The Nikon Z5 is a camera that will be the entry point into full-frame shooting for many of you. So most of you are probably hobbyists that care about image quality but want to stay within a reasonable budget when choosing a lens.
If that sounds like you then my top pick, the Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2, will be perfect for you. Keep reading to see more options depending on the type of photography you plan on using your Z5 for the most.
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1. Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8
This lens is an affordable version of the pro-level 24-70mm f/2.8 and gives you nearly the same image quality in a much smaller and lighter body at less than half the cost which makes it the perfect Z5 companion.
The 28-75mm f/2.8 lens in the Z mount lineup is quite impressive. It packs a wide max aperture and a good mid-range focal length into a compact body while still delivering exceptional image quality.
While it does lag behind the much more expensive and larger 24-70mm f/2.8 Z lens in terms of pure sharpness and image quality, it’s the size and cost that makes this lens the top pick and also makes it a great option for Z5 shooters.
If you are familiar with the Tamron 28–75mm f/2.8 for Sony cameras, this is basically the same lens. It seems likely that Nikon collaborated with Tamron to adapt the lens to its Z-mount lineup while maintaining the Nikon branding. However, it happened, it’s a great option for Z5 shooters.
If you add the 17-28mm f/2.8 lens below then you have the perfect combo of lenses for the Z5 that covers a huge focal range with an f/2.8 max aperture. This makes for a perfect small and lightweight kit for the Z5 that covers 90% of the focal ranges you would use for most shooting.
2. Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8
This compact 28mm lens has a nice wide f/2.8 max aperture and its size pairs nicely with the compact Z5 for a great walk-around combo.
This might be my personal favorite lens to carry around with me on a regular basis.
It’s small and lightweight enough that pairing it with the Z5 makes for a very small kit that is perfect for everyday shooting.
If I am taking a Nikon Z5 to a party, a family get-together, or just out with friends, this is the lens I would probably put on the camera. The 28mm focal length is wide enough that you don’t have to back up to get photos of the people around you and is also a great option for getting photos of the area around you.
But 28mm isn’t so wide that photos of people will be distorted.
In addition, the f/2.8 max aperture makes it easier to get shots in low light, especially compared to the kit lenses often found bundled with cameras that have max apertures in the f/4-6.3 range.
However, if the compact size isn’t as important to you and you want a similar focal length with a wider max aperture then this next option will be perfect for you…
3. Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S
The 35mm prime is an often overlooked but extremely useful and versatile prime lens that is small and compact but gives you excellent image quality.
The 35mm f/1.8 is the lens I recommend for many photographers as the next one to get after they get frustrated with their kit lens. It’s inexpensive and compact, and the f/1.8 aperture opens up an entire world of possibilities compared to most kit lenses.
The big factors for choosing this as a great next step are the aperture and cost. Of course, the Z-mount version is more expensive than most 35mm f/1.8 lenses but still on the lower cost end.
The f/1.8 aperture is often a massive difference for anyone that’s never used a lens with a wide maximum aperture like that before. It will allow you to experiment with shallow depth of field as well as shoot in low light.
If you plan to use your Z5 for everyday photography like photographing your kids or get-togethers with friends and family, you’ll be thankful to have the option to use f/1.8, especially in indoor situations. You’ll find that indoor lighting is often far darker than you perceive it with your eyes.
So if you want a little more low light capability than the two options above, then I highly recommend checking out this 35mm lens.
4. Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4
The f/4 version of the 24-70 has excellent image quality and comes in over $1000 less expensive than its f/2.8 counterpart.
I put this lens on the list because it’s a versatile all-around lens, similar to the 28-75mm above. It has a smaller max aperture at f/4 but better sharpness across the frame and optical performance in general. It’s also around the same price as that lens but comes in slightly lighter in weight, but not by much.
This is a good option if you don’t see yourself needing the f/2.8 aperture very much and want improved image quality. For instance, if you plan on using this zoom lens for landscape photography, then the image quality is far more important than the wide max aperture.
The extra 4mm at the wide end is also beneficial for landscape shooting.
I would also recommend this lens over the 28-75mm for shooting landscapes or any other scenes where sharpness across the entire frame is critical. This lens has better sharpness and less chromatic aberration around the edges which will show up more on full-frame than the crop-sensor Z50.
5. Nikon Z 17-28mm f/2.8
This lens is a great companion to the 28-75mm above and shares the same great quality in a small and compact package.