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Any videographer out there is always looking out for a good lens to guarantee a high-quality video. Depending on your shooting and budget plan, it can be difficult to choose the right lens among so many available options. This article will look at the best Nikon lens for video to improve your videography skills.
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One of the most appealing aspects of shooting video with a Nikon DSLR camera is the wide range of lenses. Each lens has its own set of attributes and traits that make it ideal for a particular scenario, making it difficult to choose the right one.
The Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 is a must-have for zooming purposes thanks to its variations in the optical formula compatible with seven camera manufacturers.
Its new electromagnetic aperture mechanism is compatible with the existing and selected earlier-generation Nikon camera that maintains great exposure and captures longer bursts of fast-speed successive burst rates. However, at 3.08 pounds, this lens is heavier than the Nikon 105mm f/2.8 lens, making it harder to carry it around.
Its 9-bladed aperture and 77mm filter size remain unmodified except for the new diaphragm electronic control. Compared to its predecessor, the latest Nikon 70-200mm uses the forward ring for zooming and the AFT ring for manually focusing the ring.
The butterfly cuts on the new Nikon 70-200mm are shallower, making it more effective to prevent flare. In addition, the four focus lock buttons located at their circumference allow you to focus on high-speed moving objects intuitively by pressing the barrel button on the camera's back.
This attribute makes it one of the best options for capturing detail in videography. In addition, this lens focuses down to 19.69 inches, a rare high-quality feature for close-up videography, along with the Vibration Reduction system maintaining its stability while shooting.
The lens has a focusing mode that allows you to quickly convert from automatic to manual focusing by simply rotating the focusing ring on the lens. This allows for a smooth transition to fine manual focusing.
The Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 provides its users a good zoom quality and sophisticated optical design. The f/2.8 aperture affords excellent illumination across a wide zoom range.
It is suitable for working under low light as it emulates high selective focus techniques. Moreover, the three aspherical glass elements and three extra-low dispersion elements cut down on chromatic and spherical aberrations resulting in sharper videos with high clarity.
In addition to its ability to create high-quality videos, it has Super Integrated Coating and Nano Crystal Coat control flare and ghosting. Furthermore, the Silent Wave Motor affords a silent autofocus operation and a manual focus override for improved color accuracy and visual contrasts.
The lens is compatible with FX and DX formats; however, it provides a standard zoom equivalence to 105mm focal length in DX formats. In addition, the 9-blade diaphragm works in favor of cameras with a shallow depth field to provide pleasing out-of-focus quality images.
It is highly versatile, and its videography and panorama abilities are highly contested. The constant wide aperture that does not move while shooting makes it possible to have such keen images represented on its canvas.
This lens shows some instances of vignetting when used with full-frames at wide apertures, a challenge that is not present when using the Nikon 50mm f/1.8. In addition, the petal-style lens shade effectively prevents flares from a strong light source or the sun or, a multi-rayed pattern appears to notify the user.
The Nikon 50mm f/1.8 G is more suitable than the Nikkor 24-70mm for enthusiasts who need quality optics and videography abilities that won't hurt your wallet. Its shallow field depth isolates subjects from the background achieving a high-quality bokeh.
This lens is an upgrade from Nikon 50mm f/1.8D, having updated features like the seven optical elements in 6 groups, which reduce chromatic aberrations. One of these elements is made of an aspherical element that corrects distortion and minimizes coma by modifying the refractive index successively from the center of the lens.
Its upgraded optical design and larger barrel inhibit the front lens from extending extensively during autofocus operations. The lens integrates the Silent Wave Motor feature perfectly that provides silent autofocusing and is a high contender for use with entry-level DSLRs.
This motor allows the user to autofocus with a manual focus override which is not plausible with the AF-D prime lenses. Its Super Integrated Coating cuts down on flare and ghosting.
This lens is designed to work with DX and FX formats, although it is best suited for FX sensors. The lens has a 7-blade diaphragm that creates heptagon-shaped bokeh when used in large apertures. Unlike the 24-70mm, its apertures are wider and better for all light situations. However, this lens is bulkier than older models, hence difficult to carry it around from one place to another.
The AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G is an excellent lens for capturing a wide range of outdoor subjects. You may capture a scene as you see it with the naked eye using the 50mm f/1.8 lens.
