The Best Lenses For Nikon D7100

Depending on what you plan to do with your camera, you need to choose an appropriate lens. Personally, i do a lot of outdoor photography, and i can confidently say that the Nikon AF FX Nikkor 20mm f/2G ED lens is the best in this field. I will talk about a few lenses in this article and what they are good for.

The Nikon D7100 is widely known on the market, and usually, it is often the first choice for amateur and semi-professional photographers who would like to shoot wonderful photos and shape their skills prior to becoming professionals. This camera is no-joke either because it was named as the new flagship DSLR of the APS-C lineup which definitely speaks a lot regarding the quality of the camera itself.

In addition, if you’ve recently started thinking about upgrading your shooting arsenal, then lenses are mandatory, and that’s why, in this article, I will be focused on providing you the best lenses for Nikon D7100, so that you can achieve excellent results in terms of shooting photos and become an even better photographer!

Shall we begin? I think yes! Because your camera awaits to be used in order to capture stunning photos that will leave everyone around you speechless, including you, of course!

The 5 Best Lenses For Nikon D7100

5. Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G

The Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G is a fantastic, fixed lens that will help you shoot detailed images and HD videos in both, low-light and bright-light conditions, and this model is widely used for portraits, concerts and weddings. Hence, if you’ve been looking for such lens, then, you’ve found it!

Speaking of the design, the Nikkor 85mm isn’t the heaviest nor the most lightweight lens you can find on the market, and this is quite good since balance is the key to success.

For your information, this mode’s aperture features a 7-blade design that consists of rounded blades which is pretty cool though, since out-of-focus images will be circular if you opt to make the lens stopped down.

Additionally, keep in mind that the close focus is limited to 2.6 feet, and a the same time, this is the only weak point of this lens because if by any chance, you’ve worked with wide-angle lenses, this lens will not offer you the freedom of the wide-angle lenses, since you may find it a bit limiting.

However, what I really like regarding this lens is that its front element is durable and it is will guarantee you an easy use since it does not rotate during autofocus operations on one side, while on the other, by ” easy to use ” I want to say that you may not have difficulties using circular filters or filter holders.

When it comes to the autofocus performance, the Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G is very accurate, and in fact, it has a wide focus ring that has hard stops at both ends of the range, which, therefore means that you can easily set its focus at infinity!

This lens has a maximum focal length of 85mm. Basically this means that you will have to be a bit further away from the things you want to photograph to get the best results. 

If you’ve been curious regarding the ghosting and flare, I would like to inform you that this lens does a fairly good job in controlling both things, but, at the same time, please keep in mind that everything may depend on where the bright source of the image is positioned in the frame.

Also, if you’re shooting portrait/wedding photography outdoors, the sun will unlikely cause you problems at all, since you will be more focused on the subjects instead of the sun, and this is good, right?

Finally, the 85mm f/1.8G is undoubtedly a sharp lens, and honestly, I think that it belongs to the group of the sharpest lenses in Nikon’s range. Hence, do not hesitate to check out some videos on YouTube where people will bring you a real-life example of how sharp this lens is, and this is more than convincing to have you hooked up on an eventual consideration if not purchase!

To conclude, the 85mm f/1.8G is deserves to be part of your shooting arsenal, because it is cost-efficient and offers a great value for its cost and is one of my favorite lenses for nikon d7100!

It’s definitely a great camera for wedding photography!

---

4. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED

The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED would be fantastic option for you, if you’re keen on investing in a super zoom lens that will offer you an exceptionally long zoom range so that you can capture everything that sits in front of you from a wide distance!

In terms of the design, this unit looks promising and very stylish at the same time, since it has a black polycarbonate barrel that has golden accents, whereas, its zoom and manual focus ring have a textured finish, so when you see this lens as a whole, I think that you will be satisfied with the design. Additionally, the lens isn’t very heavy, because it weighs just 1.2 pounds, which is super cool since you will be able to have truly convenient shooting sessions.

If you take a look at the zoom ring, you will instantly notice the market settings labeled as 18, 35, 70, 105, 200, and 300mm, so, you can adjust it depending on your preferences, however, I’d also like to mention that the lens` minimum focus distance is about 1.6 feet even at 300mm which is something that I absolutely like. If you’re asking yourself, why’s that, I can easily answer this question. Well, this means that the zoom will have a strong, 1:3:1 magnification even at the closest focus distance and maximum zoom, which definitely comes handy when you opt to project objects onto the image sensor.

