Looking into buying the best lens for Nikon Z7 II?
Well, if that’s your camera of choice then getting the best lens to match up with it is the smart choice.
If you’re in a hurry, check our Editor’s Picks.
Determining which lens is best for you isn’t always the easiest.
Some people can naturally figure it out within minutes while others sift through mounds and mounds of information on possible lens choices.
So, let us help you make that process easier.
We’re going to help you figure out what types of lenses would best suit you, what qualities you’re looking for, and then match you up with the best lens for Nikon Z7 II for you specifically.
It doesn’t matter what kind of photographer or videographer you are.
You could photograph birds in the forest or landscapes while you’re on vacation.
You might be just taking photos of friends and family or if you’re filming scenes and creating a short film.
You might even strictly shoot portraits or travel around the world and take all types of shots wherever you go.
No matter the scenario, you want the best.
Now, the best lenses for the Nikon Z7 II will be determined based on what you plan to use it for, what qualities you’re looking to get out of it, your budget, and many more factors.
The best lens will be a different option depending on who’s looking.
As you might be able to tell, an important step for us to complete is to figure out just what you are looking for in this lens.
So, we will make sure to get to that.
But don’t worry, it isn’t such a tough task.
And you can’t go wrong with any lens on this list.
Best Budget Wide-Angle Prime Lens Lens
Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D
This is the least expensive wide-angle with an extremely wide-angle with a great aperture and balanced construction!
See the review section for in-depth tech details and pros & cons!
Best Wide-Angle Lens for All Lighting Conditions
Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S
This one has the best aperture of all the wide-angle options along with the best balance of elements to protect from all outside noise and gives you the best bokeh among all wide-angles!
See the review section for in-depth tech details and pros & cons!
Best Normal Length Prime Lens
Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S
This lens has an excellent normal length, offers a fantastic aperture, and is great for travelers and beginners with its lightweight and inexpensive cost!
See the review section for in-depth tech details and pros & cons!
Best Prime Lens for Portraits
Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S
This lens is an excellent portrait-length prime with a bright aperture and balanced construction along with offering the best ability to capture bokeh among all the prime lenses!
See the review section for in-depth tech details and pros & cons!
Most Flexible Wide-Angle Zoom Lens
Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6
This lens offers the widest angle on this list along with flexibility in the zoom range and also happens to be the lightest wide-angle option here!
See the review section for in-depth tech details and pros & cons!
Best Wide-Angle Zoom Lens for Bokeh Shots
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
This lens seems to do a little bit of everything right with a great zoom range giving you the wide-angle and close-to-portrait-length ability, has a balanced construction to keep a lot of outside noise out, and also can capture fantastic bokeh!
See the review section for in-depth tech details and pros & cons!
Best All-around Zoom Lens
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR
This lens has the largest zoom range from wide-angle to telephoto and allows you to do it all, along with balanced construction it’s also a great zoom for beginners and travelers with inexpensive cost and lightweight!
See the review section for in-depth tech details and pros & cons!
Best Telephoto Zoom Lens
Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S
This lens has a magnificent telephoto zoom range and is your ticket to wildlife photography and sports photography with its exceptional design, outstanding color accuracy and is fantastic for bokeh!
See the review section for in-depth tech details and pros & cons!
As we mentioned before, choosing the best lens for Nikon Z7 II is largely based on your preferences.
This list has eight fantastic lenses, all of which could be considered the best in their own right.
We have four excellent prime lenses and four excellent zoom lenses.
But which is best for you?
And that’s one great place to start, prime lenses vs zoom lenses.
Most people know right away if they prefer one type over the other.
If you do, great, you can narrow your search down right away.
If not, that’s okay.
You’ll figure it out as we go along.
Another big thing to consider right off the bat is if you have any type of budget.
If so, what kind of budget are you looking at.
The lenses on this list span a wide range of costs.
The least expensive being about $550 and the most expensive being around $2,600.
And of course, plenty in between.
So, you should decide how important the cost is to you, also realize if you want the best quality in certain areas it can cost more.
But don’t worry, there are budget items available.
And then you’ll want to consider what style of photography or videography you are going to be partaking in if any particular style at all.
Think of what things will be most important.
