Best Telephoto Lenses for Nikon DSLRs in 2023

Best Telephoto Lenses for Nikon DSLR Cameras. Looking for recommended telephoto lenses for Nikon DSLR cameras? Here are the top rated telephoto lenses for Nikon DSLRs.

You know, a telephoto lens is a lens whose focal length is longer than the focal length of a standard lens. Today, we’ll concentrate on telephoto prime lenses (including super telephoto prime lenses) and telephoto zoom lenses to find out the best telephoto lenses for Nikon Full Frame DSLR Cameras and DX DSLR Cameras.

Below are the best telephoto lenses for Nikon DSLRs. All the lists are based on the test results from DxOMark. You can choose the one you need.

Best Telephoto Lenses for Nikon DSLR Cameras

Telephoto Prime Lenses for Full Frame DSLRs | Telephoto Zoom Lenses for Full Frame DSLRs | Telephoto Prime Lenses for DX DSLRs | Telephoto Zoom Lenses for DX DSLRs

Best Telephoto Prime Lenses for Nikon D5, D4S, D850, D810, D750, D610 Full Frame DSLRs

Below are the recommended Telephoto prime lenses for Nikon full frame DSLRs. Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 Lens is the best performing telephoto prime lenses for Nikon Full Frame DSLRs, but it’s very expensive. Of course you can buy one if you can afford it. Considering the price and the performing, AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G is the best choice. And AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2G ED VR II lens is a great super telephoto prime lens for Nikon full frame DSLRs. See the list below and choose the one you need.

LensDxOMarkBuy Now
Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO Planar T*48Adorama
AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G43Amazon
Zeiss APO Sonnar T* 135mm f/2 ZF.243Amazon/Adorama
AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G42Amazon
Zeiss Makro-Planar T 100mm f/2 ZF.239Amazon
Samyang 85mm f/1.4 Aspherical IF38Amazon
Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM37Amazon
AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 D IF35Amazon
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G34Amazon
Super Telephoto Prime
AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2G ED VR II43Amazon
AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VRAmazon
AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II36Amazon
AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR27Amazon
AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR II27Amazon
AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4D ED-IFAmazon
AF-S NIKKOR 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VRAmazon

Best Telephoto Zoom Lenses for Nikon D5, D4S, D850, D810, D750, D610 Full Frame DSLRs

Below are the recommended telephone zoom lenses for Nikon full frame DSLRs. Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD is the best choice, even better than AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G II lens. The AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/4G ED VR and the new released Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM are both great lenses.

LensDxOMarkBuy Now
Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD33Amazon
AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II31Amazon
AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/4G ED VR30Amazon
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSMAmazon
Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USDAmazon/Adorama
Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM28Amazon
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II27Amazon
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR24Amazon
AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED22Amazon
Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG APO OS HSM20Amazon
Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR II19Amazon/Adorama

Best Telephoto Prime Lenses for Nikon D500, D7500, D7200, D5600, D5500, D3500, D3400 DX DSLRs

Below are the recommended telephone prime lenses for Nikon DX DSLRs. Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 lens is the best performing one according to the DxoMark test results. You can choose AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G instead if you want to find a cheap one with great performing. And AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2G ED VR II lens is a great super telephoto prime Lens for Nikon DX DSLRs.

LensDxOMarkBuy Now
Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO Planar T*32Adorama
AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G30Amazon
AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G30Amazon
Zeiss Makro-Planar T 100mm f/2 ZF227Amazon
Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM27Amazon
Samyang 85mm f/1.4 Aspherical IF26Amazon
AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 D IF25Amazon
Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZF225Amazon
Tamron 90mm f/2.8 SP Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD24Amazon
AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D24Amazon
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G23Amazon
Tamron SP AF 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO22Amazon
Super Telephoto Prime
AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2G ED VR II29Amazon
AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8G ED VR26Amazon
AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II24Amazon
AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR17Amazon
AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR II16Amazon
AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4D ED-IFAmazon

Best Telephoto Zoom Lenses for Nikon D500, D7500, D7200, D5600, D5500, D3500, D3400 DX DSLRs

Tested on Nikon D7100, AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II and Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD are the best two lenses. The new released Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD is also a great lens. See the recommended telephoto zoom lenses for Nikon D500, D7500, D7200, D5600, D5500, D3500, D3400 DX DSLRs and choose the one you like best

LensDxOMarkBuy Now
AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II23Amazon
Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD23Amazon
Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USDAmazon/Adorama
Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM21Amazon
AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/4G ED VR21Amazon
Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM20Amazon
Tamron SP AF 70-200mm F2.8 Di LD (IF) MACRO17Amazon
AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR16Amazon
AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED15Amazon
Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS15Amazon
AF-S Nikkor DX 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR15Amazon
AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II13Amazon
Tamron SP 70-300mm F4-5.6 Di VC USDAmazon