I have been shooting Nikon as my primary system since 2021. It is my personal daily carry and my paid work kit and I continue to be very excited about the direction of the Z mount. Adapting lenses has been a breeze and the back catalog of older F mount glass has been fun to explore. Nikon has gone from mirrorless underdog to what I consider the undisputed value leader, consistently updating their cameras with feature adds and performance improvements with very few bugs along the way. In 2025, the floodgates opened and Chinese lens makers jumped into the mount, and as of 2026, there is a huge selection of third party lenses that work as if they were native Nikon lenses.

Nikon Cameras

Nikon Zf - This is my daily driver camera and it takes the vast majority of my photos every year. It comes on every trip, it gets throw in the truck when I go for a drive, and over the years of owning it, Nikon has consistently improved it via excellent firmware updates, catching it up to more flagship cameras, and even giving the Zf a few neat tricks of its own. This retro-styled, metal-built, bronze-dialed beauty calls to be held, to be used, to be admired both aesthetically and for its gorgeous output. The Zf’s 24 megapixel files hold their own against higher resolution cameras, and the Zf boasts the most comprehensive support for manual focusing in the camera industry. If you want to get creative, you can even stack adapters to give old F and M glass full autofocus functionality. Check out my full review of the Zf by clicking here.

Nikon Z5 II - If you want all of the image quality and 99% of the software functionality of the Zf, but would prefer a built in grip, the Z5 II is the camera you should be looking at. The Z5 II features the same great sensor and processor, but comes in a more traditionally styled body. This camera is, in my opinion, the best value in the entire camera industry as of early 2026, and should be the first look for anyone interested in either their first full frame camera body, or as a second/backup body for working pros.

Nikon Z6 III- The Z6 III is in many ways the odd duck of Nikon’s lineup. Featuring a “partially stacked” sensor, you are still limited to 24mp but get enhanced autofocus. There has been much said about the flickering shadow issue in video with this sensor (a sensor that Lumix uses without issue), and Nikon has still not completely addressed this issue as of early 2026. Overall, the performance of this camera still falls short of the Z8, a camera that can often be had for just a few hundred more dollars. If you are primarily stills photographer who is ok with the mechanical shutter speeds of the Z6 III, it’s a compelling camera, but if you need video, faster frame rates, or hate flippy screens, look to the Z8 instead.

Nikon Z7 II - The Z7 II was my first foray into Nikon back in 2021. I picked it up primarily for landscape shooting, and it proved to have perhaps the best full frame sensor ever created for such use. That statement holds true to this day…the dynamic range, image quality, and RAW flexibility remains simply unmatched, even by newer cameras such as the Sony A7RV. There are some drawbacks to it, such as a LCD that doesn’t tilt in portrait (a near-must-have for landscapes in my opinion), a middling autofocus system, and mixed media types for memory cards. However, for slower photography of static subjects in demanding light, this little camera remains the choice for hikers looking to keep weight down and quality high.

Nikon Z8 - When someone asks me what the best overall Nikon camera is, I have to point them to the Nikon Z8. The price to performance ratio of the Z8 remains its selling point long after release…a fully stacked sensor, 20 fps burst, excellent and sticky AF, bottomless buffer with Delkin Black CFe-B cards, 8k RAW 60fps video…the Z8 is one of those insanely over-engineered pieces of kit that you could confidently use for a decade. Of course, like most cameras, it does have some drawbacks like a smallish battery, a slew of physical recalls, and a plastic-y feeling body. I ended up sticking with my Z9, however, as I generally prefer the Z9’s build quality and value its battery life.

Nikon Z9 - This is THE camera of the Z generation as of early 2026, though a successor is rumored this year. It is a no-holds-barred, feature rich camera that has no true competition at its price point. It has received 4 major firmware updates that have dramatically widened its capabilities and enhanced its performance. I have shot the Z9 for many years with zero issues across multiple bodies. It has been dragged through deserts, rain forests, beaches, and everywhere in between without skipping a beat. The stacked sensor excels for action photography and the resolution provides some extra punch for landscapes and portraits. The huge battery can get you through multiple days of shooting in the field, and the sensor shield keeps your sensor clean during mid-session lens changes. The grip catches hands of all sizes, while the body remains impossibly small and light for having a vertical grip integrated.