Zoom range?
Wide-angle availability?
Color accuracy?
Come up with everything you can think of that’s important to you, prioritize them if possible, and then it’s going to be much easier to decide as we go through this list.
And even if that seems like too much work, don’t worry, we will be going into detail for all these great lenses in hopes to make the process of finding the best Nikon Z7 II lens as easy as possible for you!
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What’re the Best Lenses For Nikon Z7 II in 2021?
Quick Answer:
Best Prime Lenses for Nikon Z7 II
- Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D | Best Nikon Z7 II Lens for Users on a Tight Budget
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S | Best Nikon Z7 II Lens for all Lighting Conditions
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S | Best Nikon Z7 II Lens with Light Weight and Normal Length
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S | Best Nikon Z7 II Lens for Portraits
Best Zoom Lenses for Nikon Z7 II
- Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 | Best Nikon Z7 II Lens for Flexibility
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S | Best Nikon Z7 II Lens for Bokeh Shots
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR | Best All-around Nikon Z7 II Lens
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S | Best Nikon Z7 II Lens for Telephoto Shots
Comparison Table for the Best Prime Lenses for Nikon Z7 II (2021)
| Camera Lens | View on Amazon | Elements | Weight | Coating | Diaphragm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D |
 
|
16 elements in 10 groups 2 Aspherical 3 Extra-Low Dispersion | 609 grams | Frog Eye Coating | Seven-blade |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S |
 
|
14 elements in 11 groups 3 Aspherical 3 Extra-Low Dispersion | 505 grams | Nano Crystal Coating & Super Integrated Coating | Rounded nine-blade |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S |
 
|
12 Elements in 9 Groups 2 Aspherical 2 Extra-Low Dispersion | 415 grams | Nano Crystal Coating & Super Integrated Coating | Rounded nine-blade |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S |
 
|
12 elements in 8 groups 2 Extra-Low Dispersion | 470 grams | Nano Crystal Coating & Super Integrated Coating | Rounded nine-blade |
Comparison Table for the Best Zoom Lenses for Nikon Z7 II (2021)
| Camera Lens | View on Amazon | Elements | Weight | Coating | Diaphragm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 |
 
|
14 elements in 10 groups 2 Aspherical 1 Extra-Low Dispersion | 496 grams | Frog Eye Coating | Five-blade |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S |
 
|
17 elements in 15 groups 4 Aspherical 2 Extra-Low Dispersion | 805 grams | ARNEO & Nano Crystal Coating | Rounded nine-blade |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR |
 
|
19 Elements in 15 Groups 2 Aspherical 1 Aspherical ED 2 Extra-Low Dispersion | 570 grams | ARNEO & Nano Crystal Coating | Rounded seven-blade |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S |
 
|
21 elements in 18 groups 2 Aspherical 1 Fluorite 1 Short-Wave Refractive Index 6 Extra-Low Dispersion | 1,360 grams | ARNEO & Nano Crystal Coating | Rounded nine-blade |
Best Lenses For Nikon Z7 II [2021]
1. Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D | Best Nikon Z7 II Lens for Users on a Budget
Let’s start with a wide-angle prime.
And this Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D is a real wide-angle prime.
It costs around $950, which of the wide-angle options on here, is technically the least expensive.
Though, they are all right in the same ballpark in terms of cost.
Let’s dive into the details on this one.
TECH SPECS
The first thing that will likely pop out to you is that fixed focal length of 12mm.
The widest angle of the prime lenses on our list.
Though the rectilinear optical design is different from the usual lenses, this is still an excellent choice for landscapes, architecture, and other wide-angle use cases.
With an aperture of f/2.8, you can work in many different situations in terms of lighting.
Not the best aperture among wide-angle options, but quite good.
This lens features 16 elements in 10 groups which includes 2 aspherical elements for limiting spherical aberrations and distortion and also 3 Extra-Low Dispersion elements to prevent chromatic aberrations and color fringing.
Among the prime lenses, this is one of the better, more balanced constructions and inclusions of elements to keep your work clean and sharp.
It also features a Frog Eye Coating which repels dust and moisture so that you may use this lens outside and not have to worry about changing weather or precipitation.
