If you've bought a Nikon interchangeable lens camera – whether it's a Z-mount mirrorless or an F-mount DSLR – you may well have already picked up a kit lens that covers the standard zoom range. But could you be using something better? After all, a standard zoom is the lens that most of use for most of our photography.
The kit lenses you get with a new camera tend to be light and compact and deliver decent image quality, covering all your basic needs when you start taking photos. Indeed, the Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S is one of my all-time favorite standard zooms, period. However, you might hanker after a faster aperture rating, or additional features and handling extras. That's when it's time to start shopping around.
Some of the best standard zooms have a relatively fast f/2.8 aperture rating, often referred to as 'trinity' zooms, expanding your options in low light and enabling a shallower depth of field, so you can isolate subjects in images by blurring the background. This can be critical in genres like portraiture and still life, where 'faster' lenses come to the fore.
Faster apertures as well as handling exotica like lens-function buttons and additional control rings naturally come at a cost – and not just a financial one. Lenses with wider apertures will be bulkier and heavier than kit lenses, which can be an issue if you're a travel photographer. I've picked standard zoom lenses from across Nikon's entire stable, for Nikon Z-series mirrorless cameras and DSLRs. Let's get started!
Best Nikon standard zoom lenses
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Best Z FX
A constant-aperture 24-70mm f/2.8 standard zoom has become a standard fixture in any premium camera manufacturer's lens range. The Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II lens is a spectacular upgrade over the original Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S, boasting reduced weight, a fully internal zoom mechanism, a new 'Silky Swift Voice Coil Motor' for incredibly fast and quiet autofocus, and an aperture ring with a 'Click on/off' switch to allow for tactile feedback when shooting stills and smooth transitions in video. While it lacks the OLED display of the first-gen lens, it compensates with two customizable function buttons.
But this lens and its predecessor are not the only options. Nikon's Z-mount cameras first arrived with the Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S, which is a lot smaller, around half the price, and a lens I still rate very highly. And if you don't need such a wide angle of view, the Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8 offers the same constant maximum aperture but in a lighter, cheaper package, and the very similar Tamron Z 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD G2 if you're happy to buy a non-Nikon-branded lens. For outright optical performance, however, the Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II reigns supreme.
See our full Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II review
Features ★★★★★ |
Top-end features include super-fast SSVCM autofocus, exotic glass and coatings, dual function buttons and a click/de-click aperture ring. |
Design ★★★★★ |
Although physically quite long, the lens has a fully internal zoom mechanism and is surprisingly lightweight, despite being very robust and weather-sealed. |
Performance ★★★★★ |
Scintillating sharpness couples with beautifully smooth bokeh. Overall image quality is exceptional and autofocus is both lightning-fast and consistently accurate. |
Value ★★★★☆ |
Lenses like this don’t come cheap but, all things considered, it’s very good value for money. |
Best compact Z FX
Tying in perfectly with the slim, lightweight design ethos of Nikon mirrorless cameras from the Z5, Z6, and Z7 series, this standard zoom tips the scales at a mere 500g. It's also nice and small for stowing away, thanks to its retractable design. It certainly doesn’t come up short in terms of image quality, with fabulous sharpness across the entire image frame, throughout the whole zoom range.
Indeed, I was so impressed with the sample of this lens that I got as part of a kit with my original Z6 camera that I've kept hold of it despite upgrading my camera body three times since then.
Naturally, the widest aperture of f/4 doesn’t deliver such a tight depth of field as a more upmarket f/2.8 lens, but defocused areas in scenes look pleasantly soft. In fact, you can focus right down to 0.3m, enabling a 0.3x magnification factor and creating plenty of background blur. Onboard controls are fairly rudimentary, but you can alter the action of the manual focus ring for other functions, like stepless aperture control during movie capture.