When it comes to the performance, this unit performs outstandingly good in both, backlit and harsh lighting conditions, thanks to tits super-integrated coating that can effectively suppress the ghosting and flare, whereas, the inclusion of a four stop-effective VR image stabilization system will help you a lot since in case you’re shooting handheld, the shake will be minimized as much as possible, so that the images and videos may look sharp and satisfying!

The craziest thing about this lens is its focal length. A 18-300mm focal range will definitely add a lot to its photographic capabilities, thus making it a very versatile lens. 

Those who’ve had an opportunity to shoot with a Nikon D7100 with this lens attached, claim that they really loved the color accuracy as well, and the reason behind this is the presence of three, extra-low dispersion elements that do a fantastic job in reducing the occurrences of chromatic aberrations and distortion so that your camera may be able to render the images accurately!

Overall, the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED should be set in your “must purchase” list, especially if you want to have versatile lens that will help you achieve excellent photos and videos regardless of the type of photography! Definitely deserves to be amongst the top lenses for nikon d7100.

---

3. Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED

The Nikon AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED would be an extremely good option for you, if you’ve been looking for a nikon macro lens that will help you focus close enough to certain subjects and get the best possible shooting results!

Aesthetically speaking, this unit has a fairly compact body that has two coating, such as a Nano Crystal and Super Integrated coating whose focus I set on reducing ghosting, flare and reflection when you’re shooting outdoors under strong lighting conditions, with the intention to help you shoot fantastic photos that will simply radiate with clarity and superb color accuracy.

Before we move to the next section, I’d also like to mention two things. The first is regarding the inclusion of an Extra-low Dispersion glass elements that will greatly improve the image quality because they will ensure that flare, as well as chromatic aberrations, will be dramatically reduced so that your photos may have well-defined colors and contrast! The second thing is regarding the non-rotating front design which will allow you to have an opportunity to use circular polarizing filters without any problems at all!

When it comes to the performance, this lens will offer you a life-size 1:1 maximum magnification along with a minimum focusing distance of 1′, and if you take a look at these specs, this, without a doubt means that you will be more than able to shoot close-up photos while leaving the rest to the lens and your Nikon D7100!

It has a maximum focal length of 105mm, which is around half of the #1 lens on this list. However, a 105mm focal length can be more than enough in most cases, and it will even allow you to take great portrait shots.

Also, the autofocus performance is not only strong and quick, but it is whisper quiet as well, the reason behind this is that the model’s internal focusing design consists of internal lens groups which will be moving at the same time as you’re focused, and this is awesome since you will achieve fast focusing speeds!

Since I’m talking about the focus, thanks to the rounded nine-blade diaphragm which uses a shallow depth of field and selective focus techniques, this lens will always strive to promote out of focus quality with the aforementioned benefits, and for now, I have to admit that Nikon has done an excellent job here.

But, Nikon didn’t stop here! They even integrated a VR image stabilization that will minimize the presence of camera shake by three stops, which is something that I particularly like, and the reason is very simple – you will never have difficulties when shooting handheld and the results will always be great!

In the end, I strongly recommend you consider the Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF as your next purchase, especially if you love shooting close-ups photography, because this lens are more than capable to elevate your user experience like you’ve never felt before!

---

2. Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G 

The Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G is currently among the most widely used telephoto lens by the professional photographers who loves shooting portrait photos, since one of the reasons that makes this lens so popular is its ability to blur out backgrounds and make your shoots virtually free of distortion! Intrigued? Let’s see what else you can expect from thtis model!

From a design perspective, this unit measures 3.3 x 3.4 (H, D), weighs around 1.3 pounds and sports a black polycarbonate barrel that is protected by a rubber gasket that sits around the lens mount, and although its body isn’t weather-sealed, still, you will have a chance to use it with your Nikon D7100 or with other cameras whose body is sealed.

Additionally, the included glass is protected by a Nano Crystal coat which does a highly effective job in reducing flare, and as you know, this plays a huge role in the overall image quality.

So, regarding the design, I like how Nikon has managed to manufacture this lens because it has a very solid construction and this is proof that Nikon has designed it with a professional manner in mind!

Moreover, inside this lens, there’s a so-called “Silent Wave Motor”, and according to Nikon, this technology simply converts the traveling waves into rotational energy with a primary purpose to focus the optics and ensure high-speed autofocus that will be nothing less than accurate and very quiet at the same time!