Nikon Z50 II - A fantastic value for the money, this APS-C camera (called DX in Nikon parlance) punches well above its price and has what is widely considered the best crop sensor that Nikon has ever made…so good in fact, that they have used it for the past decade from the D700 and on. Nikon has updated the body with the “modern” button layout, making bouncing between it and a Z5 II, Z6 III, Z8, or Z9 a breeze.

Nikon Lenses

NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S - This is THE lens that every Nikon Z owner must own. I don’t care what you shoot, how you shoot, or how much you shoot, buy this lens. Excellent sharpness at every focal length, gorgeous creamy bokeh at f4 at longer focal lengths, lightweight, packable…there simply does not exist a finer midrange tele on any other system. Nikon completely outdid themselves with a lens that would otherwise be relegate to “kit lens” territory. Read my love letter to this lens here, and then go buy one if you don’t have it yet.

NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S - The ultimate companion to the Z 24-120, the Z 100-400 is another lens that punches up and delivers stunning images in a highly portable package. When paired with a 1.4x teleconverter, you can have 24-560mm in a 2 lens kit…in fact, that’s my recommended starting setup for Nikon landscape shooters.

NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR - A more niche lens that comes with a much heavier weight than the Z 100-400, the Z 180-600 is an excellent wildlife, sports, and airshow lens for me with better image quality at the long end compared to the Z 100-400 with teleconverter. This is not a lens I will take with me if I don’t have easy access to a vehicle, nor a lens I will take on long hikes…this one is for when I know exactly where I’m going to be shooting from with a short walk or hike in. Highly recommend buying a Kirk replacement foot, as it’s easier to hold the lens by and has built in Arca Swiss for easy tripod mounting.

NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 - This is Nikon’s version of a “nifty fifty” (more on that in just a second), a lens that feels like it should come inside of a Cracker Jack box, but one that delivers seemingly impossible sharpness and bokeh inside of one of the most mediocre plastic bodies I’ve ever handled. It’s a lens that is almost too cheap NOT to have in your bag, and pairs very well with the Zf.

NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S - Most brands relegate their 50/1.8 lens to “kit” status, with the derogatory “nifty fifty” term often used to deride the quality of the lens. Nikon, however, has made a 50mm lens that is one of the sharpest Z lenses in their catalog with extremely gorgeous bokeh in a smallish, weather resistant, lightweight prime. I would highly recommend new Nikon shooters grab one of these, as it showcases everything I love about Nikon colors and image quality.

NIKKOR Z 85 f/1.2 S - Nikon’s 85/1.2 deserves a bespoke name like the Plena, though Nikon thought better of that. This is a halo lens, perhaps the finest prime available on the Z mount. There are zero optical flaws even wide open, and this lens will give you creamier bokeh than a medium format 110/2 at the same framing distance. It is HEAVY, it is LARGE, and it is perfect. It has crazy fast autofocus motors making it great for gym/sports work. If you shoot portraits, this is THE lens and a huge reason to pick Nikon Z.

Voigtlander Lenses for Nikon

Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar F - A seemingly impossibly small pancake, this CV lens disappears on an F film camera and is still very small even adapted with an FTZ II. It is chipped and offers focus confirmation on Nikon Z. Sharp wide open and has an extremely close minimum focus distance with lovely rendering and color coatings.

Voigtlander 35mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Z - My favorite lens of the Z APO-Lanthar lineup, the 35mm strikes a fantastic balance between focal length, bokeh quality, and handling. I have the first generation version which features a skinnier barrel, which I prefer to the Mark II which is substantially wider. Some of my favorite pictures with the Zf have been taken with this lens. It excels at anything for which you’d use a 35mm. It is chipped and offers focus confirmation on Nikon Z.

Voigtlander 40mm f/2 Ultron F - This is my lifer lens, my halo glass, the one that will never get away. The F-mount Ultron comes in several variants, including an older style that is a pancake (but requires a close focus diopter for closest MFD). The latest generation is a larger lens that offers the close MFD in a native package. The Ultron rendering is far more pleasing to me than Nokton, so much so that I eventually sold off my Z 40/1.2 Nok in favor of the Ultron. It is chipped and offers focus confirmation on Nikon Z.

