The winner is… Nikon Z 40mm f/2

Every one’s a winner but Nikon’s Z 40mm really hits the spot

With such a diverse range of lenses on test, it’s hard to pick an outright winner. But if we had to choose just one, it would be the Nikon Z 40mm f/2. It’s just such a great little prime with a really useful focal length for everyday shooting on a full-frame camera, along with a fast f/2 aperture. Image quality is impressive and, as the most inexpensive lens in the whole group, it’s an absolute bargain.

For DX shooters, the Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8 or SE version ticks all of the same boxes, and this lens is also a terrific wideangle option for use with FX bodies. Even so, for the ultimate in versatility and compact convenience with a DX camera, the Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.56.3 VR and Nikon Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR make a formidable combination.

Getting back to full-frame compatible lenses, the Samyang MF 85mm f/1.4 Z and Samyang MF 14mm f/2.8 Z are excellent manual choices for portraiture and landscape/architectural photography respectively, the latter also being ideal for some out-of-this-world astrophotography. If you really feel the need for speed, along with beautiful bokeh, the 7Artisans 50mm f/1.05 makes a cracking standard prime for FX cameras and a great portrait lens for DX bodies. Look no further than the Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2:1 Ultra Macro APO for mighty macro magnification on a shoestring budget.