This is a guide covering the best lenses for the Nikon D800.
The Nikon D800 was designed for both serious photographers and for those looking to make photography their main source of income.
The D800 comes in with high-speed performance, a 36.3 MP resolution, plus a 51-point AF system with Cross-Type AF sensors.
On top of that, it can take 1080 HD videos for those who also want to dabble in making videos.
We’ve come up with some of the best lenses for Nikon D800 to help you get the shot that you want regardless if it’s in a studio or outdoor setting. If you choose a lens outside of this list, make sure it is an F-mount lens as that is the lens type compatible with the Nikon D800.
Also, note that the D800 is an FX camera body but I have also listed DX lenses. If using a DX lens on a full frame, divide by the crop – OR – put in DX mode or crop in. The reason some photographers like to use DX lenses on an FX camera body is for that beautiful vignette effect and sometimes cheaper prices.
In a hurry? Here’s the quick overview:
- ⭐ Best Overall Lens for the Nikon D800
- 👩 Best Portrait Photography Lenses for the Nikon D800
- 🌄 Best Landscape Photography Lenses for the Nikon D800
- ⚾ Best Sports Photography Lenses for the Nikon D800
- 🚗 Best Street Photography Lenses for the Nikon D800
- 💸 Best Budget Lens for the Nikon D800
How to Choose the Best Lens for the Nikon D800?
Focal Length: Consider the focal length that you’ll need for the type of photography that you want to do. For example, a wide-angle lens would be good for landscapes, while a telephoto lens would be good for wildlife and sports photography.
Aperture: Look for a lens with a wide aperture (low f-stop number) for better low-light performance and shallow depth of field.
Image Stabilization: Look for a lens with built-in image stabilization if you plan to shoot in low light or if you have shaky hands, this will help reduce blur in your photos.
Quality of Glass: Look for a lens with high-quality glass elements, this will give you sharper images and better color reproduction.
Compatibility: Make sure the lens is compatible with your camera. The lenses that I’ve listed are all F-mount lenses, which are compatible with the Nikon D800.
Price: Consider your budget and look for a lens that offers good value for money.
Purpose: Determine the main purpose of your photography, whether it is portraits, landscapes, wildlife, sports, etc. This will narrow down your options.
Brand: Nikon has a wide range of lenses, and you may want to consider the availability of that for the lens that you are interested in.
Reviews: Before you make a purchase, read some reviews from other users and experts about the lens you are interested in. This will give you a better idea of how the lens performs in different situations.
Table of Contents
10 Best Lenses for Nikon D800
1. NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G
Lens specifications:
- Lens type: Prime lens
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 58 mm
- Lens mount: Nikon F (FX)
- Maximum aperture: F1.4
- Minimum aperture: F16
- Weight: 385 g (0.85 lb)
- Diameter: 85 mm (3.35″)
- Length: 70 mm (2.76″)
The best lens for the Nikon D800 is the NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G.
There are lots of options on our list of best lenses for Nikon D800. If we’re going to pick one that stands out, we’d pick the Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G Lens as the best overall lens because it can be used for most scenarios.
It’s an in-between the standard 50mm and the 85mm telephoto. It is a handy pick whether in taking portraits, landscapes, or even when you need to do a bit of product photography (check out a full list of best lenses for product photography and best cameras for product photography).
You can use this lens in low-light and indoor scenarios given its wide aperture. It is also known for its smooth focusing allowing you to capture the subject fast.
With its wide aperture, it produces superb bokeh for those who plan on blurring the background and focus on the subject in front.
It has superb edge-to-edge sharpness not to mention it can also produce great results even when you are taking videos.
A lot of people preferred to use this compared to its heavy 85mm 1.4 counterpart as it can be used in more scenarios.
Compared with the other lenses we’ve included on our list of best lenses for Nikon D800, you could say that it’s a bigger investment.
Not unless you need the focal length, you could opt to just skip this lens.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Superb bokeh
- Great for both indoor and outdoor photography
- Sharp
- Great focus
- In-between a 50mm and an 85mm
My Cons With This Lens:
- n/a
2. YONGNUO YN50mm F1.8
The best budget lens for the Nikon D800 is the YONGNUO YN50mm F1.8.