See our full Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S review
Features ★★★★½ |
Quality glass and coatings are the lead features of this lens but it also has a handy A/M focus mode switch. |
Design ★★★★★ |
The retractable design enables a really small packing size and the lens is refreshingly lightweight but strongly built. |
Performance ★★★★★ |
Sharpness is excellent throughout the entire zoom range and across the whole image frame. |
Value ★★★★★ |
It’s less than half the price of the top-end Z 24-70mm f/2.8 lens and great value for such a strong performer. |
Budget trinity Z FX
Nikon liked the original version of this lens so much that it made its own version with a Nikon badge on it, the Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8. 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.
See our full Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD G2 review
Features ★★★★★ |
This alternative ‘trinity’ f/2.8 standard zoom features voice coil motor autofocus and an Fn button. |
Row 0 - Cell 2 |
Design ★★★★★ |
Although compact and lightweight, the lens is extensively weather-sealed. |
Row 1 - Cell 2 |
Performance ★★★★★ |
It's sharper than the original Tamron 28-75mm, and Nikon's version of that lens. |
Row 2 - Cell 2 |
Value ★★★★★ |
Much less expensive than a typical ‘trinity’ 24-70mm f/2.8 standard zoom and top value. |
Row 3 - Cell 2 |
Long zoom Z FX
Building on bygone popularity, the Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S is a mirrorless version of a somewhat classic 5x standard zoom for F-mount DSLRs. It makes the most of optical enhancements afforded by the Z system’s larger mount circumference and closer proximity to the image sensor. The net result is enhanced sharpness and all-around image quality across the whole frame and throughout the entire zoom range, along with a reasonably compact and lightweight build.
It's the best of the bunch if you prioritize a big zoom range coupled with a fairly fast constant aperture. If not, you’re better off with the retractable, compact, and lightweight 24-70mm f/4 S, which is less expensive to buy.
See our full Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 review
Features ★★★★½ |
Features include a L-fn button and additional, customizable control ring, along with a powerful 5x zoom range. |
Design ★★★★½ |
The overall design and build quality are great but it’s naturally bigger and heavier than the Z 24-70mm f/4. |
Performance ★★★★½ |
Performance is highly impressive but corner-sharpness drops off a bit towards the long end of the zoom range. |
Value ★★★★½ |
It’s competitively priced for a lens with such a generous and versatile zoom range. |
Best zoom for weddings and events
For my money, this intriguing ‘not-so-standard’ zoom from Tamron works brilliantly well for shooting weddings and events. The wide-angle coverage is relatively limited, but it goes the extra mile (or at least a fair few extra millimeters) in telephoto reach, complete with a constant f/2.8 aperture. The net result is that it’s easily wide enough for group shots of people at the short end of its zoom range, while also enabling a natural shooting distance and a flattering perspective for solo portraiture at the long end.
I’ve found the lens to be impressively sharp with excellent clarity throughout its entire zoom range, even when shooting wide-open at f/2.8. Another bonus, especially at longer focal lengths, is that the f/2.8 aperture delivers a tight depth of field for isolating the main subject by blurring the background, coupled with smooth and dreamy bokeh. Yet another upside is a close minimum object distance, ideal for close-ups of wedding rings, table decorations, and the like.
Best of all, the Tamron is sufficiently versatile that you can cover most or all of your wedding and event photography needs with just this one lens. It definitely avoids the worry of missing vital, unrepeatable shots because you were busy swapping between different lenses on your camera body at a crucial moment. It’s also refreshingly lightweight for shooting all day long (and into the night) for wedding and event photography.
See our full Tamron 35-100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD review
Features ★★★★½ |
High-end features include a customizable function button and 3-way custom settings switch, but there’s no optical image stabilization nor a dedicated aperture control ring. |
Design ★★★★★ |
The design does a brilliant job of shoehorning such a big zoom range and constant f/2.8 aperture into such a compact and lightweight construction, complete with strong, weather-sealed build quality. |
Performance ★★★★★ |
Sharpness and clarity are excellent, throughout the entire zoom range and even when shooting wide-open at f/2.8. Color fringing, distortions, ghosting and flare are all well controlled and autofocus is super-speedy. |
Value ★★★★★ |
For a constant-aperture zoom lens with such a useful 35-100mm range, the Tamron is absolutely excellent value for money. |
Best budget Z FX
Nikon has a fair few standard zooms in its roster, but I reckon the Nikon Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1 budget-friendly alternative to Nikon’s more expensive S-line zooms offers great bang-for-buck. Weighing just 350g (12.4oz) and measuring 107mm when retracted, it is the ideal everyday lens for day-long excursions or travel where weight is a primary concern.