It also has a seven-blade diaphragm, so this isn’t necessarily the lens of choice for achieving great bokeh if that’s on your checklist.
It weighs about 609 grams which technically makes it both the heaviest prime and the heaviest wide-angle lens on this list.
If weight is something you’re paying attention to, you may want to consider that, though this lens isn’t that much heavier than the others.
But it also has a petal-shaped lens hood which prevents lens flare and ghosting by shielding the lens from stray light, so this lens has plenty of nice details.
If you’re looking for a well-balanced wide-angle prime, this is one of the best lenses for Nikon Z7 II.
Pros
- Great wide-angle
- Acceptable aperture
- Balanced construction of elements to block out aberrations
- Inexpensive option especially among wide-angles
Cons
- Though not the widest angle available
- Not the best aperture among wide-angles or prime lenses
- On the heavier side among prime lenses
- Not the best for bokeh
Expert Opinion:
2. Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S | Best Nikon Z7 II Lens for all Lighting Conditions
Next, we have another wide-angle prime… a more classic wide-angle prime lens.
The Nikon NIKKOR 20mm f/1.8 S is a wide-angle that many people love.
The cost is around $1,050, so it’s technically the most expensive wide-angle option on our list.
But you’ll see that’s for very good reason.
TECH SPECS
The 20mm focal length is not as wide as the last prime, but still living in an excellent wide-angle range.
And with its classic design, you’ll achieve lovely photos of landscapes and such.
The aperture of f/1.8, not only makes this the wide-angle with the best aperture on the list, but it also means you won’t have to worry about virtually any poor lighting conditions.
This bright aperture will make every shot look crystal clear.
To go along with that you have 14 elements in 11 groups.
This includes 3 aspherical elements for blocking out spherical aberrations and distortion and also 3 Extra-Low-Dispersion elements for preventing chromatic aberrations and color fringing.
That’s tied for the most Extra-Low Dispersion elements of the prime lenses on this list and the most aspherical elements, so this lens is keeping the aberrations away better than the rest.
If you’re looking for a lens that lets you shoot aberration-free, then this is one of the best lenses for Nikon Z7 II.
To complement that, you also get Nano Crystal Coating & Super Integrated Coating for doing a spectacular job of blocking out lens flare and ghosting.
Also, a rounded nine-blade diaphragm lets you achieve some excellent bokeh.
It weighs about 505 grams, keeping it on the light side.
And it also is dust and moisture resistant meaning you can use it outside anywhere you please, even changing weather conditions won’t affect you.
Pros
- Good wide-angle
- Fantastic aperture
- Great balance of elements with most aspherical elements
- Great for bokeh
Cons
- Not the widest angle available
- Most expensive wide-angle lens and also most expensive prime lens
User Experience:
Here we have some of the reviews for this Nikon Z7 II lens on Amazon.
1) It’s very lightweight and also sufficient.
It was made in China, but it’s a really high-quality lens made of high-grade material.
2) It’s as sharp as a scalper!
You’ll capture the crispest photos you’ve ever seen with this.
3) I bought this lens for astrophotography.
It’s great for capturing the sharp picture of stars and the galaxy.
It’s very small and light to handle.
4) Hey I’m still new to photography but this product has amazed me.
Worth it!
5) I’ve had the Z14-30mm lens back then, but this one opens to 1.8 so I like it better.
6) You can use this lens for anything from wide-angles to night sky photography and even landscape shots.
Extremely impressed with the quality.
Expert Opinion:
3. Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S | Best Nikon Z7 II Lens with Light Weight and Normal Length
Now, we’ll move on to a normal-length prime lens for those of you wanting a more normal range to work with.
Here we’re looking at the Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S.
This is a great affordable lens, costing somewhere around $550.
This is the least expensive lens on this list and has a lot of great details you’re bound to love.
TECH SPECS
The 50mm focal length is a nice medium length that allows you to do a lot and doesn’t bind you to one particular style of photography.
Nearing the portrait-length, you can definitely achieve excellent portraits.
And there is so much more you can do with this lens, especially with the f/1.8 aperture that will never give you any problems in any lighting condition.
This lens has 12 elements in 9 groups.
