Best Nikon Lenses for Wide-Angled Photography

Last Updated on: 22nd February 2023, 06:07 am

Wide-angle photography is a great way to capture stunning landscapes, beautiful cityscapes, and more. Nikon lenses for wide-angle photography provide a wide field of view, making them a great choice for landscape, architectural, and interior photography.

These lenses have a short focal length and large aperture, allowing for capturing sharp images with a wide depth of field, even in low-light conditions. Nikon offers a range of wide-angle lenses with different focal lengths and aperture sizes, allowing photographers to choose the lens that best fits their needs.

With advanced optics and construction, Nikon’s wide-angle lenses produce images with outstanding clarity, colour accuracy, and sharpness.

This article will take an in-depth look at the top Nikon lenses for wide-angle photography and explore their features, pros, and cons. Read on to find out which lens is right for your wide-angle photography needs!

Best Nikon Lenses for Wide-Angle Photography

Following are our top recommendations for Wide-Angle lenses:

1. Nikon 20mm f/1.8 – Best wide-angle lens for Nikon fx

During my trip to Italy for a project, I decided to visit this fascinating tourist attraction called the Colosseum. I used a Nikon FX camera with NIKKOR 20mm f/1.8 G lens.

Darkness was setting in but not much. The sky sparkled in beautiful colours as the lights in the Colosseum came on. The look with this dim lighting was beautiful. 

I set my camera to take wide-angle pictures of the Colosseum. They were truly gorgeous! A fast f/1.8 maximum aperture makes this wide-angle NIKKOR lens ideal for landscape and architecture photography and indoor shooting in low light. 

Featuring a focal length of 20mm and an aperture of f/1.8, this lens is suitable for Nikon FX DSLR cameras. As well as producing sharp images with rich colour and beautiful bokeh, this lens is also an excellent choice for portraits and still-life photography indoors. 

Specifications: 

Item Dimensions	3.19 x 3.27 x 3.27 inches
Item Weight	0.78 lbs
Lens Type	Wide angle
Maximum Aperture	1.8
Maximum Focal Length	20mm
Maximum Aperture Range	F1.8
Maximum Format Size	35mm
Minimum Aperture	16
Minimum Focal Length	22mm
Minimum Operating Distance	0.2m
Photo Filter Thread Size	77mm

Why I recommend:

High-performance wide-angle lens from Nikon with excellent optical characteristics. Its advanced visual design minimises distortion and aberration throughout the focusing range, ensuring clear images. Despite the lens’ ultra-wide perspective, its maximum aperture of f/1.8 makes it particularly suitable for low-light situations.

A high-performance wide-angle lens capable of producing razor-sharp images at low light levels. It delivers excellent low-light performance, shallow depth of field, and sharp photos with striking contrast and colour. Two aspherical elements offer exceptional image quality throughout the entire focusing range of infinity to one foot. A fast maximum aperture makes it easy to shoot in common light conditions, while an ultra-wide lens provides dramatic perspectives.

An effective 9-blade diaphragm contributes to bokeh. With Nano Crystal Coat, ghosting and flare are effectively reduced, Super Integrated Coating (SIC) suppresses them when shooting under bright lights, and with a rounded diaphragm opening, you get pleasing out-of-focus results. Even at full aperture, the result is excellent rendering, sharpness, and clarity.

Why I don’t recommend:

Some users may experience vignetting, or darkening of the corners, at maximum aperture, and notice chromatic aberration, which is a type of d also colour fringing, especially in high-contrast scenes.

2. Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5: (Best wide angle lens for Nikon dx)

I visited a water park last summer with my family. It was impossible for me not to bring my camera with me. With the Nikon DX camera equipped with the Nikon AF-S DX 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 G lens, I took countless pictures while enjoying myself with my family. 

Despite sunlight, the lens delivered sharp images with great colours and no distortion. We enjoyed our time there, and now that we have seen the photos, we can enjoy it again. A great lens for capturing both sweeping landscapes and intimate cityscapes. 

It’s an ideal focal length for travel, vacations, and general photography – with a wide angle of view, and you can capture expansive images of your subjects while maintaining a realistic perspective that draws viewers in. Both stills and video applications will benefit from its fast and quiet autofocus. The lens’s aspherical elements help minimize chromatic aberration.  