The compact design comes with a couple of trade-offs: it lacks an AF/M physical switch and has a slow f/7.1 maximum aperture at the telephoto end. Despite the pedestrian aperture rating, the lens offers a unique 0.5x 'half-macro' magnification ratio that is particularly effective between the 70mm and 105mm focal lengths, allowing for creative close-up photography that typical kit lenses cannot achieve. The autofocus, powered by a linear stepping motor (STM), is quick and nearly silent, making it suitable for both stills and video.
At roughly half the price of the Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S, it makes full-frame photography more accessible. While it struggles in low light due to the f/7.1 aperture, its sharpness, macro capabilities, and extreme portability make it a compelling choice for hikers, travelers, and entry-level full-frame users. Ultimately, it is a lens that sacrifices speed for convenience and cost without compromising on essential image quality.
See our full Nikon Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1 review
Features ★★★★☆ |
It’s a basic lens without even an AF/M focus mode switch and you have to buy the hood separately, but it features a speedy stepping motor-based autofocus system and 0.5x macro of sorts. |
Design ★★★★☆ |
The design majors on compactness and lightness of weight, right down to the plastic mounting plate, but that makes it very travel-friendly, and it does feature weather seals. |
Performance ★★★★☆ |
Image quality relies on automatic correction for distortion and the long-zoom aperture shrinks to f/7.1, but the net results are pleasing. |
Value ★★★★½ |
It’s very good value for an own-brand Nikon Z-system lens, and one of the least expensive options in the collection of standard zooms. |
Best Z DX
I’ve been using the Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR kit zoom lens for a few years now and loving it… mostly. It’s unfeasibly small and lightweight, but there are two very good reasons for that. It has a retractable design and a slow aperture of f/6.3 at the long end of its zoom range. This newer, more up-market lens has the same zoom range but a constant f/2.8 aperture, while still retaining VR (Vibration Reduction). That’s good news, as at the time of writing this buying guide, there were no DX-format Nikon Z system cameras on the horizon.
The f/2.8 lens is naturally bigger and heavier than its f/3.5-6.3 counterpart, but it’s still pretty compact and lightweight, while being relatively robust with a metal, weather-sealed mounting plate and premium quality feel. It lacks quick-access switches for A/M focus modes and VR on/off, but overall, it’s the best standard zoom for Nikon Z DX cameras. Image quality and all-round performance are highly impressive, with good sharpness right out to the edges and corners.
See our full Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR review
Features ★★★★☆ |
It’s got a solid feature set that includes a constant f/2.8 aperture and 4.5-stop VR, and unlike most Z DX lenses, it comes complete with a hood. |
Design ★★★★☆ |
The design is relatively compact and lightweight for a ‘trinity’ zoom but lacks switches for A/M focus modes and VR on/off. |
Performance ★★★★★ |
The lens is super-sharp and has very fast and consistently accurate autofocus, although it relies heavily on automatic in-camera correction for distortions. |
Value ★★★★☆ |
It’s expensive for a Nikon Z DX lens but very much more affordable than the same kind of lens for full-frame cameras. |
Best compact Z DX
Developed specifically for DX-sensor APS-C format Z-series mirrorless cameras, this lens is suitably compact and lightweight, weighing in at just 135g. It has a retractable design, enabling it to shrink down to just 32mm in length for stowage, so it’s eminently travel-friendly. One of the weight-saving measures is that the lens has a plastic rather than a metal mounting plate, and there are no weather seals, but the build quality feels pretty solid overall.
Given that the aperture rating narrows to a ‘slow’ f/6.3 at the long end of the zoom range, and that all Nikon DX Z-series cameras to date have no in-body stabilization, the 4.5-stop optical VR is a very welcome inclusion. This little lens punches above its weight for image quality, with impressive sharpness throughout the entire zoom range, even when shooting wide-open.
