Best Pick

Nikon NIKKOR AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR 55-300mm

71 Video/Cinema Score
55-300mm f/4.5 Nikon F IS
Why we recommend this

Its compact design, thanks to a High Refractive Index element, delivers a 5.5x telephoto range up to 300mm with VR II stabilization providing 4 stops of shake reduction. The certified refurbished status offers a budget-friendly entry point with the same optical quality, including two ED glass elements and a Silent Wave Motor for quiet autofocus. Best for Nikon DX DSLR owners seeking a lightweight, affordable lens for outdoor sports, wildlife, and travel photography where handheld shooting demands stabilization.

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Great Alternatives

These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs

Sigma Art 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM 28mm

66.8 Video/Cinema Score
28mm 16 Nikon F Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

Combining an f/1.4 maximum aperture with 17 elements—including 3 aspherical and 5 ED glass—the lens delivers sharp, edge-to-edge clarity and strong contrast. Its weather-sealed barrel and HSM autofocus provide reliable, quiet performance in dusty or damp environments. It's best for landscape and street photographers who routinely shoot wide-open in low light and need a rugged, fast 28mm prime.

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Sigma Art 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM 28mm lens
Price CA$160

Yongnuo YN35mm F2N 35mm

60.2 Video/Cinema Score
35mm f/2 Nikon F IS
Why we recommend this

A bright f/2 aperture and 7-blade diaphragm produce soft background blur and 14-point sunstars, while USB firmware updates keep the 318g metal-mount lens compatible with modern Nikon DSLRs. Full electronic compatibility—autofocus, manual focus, live view, and EXIF data—on full-frame and APS-C bodies adds practical value at its low price. This affordable prime suits Nikon DSLR shooters focused on macro-style close-ups and shallow depth-of-field portraits rather than landscapes.

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Tamron SP SP 45mm f/1.8 Di VC USD 45mm

59.8 Video/Cinema Score
45mm 16 Nikon F IS Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

VC image stabilization, weather sealing, and an f/1.8 aperture in a compact 115g prime lens make it a standout for Nikon F full-frame systems. Its optical formula, with two aspherical and one ED element plus eBAND and BBAR coatings, ensures sharpness and supports close-focusing to 1:3.4 magnification. Best for portrait and street photographers who need a stabilized, lightweight normal prime for detail-rich environmental shots.

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Rokinon 20mm f/1.8 ED AS UMC 20mm

56.6 Video/Cinema Score
20mm f/1.8 Nikon F
Why we recommend this

The bright f/1.8 aperture and 20mm focal length, combined with two aspherical and three ED elements, produce sharp, aberration-controlled images on full-frame Nikon F cameras. Its 485g manual focus design focuses down to 7.9 inches, and the 7-blade rounded diaphragm with Ultra Multi-Coating creates smooth bokeh while resisting flare. This lens suits astrophotographers and portrait shooters who prioritize a fast wide-angle perspective and hands-on control without needing autofocus.

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Rokinon 20mm f/1.8 ED AS UMC 20mm lens
Price CA$547

Samyang 16mm f/2.0 ED AS UMC CS 16mm

53.2 Video/Cinema Score
16mm f/2 Nikon F
Why we recommend this

A bright f/2.0 maximum aperture and optics with two aspherical and one extra-low dispersion element produce sharp, flare-resistant images in this manual-focus wide-angle lens. The 24mm equivalent perspective and precise focus ring provide deliberate control for deep depth-of-field landscapes and low-light scenes. Astrophotographers and Nikon APS-C landscape shooters looking for an affordable, fast prime will find it a sturdy, no-compromise option.

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Samyang 16mm f/2.0 ED AS UMC CS 16mm lens
Price CA$512

Nikon HPL-N

53.2 Video/Cinema Score
Nikon F IS
Why we recommend this

This 0.25mm pinhole lens projects a soft-focus, vignette-heavy image with unlimited depth of field onto any Nikon F-mount DSLR, producing the distinct Holga lo-fi look straight out of camera. Weighing just 50g and needing no batteries or software, it mounts directly for film-free photographs without developing costs or hassle. It suits experimental photographers and street shooters who value immediate, analog-inspired character over sharpness and technical precision.

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IRIX Dragonfly 45mm f/1.4 45mm

52.7 Video/Cinema Score
45mm f/1.4 Nikon F Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

A fast f/1.4 aperture combined with one aspherical and four HR elements delivers sharp, low-light imagery with controlled aberrations on full-frame Nikon F bodies. Its Dragonfly weather-sealed construction and focus lock mechanism provide a robust, tactile shooting experience in harsh conditions. This lens is best for portrait photographers who prioritize deliberate manual focus and shallow depth of field over autofocus speed.