Specification:

Item Dimensions	3.43 x 3.27 x 3.27 inches
Item Weight	1.01 lbs
Lens Type	Wide angle
Maximum Aperture	3.5
Maximum Focal Length	24mm
Maximum Aperture Range	F3.5 – F4.5
Maximum Format Size	APS-C / DX
Minimum Aperture	29
Minimum Focal Length	10mm
Minimum Operating Distance	0.24m
Photo Filter Thread Size	77mm

Why I recommend:

This is a good choice in low-light shooting situations, as the maximum aperture is f/3.5 at 10 mm and f/4.5 at 24 mm, making it a good choice for low-light conditions. The Super ED glass element minimizes chromatic aberration throughout the zoom range, while the aspherical lens elements correct distortion and aberrations.

In addition to the fast aperture f/3.5-4.5, photographers can also use the lens hand-held in low-light situations and achieve sharp images with stunning background blur (bokeh). It has three aspherical lens elements that minimize chromatic aberrations to achieve outstanding image quality throughout the zoom range. 

Among the best wide-angle lenses for Nikon dx cameras, this model comes with a fast, effective, and quiet autofocus system and superior sharpness compared to other wide-angle lenses. 

Why I don’t recommend:

It is important to note that the suitability of a lens for a particular photographer depends on their specific needs and preferences. However, some common reasons a photographer may not recommend the Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 lens include its slower maximum aperture (f/3.5-4.5), the potential for distortion or vignetting, and the need for image stabilization.

3. Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8 – Best wide angle lens for Nikon d810:

After rushing to drive on a rough road, I caught a glimpse of a sunflower field on the right side of me and was stuck there for a few seconds. I was going to attend a wedding in the next few hours. 

Taking out my Nikon d810 camera and Nikkor AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 G lens, I took many photos of the wedding. I was late, but my performance in the sunflower field was exceptional.

In addition to its superb optical design and advanced lens elements, it can produce high-quality images at various focal lengths. 

Using Nano Crystal Coat, you can create sharp, clear images using a single lens, even in bright light sources. In addition to capturing vast landscapes and architecture, it can also capture close-up portraits with dramatic perspective and shallow depth of field.

Specifications: 

Item Dimensions	5.2 x 3.86 x 3.86 inches
Item Weight	2.14 lbs
Lens Type	Wide angle
Maximum Aperture	2.8
Maximum Focal Length	24mm
Maximum Aperture Range	F2.8
Maximum Format Size	35mm
Minimum Aperture	22
Minimum Focal Length	14mm
Minimum Operating Distance	0.28m

Why I recommend:

Featuring an equivalent focal length of 18-36 mm for DSLRs with DX format, it’s a professional wide-angle zoom lens. Two Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) glass elements are responsible for correcting chromatic aberrations and distortions throughout the entire zoom range.

Furthermore, Nano Crystal Coat can reduce ghosting and flare even when the lighting conditions are very intense. The Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor wide-angle zoom lens is the new standard for all wide-angle lenses to be graded for years to come. 

Fast auto-focus, very sharp images throughout the frame even when wide open, less distortion than any other wide angle on the market and the continuous aperture of 2.8 throughout the zoom range make this an excellent lens for low-light photography.

Why I don’t recommend:

The bulbous front element of the lens makes it difficult to use filters, which can be a drawback for some photographers, and there is noticeable distortion at the wider end of the lens, which may be unacceptable for certain types of photography.

4. Nikon 24mm f/1.8 – Best wide angle lens for Nikon d500:

There are many luxury boutiques on Oxford Street London. Brand-addicted people visit there often. It was also interesting to get a wide-angle shot of the streets. I used a Nikon D500 camera with the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24mm f/1.8 G lens. I got a great blurred background with sharp image quality. It performed well. 

A fast maximum aperture also makes this lens ideal for shooting indoor sports and at night. The f/1.8 maximum aperture creates a beautiful background blur and enables low-light shooting while maintaining superb sharpness and contrast across the frame. Photographers can use it to take sharp photos in low light and at night. 

As the world’s first wide-angle zoom lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.8, Nikon’s new ultra-wide-angle zoom lens lets photographers shoot in low light. Its advanced optical design and superior performance produce spectacular images in low light and are a great companion to shoot landscapes, architecture, interiors, and more. 

Specification:

Item Dimensions	5.08 x 4.88 x 7.95 inches
Item Weight	0.78 lbs
Lens Type	Wide angle
Maximum Aperture	1.8
Maximum Focal Length	24mm
Maximum Aperture Range	F1.8
Maximum Format Size	Full frame
Minimum Aperture	f/16
Minimum Focal Length	24mm
Photo Filter Thread Size	72mm

Why I recommend:

With a wide-angle lens, your images will be sharp and bright even in dim light. The angle of view makes it ideal for landscapes, skyscrapers, environmental portraits, and much more, as well as capturing your subject in sharp focus. 