The Nikon 105mm f/2.8 delivers an exceptional video quality at 105mm reach. Featuring advanced Nikon lens technologies like the Vibration Reduction function to maintain the lens stability and the Stepping Motor feature for fast and quiet autofocus operations, its versatility sets it up for the best option in videography.
Videographers looking out to do micro work may not get the best option while working with this lens’ autofocusing. Rather the focus needs to be shifted towards maximizing the easy manual focus and the manual override for clarity in focus which is vital for shooting videos under a shallow depth of field operations.
Its optical design has been upgraded with extra-low dispersion glass elements that reduce aberration. At the same time, the Nano Crystal Coat cuts down on internal reflections across a broad range of wavelengths.
The focus ring allows automatic switching from automatic to manual focusing eliminating potential lag time. The left side has three switches the M/A, the VR on, and the Full switch effective for telephoto operations.
This lens offers effective aperture changes. At its maximum, the aperture is at f/2.8, which is a little narrower than that of Nikkor 85mm when focusing. It offers f/3.5 when focusing higher at the closest distance. The lens has a shallow field of depth that limits the quality of videography; in this case, stopping down the aperture is highly recommended.
It is rather bulkier than the Nikon 50mm but not in a way that becomes a limitation. The barrel shoots out quickly to a wider size that stays unchanged for the rest of its length.
The Nikon 35mm is proving to be a great everyday companion offering all-around capabilities. With a 35mm focal length, the lens provides the idealistic 'natural angle' of view exposures, and its lightweight construction will help you get the best videos at any skill level.
Its fast f/1.8 aperture creates a sharper subject focus in dim light conditions and results in a desirable bokeh quality. In addition, the wide aperture gives you more control of the depth of field. This works to your advantage as it enables you to isolate your subject and create stunning outcomes perfectly.
The 35mm users consider it the best general-purpose focal length lens for it is not too wide, nor is it too long, making it best suited for videography. And while every videographer will look for such a choice, having a large and bulky lens is impractical. The 35mm closes this gap by offering convenient portable functions.
The lens is advanced for an affordable lens. It contains a single Extra-low dispersion element typical of high-end Nikkor lenses that is a little inferior to Nikkor 70-200mm but still works perfectly to increase color contrast and sharpness along with an aspherical lens element for correcting the aberration issues. However, this lens lacks optical stabilization that helps reduce blurring.
This lens autofocus operation is impressively faster than its predecessors. It takes fewer turns to move an f/1.8 lens making it easier to go from close focus to long-distance noticeably faster. This covers the otherwise slow motor. In addition to that, the Silent Wave Motor makes the autofocus operations quieter and faster.
The Nikon 85mm f/1.4 lens is a 1.3-pound lens supporting a 77mm front filter and offers up to 3 feet of videography. Unlike the Nikkor 24-70mm, this lens is not optically optimized, but this is a non-issue for videography.
Its wide aperture produces off-camera lighting to come up with great videos. However, this is not an entirely good thing for handheld shooting.
There are no visible distortions, neither does it cast dark shadows around the subjects while shooting. It is lighter than the Nikon 105mm, but a little pricier as some will value saving money while others will cut on the inconvenience of a bulky lens.
The autofocus operation is commendable, having the Silent Wave Motor that cuts down on the slow pace and noise. However, its large aperture produces challenges as shooting at maximum apertures makes it difficult to focus.4.
Its shallow depth of field will distort the resultant videos’ quality even when there is a slight movement around the subject or if it affects the camera. The lens has a focusing mode that allows you to quickly convert from automatic to manual focusing by simply rotating the focusing ring on the lens.
The performance of any camera depends on the type of lens you pair it with. Recording videos require you to have a lens that can produce stable and sharp videos suitable for displaying on large format screens.
The following are features you should consider when investing in the best Nikon lenses for video. Moreover, the following table highlights the most crucial specifications.
| Lenses | Filter Size (mm) | Aperture Blades | Minimum Focus Distance (Inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon 50mm f/1.8 | 58 | 9 | 17.72 |
| Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 | 77 | 9 | 14.4 |
| Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 | 77 | 9 | 19.67 |
| Nikon 105mm f/2.8 | 62 | 9 | 12.4 |
| Nikon 35mm f/1.8 | 58 | 7 | 9.84 |
| Nikon 85mm f/1.4 | 77 | 9 | 33.46 |
Different lenses can record videos of varying qualities depending on the construction quality, type of lens, and a number of elements.