This includes 2 aspherical elements to limit spherical aberrations and distortion and also 2 Extra-Low Dispersion elements to prevent chromatic aberrations and color fringing.
A nice balance that will help keep your shots and videos clean.
More of the famous Nano Crystal Coating & Super Integrated Coating from Nikon keeping lens flare and ghosting at bay.
A rounded nine-blade diaphragm for capturing supreme bokeh, if you like.
It’s sealed and protected from dust and moisture so using it outside is no problem, even in any inclement weather conditions.
And weighing just 415 grams you may notice this is the baby of the bunch.
The lightest lens on the list!
So, if you’re looking for something light and easy to travel with, this is one of the best lenses for Nikon Z7 II.
Pros
- Great normal length prime lens
- Fantastic aperture
- Good balance of elements and great for bokeh
- Lightest and least expensive lens available
Cons
- Doesn’t have the most elements to block out aberrations
- Though it’s excellent for beginners, it doesn’t necessarily excel in any particular area
User Experience:
These are some of the reviews users have left for this lens on Amazon.
1) It’s an awesome lens.
It costs low and helps me capture awesome crisp portraits.
2) Very well made and super sharp.
Recommend it!
3) This is one of the sharpest lenses I’ve ever seen.
Paired up with the Z7 camera and the quality is exceptional.
4) It features a snappy autofocus system.
The aperture is also very big and helps you capture great pictures in low-light conditions.
Expert Opinion:
4. Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S | Best Nikon Z7 II Lens for Portraits
How about we round out our prime lens portion of the list with a fantastic portrait-length prime?
The Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S is just that.
Costing somewhere in the neighborhood of $795, this is the second cheapest lens on our list.
Providing you excellent value at a low cost is the name of this lens’s game, let’s dive in and take a look.
TECH SPECS
The 85mm focal length is prime for great portraits, making this lens superb in that arena.
Furthering its superbness is that fast f/1.8 aperture that is going to help you in any lighting condition, poor or not.
You’ll love what it does for your work.
This lens features 12 elements in 8 groups which include 2 Extra-Low Dispersion elements preventing chromatic aberrations and color fringing keeping the colors in your shots quite accurate.
Unfortunately, there are no aspherical elements, which can be a downside.
However, that can be used to the advantage of some.
Pairing the lack of aspherical elements along with the excellent rounded nine-blade diaphragm, you can actually create some wonderful bokeh in your shots using shallow depth of field techniques.
So, for bokeh lovers, this may actually be a plus.
And with that Nano Crystal Coating & Super Integrated Coating that Nikon loves to use, you won’t need to worry about lens flare or ghosting as they are nearly eradicated.
Another light lens, weighing about 470 grams, is easy to travel with.
And travel anywhere outdoors if you like because this lens is dust and moisture resistant and can withstand a little rain if it needs to.
Looking for one of the best lenses for Nikon Z7 II in terms of a portrait prime?
Look no further.
Pros
- Decent balance of elements especially for Extra-Low Dispersion elements
- Fantastic aperture
- Great portrait length prime and best prime for bokeh
- Second lightest and second least expensive lens
Cons
- Lacks any aspherical elements
User Experience:
Let’s see what Amazon buyers have to say about this lens.
1) I’m a professional wedding and family photographer.
After my last lense got demolished, I went for this one.
I am really glad I bought it.
2) It’s lightweight, costs low, and captures very sharp photos.
Beware that you can’t use it on DSLR mounts tho.
3) Words can’t describe how great this lens is.
Just take a look at a few examples of the crisp shots I’ve gotten with this lens.
4) Lens itself was made in China.
Lens’ cap was made in Thailand.
And the user manual… guess what? It’s printed in Japanese!
What the heck is this product?
5) This is the best lens for Nikon Z6 and Z7 cameras.
You just can’t go wrong with it.
6) I like the lens but the delivery sucked.
Never have I before gotten a product shipped without a cardboard package.
Somebody could’ve stolen this thing!
Expert Opinion:
5. Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 | Best Nikon Z7 II Lens for Flexibility
Let’s start the zoom lenses off with a fantastic wide-angle zoom.
This is the Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 that pleases those that have a specific taste.
