the Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S and the Nikon Z 17-28mm f/2.8, but I think the Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S is still the best wide-angle choice for the Nikon Z6 line of cameras, despite its smaller maximum aperture, thanks to its space-saving retracting design, longer focal range and its competitive price for a lens in this category.
It doesn’t hurt that image quality and performance are both very good indeed. Corner-to-corner sharpness is impressive, and it also comes with a lens hood that you can remove to add filters via an 82mm attachment thread. This is an unusual feature in an ultra-wide-angle lens.
Read more: Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S review
Features ★★★★★ |
The removable hood enables easy use of filters, and there’s a lot of up-market glass and Nano Crystal Coat. |
Design ★★★★★ |
Stowage size is kept to a minimum thanks to a neat retractable design. An A/M focus mode switch is also fitted. |
Performance ★★★★★ |
The lens delivers superb sharpness and clarity, right out to the extreme edges and corners of the frame. |
Value ★★★★★ |
It’s great value for such a high-performance lens, if you don’t feel the need for a ‘trinity’ f/2.8 zoom. |
Best pancake prime lens for the Nikon Z6 III / Z6 II / Z6
For street photography and when I’m on walkabout or traveling, I really like lenses that are compact to stash, lightweight to carry, and make my camera inconspicuous for candid shooting. At less than an inch thick and tipping the scales at a mere 5oz, this Viltrox lens ticks all the right boxes, qualifying as a ‘pancake prime’.
I also have an older Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 pancake lens in my collection, but the relatively new 26mm is much more sophisticated. It adds a manual focus mode, instead of being limited to autofocus, and has a fully adjustable aperture diaphragm instead of a fixed f/4.5 aperture.
I love the generously wide-angle 26mm focal length for street and travel photography, with a fairly fast f/2.8 aperture that enables quick shutter speeds for freezing motion, even under dull lighting conditions. That adjustable diaphragm that I mentioned also comes with a physical aperture control ring, which is a neat handling extra. Best of all, the tiny Viltrox delivers excellent sharpness and clarity, punching well above its weight in terms of performance.
Read more: Viltrox AF 26mm f/2.8 Evo review
Features ★★★★★ |
The feature set might not look overly exotic but in the context of a pancake lens, it’s relatively rich with stepping motor autofocus and focus/aperture control rings. |
Design ★★★★★ |
Build quality feels very sturdy, with an all-metal construction and weather-sealed mounting plate. The design manages to shoehorn useful features and high-end handling into an ultra-compact build. |
Performance ★★★★½ |
Performance is impressive by any standards and image quality is outstanding for a pancake lens, with excellent edge-to-edge sharpness, great clarity and well-controlled aberrations. |
Value ★★★★★ |
The lens costs about three times as much as the previously launched Viltrox 28mm lens but I reckon it’s more than three times as good, making it great value. |
Best standard prime for the Nikon Z6 III / Z6 II / Z6
I raised an eyebrow when Nikon launched the Z 50mm f/1.8 S as one of the first-ever Z-system lenses, giving upmarket S-line credentials to a prime that ‘only’ had an f/1.8 aperture rating. As soon as I tried it, I was won over by its quality and all-around performance, but still hankered over that faster f/1.4 aperture. This lens obliges, while also adding a secondary customizable control ring. I find that’s most useful for stepless aperture control when shooting video, which this lens does superbly well.
Although aimed at ‘content creators’, the lens is equally adept at stills as well as video. It doesn’t have an auto/manual focus mode switch, but I’m not really bothered. Edge/corner sharpness isn’t the best, but I’ve found that the lens can do full justice to the resolving power of Z6 -series cameras, and the relatively compact, lightweight build makes it a good fit.
Read more: Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 review
Features ★★★★☆ |
Top of the feature list is the fast f/1.4 aperture and the lens has dual customizable control rings. |
Design ★★★★☆ |
It looks and feels a little basic, with no A/M focus mode switch, but the build includes weather-seals. |
Performance ★★★★☆ |
It’s not one of Nikon’s up-market S-line lenses, but performance combines good sharpness and nice bokeh. |
Value ★★★★★ |
The lens is excellent value for a 50mm f/1.4, undercutting the list price of the Z f/1.8 version. |
Best portrait lens for the Nikon Z6 III / Z6 II / Z6
The Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S is unquestionably a great lens, but it has fairly basic handling and 'only' an f/1.8 aperture rating. This Viltrox lens is better in many respects, really living up to its ‘pro’ credentials. Build quality feels rock-solid and features extensive weather seals, and handling is a dream. It comes complete with an aperture control ring that has an accompanying click/de-click switch, and there’s a customizable function button that I tend to use for AF-hold. And there’s also an AF/MF focus mode switch to save the effort of fumbling around in camera menus.
