Best Nikon Macro Lenses 2023

Looking for the best Nikon macro lenses in 2021? Here are the top recommended macro lenses for Nikon DSLR cameras.

Macro photography, also known as close-up photography, is one of the most popular types of photography among professionals and amateurs alike, as it can reveal sharp and intricate details that are invisible to the naked eye. If you want to shoot some extreme close-up images, then it’s important for you to get a true macro lens that can offer 1:1 magnification life-size reproduction without the use of accessories.

Here I’m going to show you the top 6 best macro lenses for Nikon DSLRs that can help you take amazing close-up images, and we’ve included a buying guide so that you can know exactly what you should be looking for when purchasing a Nikon closeup lens.

Best Nikon Macro Lenses 2021 Buying Guide – Things to Consider

Magnification: The first key thing you have to consider is whether the lens can offer 1:1 magnification true life-size reproduction.

Minimum Focusing Distance: Looking for the nikon closeup lens? the minimum focusing distance will determine how close you can get to your subject while still being able to maintain a sharp and accurate focus.

Image Stabilization: Great feature for handheld photography, so you can capture your subject without having to use a tripod.

Autofocus: It is quite useful, but not essential when it comes to macro photography.

Best Macro Lenses for Nikon DSLRs

Full List of Best Nikon Macro Lenses

Full Frame Macro Lenses | DX-Format Macro Lenses

Nikon Full Frame Macro Lenses

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

Product Highlights

  • F Mount Lens/FX Format
  • Minimum Focus Distance: 12″
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to 32
  • 1:1 Magnification Ratio; Macro Close-Ups
  • Silent Wave Motor (SWM) AF System
  • Nikon VR Image Stabilization
  • One Extra-Low Dispersion Glass Element
  • Nano Crystal & Super Integrated Coating
  • Internal Focus; Manual Focus Override
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

Perfect Macro Lens! Featuring Nikon’s exclusive Silent Wave Motor (SWM), 1:1 Magnification Ratio and Vibration Reduction (VR) system, the Nikon 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED VR Micro lens is perhaps the most popular macro lens among full-frame Nikon users and it is ideal for close-up and macro photography yet versatile enough for all photographic situations—even handheld shooting! With its fast f/2.8 aperture, the AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G can produce impeccably sharp images with true-to-life details, even in low light.

Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED Lens at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

2. Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC USD Lens

Product Highlights

  • Nikon F Mount/FX Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/32
  • VC Image Stabilization
  • 1:1 Max. Magnification, 11.8″ Min. Focus
  • One LD and Two XLD Glass Elements
  • eBAND, BBAR, and Fluorine Coatings
  • USD AF Motor, Full-Time Manual Focus
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
  • Moisture-Resistant Construction
  • Compatible with TAP-in Console
  • Affordable price and high-quality design

Highly Recommended! Offering true-life 1:1 magnification with excellent sharpness, VC Image Stabilization and outstanding optical performance at an affordable price, this Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC USD lens benefits working with small and nearby subjects and employs a Floating System for maintained image quality throughout the 11.8″ to infinity focusing range: very sharp, auto focuses quickly and quietly, and shows very little noticeable chromatic aberration. This Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro performs equally well from close-up and macro photogrphy to landscape photography – of course we will list it as one of the best nikon macro lens.

Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro VC USD Lens at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

3. Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM APO Macro Lens

Product Highlights

  • Macro Lens with 1:1 Magnification
  • Focuses to 15″
  • Optical Stabilization (OS) System
  • Maximum aperture of f/2.8
  • Hyper-Sonic Motor (HSM) for Fast, Quiet AF
  • Splash-proof
  • 3 SLD Elements Correct Aberrations
  • For Nikon SLR Cameras

Excellent Macro Lens! The Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM APO Macro lens is a super compact and lightweight large aperture telephoto lens with life-size (1:1) macro capability. This highly optimized lens has an ideal focal length and is equipped with Sigma technology including an Optical Stabilizer (OS), Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) and Super Multi-Layer Coating. The HSM ensures accurate, quiet, high speed autofocusing while the OS compensates for camera shake. Sigma’s OS System (Optical Stabilization) allows handheld photography even in low-light situations. Ideal for close-up and macro shooting.

Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM APO Macro Lens at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

Nikon DX-Format Macro Lenses

4. Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR Lens

Product Highlights

  • F-Mount Lens/DX Format
  • 127.5mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • Aperture Range: f/3.5 to f/32
  • 1:1 Macro Capability
  • Nikon VR II Image Stabilization
  • 1 ED Element; Super Integrated Coating
  • Silent Wave Motor AF System
  • Internal Focus; Manual Focus Override
  • M/A Focus Mode Switch
  • Minimum Focus Distance: 11.3″

Highly recommended! Optimized for DX-format cameras, the compact Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR lens delivers fantastic close-up, macro and even portrait shooting with Vibration Reduction (VR II) image stabilization. Nikon VR II image stabilization provides 3.0 stops of blur free handheld shooting, assuring dramatically sharper still images and HD video capture. Silent Wave Motor (SWM) provides ultra-fast, ultra-quiet internal autofocusing from infinity to life-size (1:1 reproduction ratio). SWM also allows for seamless manual focus override—key when shooting live subjects like insects or flowers. As a DX format lens, it compatible with DX format DSLRs or FX format cameras in DX mode. Its 35mm focal length equivalence is 127.5mm. Ideal for extreme close-up and general photography.

Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR Lens at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

5. Nikon AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G Lens

Product Highlights

  • F Mount Lens/DX Format
  • 60mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to 22
  • 1:1 Magnification Ratio; Macro Close-Ups
  • Super Integrated Coating
  • Silent Wave Motor AF System
  • Close-Range Correction System
  • Manual Focus Override
  • Minimum Focus Distance: 6.4″
  • Rounded 7-Blade Diaphragm

Great macro lens with an affordable price for Nikon DX-format users. This AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G provides high resolution and contrast from infinity to life-size (1X) so that you can focus extra close on your subjects, allowing you to get lost in the tiny details of life. It is ideal for shooting general close-ups, delicate flowers, detailed collectables, copy photography, portraits, landscapes and more. Although it doesn’t feature an image stabilization or focus-limit switches, it has a Close Range Correction system with a floating element that helps image quality remain high at close-focusing distances, and the Super Integrated Coatings help as much light pass through to the sensor as possible.

Nikon AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G Lens at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

6. Nikon AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED Lens

Product Highlights

  • F Mount Lens/FX Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to 32
  • 1:1 Magnification Ratio; Macro Close-Ups
  • One ED Glass and Two Aspherical Elements
  • Nano Crystal & Super Integrated Coating
  • Silent Wave Motor AF System
  • Internal Focus; Manual Focus Override
  • Minimum Focus Distance: 7.3″
  • Filter Diameter: 62mm
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

Compact and versatile, the Nikon AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED lens is perfect for close-up, macro and general photography with a 1:1 reproduction ratio for life-size macro photography and a 7.3″ minimum focus distance. It produces stunning sharpness with beautiful bokeh (background blur) at its wider aperture settings, and with its wide focusing range, the AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED is also useful for portraiture and short telephoto applications. When used on a DX-format DSLR, its 35mm focal length equivalence corresponds to a 90mm lens. Nikon’s exclusive Silent Wave Motor (SWM) enables ultra-fast, ultra-quiet autofocusing performance with seamless manual focus override for increased versatility. And the f/2.8 maximum aperture is effective for low-light imaging and provides shallow depth of field control.

Nikon AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED Lens at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.