The cost is about $1,000, putting it right in the middle of the wide-angles in terms of cost.
And it has some great features that many go crazy for.
TECH SPECS
As we are looking at a zoom lens, you have a zoom range.
This is the one wide-angle lens on this list with a zoom range, so you are afforded flexibility there.
The 10-18mm focal length range allows you to get the widest angle of all these lenses, making this an ultra-wide angle.
And you can still navigate around to adjust your shot.
This lens is great for landscapes of course and an excellent choice for architecture as you may want to adjust your focal length when moving from street to street, building to building.
The aperture of f/4.5-5.6 is inconsistent throughout the zoom range, but it’s at least not too inconsistent.
And though the aperture pales in comparison to the other wide-angles, it still is a great working aperture for you in all your endeavors.
It has 14 elements in 10 groups including 2 aspherical elements to block out spherical aberrations and distortion and 1 Extra-Low Dispersion element to limit color fringing and chromatic aberrations.
You’ll likely notice, among the zoom lenses this is on the lower end in terms of elements to prevent aberrations.
And while that is true, it still features a decent balance and you won’t be disappointed with the clarity of your wide-angle shots.
This lens has a Frog Eye Coating which lends to keeping the lens dry and free from dust and moisture so you may use this lens out and about anywhere you please, no matter the forecast.
It also has five straight diaphragm blades so this isn’t your ticket to big bokeh.
But what it can do is capture 10-point sun-stars when you photograph light sources at smaller aperture settings.
And this lens weighs about 496 grams, making it the third lightest lens on the list and the lightest zoom lens here.
Coupling that with its sleek design and it’s a great travel buddy that doesn’t take up much space.
Looking for an easy-traveling wide-angle zoom?
Then, this is one of the best lenses for Nikon Z7 II.
Pros
- Decent aperture that isn’t too inconsistent throughout zoom range
- Widest angle available
- Good flexibility throughout zoom range
- Lightest zoom lens and decent balance of elements
Cons
- Aperture is still inconsistent and isn’t the best aperture available
- Only 1 Extra-Low Dispersion element
- Flexibility in zoom range is good but is the smallest range of all the zoom lenses
Expert Opinion:
6. Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S | Best Nikon Z7 II Lens for Bokeh Shots
Now, we’re going to upgrade our zoom capabilities.
The Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is an incredible wide-angle to normal-length zoom.
It costs around $2,300, so it’s one of the more expensive lenses on this list.
But we’ll dive into the details and you’ll likely see it is well worth the price tag.
TECH SPECS
The 24-70mm focal length range is an excellent range for many.
The 24mm will still allow you to achieve excellent wide angles, even if not quite as wide as the last lens.
But the flexibility in zoom range is much larger, as it goes all the way to 70mm letting you get to that normal-length and even borderline portrait and telephoto.
Now, if the flexibility of options you’ll have with this lens already has you overly excited, you may want to take a seat.
Because this lens not only has a spectacular f/2.8 aperture that gets you excellent quality shots, but you’ll notice it is consistent throughout the zoom range.
No need to adjust throughout the zoom, that aperture will stay put.
This lens also has 17 elements in 15 groups.
This includes 2 Extra-Low Dispersion elements to prevent color fringing and chromatic aberrations.
It also includes 4 aspherical elements to eradicate spherical aberrations and distortion.
This lens has more aspherical elements than any of the others, so if that’s a key factor that you’re looking for, definitely consider this lens.
It has incorporated ARNEO & Nano Crystal Coating on the lens elements to prevent ghosting and lens flare, further keeping your shots looking perfect.
It does weigh around 805 grams so it’s the second heaviest lens on this list.
But this lens is also dust and moisture resistant so you can use it outdoors without any worries if any suspicious clouds start to creep overhead.
And with a rounded nine-blade diaphragm this is one of the two best zoom lenses for capturing excellent bokeh on this list.
Pros
- Great wide-angle to normal-length zoom range
- Great aperture for a zoom lens and stays consistent throughout the zoom range
- Great balance of elements and has most Aspherical elements of all lenses
- Excellent for bokeh
Cons
- Though zoom range is good it still isn’t the largest zoom range available
- Second most expensive lens on list
- Second heaviest lens on the list
User Experience:
1) Don’t recommend it from this vendor.
