The Nikon D7500 is a popular camera among amateur and hobbyist photographers who are either just starting their journey or pursuing photography as a hobby. It is highly sought after due to its versatility and the availability of various lenses for different purposes such as portraits, telephotos, wide-angle, zoom, prime, and more.
In this compilation, we have selected the best lenses for Nikon D7500 users. The focus has been on lenses that offer a cost-effective solution, with an emphasis on entry-level options. However, we have also included some professional-grade lenses that are suitable for beginner photographers who aim to enhance their skills.
Best lenses for Nikon D7500
In the following list, we’ve compiled brief information about a selection of lenses, including their price ranges, specs, performance, and ideal usage scenarios. The lenses have been categorized based on their type, and the price range is indicated as follows:
- 0 – 500$ – Budget $
- 501 – 900$ – Average $$
- 901+ $ – Expert $$$
The list of Nikon D7500 lenses:
PORTRAIT lenses
1. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G
2. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G
3. Sigma 35mm F1.4 Art DG HSM Nikon
ZOOM lenses
4. Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM
5. Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM
WIDE-ANGLE lenses
6. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED
WILDLIFE lenses
7. Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3 Contemporary DG OS HSM
8. Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED
MACRO lens
9. Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED
Portrait lenses for Nikon D7500
1. Nikon AF S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G
PROS:
+ Soft bokeh effect
+ Focal length of 85mm
+ Quick focusing
CONS:
– No built-in image stabilization
The question of what the best lens for portraits is has been a topic of debate, as there isn’t a clear-cut answer. The commonly considered options for portraits are 35mm, 50mm, or 85mm prime lenses. Opting to use this Nikon D7500 lens for portrait photography can bring a fresh perspective and add liveliness to your shots of models.
Build and handling: The Nikon 85mm f/1.8G, like other recent Nikon prime lenses, boasts a sturdy construction with a plastic body and a metal lens mount. Additionally, it features a rubber gasket on the mount that effectively prevents dust from entering the camera. Despite its seemingly bulky appearance, this lens is surprisingly lightweight.
Performance: The Nikon D7500 portrait lens’s large f/1.8 aperture makes it an excellent choice for low-light photography and creates a shallow depth of field that effectively separates subjects from the background. This lens offers two focusing modes: manual priority AF and manual focus, and is equipped with a fast and quiet silent wave motor, which is great for videography.
Best for: As previously mentioned, the Nikon D7500 lens is ideal for portrait photography, but a skilled photographer can utilize it for various purposes, including product, event, and wedding photography, where it is expected to perform admirably.
In conclusion, the Nikon 85mm f/1.8G is one of the best lenses for the Nikon D7500, providing superior results in portrait compositions. It produces a smooth background, shallow depth of field, and high contrast. If you’re looking to elevate your portrait photography, this lens is a great choice, offering impressive results at an affordable price.
2. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G
PROS:
+ Lightweight
+ Extremely affordable
+ Fast autofocusing
CONS:
– A bit of visual distortion
A beginner-level lens has numerous advantages and boasts similar specifications to a previous Nikon lens. It’s a cost-effective option that makes a valuable addition to your camera bag if you’re looking to save money initially. Despite its budget-friendly price, this lens still provides numerous benefits and quality features.
Build and handling: As the previous one, this lens is also designed for consumer use, equipped with all the essential buttons and information. Compared to the prior option, the Nikon D7500 portrait lens is even lighter, weighing just 6.6 oz (185 g), making it an ideal choice for extended hand-held shooting sessions.
Performance: It also has an aperture of f/1.8, delivering stunning bokeh, sharp subject separation from the background, and exceptional performance in low-light situations. The autofocus speed of this lens may be average, however, the overall image quality is quite impressive. The only exception is the lack of sharpness in the edges and corners when using wide apertures.
Best for: As expected, this lens is mainly intended for portrait photography, however, compared to the previous option, it requires less space to frame your subjects. It can also be used indoors, although not in very cramped spaces. Additionally, it can be used for capturing product details, landscapes, events, and wedding photography.