I’d also like to add that those who’ve been shooting with this lens claim that even though this lens with its close focus up to three feet does not set it in the macro category, still, they didn’t have issues shooting from a distance especially when it comes to portrait photography. Honestly, I think that you won’t have issues as well, and for now, I don’t have huge remarks regarding this part.

The only remark I have is that this unit isn’t optically stabilized, and if you require to do some video work handheld, then you may feel a bit restricted since the lack of stabilization means the presence of jitter into the video. But even then, attaching the camera no a tripod will fix this issue.

The focal length of this lens is also pretty nice, because you can get amazing close-up and macro shots without getting very close to the subject. Compared to other lenses, the focal length of this lens is a bit limited, but still gets the job done pretty well. 

Now, what about the distortion? Well, one of the biggest highlights regarding this lens is that the distortion is nearly non-existent, and in fact, the closer you stand, the most likely the less barrel distortion you may be able to see.

Finally, the colors and sharpness when shooting portraits are indeed great, and if you ask me, I think that the 85mm f/1.4G has everything that I’m looking for, because of its ability to output truly fantastic rendering capabilities. Even in low light!

To summarize, I’d recommend you to consider the Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G seriously, especially if you’ve been looking for telephoto lens that is a strong candidate for portrait photography thanks to its wonderful capabilities!

---

1. Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 200mm f/2G ED

You’ve probably stumbled upon this lens while looking for lenses for Nikon D7100. 

First and foremost, the Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 200mm f/2G ED isn’t the most affordable lens that you can find on the market. As a matter of fact, its price is indeed salty, however, what you get in a return is truly spectacular, because regardless if you’re owner of Nikon D7100 or any other type of Nikon DSLR camera, this lens simply stands for powerful performance that can satisfy even the most demanding professionals out there!

Design-wise, the 200mm f/2G ED is very solid, in fact, it is solid enough to withstand years of professional, daily use, and although it weighs nearly 3 kilos, you won’t have troubles carrying it with you anywhere you go or using it handheld.

Once you take a look at this lens, you will instantly notice the magnesium barrel that is weather-sealed which, by default, means that you will have a complete freedom in shooting under a variety of different weather conditions, and also, let’s not forget the meniscus filter that is strategically positioned so that it can allow a higher level of protection on the front element, without “interfering” with the image quality!

Another great thing about the design is the use of the well-known Nano Crystal coat that will dramatically minimize the presence of ghosting and flare, and if you’ve had an opportunity to shoot with a lens that has this coating, you already know that this coating does really make a difference!

But now, let’s talk about performance.

The Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 200mm f/2G ED incorporates a Vibration Reduction Image Stabilization that lets you have a convenient handheld shooting at up to 4-shutter speeds, an Automatic Tripod Detection Mode whose job is to ensure stabilization when you have your camera mounted on a tripod so that you won’t deal with camera shake at the end of the shutter release, and even has a 9-blade diaphragm which will render the colors exactly as they do look in nature! In addition, the 9-blade diaphragm will help you tremendously at shooting out of focus image areas, and for now, I have to admit that I’m really satisfied with this lens!

Focal length is important when it comes to lenses. This lens comes with a 200mm focal length which will make your portrait shots stand out from the rest. You can play around with its focal length to get the most out of it!

When it comes to the aperture, those who’ve had a chance to shoot with this lens, claim that they were particularly satisfied with the sharpness, since even at the maximum aperture images do absolutely look fantastic! Also, shooting as far as f/5.6 will not only bring you excellent results but also at f/22 which does not often happen since distortion does often affects if not overtakes the image quality!

In conclusion, the Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 200mm f/2G ED  deserves your attention a lot, because it is durable, has a solid construction and outputs a fascinating performance, and if you’re prepared to invest in premium lens, then this one is more than an excellent candidate for that!

---

You Might Also Be Interested In:

• Best Low Light Cameras [Top Picks]
• Best Cameras For Outdoors
• Best DSLR Cameras Under 300
• Best Canon Cameras

---

Nikon D7100 Lens Buying Guide

Since the Nikon D7100 is a premium camera, lenses for Nikon d7100 are too. That’s why, to get the best outcome you will need to invest a bit of money

At a glance, choosing a lens may not sound like a huge deal, since there are multiple lenses available on the market, and the Internet is full of reviews which will help you choose the one that would suit your preferences the most. However, in practice, this isn’t completely like that since you have to have a clue regarding multiple aspects prior to making a purchase, and in this part, I will try to simplify you and show you the steps you should follow.