The lens didn’t work properly.
We tried ordering twice and it failed both times.
2) I have +30 years of shooting with professional cameras.
I’ve never in all these years appreciated a lens more than this one.
3) It’s absolute perfection in all regards.
Pair it with the Z7 and you’ve got all you need to capture the world
4) I’ve come to this one from the Nikon D850 and I’m impressed.
At 2.8 it’s extremely sharp and the focus is really accurate.
5) This lens is incredible.
It has a fast focus, sharp quality, and many functions.
6) I bought this for capturing stills with my Z6 camera.
You can also use this combo for videos, but stills are the ideal part where this shines.
Expert Opinion:
7. Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR | Best All-around Nikon Z7 II Lens
Now, we’re going to take a look at a zoom lens with some serious range.
The Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR is an excellent all-around zoom lens.
This one will run you for about $990, making it quite affordable.
And as the least expensive zoom lens on our list, it still offers a lot.
Let’s take a look at this bargain of a lens.
TECH SPECS
The largest zoom range on this entire list belongs to this lens right here with the 24-200mm range.
This is excellent for those not necessarily wanting to be committed to any specific kind of photography.
Want to shoot wide-angles? Check.
Telephoto? Check.
And of course, you’ll also get everything in between.
The all-around nature makes it nice for the non-committed and also, along with its user-friendly nature, it’s great for beginners.
The aperture of f/4-6.3 is inconsistent of course, and not the best you can get among the zoom lenses, so those that are more professional or those dealing with poor lighting conditions may need to consider this.
But for beginners or those who aren’t extremely concerned with aperture, perhaps due to constant stellar lighting conditions with your shooting, this aperture is still good and gets the job done.
This lens has 19 elements in 15 groups and quite a balanced construction.
You’ll get 2 Aspherical elements for blocking out spherical aberrations and distortion and 2 Extra-Low Dispersion elements for preventing color fringing and chromatic aberrations.
And also, you get 1 Aspherical ED Hybrid element to give a little more protection to all those aberrations.
This lens does a good job fighting off all types of outside noise.
And that also includes the ARNEO & Nano Crystal Coating that has been applied which protects from lens flare and ghosting as well.
It has a rounded seven-blade diaphragm so it will capture some great bokeh, however, it isn’t the lens capturing the very best.
It weighs about 570 grams which aren’t too heavy and is great considering how much zoom flexibility you have.
It’s dust and moisture resistant so you can use it outdoors even in inclement weather conditions.
And it comes equipped with a vibration reduction image stabilization system so that you can keep your shots steady.
If you’re looking for a great all-around zoom then this is one of the best lenses for Nikon Z7 II.
Pros
- Largest range of all the zoom lenses
- Lighter option among zoom lenses
- Good balance of elements
- Least expensive zoom lens
Cons
- Aperture is decent in wider angles but still inconsistent throughout zoom range
- Good for bokeh but not the best
User Experience:
Let’s take a look at some of the Amazon user reviews for the NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3.
1) It’s a legendary lens.
I ordered mine from day 1 and got it as soon as Amazon could deliver, which wasn’t very fast thanks to the whole pandemic thing.
It was all worth the wait though.
2) My expectations were so high for this one.
The lens is OK but I’d say the overall picture quality is a little average.
3) Well worth the months of wait.
It works great with rapid autofocus and excels in low light.
4) I paid $400 for it.
The lens is OK but let’s be fair, that’s just too much for something like this.
5) It might be a bit of an optical downgrade compared to the last-gen.
But it’s in no way bad or low quality.
6) It’s great for someone like me who travels and lot and captures family photos.
Expert Opinion:
8. Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S | Best Nikon Z7 II Lens for Telephoto Shots
Lastly, we have an excellent telephoto zoom lens.
This is the Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S.
It costs somewhere in the neighborhood of $2,600.
This is the most expensive lens on the list but it can offer you quite a lot, so let’s take a look at what exactly it has to offer.
TECH SPECS
You’ll notice the 70-200mm focal length range is a nice flexible zoom range that isn’t quite as large as the last lens but it’s the second largest on this list and lives primarily in the telephoto range.