There is no better wide-angle lens for Nikon d500 cameras than this one. It features a fast f/1.8 maximum aperture that enables shooting in low light and provides shallow depth of field control, making it well-suited to indoor photography, portraits, and landscapes. It has a wide angle of view, making it great for taking photos of landscapes, architectural details, and family gatherings. 

Optimizing optical design minimizes distortion and chromatic aberration, and by coating the lens element with Nano Crystal Coat, ghosting is effectively reduced. The result is perfect low-light photos with beautiful blurry backgrounds. I have yet to find a lens that is better than this one.

Why I don’t recommend:

Some users have criticized the autofocus speed on the lens as slow or unreliable and noticed distortion, particularly at the wider end of the lens. And the lens is made of plastic, which some users might feel needs to be more sturdy for frequent use.

5. Nikon 35mm f/1.8 – Best wide-angle lens for Nikon d5200:

As a photographer, I could shoot wedding photos using a Nikon 35mm f 1.8 lenses with the Nikon d5200 camera. I found the shoot to be wonderful because of the costumes for the bride and groom. Also, they looked like the perfect pair. 

I captured their best photo when they were both holding hands and looking towards the camera while making a heart. This lens is a must-have for every photographer’s kit bag. It can capture images with stunning background blur, which is perfect for portraits and street photography. 

Aside from the fact that it can take pictures in low light conditions, it has a quick autofocus system that allows you to capture sharp images of moving objects in such situations, even dark. 

Specifications: 

Item Dimensions	2.09 x 2.76 x 2.76 inches
Item Weight	0.44 lbs
Lens Type	Wide angle
Maximum Aperture	1.8
Maximum Focal Length	35mm
Maximum Aperture Range	F1.8
Maximum Format Size	APS-C/DX
Minimum Aperture	22
Minimum Focal Length	35mm
Minimum Operating Distance	0.3m
Photo Filter Thread Size	52mm

Why I recommend:

It makes it an ideal choice for shooting indoors or in dimly lit environments where you want to control the depth of field and convey movement with blurring effects. 35mm gives you a realistic perspective close to what the eye sees, so it’s perfect for taking pictures of everyday life and landscapes.

With its maximum aperture of f/1.8, the camera can gather exceptional amounts of light, allowing the photographer to work with a shallow depth of field or farther away from the subject. APS-C-sized sensors (DX) are required for their widest angle of view.

In addition to delivering dramatic results and good low-light performance, the 35mm lens also features an aspherical element contributing to the reduction of chromatic aberration on a Nikon DX-format digital SLR camera.

Why I don’t recommend:

While the lens provides good image quality for its price point, some users have reported issues with chromatic aberrations, vignetting, or distortion. The lens does not have weather sealing, so it may not be suitable for inclement weather conditions.

6. Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4: (Best wide angle lens for nikon z50)

My best friend surprised me for my birthday with a cruise ship trip. The cruise ship was marvellous and luxurious. I had a Nikon z50 camera and took a Nikon z 24-70mm F4 lens on that trip. It was one of the most beautiful birthdays I have ever had.

A versatile, high-performance standard zoom lens covers wide-angle to short telephoto perspectives. During all zoom ranges, the lens has a constant maximum aperture of f/4, enabling low-light photography, shallow depth of field focus, and selective focus. Ghosting and flare are controlled with two aspherical elements and Nano Crystal Coat.

Nikon’s Z 24-70mm f/4 S is a versatile zoom covering the most commonly used focal lengths. This lens has a constant f/4 maximum aperture and is perfect for low-light shooting and video. The lens is the first wide-angle to short telephoto zoom lens. The lens’s optical formula features two extra-low dispersion (ED) elements to ensure sharp images throughout the zoom range. 

Specification:

Item Dimensions	3.5 x 3.1 x 3.1 inches
Item Weight	1.10 lbs
Lens Type	Wide angle
Maximum Aperture	4
Maximum Focal Length	70
Maximum Aperture Range	F4
Maximum Format Size	35mm Full frame
Minimum Aperture	22
Minimum Focal Length	24mm
Photo Filter Thread Size	72mm

Why I recommend:

Designed specifically for Nikon’s mirrorless Z system cameras, it offers a versatile focal range well suited for still and video applications. As a result of its constant f/4 maximum aperture, it provides consistent exposure control throughout the zoom range, allowing it to shoot in low light and indoors as well as in challenging lighting conditions.