In summary, this may be one of the best budget-friendly lenses for portrait photography for the Nikon D7500. With its large aperture, lightweight design, and exceptional image quality, this lens offers a range of benefits at a modest price. Making it an ideal choice for beginner photographers looking to experiment with portrait photography.
3. Sigma 35mm F1.4 Art DG HSM Nikon
PROS:
+ Large aperture
+ Sharp image quality
+ Excellent build
CONS:
– No image stabilization
The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 lens is a professional-grade tool designed for a wide range of photography applications. It is the first lens in Sigma’s lineup to be classified as part of their “Art” category. Regardless of its higher price than previous options, it has specifications that will make it one of the best lenses for Nikon D7500 if your field is mainly portrait photography.
Build and handling: The Sigma lens for Nikon D7500 has a well-constructed, sturdy feel in the hand, with a black finish that consists of a combination of metal and polycarbonate materials. It comes equipped with a reversible lens hood. The lens features a focusing ring, an autofocus on/off switch, and a distance scale marked in both feet and meters, which is protected by a plastic window.
Performance: It produces impressively sharp images, even when shot at its wider apertures, although it is recommended to use a slightly smaller aperture for optimal sharpness. The lens is equipped with a hyper-sonic motor for fast and quiet autofocus performance. Its optical quality is outstanding, with virtually no distortion, minimal chromatic aberration, and exceptional color reproduction that can compete with even the priciest and most premium lenses.
Best for: It is the best option for indoor portrait photography due to its shorter focal length than the previous ones. Thanks to its large aperture of f/1.4, it is also a crucial feature for shooting in low-light conditions. This portrait lens offers more versatility as it can be used for street, landscape, and travel photography as well.
This lens offers exceptional image clarity and sharpness at any aperture, allowing you to shoot perfect portrait compositions. It also boasts a fast and silent autofocus system and has minimal distortion, chromatic aberration, and exceptional color rendering. Despite these high-quality features, it comes at a more accessible price compared to other lenses in the Sigma Art line.
Zoom lens for Nikon D7500
4. Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM
PROS:
+ Large aperture for a zoom
+ Affordable pro-grade gear
+ Excellent in night photography
CONS:
– A bit heavy
This Nikon D7500 Sigma lens is a professional-level option with exceptional capabilities. Though it comes at a higher price point compared to others, its impressive specifications make it well worth the investment. It offers much more value than its price tag suggests.
Build and handling: The Sigma ART series is widely recognized for its professional-grade quality, which appeals to many photographers. Additionally, its design is elegant, thanks to its construction using aluminum alloy, which gives it a sophisticated appearance and feel. Although it weighs 28.6 oz. (810 g), it may be considered heavy, but it’s not an excessive weight.
Performance: The key advantage of this lens is its f/1.8 aperture, which is unique for a zoom lens and sets it apart as one of the top options for the Nikon D7500. Like other Sigma lenses, it also boasts a fast and quiet focusing performance thanks to its hypersonic motor.
Best for: This Nikon D7500 zoom lens is versatile and suitable for a variety of photography needs. Its wide-angle feature and large aperture make it ideal for indoor photography, such as events, weddings, and product photography. Additionally, it’s a great everyday lens for travel, street, and portrait photography, providing good performance in both with overexposed skies and low-light conditions. Additionally, it is the best lens for astrophotography on the Nikon D7500.
In conclusion, this Nikon D7500 zoom lens is a must-have for any photographer’s camera gear. Its versatility and ability to handle various shooting situations make it a reliable choice, and its quality is unmatched at its affordable price. Whether you are faced with unexpected weather conditions or challenging environments, this lens will always deliver excellent results.
5. Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM
PROS:
+ A large aperture
+ Built-in image stabilization
+ Cheap for a zoom lens
CONS:
– A bit too heavy
This is a great option as one of the best travel lenses for Nikon D7500 users. It boasts a wide aperture, making it suitable for capturing subjects at both close and far distances. Its affordability and ease of use make it a great choice for beginner photographers as well.
