The best superzoom lenses for Nikon cameras in 2024

best superzoom lenses for Nikon cameras
(Image credit: Digital Camera World)

The best superzoom lenses for Nikon turn your Nikon camera into an all-in-one powerhouse. Covering the gamut from a wide perspective to a powerful telephoto, these impressive lenses are ideal for exploring city streets or visiting famous landmarks – as long as you're aware that they come with some compromises. 

For one, squeezing a big zoom into a compact lens means compromising the maximum aperture rating. In the past, this made superzoom lenses difficult to operate without camera shake at the telephoto end, but fortunately, the advent of optical image stabilization has gone a long way towards correcting this problem. 

Superzooms make sacrifices in terms of optical quality, too, especially at the longer zoom settings, where it's not uncommon to see some soft detail and noticeable color fringing at the edges of the frame.

We don't say this to put you off superzooms – far from it. We consider them some of the best lenses for travel thanks to their unbeatable reach. They're for those who don't need the absolute top-end of image quality, but want to be covered in every situation. Those who'd rather pack one lens in a bag instead of two or three, and have a camera setup that will carry them through an entire day's shooting. 

There were lots of options for F-mount Nikon DSLR cameras - but nearly all of these are now out of production, so you will need to buy these secondhand (but that does mean they can be extremely affordable).

There are a couple of superzoom options for the Nikon Z mount - and a third record-breaking Z 28-300mm which will go on sale from April 2024.

With both Z and F mounts, there are different models available depending whether the camera uses a DX or FX sized sensor. Choosing the right type is important.

Best superzoom lenses for Nikon in 2024

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

Nikon Z

The best Nikon superzoom lens for Nikon Z mount mirrorless cameras, such as the Nikon Z 50, Z 5, Z 6 II and Z 7 II.

(Image credit: Future)
A smart superzoom for Z-series cameras

Specifications

Effective zoom range: 24-200mm
Lens construction: 19 elements in 15 groups
No. of diaphragm blades: 7
Minimum focus distance: 0.5-0.7m
Filter size: 67mm
Dimensions: 77x114mm
Weight: 570g

Reasons to buy

+
Easily manageable size and weight
+
Good wide-angle potential

Reasons to avoid

-
Relatively limited telephoto reach
-
Narrow aperture rating at long zoom settings

Sometimes as photographers, we have a very long wish list when it comes to lenses. Even though we have ‘interchangeable lens’ cameras, we hanker after a single lens that can do pretty much everything, with a mighty zoom range that stretches from serious wide-angle viewing to long telephoto reach. And we want it in a compact and lightweight build, with speedy autofocus and strong stabilization that enables consistent sharpness in handheld shooting. 

This Z-mount superzoom ticks every box. It has a tough, weather-sealed construction but weighs in at just 570g, and offers the kind of zoom range normally requiring two separate lenses. Designed for full-frame FX Z-series mirrorless cameras (such as the Z 6 II, Z 5 and Z 7 II), it also works well enough on the DX format models like the Z 50, with an effective focal length range of 36-300mm. Naturally, what you lose in wide-angle ability you gain in telephoto reach. Autofocus is very fast, highly accurate, and practically silent, while VR is worth about 4.5 stops in beating camera shake. All in all, it’s a hugely versatile lens for any Z-series camera.

Read more: Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR review

(Image credit: Future)
The DX-format Z cameras get their own superzoom

Specifications

Effective zoom range: 27-210mm
Lens construction: 17 elements in 13 groups
No. of diaphragm blades: 7
Minimum focus distance: 0.2-0.4m
Filter size: 62mm
Dimensions: 73x90mm
Weight: 315g

Reasons to buy

+
5-stop optical stabilisation
+
Generally good performance

Reasons to avoid

-
No weather seals
-
Lacking some physical controls

This lens is a good everyday shooter for users of DX-format Nikon Z mirrorless cameras, a category that currently comprises the Nikon Z50 and Nikon Z fc. The Nikon Z DX 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 VR is essentially a mirrorless remake of the firm's popular AF-S DX 18-140mm VR lens for APS-C DSLRs, though it lacks a few features of that lens, like VR on/off and auto/manual focus switches, not to mention a weather-sealed construction. Minor gripes aside, this is a capable all-purpose lens that delivers impressive performance, and is a credible alternative to switching between a Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR and a Nikon Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR lens.

Read more: Nikon Z DX 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 VR review

Nikon DX DSLR superzooms

The best superzooms for F-mount Nikon DX DSLRs, such as the Nikon D3500, Nikon D5600 or D7500 – most of these are now only available secondhand.