Maybe, you don’t have the money to invest thousands on a lens. But this shouldn’t stop you from getting some of the best lenses for Nikon D800.
You can even get what other people consider as the best portrait lens for Nikon D800. And you’d be surprised that it doesn’t even come from Nikon.
We consider the YONGNUO YN50mm F1.8N Standard Prime Lens as the best budget-friendly lens for Nikon D800.
It’s a highly versatile lens that can be used in portraits, landscapes, or even when you are shooting indoors. It also produces beautiful bokeh if you wish to separate the subject from the background.
It has great construction. It even has gold plated metal contacts that help in signal conductivity and minimize the effects of corrosion.
It also supports both AF and manual focus modes.
Now for the things that you might not like, some find the images to be too soft up to F5.6. Though it’s understandable, it is not a pro-level lens.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Can be used in portraits, landscapes, or even indoors
- Creates beautiful bokeh
- Well-made
My Cons With This Lens:
- Produces soft results up to F5.6
3. NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G
Lens specifications:
- Lens type: Prime lens
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 50 mm
- Image stabilization: No
- Lens mount: Nikon F (FX)
- Maximum aperture: F1.8
- Minimum aperture: F16
- Weight: 185 g (0.41 lb)
- Diameter: 72 mm (2.83″)
- Length: 53 mm (2.07″)
- Sealing: No
The best portrait lens for the Nikon D800 is the NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G.
For those who are looking for the best portrait lens for Nikon D800, you want to always look for sharpness, the ability to blur the background, great performance indoors and outdoors, plus it should focus on your subject without any lag time.
All of these characteristics are present in the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm F1.8G Lens.
50mm has been a favorite focal length by many pros. But if you want to choose a stand-out lens from all the other 50mm prime lens, the Nikon AF-S Nikkor F1.8G Lens can give you a run for your money.
This lens is compact in design not to mention fast. It can focus silently thanks to its silent wave motor. And if you don’t feel like relying on the AF, you can easily switch it off and go for your manual mode.
The biggest downside to this lens is stability. It’s either you have incredibly steady hands or you have a tripod if you want to minimize the shakes.
Also, check out a full list of the best Nikon lenses for portraits.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Shoots well even in low-light conditions
- Can get the subject to separate from the background
- Silent AF
- Switch to easily change from Manual Focus to AF
- Sharp results
My Cons With This Lens:
- Hard to use without a tripod
4. NIKKOR 28mm f/2.8D
Lens specifications:
- Lens type: Prime lens
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 28 mm
- Image stabilization: No
- Lens mount: Nikon F (FX)
- Maximum aperture: F2.8
- Minimum aperture: F22
- Weight: 205 g (0.45 lb)
- Diameter: 65 mm (2.56″)
- Length: 45 mm (1.75″)
- Sealing: No
The best landscape lens for the Nikon D800 is the NIKKOR 28mm f/2.8D.
A lot of people love shooting nature with their D800. If you are in the market for the best landscape lens for Nikon D800, you want to consider not only the focal length but also the ability of the lens to produce sharp images.
Though there are a lot of wide-angle lenses for the Nikon D800 and other DSLRs, we consider the Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 28mm f/2.8D Lens as the best landscape lens for Nikon D800.
This Nikon lens performs well whether you are shooting beautiful sceneries when you decide to outdoors or if you decided to take photos of your city. It produces sharp images not to mention it is also handy when taking group shots.
It is even used by some wedding photographers since it can also produce great bokeh. It can still be used even indoors in most situations.
However, it still has a limited aperture if you are going to use it for low-light situations and if it involves moving subjects.
But as far as using it as a landscape lens, you can say that it stands out from the rest of the best lenses for Nikon D800 that we’ve featured.
Also, check out the full list of best Nikon lenses for landscape photography.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Compact
- Takes sharp images
- Handy in some indoor situations
- Produces some bokeh
My Cons With This Lens:
- Limited aperture
5. NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G
Lens specifications:
- Lens type: Prime lens
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 35 mm
- Image stabilization: No
- Lens mount: Nikon F (FX)
- Maximum aperture: F1.8
- Minimum aperture: F16
- Weight: 305 g (0.67 lb)
- Diameter: 72 mm (2.83″)
- Length: 72 mm (2.83″)
The best wide-angle lens for the Nikon D800 is the NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G.