High-grade optics comprise 15 elements arranged in 11 groups, featuring three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements, no less than nine HRI (High Refractive Index) elements, and one aspherical element. HD Nano multi-layer coatings are applied to minimize ghosting and flare, and a keep-clean fluorine coating is applied to the front element.
Autofocus comes courtesy of a VCM (Voice Coil Motor), which is both very rapid and virtually silent in operation, as well as ensuring super-smooth autofocus transitions if your portraiture turns to video capture. Image quality is simply gorgeous, with ultra-crisp sharpness and clarity coupled with beautifully smooth bokeh.
See our full Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.4 Pro review
Features |
There are plenty of features on tap, including a click/de-click aperture control ring and function button. |
★★★★★ |
Design |
The design works really well, from the robust metal weather-sealed build to the controls and VCM autofocus system. |
★★★★★ |
Performance |
The lens does well to combine excellent sharpness with soft and dreamy bokeh, ideal for portraiture. |
★★★★★ |
Value |
At less than a third of the price of some own-brand 85mm f/1.4 lenses, the Viltrox is outstanding value. |
★★★★★ |
Best travel zoom lens for the Z5 II & Z5
The sheer versatility of this lens's 24-200mm range is really appealing as a one-lens solution for a wide variety of shooting scenarios, from landscapes and portraits at the wider end to telephoto shots of distant subjects. The compact and relatively lightweight design is another significant plus. For a lens with such an extensive zoom range, it handles surprisingly well and doesn't feel overly cumbersome, making it a great travel companion. The inclusion of Vibration Reduction is handy, working hand-in-hand with the in-body image stabilization of the Z5 II and Z5.
Optically, considering its superzoom nature, the lens performs respectably. While it might not have the absolute sharpness and contrast of shorter zooms, it delivers good image quality across the focal range. Sharpness is generally good in the center, with some expected softening towards the edges, particularly at the extremes of the zoom range. Chromatic aberration is reasonably well-controlled. Autofocus was generally quick and accurate, making it suitable for capturing a variety of subjects.
The Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR offers an incredibly convenient and versatile package for Z5 II and Z5 users. It’s a solid all-rounder that prioritizes versatility and portability and is an excellent option for travel photography, general photography, and anyone looking for a single lens that can handle a wide range of shooting situations without the need for frequent lens changes.
Nikon also makes a Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR superzoom that goes double the distance, but it's quite a lot bigger and doesn't perform quite so well optically.
Read more: Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR review
Features ★★★★1/2 |
Sharpness is very good for a superzoom, and 5-stop IBIS helps beat the shakes. |
Design ★★★★★ |
Compact and lightweight considering its epic zoom range, making it an ideal travel companion. |
Performance ★★★★★ |
While it can't match Nikon's 28-400mm superzoom for outright reach, it wins out for image quality. |
Value ★★★★1/2 |
It's like getting a full-frame standard and telephoto zoom in one, albeit with a sluggish max aperture at the long end. |
Best telephoto lens for the Nikon Z6 III / Z6 II / Z6
This lens is much more compact and lightweight than a conventional 70-200mm f/2.8 ‘trinity’ telephoto zoom, which makes it an ideal fit for the relatively compact Z6 III. Sure, it doesn’t quite stretch to 200mm at the long end, but it comes pretty close, while retaining that all-important constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the entire zoom range. It works a treat for weddings and events and even for sports and wildlife photography, while keeping the weight down.
And there’s more. While the original Tamron 70-180mm was a great lens (as is the Nikon Z 70-180mm that's based on the original Tamron), I love that the G2 adds optical image stabilization, uprated handling, and revamped optics. And it delivers all this at a more inexpensive launch purchase price than the original lens. I find that in-body image stabilization tends to be less effective in telephoto shooting, so the addition of optical stabilization is particularly welcome.
Autofocus is super-fast, based on a VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) system. The proof of the pudding is in the image quality, and I like that the optical layout has been redesigned to include an XLD (eXtra Low Dispersion) element, a hybrid aspherical lens element, three LD (Low Dispersion) elements, and two GM (Glass Molded aspherical) lens elements. Tamron’s BBAR-G2 (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection Generation 2) coating is also applied to minimize ghosting and flare. All in all, it’s a terrific lens and a bargain at the price.