Lenses with more aspherical and low dispersion elements in their optical construction help reduce flare and ghosting, allowing you to record videos with enhanced contrast and color accuracy even when capturing in harsh lighting conditions.
If you want to capture high-quality videos for displaying on large screens, you can consider getting a lens such as Nikkor 50mm f/18, as it has more elements and minimal moving parts, reducing distortions.
When recording without a tripod, there are chances of ending up with unsteady videos, especially when using zoom lenses. Fortunately, an image stabilization mechanism helps reduce the camera shake effect, improving the overall video quality.
A lens with an image stabilization system, such as the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8, allows you to use a slower shutter speed without interfering with the video quality when recording in low lighting conditions. However, it is advisable not to enable the system when using a tripod as it may hunt for shakes resulting in unsteady videos.
Different lenses have different sizes and weights depending on the materials used in their construction. Lightweight lenses are ideal for capturing handheld for an extended period without your wrists hurting. You can carry them around the property, capturing the different rooms without exhaustion.
However, they are unsuitable for use when using a tripod as they can easily topple down in extreme conditions such as windy situations, especially if you have not attached additional weights.
That means if you want to connect your camera to a tripod, you can take advantage of a heavier lens such as Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8. However, if capturing handheld, you can enjoy the flexibility of a compact and lightweight lens such as Nikon 50mm f/1.8 as you can use it for an extended period without muscle fatigue.
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You can enjoy the full capability of your Nikon camera by pairing it with a weather-resistant lens such as the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4, as it can withstand humidity and dust in adverse weather conditions.
However, it is important to note that a lens being weather resistant does not mean that your lens is waterproof, so you should avoid using it in the rain.
Nikon lenses can be categorized into prime lenses or zoom lenses depending on the focal length. When you are choosing a lens for recording video footage, the following optimal prime vs flexible zoom tips can help you choose a focal length that meets your scene and setup requirements.
Prime lenses have a fixed focal length, regardless of how short or long it is. It’s common to find a telephoto prime lens or an ultra-wide angle prime lens. Generally, fixed focal length means you can’t adjust the angle of view.
For a telephoto prime, the angle of view is narrow, and the lens will have a magnification effect as it crops out the background of the scene. As a result, this lens might not work well in cramped rooms, as there might not be enough space to back off and capture the entire room.
On the other hand, a wide-angle prime might not capture detailed shots of distant subjects. However, the lack of adjustability of the angle of view means there are minimal moving parts in the lens, resulting in minimal distortions. If you want a higher video quality, consider an optimal prime such as the Nikon 85mm f/1.4.
Unlike a prime lens, a zoom lens has a variable focal length, such as 24-70mm. As you vary the focal length from 24mm towards the 70mm mark, you will be narrowing the angle of view and magnifying the subject you are shooting, and vice versa.
If you don’t have a high-end gimbal to allow you to move around with a prime lens without the video becoming shaky, or you are taking videos in a crowded place where you might not be able to move around to follow the main subject, then consider getting a flexible zoom lens such as the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8.
However, this doesn’t mean the zoom lens fits every situation. Generally, the moving parts in a zoom lens cause some abnormalities, which makes zoom lenses produce lower-quality images compared to their prime counterparts.
It is not advisable to use photo lenses in videography. Normally, the autofocus system in photo lenses might not track the subject as well as those in the video lenses, resulting in low-quality videos.
The best lens for night filming is one that has a wider aperture and a short focal length. For instance, you can use a lens with a 20mm focal length and f/1.4 aperture because the focal length is short enough to minimize telephoto abnormalities, and the wide aperture will allow more light to reach the sensor.
Generally, the best aspect ratio to shoot videos is 16:9 because most modern display devices such as smartphones, tablets, televisions, and computer displays come with the 16:9 aspect ratio display. This ratio allows you to watch your videos without cropping the sides.
Finally, having the correct video shooting lenses on your Nikon camera will make all the difference in your video shooting experience. Aside from knowing what lens to use for outdoor shots in real estate