See our full Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR review
Features ★★★★★ |
There’s a lot packed into this lens, including stepping motor-based autofocus and 4.5-stop optical VR. |
Design ★★★★★ |
The retractable design enables an unfeasibly compact packing size, similar to that of a pancake lens. |
Performance ★★★★★ |
Sharpness and clarity are very good and there’s minimal color fringing, but the lens relies typically heavily on automatic in-camera correction for distortion. |
Value ★★★★★ |
It’s great value in its own right, even better if you get it as a kit lens with one of Nikon’s Z DX format cameras. |
Best F FX
This ‘f/2.8E’ edition of Nikon's original 24-70mm f/2.8G lens is a major revamp. It has an all-new optical layout, an even tougher build, and the added attraction of VR, rated at four stops. There are four ED elements in total, plus an HRI (High Refractive Index) element, Nano Crystal Coatings, fluorine coatings on the front and rear elements, and, best of all, an electromagnetically controlled diaphragm. As such, the lens features a host of Nikon’s latest technical innovations, along with quick and whisper-quiet ring-type ultrasonic autofocus.
The electromagnetically controlled diaphragm enables very consistent exposures in rapid-fire continuous shooting. Sharpness and contrast are both excellent, and there’s particularly good resistance to ghosting and flare. However, vignetting is pronounced at wide apertures, and color fringing and distortion can be noticeable.
See our full Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR review
Features ★★★★½ |
This latest version includes ASP/ED, AS, ED, and HRI glass, optical stabilization and an electromagnetically controlled aperture diaphragm. |
Design ★★★★★ |
Build quality is super-solid and sturdy and although it’s a big lens, it doesn’t extend during zooming. |
Performance ★★★★☆ |
It’s good overall but sharpness could be better and distortion and fringing benefit from auto corrections. |
Value ★★★★☆ |
The official price is pretty steep but the lens is often discounted, making it better value. |
Long zoom F FX
An upgrade of Nikon’s original 24-120mm VR lens, this has a more effective, later-generation optical stabilizer (rated at up to four stops) and a constant f/4 aperture, instead of shrinking from f/3.5 to f/5.6 towards the long end of the zoom range. Like most other Nikon F-mount FX lenses, it feels reassuringly well-built and features a rubber weather-seal ring on the mounting plate. Handling is excellent, with smooth operation of the zoom and focus rings.
Optical highlights include two ED elements and Nano Crystal Coating. The autofocus and Mk II VR systems work well, but center sharpness could be a little better in the longer half of the zoom range. The flip side is that the drop-off in corner sharpness is minimal. Overall image quality is very satisfying.
See our full Nikon AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR review
Features ★★★★½ |
Attractive features include a constant f/4 aperture rating and 4-stop VR. |
Design ★★★★☆ |
Despite an extending inner zoom barrel, build quality is good overall. |
Performance ★★★★☆ |
Good overall performance makes this one of Nikon's most popular 'kit zooms' of all time. |
Value ★★★★☆ |
It was always great value as a kit lens with a DSLR body, less so when buying it separately. |
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.
As I'd expect, the frankly fabulous Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II leads the way for sharpness, although the compact Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S and budget-friendly Nikon Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1 aren't far behind. The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 is also especially impressive. The baby Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR is the worst for color fringing (uncorrected), and the two veteran F-mount zooms have the most barrel distortion at the wide-angle end.