Wide-angle lenses can be used in different situations other than just taking photos of cityscapes and beautiful mountains when you decide to camp.
A lot of wedding photographers check wide-angle lenses to have the ability to capture more background while their subject is right in front.
This is something that you can do if you choose to buy the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm F1.8G lens.
It is considered by many as one of the best Nikon D800 lenses given its ability to be used in several situations. It can take group shots better than your typical 50mm prime lens.
Also, it comes in handy when shooting cityscapes, landscapes, or even when you decide to do some street photography.
The wide aperture of this wide-angle lens gives the user a beautiful bokeh blurring the background and propping the subject in front. The lens is also handy if you plan on using it for shooting videos thanks to its silent wave motor.
For the money, this lens is a good deal.
Unfortunately, there are some flaws that you should be aware of. Though the motor is quite silent, it doesn’t focus as fast as other lenses that we’ve featured in our list.
But overall, it deserves its spot as one of the best D800 lenses.
Also, be sure to check out the full list of best Nikon wide-angle lenses.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Produces sharp images
- Good for taking videos thanks to its silent AF motor
- Good for indoors or outdoors
My Cons With This Lens:
- Doesn’t focus as fast as other lenses
6. NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G
Lens specifications:
- Lens type: Zoom lens
- Max Format size: APS-C / DX
- Focal length: 70–300 mm
- Image stabilization: No
- Lens mount: Nikon F (DX)
- Maximum aperture: F4.5–6.3
- Minimum aperture: F32
- Weight: 400 g (0.88 lb)
- Diameter: 72 mm (2.83″)
- Length: 125 mm (4.92″)
- Sealing: No
If you are looking for an ideal lens to take photos of subjects from a great distance, then you’d most likely like the Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G ED Lens.
This is stand out in our list of best Nikon D800 lenses as far as range is concerned. It is ideal for shooting athletes competing in their sports or if you plan on doing some bird watching activity (check out the best Nikon lenses for sports photography).
It has a stepping motor for its AF system that allows the lens to focus on the subject fast. It also produces vibrant colors and sharp images making it a favorite by many professional photographers.
However, you’ll need to be equipped with a tripod since it doesn’t have a VR capability.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Produces sharp images
- Great range
- Perfect for watching concerts, wildlife, and sports photography
My Cons With This Lens:
- You need a tripod since it doesn’t have VR capability
7. NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G
Lens specifications:
- Lens type: Zoom lens
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 24–70 mm
- Image stabilization: No
- Lens mount: Nikon F (FX)
- Maximum aperture: F2.8
- Minimum aperture: F22
- Weight: 900 g (1.98 lb)
- Diameter: 83 mm (3.27″)
- Length: 133 mm (5.24″)
- Sealing: Yes
If you will take a closer look at the best lenses for Nikon D800, you’d be spending a lot of money if you are going to rely only on prime lenses all the time.
Some photographers just want to have a single lens that they can use in different situations regardless if they are shooting in a studio setup or outdoors.
That’s where the Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED Zoom Lens shines the most. This is a good pick for those who want a wide-angle lens, portrait lens, and a macro lens in one (check out the best Nikon macro lenses). It can help reduce the number of lenses in your gear.
Plus, you can adapt to whatever scenario is in front of you. It also comes in with a fast and accurate autofocus.
It is also known for exceptional results providing sharp images with vibrant photos. And with its F2.8 aperture, it is also handy when it comes in low-light scenarios.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Takes sharp photos
- A great range that allows you to have a macro, wide-angle, and a portrait lens
- Fast and accurate autofocus
My Cons With This Lens:
- n/a
8. NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G
Lens specifications:
- Lens type: Zoom lens
- Max Format size: APS-C / DX
- Focal length: 55–200 mm
- Image stabilization: No
- Lens mount: Nikon F (DX)
- Maximum aperture: F4–5.6
- Minimum aperture: F22
- Weight: 255 g (0.56 lb)
- Diameter: 68 mm (2.68″)
- Length: 79 mm (3.11″)
If you consider yourself the type of photographer who likes shooting portraits and small details on a subject, then you’d love the Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-200mm Ff.5-5.6 G ED VR II Lens.
