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 Nikon Z-mount, only in 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 Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S and the Nikkor 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 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 up-market 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 full-frame sensor in Z6-series cameras makes them adept at blurring backgrounds in portraiture, and the affordable price tag of Nikon's 85mm f/1.8 makes this an appealing partner. This focal length is ideal for head-and-shoulders and half-length shots from a natural shooting distance.
Many 85mm lenses offer an f/1.4 aperture, which technically gives a shallower depth of field, but when I tested this f/1.8 lens, I found its bokeh quality was at least as good as you’ll find in many f/1.4 lenses. It’s a well-made lens that features weather seals.
Read more: Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S review
Features ★★★★★ | Like its 50mm sibling, this S-line lens doesn’t look anything special but packs strong features in terms of glass and coatings. |
Design ★★★★★ | It’s not overly compact for an 85mm f/1.8 prime but the optical path is quite complex and the lens is weather-sealed. |
Performance ★★★★★ | Perfect for portraiture, the combination of focal length and aperture helps to deliver superb sharpness and beautiful bokeh. |
Value ★★★★☆ | It’s pricey for an f/1.8 lens but at least it’s less than a third of the price of the Z 85mm f/1.2. |
Best telephoto lens for the Nikon Z6 III / Z6 II / Z6
A 70-200mm f/2.8 is a classic 'trinity' lens for professional photographers, but, like other examples of its type, the Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S is huge, heavy, and expensive. That's why I really like the only slightly 'shorter' Nikon Z 70-180mm f/2.8.
You lose in-built VR and 20mm at the long end of the zoom range, but you keep the f/2.8 maximum aperture and save quite a chunk of change. If you're worried about the lens's lack of optical VR, the Z6 line has in-body image stabilization (IBIS) like all full-frame Nikon Z-series cameras. The Z6 and Z6 II offer 5 stops of IBIS, while the Z6 III can manage up to 8 stops.
If portrait, social, and event photography is your daily job, I would probably still suggest the Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S, but if that lens is just too heavy and too expensive, or you're just not sure you would get enough use from it to justify the cost, the Z 70-180mm f/2.8 is a terrific alternative.
Read more: Nikon Z 70-180mm f/2.8 review
Features ★★★★☆ | The feature set is very good overall but there’s no optical VR nor any L-fn buttons. |
Design ★★★★★ | Compared with 70-200mm f/2.8 telephoto zooms, this lens is wonderfully compact and lightweight. |
Performance ★★★★★ | Sharpness is excellent and the quality of bokeh is gorgeous. It’s an absolutely standout ‘alternative trinity’ zoom. |
Value ★★★★★ | It’s certainly not a cheap lens but is nevertheless only about half the list price of the Z 70-200mm f/2.8. |
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 Nikkor 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 data and comparisons
The graphs below show the comparative performance of the lenses in this guide, based on our in-house lab tests. The Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S leads the way for sharpness among the prime lenses in this group, while the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 tops the chart for zooms. Color fringing and distortion are well controlled on the whole, and automatic in-camera correction is available for these aberrations anyway, which often can’t be disabled.
Scores for sharpness and color fringing are averaged from data taken across the entire image frame, from the center to the edges and corners, throughout the aperture range. For zoom lenses, the scores are also averaged from data measured at all marked focal lengths, and the same applies to distortion. Bear in mind that these average values don't fully reflect specific areas of performance. For example, a zoom lens might have noticeable barrel and pincushion distortion at its shortest and longest focal lengths, respectively, which tends to average out when looking at the data overall. For more detailed graphs of each lens's performance, which give the full picture, check out the graphs in our full standalone lens reviews.
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.
How we test lenses
The lens experts in our testing lab run a range of tests under controlled conditions, using the Imatest Master testing suite. Photos of test charts are taken across the range of apertures and zooms (where available), then analyzed for sharpness, distortion and chromatic aberrations.
We use Imatest SFR (spatial frequency response) charts and analysis software to plot lens resolution at the centre of the image frame, corners and mid-point distances, across the range of aperture settings and, with zoom lenses, at four different focal lengths.
There's more to it than just the technical side, though! Beyond the lab, our reviewers test lenses in real-world environments – and sometimes on professional shoots! We work with lenses both indoors and outdoors, in studio conditions and in natural light, with as many different subjects as is 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 speed of autofocus and the overall quality of the images produced.
Find out more about how we test and review on Digital Camera World
