The Nikon D850 is among one the best DSLRs that exist.
It ticks all the boxes a photographer wants from a DSLR. If you are a serious photographer aspiring to get your name known, the D850 is something you should consider.
However, we are here to find the perfect partner for your D850. In today’s article, I have rounded up what I feel are the best lenses for Nikon D850.
A Quick Look At My Favorite Nikon D850 Lenses
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Low-Light Performer  | 8.6 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Most Versatile  | 8.5 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best Compact  | 9.1 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best For Portraits  | 8.8 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best Entry-Level  | 8.6 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best Mid-Range  | 8.2 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best For Journalists  | 8 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best for Cityscapes  | 7.7 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best for Traveling  | 7.4 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best For Wildlife  | 7.2 | Check Price On Amazon |
Key Takeaways
- Since the Nikon D850 is one of the top DSLR cameras, Nikon consistently performs at the highest level.And for such a fantastic camera, some tremendous lenses will round out the camera’s capabilities.
- Here, you may get a fantastic lens like the Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G which is ideal for journalists.
- The best option if you require a versatile lens is the Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED.
- Investing in specific lenses for your camera is always worthwhile because they will improve its performance.
Top 10 Best Lenses for Nikon D850
10. Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED – Best Low-Light Performer
What I Like
- Extremely sharp
- Ultra-wide field of view
- Well build
What I Don’t Like
- Pricey
Starting right away with a wide-angle lens, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED.
This is a lens that was demanded from Nikon photographers, right away since it was released; due to featuring some nifty tricks.
It is really well built and has an exclusive Nano Crystal coat that reduces ghosting and flaring.
It also has a silent wave motor that enables really fast and silent autofocus.
The two extra-low dispersion elements and PGM aspherical lens hugely contributes to controlling the chromatic aberration and at the same time, they enhance sharpness and contrast across all aperture settings.
Overall, it is a great lens that will benefit landscape photographers, or in general low-light photographers; it is a splendid performer in low-light environments, thanks to its great aperture.
Key Specifications:
- Lens Type: Wide-Angle
- Maximum aperture: F2.8
- Minimum aperture: F22
- Focal length: 14-24 mm
- Weight: 970 g (2.14 lb)
- Elements: 14
- Groups: 11
Why should you buy it?
Not every lens can work properly in dark environments, but the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED is an impresive lens with an amazing feature on low light. If you have deat with problems, check this one out as there are no problems to be found.
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED Sample Photos
9. Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED – Most Versatile
What I Like
- Solid build
- Quite sharp
- Optical stabilization
What I Don’t Like
- Expensive
- Some distortion
Next, we have a zoom lens that hits just the right spot with its focal range.
The Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED offers buttery performance due to the sharpness and speed it brings to the table.
Versatility? Speed? Durability? , it packs all of them you just name it.
The focal range it offers is great for everything from landscapes to indoor photography.
It offers a great bokeh effect with vibration reduction technology. Thanks to this it will remove the need for a tripod and you will capture sharp content even handheld.
The aspherical dispersion (ASP/ED) elements are paired to keep the ghosting and flaring at a minimum.
Basically, this lens covers everything a photographer that shoots with Nikon D850 needs.
Key Specifications:
- Lens Type: Zoom Lens
- Maximum aperture: F2.8
- Minimum aperture: F22
- Focal length: 24-70 mm
- Weight: 1070 g (2.36 lb)
- Elements: 20
- Groups: 16
Why should you buy it?
I love versatility and I am pretty sure that you do too! This Nikon lens will work properly with your Nikon D850 and it will be deifnitely the most versatile one that you can use almost in every type of photography.
Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED Sample Photos
8. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR – Best Compact
What I Like
- 7.8 zoom range
- Sharp
- Compact
- Optical stabilization
What I Don’t Like
- Loads of distortion
If you need a grab-and-go lens, then you can’t go wrong with the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR.
Just like the above option, this latter one pretty much offers the same treatment with another focal range.
It delivers sharp and clear images that are accompanied by a great bokeh effect. It sports 4 stops of VR image stabilization that rewards good quality photos even when handheld.
Nikon Silent Wave Motor SWM will also be found and it will provide really fast and silent autofocus that will be useful mostly on recording content.
I also included this lens in my car photography lens roundup, meaning it is a very versatile lens.
Key Specifications:
- Lens Type: Zoom Lens
- Maximum aperture: F3.5-5.6
- Minimum aperture: F22-38
- Focal length: 18-140 mm
- Weight: 490 g (1.08 lb)
- Elements: 17
- Groups: 12
Why should you buy it?
A lens that is well-made and is durable enough to withstand almost everythig. This lens is definitely worth considering, as its compact form is extraordinary.
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Sample Photos
7. Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G – Best For Portraits
What I Like
- Wide aperture
- Amazing sharpness
- Affordable
What I Don’t Like
- No optical stabilization
Next, we have a prime lens that will benefit portrait photographers in a really compact and lightweight form factor.
