It also has a new shutter, an autofocus sensor, 9 FPS continuous shooting, and a new standard image processor.

This full-frame beast from Nikon can further be enhanced with the right lenses. Which are those? Well, I’m going to tell you in a second.

Best Prime Lens for Portraits

• Lens Type: Telephoto
• Mounting Type: Nikon F (FX)
• Focal Length Range: 85 mm
• Minimum Focus Distance: 0.80 m
• Weight: 0.77 pounds
• Dimensions: 2.87 x 3.15 x 3.15 inches

Let’s start with primes. Nikon 85mm f/1.8G came up as the best lens for shooting portraits. The creamy bokeh it creates comes out clean and sharp, at any distance.

The lens is fast and accurate in low-light situations, especially on a full-frame body. It is bright enough when opened at the widest possible aperture and gets even sharper if you stop just a notch before it.

The autofocus is fast and performs best when used as portrait gear. However, I did some shooting in social events, and I was not disappointed with the results. It is safe to say it can be used as an all-around lens.

Nikon 85mm lens is quite a focal length considering it is prime with no zoom. So it can be used for taking shots of more extensive scenes. Also, f/1.8 ensures lots of light will enter the sensor so that you can use it as a studio or indoor lens.

Moving out to a wide lens, I praise Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8. The aperture ranges from f/2.8 to f/22, with two aspheric lens elements and two super-low dispersion elements.

Optically speaking, it is excellent stopped down, but it shines out when wide open. I didn’t notice distortion or vignetting of importance.

It is a lens intended to be used outside so the design can withstand a lot. It is, in a sense, a heavy and massive lens, so it might be tricky to carry it around a neck the whole time, but it is something you get used to it. The only issue for some users will be changing from autofocus to manual pull-push.

The autofocus is very loud and might deter some, but it compensates for accuracy and speed. I love that this lens provides a perfect corner-to-corner sharpness and creates detailed scenes. During the test, I did get some superb shots of wide scenes with ideal lighting and barely noticeable lens flare.

Nikon AF-S 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G is a remarkable zoom lens for full-frame cameras. It offers excellent sharpness and an extensive zoom range, with f/5.6 at the telephoto end. It comes with vibration reduction, which ensures image stabilization.

You can use this lens handheld to get dramatic, sharp images.
These qualities make it a very versatile, all-around lens. I did a round of experimenting and found portraits are great at 300 mm. autofocus is quite loud, which can be a slight annoyance, but it is fast in return.

Although it is not a prime lens, and such sharpness is not expected, this lens provides sharp images with just a little flare and chromatic aberrations.

However:

They can be removed in post-production. It is a big lens that triples the size of one physical lens when zoomed in. Three switches on the left side work excellently, and I didn’t have trouble using them. The lens performed well in low-light conditions, so it is safe to say it is the best all-around choice.

Nikon 70-200mm f/4G has one of the best noise-performance sensors. I have taken numerous pictures at 200 mm f/4 1/30 with excellent handheld sharpness.

It is a truly excellent performance. This lens’s vibration reduction is helpful in low-light conditions when you cannot raise ISO without dealing with a lot of noise.

It can also mitigate blur and slower shutter speeds, which can mean the world in handheld shooting. Image quality is outstanding, with clear pictures, lots of contrast, excellent clarity, and even color distribution. I am yet to notice any fringe issues with this lens, and the color distribution is superb.

However:

There is a small type of vignetting at f/4, but it disappears as soon as you stop down to f/5,6. The focus ring is a world of its own, very smooth and accurate.

Autofocus offers a silent and precise system. Optical performance is astonishingly good, and bokeh is pleasing, and I must say the lens reproduces high-quality pictures at f/4.

The macro lens comes last, with Sigma 105mm f/2.8 being the winner. This lens focuses on 1:1 magnification at its closest working distance of 12.3 inches.

It is a gear that works quite well indoors when shooting at f/2.8. You can have a dimmed-out room or a concert hall with ambient light, and you will still get good pictures.

Autofocus is extremely fast and silent, which is the right combination. I must praise the stabilization of the lens, which benefits photographers who don’t fancy tripods. The image quality is superb, with sharp lines. Optical stabilizers work well for shaky hands, so it is easy to say tripod haters will love this lens.

Macro lenses generally offer sharp images, but this one stands out with outstanding clarity and smooth bokeh transitions of what is behind your main subject. It is a well-built lens with quality materials and a modern design, so it is a complete package.

Maximizing Your Nikon D800 Photography: Practical Advice for Enthusiasts

The Nikon D800 is a remarkable tool in the hands of a photographer, but to truly harness its potential, it’s vital to go beyond simply selecting a high-quality lens. Here are some actionable tips tailored to the Nikon D800 that will help you elevate your photography:

• Understand Your Photography Goals: Before you decide on a lens, consider what you aim to capture. Are you into landscapes, portraits, macro, or wildlife photography? Each genre might require a different lens characteristic, such as wide-angle for landscapes or a fast aperture for low light.

• Learn About Sensor Dynamics: The Nikon D800 features a 36.3MP full-frame sensor, offering exceptional detail. To get the most out of this high-resolution sensor, use lenses with a wider maximum aperture to capture more light and detail.

• Balance Focal Length and Portability: While a wide zoom range is convenient, consider the size and weight of the lens in relation to your shooting style. If you prefer to travel light, prime lenses or a mid-range zoom might be more practical.

• Experiment With the DX Crop Mode: The Nikon D800’s DX crop mode reduces the image size to 15.3MP, which extends the reach of your lenses by 1.5x. This is particularly useful for wildlife photography where getting close to the subject is challenging.

• Prioritize Sharpness and Resolution: To make full use of the D800’s high resolution, opt for lenses known for their sharpness. This will allow you to capture the finest details, which is essential for large prints or heavy cropping.

• Consider the Lighting Conditions: If you frequently shoot in varying lighting conditions, invest in lenses with Vibration Reduction (VR) to reduce the impact of camera shake and achieve clearer images at slower shutter speeds.

• Don’t Overlook the Importance of Focus: Accurate focusing is crucial, especially with high-resolution cameras. Look for lenses with a Silent Wave Motor (SWM) to ensure fast and quiet autofocus, which is beneficial for both still photography and video recording.

• Maintenance and Upkeep: Protect your investment by regularly cleaning and maintaining your lenses. Dust and moisture can affect image quality, so use lens hoods and caps when shooting in challenging environments.

By keeping these tips in mind and understanding how to leverage the Nikon D800’s features with the right lenses, you’ll be well-equipped to take stunning photographs that match your artistic vision.

Best lenses for Nikon D3 – Wrapping Up

Nikon D3 is a modern camera that introduced many high-tech features to photography. What impressed me the most was how much better the D3 camera body got with the right Nikon D3 lenses.

Following the advice above when buying, your Nikon will rise to its full shooting potential with the best Nikon D3 lens in 2024.

LensesPro is a blog with similar guides, such as lenses for Nikon D3300 and Nikon D5100 lenses.

More Nikon D Series guides:

• Nikon D3 lenses
  
• Nikon D3S lenses
• Nikon D4 lenses
• Nikon D5 lenses
• Nikon D600 lenses
• Nikon D610 lenses
• Nikon D700 lenses
• Nikon D750 lenses
• Nikon D780 lenses
• Nikon D800 lenses
• Nikon D810 lenses
• Nikon D850 lenses
• Nikon Df lenses