Along with the second-best zoom range, you get the impressive f/2.8 aperture which stays consistent throughout the zoom range which is a major plus.
Pairing this great telephoto range with the excellent aperture already makes this one of the best lenses for Nikon Z7 II when it comes to a telephoto lens, especially those wanting to photograph or video sports or wildlife.
But there’s even more that lends itself to your favorite subjects.
21 elements in 18 groups are already impressive.
It includes 2 aspherical elements so that distortion and spherical aberrations are limited in your work.
And most impressively it has 6 Extra-Low Dispersion elements plus 1 Fluorite element and 1 Short-Wave Refractive Index element which will all work together to do a phenomenal job of eradicating color fringing and chromatic aberrations keeping the color quality, brightness, and hue of your work perfect.
This lens also has ARNEO & Nano Crystal Coating on the elements to keep out lens flare and ghosting.
It weighs about 1,360 grams which does it make it the heaviest lens on the list but perhaps you’ll be forgiving of that downside.
It also is dust and moisture resistant so you can use it outdoors and not worry about the weather changing.
The vibration reduction image stabilization system works fantastically to keep your shots steady.
And with a rounded nine-blade diaphragm this is one of the two best zoom lenses for capturing tantalizing bokeh.
So, yeah, I guess you could say there’s a lot this lens does well.
Pros
- Great telephoto range on zoom with second largest zoom range
- Great aperture for a zoom lens and stays consistent throughout the zoom range
- Great balance of elements and has most elements dedicated to keeping colors true and accurate
- Excellent bokeh
Cons
- The most expensive lens
- Also the heaviest lens
User Experience:
At last, we’ll take a look at the Amazon user reviews on this Nikon Z7 II lens.
1) This lens was made with Z6 and Z7 in mind.
Don’t listen to those that say it doesn’t work with VR.
2) Before this one, I had never gone for a 70-200 lens because of how much they weigh.
This one is just super light and the quality is amazing.
Best purchase ever.
3) It’s a nice budget lens from Nikon.
Due to the DX format, you won’t get the full experience with a Z6 or Z7.
Still a great option.
4) It’s fantastic.
You better be ready for the weight tho!
5) It’s a fantastic lens.
Went into this with low expectations.
This one won’t disappoint.
6) I use this with my Z7 to capture crispy high-quality photos.
Distortion is very negligible.
Expert Opinion:
Best Lenses For Nikon Z7 II — Buyers Guide
There you have it; 8 of the best Nikon Z7 II lenses.
4 of them are prime lenses and 4 of them, zoom lenses.
All of them are the best lenses for Nikon Z7 II, but of course, only 1 can be the absolute best Nikon Z7 II Lens for you.
Haven’t decided which one it is yet?
No worries, we’re still not done here!
We know there are many questions buyers can have when trying to find the right Nikon Z7 II lens for their needs.
That’s why we combed through some of the more frequently asked questions from buyers like yourself and answered them all.
Luckily the internet is so expansive that there’s a good chance that whatever question you want to ask, someone has already asked it.
So let’s take a look and clear any remaining confusion here.
What are the best Nikon Z7 II lenses for portraits?
The choice we’d go with is the Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S as it lives in the portrait focal length and has a great aperture of f/1.8, one of the best on this list.
What are the best Nikon Z7 II lenses for wildlife photography?
The absolute best is the Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S as it perfectly fits this style of photography.
Great zoom range, great aperture, and plenty of other excellent qualities.
The second-best option, though it doesn’t have as great of an aperture and lacks some other great qualities, is the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR as it also has an impressive zoom range and also comes at a much less expensive price.
What are the best Nikon Z7 II lenses for landscapes and architectural photography?
There are a few options you can go with here.
The Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D is the least expensive option and offers you an extremely wide-angle with a rectilinear optical design giving some different styles of shots.
We call this the best budget wide-angle option.
The Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 is the next cheapest option and along with offering flexibility in the zoom range so you can adjust in your shooting, it also does have the widest angle available, even though the aperture is lesser with this option, this is a fantastic choice.
With the flexibility, we call this the best for architecture from street to street, corner to corner.
And then there is the Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S, though it is the most expensive wide-angle it is the classic option.
