Note that this section is a work in progress on the dslrbodies site. I've been wanting to rework my lens reviews for some time, and have slowly begun the process of doing so. This section will expand on regular basis as I get any older reviews brought up to the standards required by 24mp DX and 36mp FX bodies.
Here are the redone or new reviews of Nikon F-mount lenses for DSLRs (old reviews not yet updated can be accessed further down this page):
Lenses I recommend have the word Recommended along with the years in which that applied somewhere near the end of my review. Why do some lenses stop being recommended after a certain year? Typically it means that either new cameras came out for which the lens doesn't perform as well, or that new lenses came out that rendered the current lens as no longer being one I'd buy.
A good case in point was the 200-400mm, which I recommended (with some distance reservations) for a few years. But the appearance of the 70-300mm AF-P, the 200-500mm f/5.6E, and the 180-400mm f/4E, taken together, mean there's a better choice for you in that bunch than the 200-400mm f/4G. Moreover, the distance acuity on the high pixel density cameras we have now is also more acute.
FX Lens Ratings
Ratings of many current FX lenses:
✭ Terrible; definitely not recommended; almost all competitive products are better
✭✭ Below average or below current expectations; make sure you are comfortable with this before proceeding
✭✭✭ Average; as expected; you’re getting a product that meets current expectations; matches current competitive products
✭✭✭✭ Above average; better than you’d expect; this product goes beyond that of the average product it would compete against
✭✭✭✭✭ Phenomenal or exceptional; virtually no competitive product matches this one
Remember, average should be just that when considering all the products it is up against. Most products should be in the average category, few in the extreme categories.
(Check the modification date at the bottom of the page to see when these were last updated, but I do try to update this page regularly as state-of-the-art changes):
Features:
- 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5 ✭✭✭
- 14-24mm f/2.8G AF-S ✭✭✭
- 16-35mm f/4G AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 17-35mm f/2.8D AF-S ✭✭✭
- 18-35mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S ✭✭✭
- 20mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭
- 24mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭
- 24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S ✭✭✭
- 24-70mm f/2.8E AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 24-120mm f/4G AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 28mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭
- 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 35mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭
- 50mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭
- 58mm f/1.4G AF-S ✭✭✭
- 85mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭
- 105mm f/1.4E AF-S ✭✭✭
- 105mm f/2.8G AF-S Micro-Nikkor ✭✭✭✭
- 70-200mm f/2.8E FL AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭✭
- 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S VR II ✭✭✭✭
- 70-200mm f/4G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E AF-P VR ✭✭✭✭
- 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 120-300mm f/2.8E AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 200mm f/2G or E ✭✭✭✭✭
- 180-400mm f/4E AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭✭
- 200-400mm f/4G AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 200-500mm f/5.6 AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 300mm f/4E AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 400mm f/2.8G or E ✭✭✭✭✭
- 500mm f/4G or E ✭✭✭✭✭
- 500mm f/5.6E PF VR ✭✭✭✭✭
Performance:
- 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5 ✭✭✭✭
- 14-24mm f/2.8G AF-S ✭✭✭✭✭ (with minor reservations)
- 16-35mm f/4G AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭ (with minor reservations)
- 17-35mm f/2.8D AF-S VR ✭✭ (almost makes three)
- 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G AF-S ✭✭✭✭
- 20mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭✭✭
- 24mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭✭✭
- 24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S ✭✭✭ (downgraded w/ new version)
- 24-70mm f/2.8E AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 24-120mm f/4 AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 28mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭✭
- 35mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭✭
- 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 50mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭✭ (barely)
- 58mm f/1.4G AF-S ✭✭✭✭