Voigtlander 40mm f/1.2 Nokton Z - This is a very unique lens in the Z ecosystem, offering medium-format level bokeh in a very small package. However, I found that chromatic aberration was extremely heavy handed up to about f/2.2-f2.8, somewhat marring the unique wide apertures this lens offers. If you are shooting in black and white, this becomes a moot concern, but for my color work, I ultimately settled on the F 40/2 Ultron instead. It is chipped and offers focus confirmation on Nikon Z.

Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Z - This lens is just as good as the 35mm version, and offers even softer bokeh thanks to the longer focal range. I only parted with this lens because it’s so close to my F Ultron 40, so it felt a bit redundant. I LOVE the output, both in color and overall contrast. If you are a 50mm shooter, this is a first-look lens. It is chipped and offers focus confirmation on Nikon Z.

Voigtlander 58mm f/1.4 Nokton F - This is a dreaminess generator, offering creamy, if not classical Nokton bokeh that can pull double duty on Nikon film cameras or F mount digitals. Wide open at MFD is the weak spot, and truthfully, I most enjoyed this lens when adapted to GFX, effectively turning it into a 73mm f/1.8 portrait machine. In my opinion, it shines on film, and Z adaptation is the least compelling use case. It is chipped and offers focus confirmation on Nikon Z.

Voigtlander 65mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Macro Z - An interesting addition to the Z APO-Lanthar lineup, the 65mm offers a unique trick in that it’s macro-capable. I found this a more pleasing lens to use for non-macro work, however, offering that same excellent contrast and coating color cast that Voigtlander is known for. This lens does have an extremely long focus throw, so if that is a negative, you might look elsewhere. It is chipped and offers focus confirmation on Nikon Z.

Chinese Lenses for Nikon

Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 - Currently under review, check back soon!

TTArtisan AF 40mm f/2 - In a gear cabinet full of 35mm and 40mm lenses, the TTA AF 40 has become one of my go-to lenses specifically for my Nikon Zf, offering a very lightweight lens with a physical aperture ring that the Nikon lens is missing. The autofocus is about what you’d expect from a lens in this price category, offering adequate speed and hit rate, but not approaching native Nikon lenses like the Nikkor Z 40/2. The TTA 40 has a bit of bloom wide open which I love using creatively, and sharpens up quickly as you stop down. It is not marketed as weather resistant, though I have taken it out in foggy conditions without concern; I would leave it at home for drizzle and beyond. Review coming in January 2026!

TTArtisan Swirly Bokeh 75mm f/1.5 - A product that feels born of another era, this all metal and glass beast M42 mount beast is another fun lens to use across mounts…an image circle that completely covers a 44x33 medium format sensor allows it to pull double duty while imparting a deliciously imperfect swirly style that immediately grabs your attention. You can read my review and see examples here.

TTArtisan AF 75mm f/2 - The more robust sibling of the new generation of TTA’s autofocus lineup, this 75mm is both sharp in the center with pleasingly softer edges, all while having a creamy bokeh and being nearly aberration free even wide open. A manual aperture ring and slim barrel make this a perfect midrange prime for the Nikon Zf. Read/watch my review here.

Accessories for Nikon

Nikon FTZ-II F to Z adapter - If you are going to shoot Nikon Z, I implore you to buy an FTZ II F to Z adapter. There are hundreds of amazing F mount lenses that are dirt cheap now that will easy adapt to your camera, allowing you to experiment with so many different types of rendering. Being a chipped adapter, it’s what allows F mount Voigtlander lenses to communicate EXIF data and provide focus confirmation.

Nikon 1.4x Teleconverter - A must have if you own either the 100-400 or 180-600, it’s a very easy way to extend your reach without sacrificing much in the way of image quality. I have found the Nikon 1.4x is a far superior TC than Sony’s mirrorless version in terms of maintaining IQ and autofocus performance, though both do take a slight hit.

Kirk replacement tripod feet - There are several lenses that come with appalling tripod feet…the Z 100-400 and Z 180-600 being two of the worst offenders. Kirk offers excellent replacements that gain you Arca Swiss as well as much flatter, angular profiles, making carrying the lens/camera combo by an inverted foot much easier. Top tier brand and products.