It has the best aperture so you don’t have to worry about poor lighting conditions, it has the best protection from outside elements and aberrations and also is going to get you the very best bokeh.
We call this the best landscape option, no matter the lighting, no matter the cloud cover.
What are the best Nikon Z7 II lenses for traveling?
Our best pick for traveling is the lightest lens that’s compact and great for any situation, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S.
In addition to being the lightest, it’s also the least expensive and has a nice normal length so that you can capture great shots as you travel city to city, country to country.
The second best lens and some of you may even view this as the best depending on your tastes, is the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR.
This is another light and inexpensive lens, the lightest and least expensive zoom specifically, so if you want to travel with a zoom then this is the one.
With the most flexible zoom range, you are not hindered by any type of photography you want to dabble in as you travel from a new environment to a new environment.
What’re the best lenses for Nikon Z7 II if I’m a beginner?
Here, we will give you the same two options in the last question but in the opposite order.
The Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR proves to be the best for beginners with that flexible range.
For newcomers, it isn’t clear what style of photography you’re most interested in usually.
And maybe you’ll never be committed to one type.
That’s fine, this allows you to explore all ranges.
For cases like this, you probably won’t mind committing to this as it isn’t too expensive and is light and easy to get used to.
And the second best for beginners is the prime lens, Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S.
A normal-length focal length with many aspects that are easy to get used to, the lightest and cheapest lens is a great plus for beginners.
For those still trying to work with lighting conditions and determine the ins and outs of what aperture is and means, this is one of the best apertures on this list, so it will be difficult to take a bad shot.
What are the best lenses for Nikon Z7 II in terms of color quality?
The absolute best in this scenario is the Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S with a load of different elements keeping your colors perfect.
Now, this is great if you want to shoot in the telephoto range.
What if you’re looking for more of a wide-angle?
Both the Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D and the Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S achieve excellent color quality in photos within the wide-angle.
What are the best lenses for Nikon Z7 II if I want to achieve great bokeh?
The best zoom lenses for capturing beautiful bokeh are the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S and the Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S with their rounded nine-blade diaphragms, which is great because those both cover large ranges between the two so you can decide which range works best for you and your bokeh.
And though many of the prime lenses on this list have rounded nine-blade diaphragms and capture excellent bokeh, the very best is the Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S living in the portrait-length.
Best Lenses For Nikon Z7 II — Conclusion
And with that, our list of the 8 best lenses for Nikon Z7 II comes to an end.
All these lenses have their own dynamic strengths and can pertain to certain scenarios with ease.
Some of these lenses are great for multiple different scenarios, but all depending on what your specific needs are, there is one or two on this list that is perfect for you.
As you’ve probably heard, every snowflake that ever falls is unique, just like every person is unique as are their desires.
So, the best lenses for Nikon Z7 II are something that is unique to what you’re looking for.
Whether you want to catch shots of the falling snowflakes or something entirely different.
But there are multiple lenses on this list that can be used for certain things like landscapes, or portraits, or wildlife photography.
So, if you’re looking at one of those specific scenarios, or another one, you then have to decide, what is the next most important thing to you?
Cost?
Ability to fight off aberrations?
Flexibility in zoom range?
After you answer more questions for yourself you can narrow it down more and more.
For those who know exactly what type of photographer they are, this process will be a bit easier.
For those that aren’t quite sure, it isn’t difficult.
Just sit down and visualize what it is you want to do with your Nikon Z7 II and the matching lens.
Think of where you’ll take it.
Think of how often you’ll use it.
Consider your environment and surroundings when shooting.
Indoors or outdoors?
Somewhere that’s often cloudy with poor lighting?
Somewhere with big stretched-out shots of nature in all its glory?
Or maybe just the people you know and love that are right there in front of you.
No matter what you want to use the camera for, it has a phenomenal lens to pair with it.
And you can easily determine the best lenses for your Nikon Z7 II… especially since the best eight are all right here.
And hey, if you want to double up and get a couple, we won’t stop you.
Having a couple of opposite lenses like a telephoto zoom and a bright wide-angle prime could be a great combination to give you everything you need.
Everything you need is on this list, now just make the decision which one, or ones, you want.
