22 Best Budget Nikon Lenses

Are you looking for the best budget Nikon Lenses? If you’re looking for quality lenses on a budget, Nikon has a range of excellent options. Nikon’s catalog is extensive and numerous lenses cater to different levels of experience and budgets. From portrait to telephoto, and macro to wide angle, Nikon is sure to have a lens that fits with your exact needs.

Nikon has been producing cameras, lenses, and other optics since 1917. Since that time both professional and amateur photographers have relied on Nikon for high-quality, reliable equipment. We’re here to walk you through some of the best budget Nikon lenses, so you can find the perfect lens for your needs.

The 22 Best Budget Nikon Lenses

1. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm

The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm is a great budget option for wide angle photographs. This lens does not have the reach of a larger zoom, but it still retains quality at a higher aperture. The lens is lightweight and easy to take on a journey without it becoming an encumbrance.

Pros: It is lightweight, affordable, and perfect for landscape shots.

Cons: It’s not the longest reach.

2. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G is an excellent prime portrait lens. Its fast maximum aperture makes this an excellent choice for lower light conditions. The lens produces very crisp images with nice bokeh, making it perfect for shooting portraits. The autofocus speed on this lens is fast and responsive.

Pros: Excellent Bokeh, sharp images and fast autofocus.

Cons: It has a fixed focal length.

3. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm F/1.4G

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm F/1.4G is an iconic lens. It’s widely used by portrait and wedding photographers, deliveing excellent images with beautiful bokeh. Its large aperture allows you to shoot in low light conditions with ease. This lens is an excellent all-rounder with a price tag that won’t break the bank.

Pros: Sharp pictures, excellent bokeh, and very fast autofocus.

Cons: It is not zoomable, has no image stabilization and is front heavy.

4. Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 16-85mm F/3.5-5.6G

The Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 16-85mm F/3.5-5.6G is a great midrange zoom lens for DX-format cameras. The lens offers a broad range of focal lengths which is great for travel or everyday photography. With its Vibration Reduction technology, it keeps images steady and sharp. The lens also has a close-focus feature that is excellent for up-close shots.

Pros: It has a broad focal range, excellent Vibration Reduction and close-focusing capabilities.

Cons: It can be slow at the maximum aperture.

5. Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6G

The Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6G is an inexpensive lens that is great for everyday photography. It features a reasonably wide focal range and it’s reasonably lightweight. The lens is designed to work with most entry-level Nikon cameras and it has a usable range for portraits and landscapes.

Pros: Lightweight, reasonable range, and good quality for the price.

Cons: It’s not suitable for low light conditions.

6. Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3G

The Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3G is a great travel lens for the budget- conscious photographer. This lens covers an enormous range which is great for capturing a variety of scenes and subjects. The lens is also equipped with Vibration Reduction technology that helps keep shots steady and sharp.

Pros: Huge range, Vibration Reduction, and affordable price.

Cons: Not suitable for low light photography.

7. Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140mm F/3.5-5.6G

The Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140mm F/3.5-5.6G is a great option for mid-range zoom photography. This lens is optimized for DX-format cameras and it offers a wide range of focal lengths. It is also a great option for video production as it features Quiet Wave Motor technology.

Pros: Quiet Wave Motor, great AF speed, and Affordable.

Cons: Not as wide as similar lenses.

8. Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm F/1.8G

The Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm F/1.8G is a great prime lens and is perfect for low light conditions. Its fast aperture and quiet autofocus make it a great option for photos and videos alike. Its wideangle enables you to capture a generous amount of landscape, and it’s small and lightweight, so it’s ideal if you don’t want to be weighed down.

Pros: Fast autofocus, wide-angle, and lightweight.

Cons: Not a zoomable lens.

9. Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-70mm F/3.5-4.5G

The Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-70mm F/3.5-4.5G is a great lens for DX-format cameras for general purpose shooting. It offers a nice range of focal lengths, and its optical design ensures quality images. This lens also offers Nikon’s SWM autofocus motor which makes it fast while being quiet.

Pros: Quiet, fast autofocus and great optics.

Cons: Not suitable for low light shooting.

10. Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 10-20mm F/4.5-5.6G

The Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 10-20mm F/4.5-5.6G is a great budget option for extreme wide angle photography. This lens features optical distortion correction, which helps reduce lens related distortions like softening of images at the corners. It has a relatively fast autofocus, and the lens is lightweight, which makes it great for travel photography.

Pros: Wide angles, distortion correction, and fast AF.

Cons: A bit slow in low light

11. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm F/1.8G

If you’re after a good budget lens for portraiture or general photography, the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm F/1.8G is an excellent option. It features a fast maximum aperture and a silent autofocus. The lens produces excellent bokeh and sharp images that can’t be beaten.

