Best Nikon Lenses for Fashion Photography
The best Nikon lenses for fashion photography are the 2 following lenses:
For Nikon DSLRs: Nikon 24-70mm F2.8G ED VR
For Nikon Mirrorless Cameras: Nikon Z 24-70mm F/2.8 S
Both these Nikon lenses offer excellent focal lengths, are made of extremely high quality glass, and are ideal for fashion photography, as well as a number of other genres of photography like portraits and weddings.
If you’re interested in seeing some other options that can be considered the best Nikon lens for fashion photography, including some budget friendly options, read on!
Table of Contents
What is the Best Nikon Lens for Fashion Photography?
All of the best Nikon lenses for fashion photography will have a few things in common:
- The ability to capture sharp images
- Proper focal lengths (somewhere in the rage of 24mm – 85mm)
- A wide aperture (low F number)
The combination of these 3 factors will help to capture the best possible fashion photography images.
Best Nikon Lenses for Fashion Photography: Top DSLR Options
Nikon 24-70mm F2.8G ED VR
Featured in our article What Lens Should Every Photographer Have, this is easily one of Nikon’s best lenses available today. This lens is excellent for a lot of different types of photography.
It produces very high quality images across the board and is one of those lenses that you can purchase once and use for the next decade, regardless of what genre you photograph.
Pros:
- Premier Nikon lens
- Excellent build quality
- Very sharp
- Great bokeh
- Superb image quality
Cons:
- Slightly expensive
Nikon 58mm F/1.4G
One of Nikon’s best prime lenses and a top lens for fashion photography. It’s more expensive that the 50mm prime listed below in our budget section, but you’ll be able to see a large difference in the build and image quality.
Pros:
- Excellent image quality
- Very sharp
- Great bokeh
- Top build quality
Cons:
- Only one focal length
Nikon 85mm F/1.4G
The Nikon 85mm f1.4 is an absolute favorite amongst Nikon photographers due to the extremely sharp images it produces and the world class bokeh.
It’s ideal for those more intimate settings and details shots which are common in fashion photography. Prime lenses aren’t for everyone, but it will captures some amazing images if you enjoy primes.
Pros:
- Excellent image quality
- Very sharp
- Great bokeh
- Top build quality
Cons:
- Only one focal length
Best Nikon Lenses for Fashion Photography: Top Mirrorless Options
Nikon Z 24-70mm F/2.8 S
Very similar to the DSLR version listed above, this Z 24-70mm is easily one of Nikon’s best lenses available today. It’s excellent for a lot of different types of photography, including fashion, wedding, and portrait photography.
It produces very high quality images across the board and is one of those lenses that you can purchase once and use for the next decade, regardless of what genre you photograph.
Pros:
- Premier Nikon lens
- Excellent build quality
- Ideal focal lengths
- Superb image quality
Cons:
- Slightly expensive
Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8
Somewhat similar to the Z 24-70mm f2.8 listed directly above, but slightly lacking in the finer finishes that come with the classic 24-70mm.
This is a good option for those looking to save some money since it does come in at quite a bit less than the 24-70mm f2.8. You’ll suffer a bit of image quality loss, but it’s a very attractive price.
Pros:
- Good value for price to quality ratio
- Ideal focal lengths
Cons:
- Not as good image quality as the 24-70mm f2.8
Best Nikon Lens for Fashion Photography: Budget Options
Nikon 50mm F/1.8G
The best affordable option from Nikon. This Nikon 50mm f1.8 will produce some sharp images, some really beautiful bokeh, and come in at an extremely affordable price.
However, it can be considered an intro level lens and ideally will be paired with another lens of a different focal length. It’s ideal for a beginner that isn’t sure whether they want to fully dedicate themselves to fashion photography.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Sharp images
- Nice bokeh
Cons:
- Cheap build quality
- Limited to one focal length
Nikon 24-120mm F/4G ED VR
This 24-120mm f4 lens is one that you can consider a budget friendly, all-in-one type photography lens. It’s great for those that don’t have a big budget and want to use the lens for other genres as well.
Although it won’t produce the sharpest images and it’s not the best in low light, it’s focal lengths and overall quality make it a worthy budget option.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Solid image quality
- All-in-one answer for photography
- Decent value for price
Cons:
- Will probably want to upgrade eventually
- Can be considered a “starter” lens
Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR (Mirrorless)
This Z 24-200mm f4-6.3 lens is one that you can consider a budget friendly, all-in-one type photography lens that can be great for fashion photography.
Although it won’t produce the sharpest images and it’s not the best in low light, it’s focal lengths and overall quality make it a very worthy budget option.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Solid image quality
- All-in-one answer for photography
- Decent value for price
Cons:
- Will probably want to upgrade eventually
- F2.8 would be ideal
NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S (Mirrorless)
This Z 50mm f1.8 lens is the mirrorless version of the 50mm listed above.
It absolutely can capture some good images but some may consider it a starter type lens. You also need to be comfortable using a prime lens, but this can be a good option for the very budget conscious.
Pros:
- Very inexpensive
- Solid image quality
Cons:
- Will probably want to upgrade eventually
- Only one focal length
Recommendations on the Best Nikon Lenses for Fashion Photography
If you photograph using a Nikon DSLR, we highly recommend the Nikon 24-70mm F2.8G ED VR. If you shoot mirrorless, then we recommend the Nikon Z 24-70mm F/2.8 S.
Both are extremely high quality lenses and can easily be considered the best Nikon lenses for fashion photography.
If you are looking for a budget option, then we recommend the Nikon 50mm F/1.8G. As long as you’re ok with using a prime lens, there is no better option for such a low price.
Finally, check out our Gear page to read more articles just like this with up-to-date product reviews for gear across all photography genres.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Nikon lens is best for fashion photography?
If you photograph using a Nikon DSLR, we highly recommend the Nikon 24-70mm F2.8G ED VR. If you shoot mirrorless, then we recommend the Nikon Z 24-70mm F/2.8 S.
Which camera lens is best for fashion photography?
Any lens that can capture sharp photos will be good for fashion photography, but the ideal lens is a classic 24-70mm f2.8.
What lenses do editorial photographers use?
Although there are many different lenses that editorial photographers use depending on their camera and their subjects, the classic 24-70mm f2.8 is very common amongst professionals.