While the wide angle lens is a staple for landscape photographers, the telephoto lens also has a place. Whether you need a telephoto to capture the landscape in the distance that you can’t reach by foot, or if you also photograph wildlife, choosing the right telephoto lens is important.
Here we’ll look at 6 of the top choices for Nikon users. The list is mostly Nikon lenses, but there are some third-party lenses mentioned as well. All of the lenses discussed here are telephoto zooms. Many quality prime lenses available as well, but rating them against each other is a bit more challenging, and the right choice usually comes down to what focal length you need. Nikon offers a few telephoto lenses that are extremely expensive. Since those lenses are out of the budget for even most professionals, we’re only looking at lenses that are less than $3,000.
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The NIKKOR 70-300m f/4.5-5.6 is an excellent lens for the money. It is easily the cheapest lens on this list, which makes it a realistic option for most photographers. While it may not have quite as high performance in low light as the higher-priced lenses we have rated higher, this is a quality lens, especially considering its low price tag. The focal length range of 70-300mm gives you plenty of flexibility and a nice reach that will do for most landscape/nature/wildlife photography. It also is a reasonable weight at 2.5 pounds, and features vibration reduction.
The only third-party lens we have rated in our top six is the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3. This lens gives you extreme flexibility and a great reach with the focal length range of 150-600mm. Not only does it have a long reach, but it also produces high-quality, sharp images. The minimum aperture goes all the way to f/32-40, depending on the focal length you are using. This lens is priced reasonably, and considerably lower than the top-rated lens on our list. At 4.38 pounds it is quite heavy. The Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM is another good option, although more expensive. For a lower-priced option, you could go with the older generation version of this lens.
Want a long reach with a Nikon lens? This one is a great option. With a focal length range of 200-500mm this lens offers a lot of versatility and reaches longer than either of our top three lenses. This lens also offers a constant max aperture, excellent image quality and sharpness, along with vibration reduction. At 4.6 pounds it is the heaviest lens on our list.
The NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 offers an excellent focal length range that will meet the needs of most landscape/nature/wildlife photographers in a telephoto zoom lens. The quality of image and sharpness, as you would expect from a Nikon lens of this caliber, is excellent. The max aperture varies from f/4.5 to f/5.6, and the minimum aperture varies from f/32 to f/40.
This lens is comparable to our top-rated lens, the 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR. The main difference is the max aperture of this lens is f/4 as compared to the max of f/2.8 on our top-rated lens. If you primarily shoot landscapes this is likely not an issue, making this lens an excellent choice and a great value. The f/4 is also lighter and offers a minimum aperture of f/32 as compared to f/22. The 70-200mm f/2.8E is a newer lens (E vs. G), so there are some slight quality improvements, but the f/4 is still an excellent lens and a better choice for the money for some photographers.
That brings us to our top-rated telephoto lens for Nikon users, the NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8. This is an excellent quality lens (it’s also the most expensive one listed here) that consistently produces sharp images. It’s a favorite of many photographers and can be useful for a variety of different types of photography. The focal length range of 70-200mm doesn’t give you as much reach as the other lenses we have rated #3- #6, but it is enough for most landscape photography needs. Additionally, you can use a teleconverter with the lens if you need to extend the focal length.
If you like the 70-200mm focal length range but can’t afford the price tag of this lens, there are a few other options. First, you could go for the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II which will save you a few hundred dollars for the older generation 70-200mm. Another option is to go with a third-party equivalent. The Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 and the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO OS HSM are quality lens that are significantly cheaper.
There are a few factors that you’ll need to keep in mind when deciding on a telephoto lens. Budget is something you will, of course, want to consider, and it may dictate your options. There is a huge variance in price from our #6 to #1 rated lenses. While the expensive lenses cost more for a reason, all of the lenses on this list are capable of producing quality photos. If you’re a professional you’ll want to push your budget to get the best possible, but hobbyists are usually more limited by price. Going with the older generation of lens in some cases will still allow you to get a quality lens at a lower price. The third-party lenses also are generally priced lower than the Nikon equivalents.
Don’t forget to consider the maximum aperture that you need or want. For example, our number 1 rated lens offers a max aperture of f/2.8, but for landscape photographers that may not even be a big deal. Don’t pay hundreds more for something that won’t impact you. On the other hand, if it is important to you, you will want to key in on lenses that match your needs and wants.
There is also a great difference between focal length ranges. The lenses on this list reach anywhere from 200mm to 600mm, which is obviously a big difference. What will you be using the lens for? For wildlife or sports you may need more reach than if you are just shooting landscapes.
Make the choice that is right for you.
Are you a Canon user? See our Reviews of the Best Telephoto Lenses for Canon DSLRs.
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Great list and rating order!
Thanks Patrick