Finding the ideal lens for the D7000 can be challenging. If you enjoy taking landscape shots, a wide-angle lens might be your best option. You also should pay attention to the stabilization system to get sharp images.
Hello folks! My name is Lavelle and I am a professional photographer and videographer. Since 2009 I have been delivering professional photography services to clients across the United States and during that time, I’ve become quite familiar with the Nikon brand.
In this article, I will talk about some of the things you should look for in a good lens for Nikon D7000. I will also answer a few frequently asked questions and give you my list of the best lenses for your Nikon D7000.
Contents
Key Takeaways
- Portrait photographers may want to consider a fixed focal length lens.
- Understand the focal lengths of the lenses that you choose and ensure that you are using the appropriate focal length for the scene that you’re shooting.
- Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm might be the best choice for portraits.
- Go with Tamron SP AF 28-75mm Macro Lens for indoor shooting.
Yes, the Nikon D7000 is an excellent DSLR camera that gives you a good resolution of 16.2MP and a good CMOS sensor. It’s a great choice for beginner photographers or to use as a second camera.
Is the Nikon D7000 good for wedding photography?
Yes! This camera was and is used by many photographers for weddings. It is a full-frame DSLR that has excellent specifications that work well for weddings.
What type of mount is the Nikon D7000?
The Nikon D7000 is an APS-C-type camera with a DX-type mount. This mount is compatible with many great lenses including those that are discussed in this article.
What to Look for in a Lens for Nikon D7000
Every lens has a purpose and there are several important qualities that you should look for in each lens you consider.
- Focal Length: One of the most important aspects of good photography is understanding the angle of view and the magnification ratio. The focal length of your lens helps you to understand these principles. For instance, you want an 18mm lens if you’re shooting a landscape scene while you may want a 300mm lens if you’re shooting a subject in a field.
- Maximum Aperture: The maximum aperture determines the amount of light that passes through the lens. Wide apertures allow you to take good, clear shots in poor lighting conditions. The max aperture is usually mentioned in the name of the lens. For example, you may see a Nikon 18mm f/1.4. The f-stop (1.4) is the maximum aperture. Look for a lens that has the appropriate aperture for the shot you’re shooting.
- Image Stabilization: Many lenses have a built-in image stabilization system. This, along with the image stabilizer on your camera, work together to create excellent images that reduce image blur and camera or handshake. While not all lenses have IS, it is wise to look for those that do.
- Versatility: Many lenses can be used for more than one type of scene. You want to choose a lens that gives you versatility and helps to reduce the need for so many lenses in your toolkit.
The Best Lenses for Nikon D7000 Reviewed
Now let’s get to the good part! Here is my list of the best picks, along with a quick review of each item.
1. Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens (Best Overall)
- Focal length: 50mm
- Aperture: f/1.8
- Image stabilization: None
- Lens type: Normal
Sitting atop my list is the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm. This incredible lens is well-designed and made to work with your D7000. It is extremely versatile and can take multiple scene settings easily.
The Silent Wave Motor technology on this lens is remarkable, allowing you to focus automatically and quietly. It delivers exceptional image quality and the photos are sharp and clear. It is also a well-priced lens for its value.
The best thing about this lens is its sharpness and low-light shooting capabilities. It performs well in questionable lighting conditions because of its fast aperture. Additionally, this lens also has a smooth focus ring.
The one thing that can be improved is the absence of any image stabilization technology. While your D7000 does have good IS, it would be helpful if this lens also had it. Otherwise, the qualities of this lens are well worth the investment.
My Verdict: This is an excellent overall choice of lens for your D7000. It is fully compatible with your camera body and it gives you excellent value for the price.
2. Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G Fixed Lens (Best Portrait)
- Focal length: 85mm
- Aperture: f/1.8
- Image stabilization: None
- Lens type: Telephoto
The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm is an exceptional fixed lens that delivers remarkable quality and sets the standard for portrait photography. It allows you to capture details in your images easily and impressively.
The Nikkor 85mm is also equipped with the Silent Wave Motor and is exceptionally quiet when operating. This lens is perfect for portraits mainly because of its focused background and excellent resolution on the edges of your photos.
The fact that this lens exhibits zero vignetting or distortion stands out the most. That is a remarkable trait for any lens and allows your portrait shots to be clear and crisp.
However, there is no image stabilization. Again, while the D7000 camera body does have IS, it would be nice to have that additional support from the lens. The lens is also somewhat heavy and bulky.
My Verdict: If portrait photography is your primary goal, then this is the lens you should have in your bag. It is a great choice to work with you D7000 and it delivers exceptionally well.
3. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm Zoom Lens (Best Telephoto)
- Focal length: 55-300mm
- Aperture: f/4.5-5.6
- Image stabilization: VR Image Stabilization
- Lens type: Telephoto
Next up on my list is the Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm Zoom Lens. When it comes to telephoto lenses, this one is a worthy consideration. It is exclusively designed for the D7000 and does not fail to deliver on every shot.
It is a compact, 3x zoom lens that is capable of focusing to as close as 1 foot from your subject. The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm has a premium design and premium performance making it an easy choice for telephoto shots.
The best thing about this lens is that it is incredibly portable. Its ultra-compact design is great for a telephoto lens (most are big and bulky). It is just over 8 inches long which makes it compact enough to easily fit into most bags or to even carry by hand.
There’s always room for improvement, however. The one thing that can be improved is overall housing quality. I’m concerned that if dropped, this lens would easily crack. It feels a little “cheap” and that concerns me.
My Verdict: This is an excellent choice for a telephoto lens and since it is designed with the D7000 in mind, it’s a perfect choice to pair with that camera.
4. Tamron SP AF 28-75mm Macro Lens (Best Indoors)
- Focal length: 28-75mm
- Aperture: f/2.8
- Image stabilization: Optical IS
- Lens type: Macro
The last but certainly not the least choice is the Tamron SP AF 28-75mm Macro Lens. This lens is the absolute best choice for indoor shooting or for scenes where the lighting is questionable.
Tamron has put a larger zoom radius on this lens, making it an excellent choice for things such as venue or event scenes. It is designed for full-frame cameras and ensures that you get true-to-life photos with organic colors.
The Tamron SP AF 28-75mm is super versatile. You can shoot portraits, activities, sporting events, concerts, and much more with this great all-in-one type of lens. It works extremely well in poor lighting conditions and still delivers excellent-quality images.
The one concern I have with this lens is that its performance in the 28mm range is average at best. It fails to give me that “wow” factor at this focal length, which is disappointing since the lens is so versatile.
My Verdict: This is a good lens choice for your D7000. It does give you the versatility you need to shoot various types of scenarios. It is a fairly good value for the price as well.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to pairing the right lens with the Nikon D7000, it can be tough to decide on the right lens. It’s important to keep in mind that everyone’s photography needs and preferences are different.
Hopefully, you’ve found some helpful information in this article about the lenses you use with your camera. At the end of the day, you want to find lenses that enhance your photographic abilities, and I am certain that these lenses do just that.
Have you tried any of these lenses? Share your experience in the comments below.
As always, enjoy capturing the best moments of your life!