Read more: Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 review
Features ★★★★★ |
Fancy features in the ‘Generation 2’ include a three-pole Custom switch, function button and USB-C port. |
Design ★★★★★ |
The design gives you almost the same zoom range as a classic 70-200mm f/2.8 telephoto zoom but in a much smaller, lighter package. |
Performance ★★★★★ |
From super-fast and highly accurate autofocus to great image quality and effective optical stabilization, it’s a cracker. |
Value ★★★★★ |
It’s less than half the price of many ‘trinity’ telephoto zooms, making it a standout bargain. |
Best ultra-tele lens for the Nikon Z6 III / Z6 II / Z6
This is a real humdinger of a lens, offering a high-performance ultra-telephoto zoom range at a (relatively) affordable price. The spiritual successor to the popular F-mount 200-500mm, it is the perfect fit for wildlife, sports, and aviation photographers who need significant reach without the five-figure price tag of professional primes.
I found its stepping motor autofocus system performed exceptionally well, locking onto subjects super-fast with deadly accuracy, even in gloomy conditions. Optically, it is razor-sharp across the entire zoom range, and lab tests confirmed minimal color fringing and low pincushion distortion.
An internal zoom mechanism keeps the physical length constant and maintains a stable center of gravity, and despite weighing 2,140g, it remains manageable for handheld use, aided by 5.5-stop Vibration Reduction (VR). The build includes weather sealing and a fluorine coating on the front element. While it lacks Nikon's S-line designation, the handling is premium, featuring customizable function buttons and a short 90-degree zoom throw.
Read more: Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR review
Features ★★★★★ |
Compared with Nikon’s F-mount 200-500mm zoom, this one has longer telephoto reach and more effective 5.5-stop optical stabilization. |
Design ★★★★★ |
The lens is impeccably built with extensive weather-seals and is noticeably lighter than Nikon’s 200-500mm lens. |
Performance ★★★★★ |
Sharpness and clarity are exceptional, even at the longest zoom setting, backed up by super-fast autofocus and highly effective stabilization. |
Value ★★★★☆ |
It’s pricier than the F-mount 200-500mm lens but well worth the extra outlay. |
Best macro lens for the Nikon Z6 III / Z6 II / Z6
There is a cheaper Nikon Z MC 50mm macro lens, which I recommend for the more modest Nikon Z5 and Z5 II, but if you can afford the extra, the Nikkor Z MC 105mm is the better choice, not least because it gives a much more generous working distance for macro shooting.
Superb image quality for both close-ups and general shooting is aided by a speedy, accurate autofocus system, along with very good optical VR. It also has a multi-function display, a custom function button, and an autofocus range limiter. An electronically coupled focus ring handles minute adjustments.
Read more: Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S review
Features ★★★★★ |
Top-notch features include a customizable function button and multi-mode OLED info display panel. |
Design ★★★★★ |
Build quality and handling are fully pro-grade, with plentiful weather-seals and an additional customizable control ring. |
Performance ★★★★★ |
Image quality is flawless for extreme close-ups at up to 1.0x magnification, as well as for portraiture and still life photography. |
Value ★★★★★ |
It’s certainly not a cheap lens but it’s nevertheless excellent value for an own-brand Nikon lens of this quality and performance. |
Lab test data and comparisons
The lens experts in our testing lab run a range of tests under controlled conditions. We take photos of Imatest SFR (spatial frequency response) charts, then use the Imatest Master testing suite to analyze sharpness, distortion, and chromatic aberrations at the centre of the image frame, corners, and mid-point distances across the range of aperture settings (up to f/22).
The graphs below show the comparative performance of the lenses in this guide, based on our in-house lab tests. For zoom lenses, we repeat our test at the widest and longest ends of the zoom range, plus intermediate 'mid-wide' and 'mid-telephoto' settings. Use the dropdown menus to select between them (for primes, the same data appears on all graphs for ease of comparison). Only full f-stops are labelled on the X-axis for sharpness, so, for example, an f/1.2 or f/6.3 lens would correlate to f/1 and f/5.6, respectively.
There's plenty of sharpness on tap. The prime lenses do typically well, and the Tamron 28-75mm is particularly good for a zoom lens. The Nikon Z 24-200mm brings up the rear but is nevertheless very impressive for a superzoom lens. It also has the worst color fringing at the long end of its zoom range. The Tamron lenses exhibit the worst native distortion at the long ends of their zoom ranges, but some of the Nikon lenses are flattered by automatic in-camera corrections that can't be disabled.