Type

First things first. There are multiple types of lenses and in order to choose the most suitable one, you have to know the types of lenses in order to avoid situations where the lenses may not be compatible with what you’re looking for.

Hence, there are 5 lens types including:

Prime lenses/Fixed lens

These lenses are widely used by those who prefer to shoot portraits and wedding photos, and also, they give you an option to let more light into your camera due to the fact that they have wider maximum apertures which definitely come handy for this purpose.

All-In-One lenses

All-in-one lenses are also known as all-around lenses. As the name suggests, they are versatile, and this by default means that they are suitable to be used for multiple situations because they prevent the need for carrying a bag full of different lenses.

Wide-Angle lenses

This type of lenses is ideal if you’re shooting style is closely connected with landscapes, interior and nature, because they are specifically designed to cover a larger area and get the most of the scene in the photo.

Telephoto lenses

These lenses will suit your needs, especially if you opt to shoot wildlife, sports or astronomy photography, however, do not be surprised if you see photographers that use them for portrait photography, because they are crafted with the intention to let you shoot photographs of subjects at moderate to far distances.

Macro lenses

Macro lenses are meat for shooting small objects, including flowers, insects, etc, because they allow you to shoot at very close distances and get the most of the details.

Price

Each type of lens has own sub-groups whose price isn’t the same. Hence, everything depends on whether you are looking for affordable, medium-priced, high or premium lenses.  Before making an actual purchase, it is important not to overspend money. In other words, if you really require premium lenses than you should invest a lot, if not, do not feel obliged to get the “best” lenses because the price may not be adequate for everyone, even though you will be shooting with a Nikon D7100.

Compatibility

This is crucial because most of the lenses may be sold as “Nikon D7100 compatible”, however, what often happens is that this may not actually be true. Instead, the lens can be partially compatible, and you won’t be able to use autofocusing, etc. Hence, in order to avoid such scenarios, if you’re not sure regarding the compatibility, the best thing you can do would be to ask.

Range of aperture

For your information, aperture is basically the adjustable diaphragm in a camera lens. So, as you’re adjusting the size of the aperture, at the same time, you will control the amount of light that may enter through the lens itself. The rule of a thumb says that the larger the range is, the better control you wil have in a return, as well as, the bigger the maximum aperture is, the faster the lens is going to be.

Focal Length

First of all, i want to make it clear that focal length doesn’t mean the length of the lens.

Focal length is basically a measurement of the distance between the cameras sensor and the optical centre of the lens. This is very important because focal length ranges play a very important role in the quality of your photos.

Low Light Performance

Low light performance is also very important, and should be one of the main things you look at before you buy a lens or a camera. My dad used to tell me that you can see how good a lens is by looking at its performance on low light conditions, and i still remember these words to this day.

If a lens is unable to perform well in low light conditions, then it’s not a good lens. Of course, this depends on many factors, because not everyone will need good low light performance. 

If for example you want a wide angle zoom lens to capture photos of animals in the wild, then it wouldn’t make sense to not buy a lens just because it doesn’t perform that well in low light.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Are Nikon D7100 lenses expensive?

A: This solely depends on the quality of the lenses themselves, those whose price tag is salty, will surely indicate that they offer better performance in comparison to those whose price tag isn’t, right? In general, each type of lenses for D7100 belong to the mid-high range and I think that you can afford to have one.

Q: What is the best lens for Nikon D7100?

A: Once again, it depends on the type of lens you intend to purchase. However, in order to keep things simple, I would note that in this article, lenses are different from each other in terms of price and type, so, feel free to choose the “best” one for you.

Q: Why would I need a lens for my Nikon D7100?

A: Lenses are without a doubt, the most important part of your camera set-up, because their purpose is to control the image that passes through your imaging sensor, and at the same time, they determine the quality of the image itself. Although they are not obligatory for beginners or semi-professionals, trust me, you will unlikely find professional photographers that do not own at least one lens for their camera.

Q: What is the best type of lenses?

A: Well, there isn’t such thing as “the best” type of lenses, because each type is meant for a specific purpose, hence, it is entirely up to you and your style which one you may find as “the best”.

Conclusion

Since you’ve reached this far, you may already know that in this part of the article, I will be the one that will give the final words, right? Well, I would end it with a question and with a note. Which lens is the most compatible with your style, and which one you think deserves to become a part of your arsenal?

On the other hand, I’d to note that regardless of your choice, all of them are quality, and you won’t go wrong, so feel free to contact me and share your experience with me in case you make an actual purchase! I would love to hear that from you!