Build and handling: This lens is lighter than the previous zoom option, but it still has a noticeable weight. While it may become cumbersome after the extended hand-held shooting, it offers built-in optical stabilization to offset the heft. The lens features two high-quality Fluorite Low Dispersion elements, two glass-molded aspherical elements, and one hybrid aspherical element, all of which work together to produce superior images. Additionally, it features Super Multi-Layer Coating for reducing exposure and increasing image quality.
Performance: Despite not having as big an aperture as the previous lens, the f/2.8 on this zoom lens is still impressive. In fact, the constant aperture is the key feature of this lens. The wide aperture allows for great-quality visuals in a variety of shooting conditions, particularly in low light. The sharpness of the image remains consistent across most of the photo frame and only becomes slightly blurred in the corners, particularly when using mid-zoom settings.
Best for: This lens is an excellent choice for travel photography, offering versatility for capturing a range of subjects and objects. With focal lengths of 17-50mm, it can easily be used for group shots, landscapes, street scenes, portraits, and more. If you’re looking for a single lens that can handle all your travel photography needs, this is the lens to choose.
This might be the best Nikon D7500 travel lens on a budget. With an f/2.8 aperture for a zoom lens and optical stabilization, you’re getting exceptional value for the price. The quality-to-price ratio is unmatched.
Wide-angle lens for Nikon D7500
6. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED
PROS:
+ Affordable price
+ Fast autofocusing
+ Image quality sharp throughout the range
CONS:
– No built-in image stabilization
This Nikon D7500 wide-angle zoom lens is a great option for beginner photographers due to its numerous benefits. For a relatively low investment, you get a fast autofocus motor, adjustable focal lengths, and outstanding image quality. It’s an excellent tool for exploring new realms in the photography world.
Build and handling: This Nikon consumer-level lens boasts a compact and lightweight design of 16.2 oz (458 g), making it easier for beginners to handle when shooting hand-held. Despite its small size, it still produces high-quality images. A switch for quick changes between focusing modes (M/A and M) is also included for your convenience.
Performance: This budget Nikon D7500 lens boasts a maximum aperture of f/3.5, which is reasonable for its price range. However, adequate lighting is necessary for optimal shooting results, as low light conditions can cause noise in photos. It’s equipped with a Silent Wave Motor, allowing it to capture video quietly and smoothly.
Best for: The wide-angle capabilities and focal lengths of this lens make it ideal for shooting in confined spaces, such as real estate, events, group photos, or street photography. With this lens, you can capture a lot of objects in a single frame.
In conclusion, this budget-friendly wide-angle lens for the Nikon D7500 is an excellent choice for hobby photographers who require a wide range of angles and don’t want to spend too much on additional camera equipment.
Nikon D7500 wildlife lenses
7. Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3 Contemporary DG OS HSM
PROS:
+ Lightweight for superzoom telephoto
+ Built-in image stabilization
+ Affordable price
CONS:
– Above 500mm loses a bit of quality
If you’re searching for a telephoto lens for Nikon D7500, look no further. This one here is an excellent investment for those who want to capture wildlife or sports events. Considering its category, it offers a budget-friendly option for telephoto photography.
Build and handling: For those who are familiar with telephoto lenses, it’s common knowledge that they tend to be heavy. However, this particular lens, weighing 68.1 oz (1,930 g), is relatively lightweight compared to other telephoto lenses, which often weigh 35 oz (1 kg) more. Despite its reduced weight, it still has a professional feel to it and hasn’t lost any of its performance capabilities.
Performance: Aside from offering a broad range of focal lengths and a respectable aperture, this Nikon D7500 telephoto lens also boasts several impressive features and advantages. Its performance in low-light conditions is noteworthy and will enhance your landscape photography. The high-speed hypersonic motor ensures smooth and satisfying focusing. And, the built-in image stabilization is a standout feature of this lens.