For more detailed graphs of each lens's performance, which give the full picture, check out the graphs in our full standalone lens reviews.
Center sharpness
Use the dropdown menu to select between wide-angle, mid-wide, mid-tele, and telephoto settings on zoom lenses
| Timestamp (f-stop) | Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 [Nikon Z] () | Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S () | Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S () | Viltrox AF 26mm f/2.8 EVO () | Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 () | Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.4 Pro () | Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR () | Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 () | Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR () | Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S () |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2163 | 2230 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2749 | 2359 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 3 | 2047 | N/A | N/A | 2042 | 3082 | 2884 | N/A | 2834 | N/A | 2218 |
| 4 | 2631 | 2486 | 2869 | 2455 | 3225 | 2847 | 2173 | 2713 | N/A | 2520 |
| 5 | 2465 | 2443 | 2587 | 2492 | 2958 | 2429 | 2184 | 2543 | 2351 | 2472 |
| 6 | 2514 | 2300 | 2482 | 2265 | 2700 | 2310 | 2082 | 2576 | 2534 | 2329 |
| 7 | 2299 | 2025 | 2073 | 1942 | 2027 | 1859 | 1930 | 2261 | 2336 | 2034 |
| 8 | 1872 | 1713 | 1753 | 1650 | 1848 | 1542 | 1663 | 1821 | 1898 | 1728 |
| 9 | 1391 | 1407 | 1411 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1333 | 1432 | 1453 | 1379 |
Fringing @ f/8
Use the dropdown menu to select between wide-angle, mid-wide, mid-tele, and telephoto settings on zoom lenses
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 [Nikon Z] | 0.1 |
| Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S | 0.14 |
| Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S | 0.24 |
| Viltrox AF 26mm f/2.8 EVO | 0.44 |
| Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 | 0.07 |
| Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.4 Pro | 0.32 |
| Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR | 0.07 |
| Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 | 0.18 |
| Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR | 0.05 |
| Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S | 0.12 |
Distortion
Use the dropdown menu to select between wide-angle, mid-wide, mid-tele, and telephoto settings on zoom lenses
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 [Nikon Z] | -2.18 |
| Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S | -0.49 |
| Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S | 0.51 |
| Viltrox AF 26mm f/2.8 EVO | -2.14 |
| Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 | -0.39 |
| Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.4 Pro | 0.58 |
| Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR | -0.18 |
| Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 | 1.51 |
| Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR | 0.96 |
| Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S | -0.6 |
There's more to it than just the technical side, though! Beyond the lab, our reviewers test lenses in real-world environments. We work with lenses both indoors and outdoors, in studio conditions and in natural light, with as many different subjects as possible (or appropriate – there's no point testing a landscape lens' ability to shoot a portrait!).
We take into account everything from handling and ease of use to autofocus speed and the overall quality of the images produced.
Find out more about how we test and review on Digital Camera World
How to choose the best Nikon Z6 III / Z6 II / Z6 lenses
Which lenses fit the Nikon Z6 III / Z6 II / Z6?
The Z6 III, Z6 II, and Z6 aII use the Nikon Z mount and are compatible with all lenses designed for that mount. Nikon’s own Z-mount lenses all have Z at the start of their model names.
Some Z-mount lenses are designed for use with APS-C format cameras rather than full-frame cameras, such as the Z6 series. Nikon lenses that fall into this category have DX as part of their model names. While they physically fit, these lenses produce a cropped image, so they’re not ideal. None of the lenses in this guide is a DX-format lens.
If you are buying a third-party lens, always check that it is designed for full-frame (or FX) Nikon Z cameras, rather than APS-C (or DX) Nikons.
The Z6 line cameras are also able to use F-mount lenses, which are designed for use with Nikon’s DSLR cameras. For this, you need an adaptor such as the Nikon Mount Adapter FTZ II. The idea is that owners of older DSLR cameras can buy a Z camera and still use their old lenses.
How do I know which lens to get?
The reason there are so many types of lens in the first place is that different scenes demand different lens designs, particularly when it comes to focal length and aperture rating.
Usually, you will decide what you want to photograph, then get a lens with the focal length that suits the situation. For example, to shoot landscapes, you will need a wide-angle lens; for sports and wildlife, you will need a telephoto.
You can watch this video that explains focal length: it helps you work out what kind of lenses you need for different genres of photography.