- 85mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭✭
- 105mm f/1.4E AF-S ✭✭✭✭✭
- 105mm f/2.8G AF-S Micro-Nikkor ✭✭✭✭
- 70-200mm f/2.8E FL AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭ (almost makes five)
- 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S VR II ✭✭✭✭
- 70-200mm f/4G AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E AF-P VR ✭✭✭✭
- 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 120-300mm f/2.8E AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭✭
- 200mm f/2G ✭✭✭✭✭
- 180-400mm f/4E AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭✭ (minor reservations with TC)
- 200-400mm f/4G AF-S VR ✭✭✭ (reservations at distance)
- 200-500mm f/5.6E AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 300mm f/4E PF AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 400mm f/2.8G or E ✭✭✭✭✭
- 500mm f/4G or E ✭✭✭✭
- 500mm f/5.6E PF AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
Value:
- 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ✭✭✭✭
- 14-24mm f/2.8G AF-S ✭✭✭
- 16-35mm f/4G AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 17-35mm f/2.8D AF-S VR ✭✭
- 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5 AF-S ✭✭✭✭
- 20mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭✭
- 24mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭✭
- 24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S ✭✭ (maybe ✭✭✭ for some people at new price)
- 24-70mm f/2.8E AF-S VR ✭✭ (maybe ✭✭✭ for a few people)
- 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 24-120mm f/4G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 28mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭
- 35mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭✭
- 50mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭✭✭
- 58mm f/1.4G AF-S ✭✭
- 85mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭✭
- 105mm f/1.4E AF-S ✭✭✭
- 105mm f/2.8G AF-S Micro-Nikkor ✭✭✭
- 70-200mm f/2.8E FL AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S VR II ✭✭✭
- 70-200mm f/4G AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E AF-P VR ✭✭✭✭✭ (a rare Nikon true bargain)
- 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 120-300mm f/2.8E ✭✭✭
- 200mm f/2G ✭✭✭
- 180-400mm f/4E AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 200-400mm f/4G AF-S VR ✭✭
- 200-500mm f/5.6E AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 300mm f/4E PF AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 400mm f/2.8G or E ✭✭✭
- 500mm f/4G or E ✭✭✭
- 500mm f/5.6E PF ✭✭✭✭
DX Lens Ratings
Features:
- 10.5mm f/2.8G fisheye ✭✭
- 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G AF-S ✭✭✭
- 12-24mm f/4G AF-S ✭✭✭
- 16-80mm f/2.8-4E AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 17-55mm f/2.8G AF-S ✭✭
- 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 35mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭
- 40mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor AF-S ✭✭
- 55-200mm f/4-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G AF-P VR ✭✭✭
- 85mm f/3.5G Micro-Nikkor AF-S VR ✭✭✭
Performance:
- 10.5mm f/2.8G fisheye ✭✭✭
- 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G AF-S ✭✭✭ (downgraded due to 24mp cameras)
- 12-24mm f/4G AF-S ✭✭✭ (downgraded due to 24mp cameras)
- 16-80mm f/2.8-4E AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
- 17-55mm f/2.8G AF-S ✭✭✭
- 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭ (downgraded due to 24mp cameras; use II model instead)
- 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭ (downgraded due to 24mp cameras)
- 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭ (barely)
- 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭ (downgraded due to 24mp cameras)
- 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭ (barely)
- 35mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭✭✭
- 40mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor AF-S ✭✭✭✭
- 55-200mm f/4-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭ (downgraded due to 24mp cameras)
- 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G AF-P VR ✭✭✭
- 85mm f/3.5G Micro-Nikkor AF-S VR ✭✭✭✭
Value:
- 10.5mm f/2.8G fisheye ✭✭
- 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G AF-S ✭✭✭
- 12-24mm f/4G AF-S ✭✭✭
- 16-80mm f/2.8-4E AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 17-55mm f/2.8G AF-S ✭✭
- 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭
- 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 35mm f/1.8G AF-S ✭✭✭✭✭
- 40mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor AF-S ✭✭ (not an overly useful lens)
- 55-200mm f/4-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR ✭✭✭
- 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G AF-P VR ✭✭✭
- 85mm f/3.5G Micro-Nikkor AF-S VR ✭✭✭