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Laowa Zero-D 14mm f/4 14mm

48 Video/Cinema Score
14mm f/4 Nikon F
Why we recommend this

Its 14mm focal length provides a 114° angle of view with near-zero distortion, achieved through two aspherical and two extra-low dispersion elements. The lens weighs just 360g and features a calibratable focusing scale for precise manual focus, while its 5.7-inch minimum focus distance enables strong foreground emphasis. This is ideal for architectural and landscape photographers who need a compact, distortion-free ultra-wide prime with manual control.

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Tokina atx-i atx-i 11-16mm f/2.8 CF 16mm

46.3 Video/Cinema Score
11-16mm 22 Nikon F
Why we recommend this

With a constant f/2.8 aperture across its 11-16mm zoom range, this lens uses two aspherical and two low-dispersion elements to suppress aberrations for sharp, consistent brightness. Its multi-coated optics minimize flare and ghosting, while the One-Touch Focus Clutch allows instant switching between autofocus and manual focus. It is best suited for landscape, architecture, and interior photographers on Nikon F-mount APS-C cameras who shoot in available light.

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Tokina 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 AT-X 107 DX AF Fisheye 17mm

45.4 Video/Cinema Score
17mm f/3.5 Nikon F
Why we recommend this

Offering a rare zoom range for a fisheye, this lens covers 10-17mm on Nikon DX bodies with an f/3.5-4.5 aperture, enabling both extreme wide views and tighter compositions. At just 349g with a 140mm minimum focus and 1:2.56 max magnification, it doubles as a light, creative macro tool with a solid 4.5-star user rating. This lens suits APS-C shooters who want a playful, close-focusing fisheye for experimental portraits and close-ups rather than traditional landscape work.

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Tokina 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 AT-X 107 DX AF Fisheye 17mm lens
Price CA$547

Kase 200mm f/5.6 MC Reflex Mirror 200mm

44.2 Video/Cinema Score
200mm f/5.6 Nikon F
Why we recommend this

Its catadioptric design delivers a 200mm telephoto reach in a remarkably compact 384g body, while the multicoated optical glass and fixed f/5.6 aperture produce a distinctive donut-shaped bokeh for full-frame Nikon F sensors. The all-manual, mirror-based construction eliminates chromatic aberration and offers a unique rendering at a budget-friendly price point. This lens is best for portrait photographers and outdoor enthusiasts who prioritize lightweight portability and creative bokeh effects over autofocus speed.

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Tokina SZX SZX 400mm f/8 Reflex MF 400mm

40.8 Video/Cinema Score
400mm f/8 Nikon F
Why we recommend this

Weighing just 355g, this catadioptric lens delivers 400mm full-frame coverage with a fixed f/8 aperture and includes a 2x extender for 800mm reach. Its 1:2.5 maximum magnification at 45.3 inches enables near-macro close-ups, while the mirror design produces distinctive ring-shaped out-of-focus highlights. Best for budget-conscious hobbyists shooting portraits or video who want an ultralight manual-focus super-telephoto with creative bokeh and extended reach.

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Samyang AF MF 85mm f/1.4 WS Mk2 85mm

40.7 Video/Cinema Score
85mm 22 Nikon F Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

The Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 F pairs a bright f/1.4 aperture with a lightweight 480g body, weather sealing, and one aspherical plus one ED element for sharpness. Its Ultrasonic Dual Linear AF motor and nine-blade diaphragm deliver quiet, smooth bokeh at a price significantly below first-party 85mm lenses, as reflected by its strong budget scores. This lens is ideal for Nikon F-mount portrait and event photographers who demand a fast, portable telephoto prime that can handle dusty or damp conditions.

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Samyang AF MF 85mm f/1.4 WS Mk2 85mm lens
Price CA$682

Yasuhara Momo 100 43mm f/6.4 Soft Focus 43mm

36.4 Video/Cinema Score
43mm f/6.4 Nikon F
Why we recommend this

Its 43mm focal length, fixed f/6.4 aperture, and 2-element soft-focus optical design produce intentionally dreamy, low-contrast images on full-frame Nikon F cameras. Weighing just 123g in a pancake form factor with 37mm filter threads, it’s among the most compact dedicated soft-focus lenses you can carry. It suits street photographers and portrait shooters who want a lightweight, manual-focus lens that renders a distinctive vintage soft-focus look.

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IRIX Blackstone 15mm f/2.4 Blackstone 15mm

34 Video/Cinema Score
15mm 22 Nikon F Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

The 15mm f/2.4 prime uses 15 elements including two aspherical, two ED, and Neutrino coating to suppress aberrations and flare, all in a weather-sealed magnesium housing with damped manual focus. Luminous depth-of-field markings and a 1:2 maximum magnification enable low-light precision, while its 95mm front and rear gelatin filter support attachment flexibility. It’s best for Nikon F landscape and architectural photographers who need a durable, all-weather ultra-wide prime with critical manual focus control.

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