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.
Lens | DxOMark | Buy Now |
Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO Planar T* | 48 | Adorama |
AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G | 43 | Amazon |
Zeiss APO Sonnar T* 135mm f/2 ZF.2 | 43 | Amazon/Adorama |
AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G | 42 | Amazon |
Zeiss Makro-Planar T 100mm f/2 ZF.2 | 39 | Amazon |
Samyang 85mm f/1.4 Aspherical IF | 38 | Amazon |
Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM | 37 | Amazon |
AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 D IF | 35 | Amazon |
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G | 34 | Amazon |
Super Telephoto Prime | ||
AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2G ED VR II | 43 | Amazon |
AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR | – | Amazon |
AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | 36 | Amazon |
AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR | 27 | Amazon |
AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR II | 27 | Amazon |
AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4D ED-IF | – | Amazon |
AF-S NIKKOR 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR | – | Amazon |
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.
Lens | DxOMark | Buy Now |
Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD | 33 | Amazon |
AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II | 31 | Amazon |
AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/4G ED VR | 30 | Amazon |
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | – | Amazon |
Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD | – | Amazon/Adorama |
Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM | 28 | Amazon |
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II | 27 | Amazon |
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR | 24 | Amazon |
AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED | 22 | Amazon |
Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG APO OS HSM | 20 | Amazon |
Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR II | 19 | Amazon/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.
Lens | DxOMark | Buy Now |
Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO Planar T* | 32 | Adorama |
AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G | 30 | Amazon |
AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G | 30 | Amazon |
Zeiss Makro-Planar T 100mm f/2 ZF2 | 27 | Amazon |
Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM | 27 | Amazon |
Samyang 85mm f/1.4 Aspherical IF | 26 | Amazon |
AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 D IF | 25 | Amazon |
Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZF2 | 25 | Amazon |
Tamron 90mm f/2.8 SP Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD | 24 | Amazon |
AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D | 24 | Amazon |
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G | 23 | Amazon |
Tamron SP AF 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO | 22 | Amazon |
Super Telephoto Prime | ||
AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2G ED VR II | 29 | Amazon |
AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8G ED VR | 26 | Amazon |
AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II | 24 | Amazon |
AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR | 17 | Amazon |
AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR II | 16 | Amazon |
AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4D ED-IF | – | Amazon |
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
Lens | DxOMark | Buy Now |
AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II | 23 | Amazon |
Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD | 23 | Amazon |
Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD | – | Amazon/Adorama |
Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM | 21 | Amazon |
AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/4G ED VR | 21 | Amazon |
Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM | 20 | Amazon |
Tamron SP AF 70-200mm F2.8 Di LD (IF) MACRO | 17 | Amazon |
AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR | 16 | Amazon |
AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED | 15 | Amazon |
Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS | 15 | Amazon |
AF-S Nikkor DX 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR | 15 | Amazon |
AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II | 13 | Amazon |
Tamron SP 70-300mm F4-5.6 Di VC USD | – | Amazon |