It is a really well-built lens that comes with a sun cape to fend off a flare and chromatic aberration is almost absent.
The 7 rounded aperture offers a really beautiful background that comes in with a smooth and creamy bokeh effect.
Overall, it is a decent lens that has many things to offer, good image quality, good build, good bokeh effect at full range, and on top of it it is really well priced.
Key Specifications:
- Lens Type: Prime Lens
- Maximum aperture: F.18
- Minimum aperture: F16
- Focal length: 85 mm
- Weight: 350 g (0.77 lb)
- Elements: 9
- Groups: 9
Why should you buy it?
Based on its focal length and its aperture, the Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G is made specifically for the portrait photographers.
Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G Sample Photos
6. NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G – Best Entry-Level
What I Like
- Affordable
- Extremely sharp
- Fast aperture
What I Don’t Like
- No vibration reduction
If you are new to photography and don’t want to break the bank at the same time, simply put, you just want a safe lens to go with.
Then the Nikon’s AF-S G 50mm f/1.4 is your friend.
The lens is made out of plastic, which is understandable for the given price. However, it is high-quality plastic that makes it really solid and compact at the same time.
It has a silent wave motor that is swift and quiet at the same time.
The 9 bladed diaphragm promises a great bokeh effect with a really good overall image quality.
The 50mm focal range is the range of the human eye meaning the pictures this lens take comes as we view them with our own eyes.
Key Specifications:
- Lens Type: Prime Lens
- Maximum aperture: F1.4
- Minimum aperture: F16
- Focal length: 35mm FF
- Weight: 290 (0.64 lb)
- Elements: 8
- Groups: 7
Why should you buy it?
Beginners in the world of photography should definitely gather around at this lens. With the features that it owns it will be the best friend of a beginner and the biggest helper on making that photographer a professional one.
NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G Sample Photos
5. NIKON 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G ED VR AF-S – Best Mid-Range
What I Like
- Very sharp
- Compact
- Affordable
What I Don’t Like
- Some distortion
Yet again, another compact and lightweight lens.
the NIKON 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G ED VR AF-S is a great mid-range zoom lens, that has pretty much the same attributes as the one above but is a bit more flexible in the focal range.
It is made out of high-quality plastic and it is dust and moisture-proof.
A silent wave motor that offers a speedy and silent autofocus performance.
The closest focus distance goes to 38cm and the Vibration reduction system allows good quality handheld content.
Across all settings it offers great sharpness, the corners are pretty much the same as the center.
But zooming at 85mm you will notice it becoming sharper at the corners of the frame.
Overall, it is a great lens for photographers who want to step up their game from entry-level. The focal range this lens has to offer fills that bill just fine.
Key Specifications:
- Lens Type: Zoom Lens
- Maximum aperture: F3.5-4.5
- Minimum aperture: F22-29
- Focal length: 24-85mm
- Weight: 485 g (1.07 lb)
- Elements: 16
- Groups: 11
Why should you buy it?
A wide-angle lens like the NIKON 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G ED VR AF-S will help you bring out the best of your photographs. This lens will definitely be the one to use!
NIKON 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G ED VR AF-S Sample Photos
4. Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G – Best For Journalists
What I Like
- Solid build
- Fast aperture
- Compact
What I Don’t Like
- Pricey
Next on the list we have a option for our fellow journalists, the Nikon AF FX Nikkor 28mm F/1.8G.
This prime lens is really well built and packs Nano Crystal coating to reduce flare and ghosting.
The silent wave motor will contribute to fast and silent autofocus. While the two aspherical lenses will fend off chromatic aberration.
It is sure weather-sealed to benefit journalists that get caught in sudden rains or who shoot/record in harsh weather conditions.
The bokeh effect is great in case you want to do some selective focus photos and it doesn’t fail to deliver sharp image quality.
That’s also because this lens is good in low-light ambients, basically, it is ideal for journalists and even landscape photographers.
Key Specifications:
- Lens Type: Prime Lens
- Maximum aperture: F1.8
- Minimum aperture: F16
- Focal length: 28 mm
- Weight: 330 g (0.73 lb)
- Elements: 11
- Groups: 9
Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G Sample Photos
Why should you buy it?
You know that journalists also need a good camera and a good lens to work with. Well, if you are one of them and already own the Nikon D850 camera, here is the Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G lens which with everything it has, is the best one to choose.
3. Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR – Best for Cityscapes
What I Like
- Lightweight
- Quite sharp
- Optical stabilization
- Affordable
What I Don’t Like
- Dimmed corners
Narrow aperture
Next, we have a great ultrawide zoom lens, the Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR.
This is a highly affordable lens that packs a lot of features. It offers 3.5 stops vibration reduction technology that captures sharp images even hand-held.
Moreover, it uses Nikon’s pulse motor technology for a fast and silent autofocus operation.
It includes 3 aspherical elements to eliminate distortion at a wide focal range.