In addition to providing extreme sharpness and a constant aperture of f/4, this Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S is lightweight, compact, and compact. With smooth, silent focusing and 5-axis Dual Detect Optical VR, it offers a variety of focal lengths from wide-angle to portraiture.

Featuring a wide-angle to short telephoto zoom range, it is ideal for capturing landscapes, interiors, architecture, group portraits, and still life. It is equipped with dual-detection optical VR for up to 4 stops of shake reduction. There are new optical formulas, extreme sharpness, and constant apertures. A customizable control ring and smooth, silent focusing make it perfect for video.

Why I don’t recommend:

The lens only has 7 aperture blades, which may result in less smooth bokeh than lenses with higher edges. The maximum aperture of f/4 is not as fast as some other lenses in this focal length range, which may be a drawback for low-light shooting.

7. Nikon’s Z 35mm f/1.8 – Best wide-angle lens for Nikon z6ii:

Last month, I was invited to take pictures at a five-star hotel corporate event. Using my Nikon z6 II camera with the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 lens, I managed to get wide-angle shots. I was so glad I loved them too when I took the event photos. The camera and lens proved to be a perfect pair for wide-angle photography. When I took the pictures, I found the ideal angle that covered most of the people present.

In addition to its smooth focusing operation and virtually silent operation, it is the first NIKKOR lens with a stepping motor, making it the best choice for filming and taking photos. In addition to its fast aperture, it renders sharp images with rich bokeh and good lowlight performance.

This fast, ultra-sharp prime lens is ideal for landscapes, portraits, and any application where a dramatic background blur is desired. It is designed specifically for full-frame cameras such as the Nikon D5, D500, and D850. 

Specifications: 

Item Dimensions	3.4 x 2.9 x 2.9 inches
Item Weight	0.82 lbs
Lens Type	Wide angle
Maximum Aperture	1.8
Maximum Focal Length	20mm
Maximum Aperture Range	F1.8
Maximum Format Size	35mm
Minimum Aperture	16
Minimum Focal Length	35mm
Photo Filter Thread Size	62mm

Why I recommend:

This prime wide-angle lens is fast, sharp, and quiet and is designed for Nikon Z cameras. In addition to its ultra-quiet stepping AF motor, Nano Crystal Coat reduces internal reflections within the lens to reduce ghosting and flare. It is a standard lens that covers the full-frame image area of Z-mount cameras. 

Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless cameras can be used with this fast, wide-angle prime lens with the F-mount, which provides superior sharpness and performance in all lighting conditions, including backlit scenes. It offers excellent sensitivity and performance in all lighting conditions. 

This ultra-fast, bright, and high-performance 35mm F1.8 prime lens with a focal length equivalent to 53mm in the FX format is perfect for shooting with Nikon’s Z mirrorless cameras. From f/1.8 to f/22, the lens delivers sharp, precise imagery throughout the entire frame.

Furthermore, the Silent Wave Motor allows smooth, fast, and accurate focus control from infinity to as close as 0.79 feet. When recording movies, the stepping motor provides quiet autofocus performance.

Why I don’t recommend:

There is a limited number of Nikon’s mirrorless cameras that use the Z mount that is compatible with native Nikon lenses

Buyer’s guide:

When choosing a Nikon lens for wide-angle photography, consider the following factors:

Focal Length: 

A shorter focal length is better for wide-angle photography. Look for lenses with a focal length of 14-24mm.

Aperture: 

A wide aperture (f/2.8 or lower) will allow for better low-light performance and creative control over the depth of field.

Image Stabilization: 

Image stabilization technology can help reduce blur in low-light conditions and when shooting hand-held.

Build Quality: 

Ensure the lens is durable and well-constructed to withstand regular use.

Compatibility: 

Ensure the lens is compatible with your Nikon camera model.

Price:

Wide-angle lenses can be expensive, so consider your budget before purchasing.

Consider your specific needs and the type of photography you’ll be doing. For example, if you’re shooting landscapes, a lens with a large depth of field may be more important than a wide aperture.

Conclusion 

When choosing a Nikon lens for wide-angle photography, there are many factors to consider. From the focal length and aperture to build quality and compatibility, it is important to consider these aspects before making your purchase.

Furthermore, consider your specific needs as a photographer and the type of photography you will do with the lens. With this knowledge in mind, you should have no problem finding the best Nikon Lens for your wide-angle photography needs!

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