If you’ve ever looked at professional photos and thought, I’ll never be able to do that, we’re here to tell you that you can. Well, you can at least get a lot closer thanks to Nikon’s series of professional-grade lenses.
When it comes to photography, a natural ability to see a subject and know exactly how you want to frame it, where to stand to get the best light, and what to look for in the image is a great start. But then there are the tools. That means camera and lenses and that means Nikon. The company is a leader in photography and video around the world thanks to its combination of traditional camera elements with cutting edge technology.
Having a great camera helps to take a great photo, but having a great lens is equally, if not more important. The three lenses we’ve included on our list today from Nikon are fantastic options for those looking to take nature shots, working in low lighting (outdoors and indoors), and shoot portraits. The reason all three of these subjects work so well with Nikon lenses is because of one word: bokeh.
Bokeh, which is based on the Japanese word boke and means “to blur or haze,” is defined by Nikon as “the effect of a soft out-of-focus background that you get when shooting a subject, using a fast lens, at the widest aperture, such as f/2.8 or wider.” You know when you see a picture that has a crisp and clear subject and a beautifully blurring of the background? That’s bokeh. And that’s what you can achieve with these Nikon lenses, which have fast apertures of f/1.8, perfect for photography and for mastering the art of bokeh.
1. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens
Artistic photographers will love the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens, which enables shutterbugs to softly blur backgrounds and isolate subjects for stunning shots.
Pros: Thanks to its f/1.8 maximum aperture, the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens is ideal for shooting in low-light conditions regardless of whether you’re indoors or outdoors, perfect for nature shots. This feature also allows for a soft background blurring effect or bokeh, while bringing foreground to a crisp and clear focus, which is excellent for travel and outdoor and photography. This feature is so fast that many parents also love the lens thanks to its ability to quickly snap candid shots of their little ones. The lens is also great for video, with the Nikon Silent Wave (SWM) providing fast and accurate autofocus that is also quiet, another positive for nature lovers.
Cons: This lens isn’t ideal for wide shots, so large groups or wide angle nature shots will either require a significant distance between the photographer and the subject or a different lens.
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2. Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f1.8G Fixed Lens
Capture shots even when far away with the semi-telephoto Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f1.8G Fixed Lens. The lens boasts an Ultrasonic focus type, as well as autofocus with manual override. Like the 35mm, this lens also has a super-fast f/1.8 aperture that’s great for action shots, bokeh, as well as any low-lighting conditions.
Pros: The Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f1.8G Fixed Lens has many of the same features of the above 35mm, but its 85mm means it’s closer to the telephoto range, making it an excellent option for portrait images and long-distance photography.
Cons: This is the most expensive option on our list.
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3. Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens
Ideal for portraits and everyday use, the Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens has a 50mm focal length on FX cameras and is compatible with DX cameras, translating to a 75mm.
The Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens is a great middle ground for the above two lenses. This lens features a newly developed optical system that has an Aspherical lens element and is optimized for edge to edge sharpness when shooting on FX and DX formats.
Pros: Light and compact, the Nikkor 50mm is great for travelers who want a small lens that comes with autofocus, while also great for video thanks to the silent Nikon Wave Motor.
Cons: Like the first two lenses, this option is also not zoomable.
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