The Nikon Z6 III is an upgrade from it’s predecessor that boasts a brand new partially stacked sensor and the EXPEED7 processor that makes it a lot faster and also well suited to video shooting. At 24.5 megapixels, it doesn’t have the high resolution of its more expensive counterparts, but it handles like a pro camera body and is well suited for many different types of photography.
So if you own this body then you should consider investing in some high-quality lenses.
That is why my top pick is the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8.
Keep reading to find out why I didn’t pick a Nikon lens and to see more options based on the type of photography you shoot most with your Nikon Z6III.
What to join a discussion about this topic? Click Here to share your top picks.
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1. Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2
This Tamron lens is almost identical to its Nikon counterpart and delivers exceptional image quality and a wide consistent max aperture that works for pro photos and hobbyists alike at a very reasonable price.
The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 lens is both impressive optically and comes in at an impressively affordable price. But it’s not the price alone that made it the top pick.
This is my top pick because of the combination of versatility, image quality, and relatively compact size.
Overall, this lens takes the place of the 24-70mm f/2.8 found in many professional’s bags (more on that below). It is probably the most used focal length range you’ll use which means if you’re looking for one lens to pair with your Z6III then this is a great place to start.
You can shoot anything from wide-angle landscapes to longer focal-length portraits with this lens. Plus the f/2.8 max aperture means you’ll have a lot of control over depth of field for great looking bokeh and have the ability to shoot in low light.
But let’s talk about image quality and how it stacks up to the much more expensive Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8…
In the center of the frame you’ll get almost perfect image quality and sharpness out of this lens. It’s actually really good on the edges too but the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 does a little better on the edges, especially at the widest apertures (but it’s rare you ever need edge sharpness at wide apertures unless you’re shooting something like astrophotography).
So you can rest assured you’re getting near top of the line image quality out of this lens.
In addition, the autofocus is exceptional as well. It easily handled moving subjects in my testing and is certainly fast enough to capture fast moving kids or even sports.
On top of all that, this lens comes in lighter and smaller than the 24-70mm f/2.8 from Nikon.
Upgrade Option #1: There is a Nikon branded version of this exact same lens that many believe is simply the Tamron optics in a Nikon branded shell. It comes in at a higher MSRP ($1,199.95) but gives you slightly better build quality (and you may be able to find it some places at the same price as the Tamron).
Upgrade Option #2: If you want a professional quality lens at this focal range that is almost perfect optically and are willing to spend the premium to get it, you can’t beat the Nikon 24-70 f/2.8 S lens. This is the lens for pros that aren’t concerned about budget.
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 Z6III as 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 Z6III makes for a very small setup that is perfect for everyday shooting.
If I am taking a Nikon Z6III 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 prime lens with a wider max aperture then this next option will be perfect for you…
3. Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S
The 50mm lens should be a staple in every photographer’s bag and this upgrade to the nifty-fifty is the ultimate prime lens that is perfect for your Z6III.
As a Z6III owner, you’re looking to level up your photo quality and a high-end prime can do just that. Prime lenses generally outperform zoom lenses in all aspects of image quality. The 50mm f/1.2 is one of the best in the Z mount lineup.
Sure, you could go for the old classic, 50mm f/1.8, but that’s not all that exciting. The f/1.2 aperture can give you a focal plane of only 10″ from 10 feet away. This means the ability to shoot with beautiful bokeh in any situation.
The f/1.2 aperture also means beautiful low-light photography without having to increase the ISO. So your night photos will be cleaner and sharper.
Any wide-aperture lens like this is a massive difference for anyone that’s never used one. It will allow you to experiment with shallow depth of field as well as shoot in low light much better than any kit lens.
Affordable Option: If the $2099.95 MSRP is a bit too steep for you and you don’t need the f/1.2 max aperture then Nikon’s “nifty fifty” Z 50mm f/1.8 S lens is also an excellent lens optically and is much more affordable.
If you plan to use your Z6III 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/1.2, especially in indoor situations.
But this lens may be a little too limiting in focal length to shoot landscapes, so if that’s what you shoot most often, then this next option may be for you…
4. Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4
This lens has everything a landscape photographer needs, great sharpness and color, a compact but rugged build, and the ability to use standard 82mm filters.
You might be surprised that I chose this lens over the more expensive 14-24mm f/2.8 S lens. There are three reasons for that.
First, this lens is over $1000 cheaper than the f/2.8 version and still exceptionally sharp. Second, it is lighter and more compact, which you’ll appreciate if you end up hiking to any landscape location carrying your gear on your back.
Third, and arguably the most significant is that this is the rare zoom lens that lets you shoot as wide as 14mm and still use conventional 82mm filters. If you shoot landscapes for any length of time, you want to start using filters to help control glare and cut down on light for long exposures and it can be quite frustrating to need an entirely different set of filters just for one lens.