Best for: This telephoto lens is ideal for capturing distant objects, with its maximum focal length of 600mm making it perfect for shy wildlife. The built-in image stabilization, combined with a tripod, will result in clear and crisp photos of wildlife and birds. Additionally, it can also be used for sports photography and to capture intricate details in landscapes.
Overall, if your photography goal is to capture distant subjects, whether they be wildlife or sporting events, then this lens is the best choice for your Nikon D7500. Despite being one of the pricier lenses on this list, when considering its features and capabilities, it offers great value and is worth the investment.
8. Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED
PROS:
+ Lightweight for a long-range zoom
+ Extremely affordable
+ Built-in image stabilization
CONS:
– Doesn’t perform well under the low light conditions
It’s a budget-friendly telephoto zoom lens worth considering if you don’t want to spend a lot upfront. Despite being one of the least expensive lenses, it still performs well and creates high-quality images.
Build and handling: This Nikon D7500 landscape lens boasts a similar construction to other consumer-level Nikon lenses, nothing outstanding but not disappointing either. With its lightweight of just 14.7 oz. (415 g), it’s easy to take handheld shots and produce clear images. The straightforward and compact design makes it a great option for capturing your subjects.
Performance: This budget lens for Nikon D7500 features an f/4.5 aperture, which may not be optimal for low-light situations. To reduce noise in images, a tripod may be necessary to lower shutter speeds. Nevertheless, it has the added benefit of VR (vibration reduction) image stabilization, making it easier to shoot objects.
Best for: If you’re looking to capture subjects from a far distance, this lens is ideal for the task. It excels in shooting wildlife and landscapes, and its lightweight design makes it convenient to take on the go without the urgent need for a tripod. So you won’t miss the opportunity to capture those rare birds or other fleeting moments.
In conclusion, if you are a hobby photographer looking for an affordable option for wildlife photography with your Nikon D7500, this lens is the way to go. It provides great value for its price and offers new focal lengths and dimensions to enhance your portfolio.
Macro lens for Nikon D7500
9. Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED
PROS:
+ Large aperture for low-light conditions
+ Focal length of 105mm
+ Built-in image stabilization
CONS:
– A bit heavy for hand-held shootings
This lens is sure to be desired by macro photographers. Its compact size allows for life-size images to be projected onto a full-frame sensor, and the f/2.8 aperture and optical stabilization system make it possible to use in low-light conditions.
Build and handling: The Nikon D7500 macro lens measures 4.6 by 3.3 inches (116 x 83 mm) in length and diameter, and weighs 27.9 oz. (790g). It features a 62mm front filter thread and is constructed with a durable black composite material. The manual focus ring has a rubberized grip for easy handling and there are toggle switches for setting the focus limiter, switching between manual and autofocus, and turning the optical stabilization system on or off.
Performance: The SWM technology ensures swift and silent autofocusing and enables seamless switching between autofocus and manual modes. The IF system further enables a non-rotatable front lens element, making the use of circular polarizing filters effortless. With the advanced VR system (VRII), photographers can take sharp photos even when using shutter speeds that are up to four stops slower than usual.
Best for: As you would have assumed, then this Nikon D7500 lens is for capturing small things from anywhere. Is it details from things like flower seeds or taking shots of small living creatures like insects? Its focal length of 105mm will be a bonus because you don’t need to be close to your subjects or objects. Also, you can be sure that the lens shade won’t ruin your photo.
If you’re a big fan of Nikkor’s production, then it’s one of the best lenses for the Nikon D7500 if you aim for macro photography. The lens features optical stabilization, delivers sharp images, and can focus closely to attain a 1:1 magnification ratio.
Conclusion
This concludes our list of the best lenses for Nikon D7500. While there are numerous options available for this camera, the lenses listed here are considered to be ideal choices for users. While high-end professional lenses exist for the D7500, they may not be necessary for this type of camera. We hope this information helps find your next lens!
Read more: Best Nikon DX lenses.
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