The original and best Nikon DX DSLR superzoom

Specifications

Effective zoom range: 27-300mm
Lens construction: 16 elements in 12 groups
No. of diaphragm blades: 7
Minimum focus distance: 0.5m
Filter size: 72mm
Dimensions: 77x97mm
Weight: 565g

Reasons to buy

+
High-spec autofocus and VR
+
Good overall performance

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited zoom range
-
Poor barrel distortion

This is actually the Mk II edition of Nikon’s 18-200mm VR lens. However, both editions have the same optical design and second-generation VR system, which includes automatic panning detection in Normal mode, plus an additional ‘Active’ mode for overcoming increased physical vibrations. The most obvious update is that the Mk II features a zoom lock switch. Sharpness at 200mm is better than from the smaller of Nikon's two 18-300mm lenses, but barrel distortion at 18mm is equally poor. There’s less colour fringing, autofocus performance is faster, and the addition of Active VR mode is a bonus.

It's the biggest Sigma superzoom and the most attractive

Specifications

Effective zoom range: 27-450mm
Lens construction: 17 elements in 13 groups
No. of diaphragm blades: 7
Minimum focus distance: 0.39m
Filter size: 72mm
Dimensions: 79x102mm
Weight: 585g

Reasons to buy

+
Big zoom range
+
Good image quality
+
Impressive build quality

Reasons to avoid

-
Focus ring rotates during autofocus

Measuring 79x102mm and weighing 585g, this is one of the bigger and heavier lenses on this list, but it’s still manageable and feels well-balanced, even on lighter DSLR bodies. It certainly goes large on zoom range, with a telephoto reach equivalent to 450mm in full-frame terms, although it can’t match the Tamron 16-300mm lens for ultra-wide viewing angles. Autofocus is a little pedestrian and it would be nice if the manual focus ring didn’t rotate during AF. However, thanks to the inclusion of top-grade FLD (Fluorite Low Dispersion) elements, this lens outguns many of its rivals for sharpness.

5. Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro

It really puts the ‘super’ into superzoom

Specifications

Effective zoom range: 24-450mm
Lens construction: 16 elements in 12 groups
No. of diaphragm blades: 7
Minimum focus distance: 0.39m
Filter size: 67mm
Dimensions: 75x100mm
Weight: 540g

Reasons to buy

+
Class-leading zoom range
+
Extra wide-angle perspective

Reasons to avoid

-
Noticeable distortions and fringing
-
Not very sharp at some focal lengths

This Tamron is narrowly beaten for zoom range by the Tamron 18-400mm lens, but it has a wider 16mm angle of view, which is ultimately more useful. In fact, it’s the only superzoom that goes to a 16mm rather than 18mm focal length – equivalent to 24mm rather than 27mm on a full-frame camera. It can therefore shoehorn a lot more of a scene into the image frame. Compared with the Sigma 18-300mm, the Tamron is slightly less sharp at 100mm, but sharper at 200mm. Both lenses deliver similar sharpness at other focal lengths. The only downside is that the Tamron has worse colour fringing, but this is automatically corrected in recent Nikon DSLRs anyway and can be fixed in most photo editing programs too.

Nikon’s newer 18-300mm is cut down to size

Specifications

Effective zoom range: 27-450mm
Lens construction: 16 elements in 12 groups
No. of diaphragm blades: 7
Minimum focus distance: 0.48m
Filter size: 67mm
Dimensions: 79x99mm
Weight: 550g

Reasons to buy

+
Solid construction
+
Weather-seal ring on mounting plate

Reasons to avoid

-
Lack of focus distance scale
-
Hood not included

Compared to Nikon’s first 18-300mm superzoom, this newer edition is narrower, shorter and slashes nearly 300g off the weight, making it much more manageable. The downsizing is partly down to clever design, but there’s also a sacrifice in the widest available aperture at long zoom settings, which shrinks from f/5.6 to f/6.3, but that's no slower than the competing Sigma and Tamron lenses. Sharpness is good at wide angles but tails off dramatically at 200mm, and is disappointing towards the 300mm mark. Other attributes of image quality are uninspiring as well, making this poor value at the price.