This lens makes it possible to have a single set of filters for all your lenses. The time and money you save on that alone make this lens worth it.
I wouldn’t worry too much about the f/4 max aperture either. It’s rare that you would ever use a wide aperture like that for shooting landscapes. If you shoot astrophotography and need a wide aperture then you would be better off with a prime lens like the Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8.
5. Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8
Possibly the best telephoto zoom lens on the market today. This updated version of the classic 70-200mm f/2.8 lens is even better than the previous one.
This is simply an excellent telephoto lens with really few negatives. It may be the best 70-200mm f/2.8 lens I’ve ever used.
The handling is everything you would expect from a professional lens from Nikon. Although large, it’s actually smaller and lighter than many DLR versions of the 70-200. But the build quality feels very solid and it is well weather sealed.
You’re going to get edge to edge sharpness at just about every aperture with this lens. Even wide open at f/2.8 I saw very little sharpness loss around the edges. Stopped down even a little its flawless from edge to edge.
The autofocus is very fast (as you would expect for a lens like this). It uses an ultra-quiet stepping motor (STM), so autofocusing is fast, silent and incredibly accurate.
A surprising benefit of this lens is that at 70mm, focus can be achieved as close as 0.5m from the subject, something virtually unheard of in a telephoto zoom of this focal range.
Affordable Option: If the $2,699.95 MSRP is more than you want to spend on a lens in this focal range, there’s also the Nikon Z 70-180mm f/2.8, which may fall short of the near perfect image quality of it’s more expensive sibling, but will save you over $1400.
6. Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S
The Z version of the popular 85mm f/1.8 is a lens that should be in the bag of every photographer that likes to photograph people.
The Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 has all of the same benefits as the 50mm version, but if you are shooting a lot of portrait photography, then the 85mm is a perfect focal length for portraits.
By using a longer focal length, you’ll be able to stand farther away from your subject while still filling the frame. This adds something called compression in photography, which helps to give a more flattering look to people.
This is the focal length that I use in the majority of my individual and group portrait sessions.
Of course, the longer focal length also can be somewhat limiting for everyday use. So keep that in mind. This lens is great as a second or third option for the Z6III while the ones at the top of this list are more versatile and good for everyday use.
7. Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD
With a huge focal length range and great sharpness, this lens is has the reach for shooting things like sports but also the range on the wide end to make it a “do everything” carry around lens.
Normally, I tend to avoid “super zooms” like this. In order to have such a wide focal length range there usually have to be compromises in terms of image quality and sharpness, but that is not the case with this lens at all.
Overall, this is one of the most useful lenses I have ever used and it can be found for a very affordable price. I recently took it on a trip to the zoo and despite bringing other lenses, I used this one all day.
I was quite impressed with the sharpness at all apertures and found the compact size of the lens makes it a great option to leave on your camera when you
The 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 VC is incredibly compact with a length of just 183.4mm (7.2in) and a weight of 1,155g (40.7oz). In fact, this lens is both smaller and lighter than the Nikon Z 100-400mm lens.
The f/4.5-6.3 max aperture can be somewhat limiting at times, especially if you want to shoot moving subjects in low light situations. But this lens has great vibration control which helps you use slower shutter speeds for still subjects and the Nikon Z6III handles higher ISO settings pretty well, so you can always use the ISO in those situations.
Upgrade Option: If you are less concerned about budget and want a wider max aperture and an improvement in sharpness across the frame then you may want to check out the Nikon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S lens. It’s a little bigger and heavier but in addition to better specs, you’ll also get a better build quality as well.
Lenses To Avoid
The truth is that there really aren’t any bad Z-mount lenses.
You can also use the adapter to put F-mount lenses on this camera so be sure to check out my complete guide to the best Nikon lenses.
But there are a couple I wouldn’t recommend for the Z6III…
Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S
This is an exceptional lens when it comes to image quality, sharpness, and contrast. But I’m not listing it here because it’s bad, I’m actually listing it here because it’s a little too good.
The reality is that you can get almost the same performance for half the price with the 14-30mm f/4 listed above.
The f/2.8 maximum aperture is less useful on a wide-angle lens like this than it is on mid-range and telephoto lenses. At a 14mm field of view, you aren’t going to get much bokeh even when shooting at f/2.8.
If you want a lens for shooting wide-angle portraiture or need the wide maximum aperture for astrophotography, you would probably be better off with either the Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 which is a prime lens with an even wider max aperture and excellent image quality.
You will also need 112mm screw-in lens filters if you use them in your photography, compared to the 14-30mm f/4 that will take 82mm filters that you can use on all your lenses.
Overall, it is admittedly a great lens but wildly overkill for a 24.3-megapixel camera like the Z6III.
Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR
I am not a fan of “super-zooms” like this that cover a huge focal length range.
Yes, you can get a “do everything” lens but you’re making sacrifices on the image quality and the aperture to get such a huge focal length range.