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 zoom settings
| Timestamp (f-stop) | Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II () | Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S () | Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 [Nikon Z] () | Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S () | Tamron 35-100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD () | Nikon Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1 () | Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR () | Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR () | Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR () | Nikon AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR () |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3130 | N/A | 2047 | N/A | 2186 | N/A | 1812 | 1974 | 2158 | N/A |
| 4 | 3130 | 2713 | 2631 | 2486 | 2183 | 2582 | 2130 | 1920 | 2175 | 1919 |
| 5 | 2919 | 2710 | 2465 | 2443 | 2093 | 2710 | 1998 | 2046 | 2324 | 1920 |
| 6 | 2482 | 2496 | 2514 | 2300 | 1981 | 2509 | 1932 | 1845 | 2166 | 1881 |
| 7 | 2281 | 2133 | 2299 | 2025 | 1811 | 2152 | 1589 | 1556 | 1943 | 1782 |
| 8 | 1826 | 1713 | 1872 | 1713 | 1557 | 1869 | 1338 | 1226 | 1648 | 1583 |
| 9 | 1387 | 1366 | 1391 | 1407 | 1275 | 1482 | 1026 | 1021 | 1319 | 1272 |
Fringing @ f/8
Use the dropdown menu to select between wide-angle, mid-wide, mid-tele, and telephoto zoom settings
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II | 0.26 |
| Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S | 0.12 |
| Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 [Nikon Z] | 0.1 |
| Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S | 0.14 |
| Tamron 35-100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD | 0.23 |
| Nikon Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1 | 0.26 |
| Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR | 0.07 |
| Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR | 0.64 |
| Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR | 0.08 |
| Nikon AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR | 0.16 |
Distortion
Use the dropdown menu to select between wide-angle, mid-wide, mid-tele, and telephoto zoom settings
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II | -3.53 |
| Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S | 0.13 |
| Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 [Nikon Z] | -2.18 |
| Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S | -0.49 |
| Tamron 35-100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD | -1.13 |
| Nikon Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1 | -1.06 |
| Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR | -0.8 |
| Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR | -0.33 |
| Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR | -3.94 |
| Nikon AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR | -4.19 |
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 Z standard zoom
While there are many reasons to choose one lens over another, and some lenses are always going to be better than others, ultimately, the choice of standard zoom that you make is going to be guided by what you plan to shoot.
If you're into shooting landscapes, cityscapes and architectural interiors, a standard zoom with a shorter minimum focal length will be preferable, enabling greater wide-angle coverage. At the other end of the scale, you might prefer a longer maximum focal length for greater telephoto reach.
For the utmost in versatilty, a greater overall zoom range will pay dividends. Not only will you be able to react to a more diverse range of shooting scenarios, but it'll also reduce the number of times you need to swap the lens mounted to your camera.
For low-light shooting and for gaining a tighter depth of field to isolate subjects against a blurred background, a 'faster' standard zoom will be best, typically with a constant aperture of f/2.8 throughout the entire zoom range.
As with anything else, you'll also need to weigh up your budget. Lenses with wide maximum apertures, high-speed autofocus motors and built-in optical stabilization systems are great to have – but they also cost more.
Nikon Z lenses: frequently asked questions
What are Nikon S-Line lenses?
This term denotes Nikon's top-end range of optically superior lenses. If you see an 'S' in a Nikon lens' name, that means it's part of the S-Line, and is designed to offer pin-sharp resolution, with (according to Nikon) 'superb point-image reproduction, even at the widest apertures'. They're designed to reproduce point light sources more accurately, and provide aesthetically pleasing bokeh characteristics. As such, they tend to be the more expensive members of the line-up.
Can you use Nikon Z lenses on DSLRS?
No. While it is possible to mount Nikon F-mount lenses to Z-mount mirrorless cameras, via the FTZ and FTZ II adapters, there is no way to do the reverse, due to the wider opening and reduced flange distance of the Z-mount system.
Are there third-party Nikon Z lenses?
Yes! There's an increasing range of excellent, independent lenses on the market, many of which offer top-spec build quality, handling and performance, at extremely competitive prices. Viltrox stands out for value for money but currently only makes prime lenses, whereas Tamron is a smart choice for Z-mount zoom lenses.
Best lenses for your Z-series camera
While I reckon this guide highlights the best lenses for most people, owners of different Z-series bodies will have varying priorities, so don't miss these camera-specific lens guides…
- Best lenses for Nikon Z30
- Best lenses for Nikon Z fc
- Best lenses for Nikon Z50/Z50 II
- Best lenses for Nikon Z5/Z5 II
- Best lenses for Nikon Z6 II/Z6 III
- Best lenses for Nikon Zf
- Best lenses for Nikon Z7 II
- Best lenses for Nikon Z8/Z9