Small build, and a small price to pay

Specifications

Effective zoom range: 27-300mm
Lens construction: 16 elements in 14 groups
No. of diaphragm blades: 7
Minimum focus distance: 0.49-0.77m
Filter size: 62mm
Dimensions: 75x97mm
Weight: 400g

Reasons to buy

+
Compact and lightweight
+
Solid and durable construction
+
Low price

Reasons to avoid

-
Soft edges wide open at 100mm
-
No full-time manual focus override

This addition to Tamron’s superzoom lineup is very well priced, compact, and remarkably lightweight, at just 400g. Part of the weight-saving is due to it having a plastic rather than metal mounting plate, but it nevertheless includes a weather-seal ring and the overall construction feels solid and durable. Throughout the albeit shorter zoom range, sharpness is better than from Tamron's older 18-270mm lens. The only caveat is that corner-sharpness was a little lacklustre when shooting at 100mm using the widest available aperture.

(Image credit: Tamron)
The longest superzoom you can get (but it's big)

Specifications

Effective zoom range: 27-600mm
Lens construction: 16 elements in 11 groups
No. of diaphragm blades: 7
Minimum focus distance: 0.45m
Filter size: 72mm
Dimensions: 79x121.4mm
Weight: 705g

Reasons to buy

+
Decent sharpness for a superzoom
+
Customisation via optional console
+
Built-in vibration control

Reasons to avoid

-
Fringing at 300-400mm
-
No distance scale on lens barrel

This lens is the superzoom of choice if you want maximum telephoto reach – and it performs rather well, considering its massive 22x zoom range. However, Tamron’s 16-300mm has a slightly wider angle of view, is smaller and lighter in weight, and better value for money. Superzoom lenses are all about compromise, and this one pushes the envelope a bit too far in extreme focal length and pays the penalty in size and portability. It's the superzoom with the biggest reach, but that's not enough to get it to the top of our list.

Read more: Tamron 18-400mm f3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD review

Nikon FX DSLR superzooms

The best Nikon superzoom lenses for Nikon F-mount full-frame FX DSLRs, such as the Nikon D850 or the Nikon D780 – these are no longer in production, but you can find them available secondhand.

(Image credit: Nikon)
The only FX format F-mount superzoom lens made by Nikon

Specifications

Effective zoom range: 28-300mm
Lens construction: 19 elements in 14 groups
No. of diaphragm blades: 9
Minimum focus distance: 0.5m
Filter size: 77mm
Dimensions: 83x114.5mm
Weight: 800g

Reasons to buy

+
Decent optical quality for a superzoom
+
VR image stabilization

Reasons to avoid

-
Pretty big, being an FX superzoom
-
Expensive too

Nikon only makes one superzoom lenses for its FX cameras, and it's this one. The AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR has been around for a little while, and Nikon shows no signs of replacing it just yet, perhaps expecting that owners of full frame Nikon cameras are less likely to pick a do-it-all lens like this one. There's not a lot wrong with the 28-300mm's performance, as it achieves a similar level of quality to other superzooms – with superzoom's you're paying for focal range rather than optical quality. While the image quality is decent, though, you're paying plenty for it, both in terms of price and weight.

(Image credit: Tamron)
Tamron's full-frame DSLR superzoom is certainly well priced

Specifications

Effective zoom range: 28-300mm
Lens construction: 19 elements in 15 groups
No. of diaphragm blades: 7
Minimum focus distance: 0.49m
Filter size: 67mm
Dimensions: 74.4x96mm
Weight: 540g

Reasons to buy

+
Light and quite portable
+
Built in stabilization

Reasons to avoid

-
Noticeable color fringing
-
Long extension at full zoom

The Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD is a good deal cheaper than its Nikon equivalent while covering the same focal range. The optical quality is adequate for a superzoom but not great by regular lens standards, and the quality drops off noticeably at longer zoom settings. While it's certainly a convenient and affordable all-in-one lens for full frame Nikons, it's unlikely to satisfy experts and enthusiasts who rate image quality over convenience. You do, however, get a good focal range for your money, together with built in image stabilization.

How we test lenses

We test lenses using a mix of both real world sample images and lab tests. Our lab tests are carried out scientifically in controlled conditions using the Imatest testing suite, which consists of custom charts and analysis software that measures resolution in line widths/picture height, a measurement widely used in lens and camera testing. We find the combination of lab and real-word testing works best, as each reveals different qualities and characteristics. 

Read more:
• These are the best Nikon lenses to get started with
• We pick the best Nikon telephoto lenses
• The best Nikon wide-angle lenses right now •
The best Nikon cameras
The best superzoom lenses for Canon cameras
The best lenses for travel photography

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Matthew Richards

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 reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! 


His expertise with equipment doesn’t end there, though. He is also an encyclopedia  when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related. 


In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide.

With contributions from