Pros: Fast aperture, silent autofocus and excellent bokeh.

Cons: It is not zoomable.

12. Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm F/1.4D

The Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm F/1.4D is the flagship 50mm lens for Nikon. Not only does it deliver excellent quality images, but the fast maximum aperture makes it ideal for low light photography. This lens remains popular with street and portrait photographers.

Pros: Fast aperture, great for low light photography and good quality.

Cons: It is a bit noisy when focusing.

13. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24mm F/1.4G

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24mm F/1.4G is an excellent prime lens for wide angle shooting. It is perfect for landscape and architecture photography, with its fast maximum aperture giving you great low light performance. The lens also features Nikon’s SWM autofocus which allows you to get sharp focus in any situation.

Pros: Fast maximum aperture, great low light performance and fast autofocus.

Cons: Not a zoomable lens.

14. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm F/4-5.6G

The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm F/4-5.6G is an affordable telephoto lens for DX-format cameras. It is ideal for shooting distant subjects, with its effective image stabilization making it great for handheld shooting. The lens is also lightweight and easy to carry around.

Pros: Lightweight, image stabilization, and affordable price.

Cons: Not as wide as other telephoto lenses.

15. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm F/4.5-5.6

The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm F/4.5-5.6 is an excellent telephoto lens at a great price point. With its Vibration Reduction technology it is great for any handheld shooting situation. It is also reasonably lightweight and perfect for bringing on a photo adventure.

Pros: Lightweight, image stabilization, and affordable price.

Cons: Not as wide as similar lenses.

16. Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm F/4-5.6G

The Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm F/4-5.6G is a great telephoto lens for general usage. Its excellent reach is great for wildlife and sports photography, and its fast autofocus is great for keeping pace with fast moving subjects. The lens is also Feature the Nikon Super Integrated Coating to reduce flares and ghosting.

Pros: Super Integrated Coating, fast autofocus, and long reach.

Cons: Image quality diminishes past 200mm.

17. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80mm F/2.8-4E

The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80mm F/2.8-4E lens is a great mid-range zoom for DX-format cameras. With its fast maximum aperture, it is great for shooting in low light, and its broad range of focal lengths makes it great for capturing a variety of scenes. It is also equipped with Nikon’s SWM AF motor, making it an all-around excellent lens.

Pros: Fast maximum aperture, wide range, and silent autofocus.

Cons: Costly.

18. Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm F/3.5G

The Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm F/3.5G is perfect for capturing detailed close-ups. This lens is ideal for macro photography, as it has a close focusing capability. It also incorporates Nikon’s ED glass elements to give you detailed, crisp images.

Pros: Excellent for close-up shots, ED glass elements, and fast autofocus.

Cons: Not a great for wider shots or for low light photography.

19. Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm F/2.8G

The Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm F/2.8G is an excellent budget lens for macro photography. It has an amazing level of detail, and its close focusing capability makes it a great option for capturing small objects. Its lightweight design is perfect for bringing along on your photo adventures.

Pros: Lightweight, fast autofocus, and close focusing capabilities.

Cons: Not suitable for low light.

20. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm F/5.6E ED VR

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm F/5.6E ED VR is a great budget telephoto lens for wildlife or sports photography. It has a great reach and its image stabilization technology helps reduce camera shake. The lens also has a broad zoom range, making it perfect for capturing a variety of subjects.

Pros: Great reach, image stabilization and broad zoom range.

Cons: It can be heavy and bulky.

21. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm F/1.8G

The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm F/1.8G is a great budget prime lens for DX-format cameras. It has a fast maximum aperture and is perfect for low light photography. The lens also features Nikon’s SWM autofocus motor, ensuring fast and silent autofocus.

Pros: Fast maximum aperture, fast autofocus and lightweight.

Cons: Not a zoomable lens.

22. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5G

The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5G is an excellent wide-angle zoom lens for DX-format cameras. It has a great range of focal lengths and image quality is excellent throughout the range. It also includes Nikon’s SWM autofocus motor and VR Image Stabilization.

Pros: Fast autofocus, excellent image quality, and VR Image Stabilization.

Cons: Not suitable for low light photography.

Final Thoughts On Best Budget Nikon Lenses

The Nikon lineup offers a range of lenses to suit any budget. From wide angle to telephoto and prime to zoom lenses, Nikon has something to suit everyone. Whether you are a beginner or a professional, Nikon has an excellent range of lenses that won’t break the bank.

This list put together the 22 best budget Nikon lenses, and each has its strengths and weaknesses. Choosing the right lens for the job is important, so be sure to read up on each one before you buy.