This is considered as one of the best lenses for Nikon especially if you are shooting from a distance.
It is also a good portrait lens despite the limited aperture since you can take photos without being too invasive with your subject.
It is also known for its superb colors and sharp images.
And if you are the type who works without a tripod, you can minimize the wasted shots thanks to its vibration reduction feature.
My Pros With This Lens:
- A good range for portraits and macro photography
- Sharp images and vibrant colors
- With vibration reduction feature
My Cons With This Lens:
- Aperture isn’t as wide as others want
9. NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3-5-4.5G
Lens specifications:
- Lens type: Zoom lens
- Max Format size: APS-C / DX
- Focal length: 10–24 mm
- Image stabilization: No
- Lens mount: Nikon F (DX)
- Maximum aperture: F3.5–4.5
- Minimum aperture: F22–29
- Weight: 460 g (1.01 lb)
- Diameter: 83 mm (3.25″)
- Length: 87 mm (3.43″)
If you’ll buy prime wide-angle lenses, it isn’t surprising if you are going to invest a lot on your gear. In our list of best lenses for Nikon D800 alone, we’ve already featured a bunch of bigger investment wide-angle lenses.
What if you can enjoy an array of focal lengths in one lens? The Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 10-24mm f3.5-4.5G ED Zoom Lens is the solution for budget-strapped photographers who need to shoot cityscapes and beautiful landscapes.
And what makes it popular among professional landscape photographers is that it goes beyond what a prime 244 or a 35mm lens can cover.
Just imagine yourself going at some vantage point capturing the beauty that is in front of you?
The colors are amazing while it also gives you sharp results. On top of that, you also get fast and accurate autofocus.
The downside to this lens is that some users complained about distortions at 10mm.
My Pros With This Lens:
- A good range for wide-angle shots
- Sharp results
- Fast and accurate autofocus
My Cons With This Lens:
- Distortion at 10mm
10. NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G
Lens specifications:
- Lens type: Prime lens
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 24 mm
- Image stabilization: No
- Lens mount: Nikon F (FX)
- Maximum aperture: F1.4
- Minimum aperture: F16
- Weight: 620 g (1.37 lb)
- Diameter: 83 mm (3.27″)
- Length: 89 mm (3.48″)
- Sealing: Yes
The Nikon AF-S FX Nikkor 24mm F1.4G ED Wide Angle Prime Lens is a handy option not only for those who plan on shooting nature and urban landscapes but also for photographers who wanted to have an alternate portrait lens.
It comes in with a wide aperture making it handy for taking whole body shots and blurring the background at the same time. It is also practical when shooting group shots.
It is also known for sharp images and great clarity across its aperture.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Good for taking photos of landscapes
- Suited for indoors and for low-light situations
- Beautiful bokeh
- Can be used for portraits
My Cons With This Lens:
- n/a
FAQ
What Lens Mount is the Nikon D800?
The Nikon D800 uses the F-mount lens mount, which is a type of lens mount developed by Nikon for their cameras.
Who is the Nikon D800 For?
The Nikon D800 is a high-end, full-frame DSLR camera that is targeted towards professional photographers, as well as advanced amateurs who are looking for a camera with high image quality, advanced features, and good performance.
Hope you enjoyed this buyer’s guide on the best lenses for the Nikon D800
If you are looking for the best lenses for Nikon D800, it is important to consider the reason behind the purchase. Are you looking for a portrait lens? Are you looking for something that performs well in low-light scenarios and produces great bokeh?
Or maybe, you want something that can take wide shots? Next, be sure to compare the lenses that we’ve featured to get the best bang for your buck.
Also, check out the full list of best Nikon lenses.
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Nate Torres is a portrait photographer based in Southern California. Outside of photography, Nate specializes in SEO, content marketing, and entrepreneurship. He is also the founder of Imaginated.com, a platform for creator education.