It is surprisingly small and lightweight, you can just toss it in your pocket and you are ready to go.
Being an affordable lens it is understandable that is made out of plastic, but that’s what makes it really lightweight and compact.
Sadly, there’s no seal to protect it from the weather.
For the price it comes, its drawbacks are all understandable. So if you are a photographer who travels around and takes city pictures, I’d advise considering this one.
Key Specifications:
- Lens Type: Zoom Lens
- Maximum aperture: F4.5-5.6
- Minimum aperture: F29
- Focal length: 10-20 mm
- Weight: 230 g (0.51 lb)
- Elements: 14
- Groups: 11
Why should you buy it?
The Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR is an impressive lens and the main feature and the great feature that it has is the vibration reduction. Besides that, this lens is very affordable.
Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR Sample Photos
2. Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G – Best for Traveling
What I Like
- Optical stabilization
- Sharp throughout the zoom range
- Compact
What I Don’t Like
- Soft edges at maximum aperture
Next, we have a lens that is made for all 4 seasons, a zoom lens that provides thanks to its huge focal length range.
It is pretty bulky but really robust, it weighs 1.76 pounds and it is a combination of metal and plastic.
In a way, it is an understandable compromise when you think of its offerings.
Yet, it still remains really compact and portable.
It also features Nikon’s VR II (Vibration Reduction) technology that prevents shaky hands and provides a good quality image.
It also has 2 extra-low Dispersion elements and 3 Aspherical ones, that will fight ghosting and flaring.
The exclusive SWM (silent wave motor) for the silent and quiet autofocus treatment
and on top of all this, it has a really affordable price.
If you are a photographer whose work is traveling a lot, this is a great option that won’t make a hole in your pocket.
Key Specifications:
- Lens Type: Zoom Lens
- Maximum aperture: F3.5-5.6
- Minimum aperture: F22-38
- Focal length: 28-300mm
- Weight: 800 g (1.76 lb)
- Elements: 19
- Groups: 14
Why should you buy it?
If you need a lens to grab around on your walking tours, this is something you highly need to consider. It is definitely a lens that can accompany you wherever you may go.
Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G Sample Photos
1. Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR – Best For Wildlife
What I Like
- Sturdy build
- Optical stabilization
- Very sharp
What I Don’t Like
- Some distortion
The same but different.
Last but not least, we have a zoom telephoto lens that is pretty much like the above options; although a bit different.
What makes this lens different is the range that is longer than the normal focal lengths.
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8E is a normal lens to telephoto lens that can capture splendid portraits but mostly great sport and wildlife content.
It has a refined optical build that can reduce chromatic aberration and ghosting to maximum thanks to the Nano Crystal and Super integrated coatings.
At the same time, those features contribute to the image quality, which is a league on its own and should not even be questioned.
There’s also a 4 stop Vibration reduction technology, that will remove the need for a tripod. The Silent Wave Motor is not left behind, it utilizes sharp imagery in a quest and swift manner that benefits videographers.
The bokeh effect is also worth mentioning, it brings a perfect creamy background blur that shows the focused area in full detail.
All this and the low-light performance makes this a lens for aspiring sport and wildlife photographers.
Key Specifications:
- Lens Type: Zoom Lens
- Maximum aperture: F2.8
- Minimum aperture: F22
- Focal length: 70-200mm
- Weight: 1430 g (3.15 lb)
- Elements: 22
- Groups: 18
Why should you buy it?
In case you are a wildlife photographer, this lens, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR, is definitely made for you. It has an impressive zoom and impressive sharpness.
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR Sample Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
What lenses work with Nikon D850?
All of the above are great lenses that will work wonders with your Nikon D850, but I can’t tell you which one is the best, it depends all on your budget and mostly the type of photography.
Is Nikon D850 worth buying?
Definitely, especially if you are serious about photographing, as I mentioned above is one of the best DSLRs to exist. It has a great sensor, great video recording capabilities, and a really nice autofocus system of 152 points.
What battery does Nikon D850 use?
It uses a Li-ion battery and has a whopping CIPA rated battery life of 1,840 shots.
Final Words
I tried my best to list different lenses with different features so they can benefit any type of photographer.
There are 10 to choose from, so hopefully, you will find the one that will appeal to you.
Further Reading
If you didn’t find yourself in this article, I am sure you will in the following ones.
If you need the best lenses for street photography, I got you covered or in case you own a SonyA6000, I have some great sony a6000 lenses for it. Or let’s stick to Nikon, if you are a walk-around photographer, I have compiled a list of some walk-around lenses that will work in your Nikon.
If you are a macro shooter and need some great macro lenses for your Nikon D850, no worries.
I also listed some nice monopods for wildlife, who knows you might need them.
Or if you prefer a tripod, they are listed just as good.
Enjoy.
Camera Tester & Reviewer
I spend most of my time taking photos & videos of everything in sight. Yes, I am a stock photographer and I’ve probably taken more than 700,000 photos so far.
