My journey as a professional photographer has led me to examine a myriad of lenses, each under the discerning eye of experience.

The Nikon D700 and its compatible lenses were no exception, having undergone my rigorous testing process.

For those craving swift insights, here are the key findings:

Is the Nikon D700 worth your hard-earned money? This is likely the question you’re grappling with.

Rest assured, we’re about to delve into the heart of this formidable camera, unraveling its potential and its pitfalls.

Stick around to discover if the Nikon D700 should be the new member of your photographic arsenal.

Should you own Nikon D700 camera in 2024?

Wildlife photographers are used to packing somewhat large and robust lenses. Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 is a heavy lens that can be challenging for handheld shots.

Especially for people who have smaller hands, it can get quite challenging, ergonomically speaking. So, you will first want to buy a tripod with this lens.

Technically:

It is a high-speed lens, and you can afford fast shutter speeds to minimize camera-weight shaking, but the tripod would be a better option. The pictures I have taken with this lens are incredible. Zoom is outstanding, with a quiet motor, so forget about the clicking noise when holding the shutter.

The exterior is top-notch built, which you would expect from a telephoto lens. I did lots of f/2.8 shooting with this lens, and I got lovely bokeh effects, and the transition from subject to background was smooth.

This Sigma allowed me to get an excellent shallow depth of field, and with it, I got some lovely images of fast-moving objects.

#2 Best Runner-Up: Upgrade Your Nikon D700 with the Best Prime Lens

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 is a lens I found to have great value in controlling distortion and vignetting, no matter the focal length you choose. I didn’t notice any chromatic aberrations either, which is crucial to me when I shoot portraits.

I decided to test Sigma shooting at f/1.4 and was delighted with great, well-listed photos. The bokeh effect was silky smooth and crazy sharp when needed.

The downside is the amount of glass on this lens, which can be tricky, considering it is a 50 mm lens. Some users might feel it is too brittle, but honestly, I didn’t face any issues.

This lens is meant to be used with the full-frame body, and the pictures you get with DX are of less quality.

One thing I noticed during the test process was the right amount of resistance in the manual focus, which made me quite precise while snapping.

I have chosen Nikon AF-S 40mm f/2.8G over other lenses for close-ups because it allowed me to get closer to my subjects than to different lenses. If you like macro photography but don’t want to commit yourself to buying more expensive gear, this lens would be a great fit.

It is a 40 mm lens so it will serve as an “all-purpose” lens. It is fast, though not as short as 35 mm f/1.8, and it compensates for it with a lower price.

Shooting to get 1:1 magnification can be challenging since you will have to get close to your subject, thus risking some unwanted shadows. I still managed to get beautiful pictures with vivid colors and no shadow issues, but it took me some time to experiment.

I did shoot close to my subjects with this lens, and I didn’t have to crop images. The bokeh effect is subtle too, which means you should be able to shoot some portraits.

Manual focus can be adjusted at wish, so you can manually set the direction close to the object and then let autofocus (fast, accurate, and surprisingly quiet) do the rest.

Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 is my choice for landscapes, first and foremost, because it provided me with awesome night-sky photos.

I did a photo-shooting on a starry night with a tripod at f/2.8 and 11 mm, and I was amazed by the crystal clear image. I didn’t have to do much post-processing because the exposure and sharpness were on point.

I also find Tokina to work well at 15 or 16 mm for low-light conditions in confined spaces and to give great fish-eye-like shots at 11 mm. That means you won’t have to get an additional fish-eye lens.

I’m also a big fan of manual/auto slip rings. It did take me some time to learn how to utilize one on this one, but it paid off.

The angle is vast, and the lens opens up to 11 mm, which can mean the world when you have a scene you need to put in the frame but can’t afford to move around. I noticed a bit of distortion at the edges, only 11 mm, though it was an easy fix.

When I travel around, I need a lens whose selling point is lightweight and fast accurate focusing. Nikon AF-S 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G delivers it flawlessly. I took it into the street during the test to do some promenade shooting.

Then I went into the woods to shoot the full range from 18 to 300 mm, and I was honestly impressed. In the woods, branches blocked much sunlight, so it was a low-light game. The focus was fast and accurate, and the photos I got were sharp, even when I did a quick snap.

Even when autofocus is on, the feature of using a manual focus is a great one, and you will use it more than you think.

Since this is an 18-300 mm lens, you won’t have to carry a whole set of lenses around, which is essential if you are on the move and your space is limited. Another significant benefit is its lightweight of 550 grams, which comes in handy when your bag is fully packed or you want to keep the camera with you.

Getting the Most Out of Your Nikon D700 Lenses

The Nikon D700 is a highly capable camera that can produce amazing results when paired with the right lenses. Here are some tips to help you maximize the potential of your D700 lenses:

• Use fast aperture primes in low light. Lenses like 50mm f/1.4 or 85mm f/1.8 allow more light in dim conditions.

• For sharp landscapes, choose wide-angle zooms like 16-35mm f/4 with vibration reduction to minimize blurring.

• For portraits, telephoto primes like 85mm f/1.8 give flattering compression and background blur.

• Stabilized telephoto zooms such as 70-200mm f/2.8 are great for sports/wildlife. The VR reduces camera shake.

• Carry a macro lens like 60mm f/2.8 for stunning close-up details in flowers, insects etc.

• Get a versatile standard zoom like 24-70mm f/2.8 to cover medium shots of people, street scenes etc.

• Check that the lens has fast, quiet autofocus especially for video recording.

• For professional quality results, invest in pro-level glass with ED, Nano Crystal coatings.

• Weather-sealed lenses are ideal if shooting outdoors in rough conditions frequently.

Choosing lenses suited for your shooting style and needs is key to getting the best performance from your D700. High quality lenses make a big difference.

Frequently Asked Questions: Choosing the Best Lenses for Nikon D700

What type of lens does Nikon D700 use?

The Nikon D700 uses F-mount lenses. This camera is designed to be compatible with all AF NIKKOR lenses, excluding lenses for the F3AF.

Can D700 use DX lenses?

Yes, the Nikon D700 can use DX lenses. However, when a DX lens is mounted on the D700, it will automatically switch to DX crop mode, which reduces the effective megapixel count because it only uses a portion of the camera’s full-frame sensor.

What is the best lens for the Nikon D700 for general photography?

One of the best general-purpose lenses for the Nikon D700 is the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR. Its versatility, sharpness, and fast aperture make it great for various types of photography.

What is the best Nikon lens for portrait photography on the D700?

For portrait photography, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G is often recommended due to its excellent bokeh, sharpness, and focal length, which is ideal for flattering facial proportions.

Best lenses for Nikon D700 – Conclusion

Nikon D700 is one of my favorite cameras altogether. It is also the first full-frame compact I came in touch with.

Its light body, combined with a full-frame sensor, decisive autofocus, and a wide range of ISO, makes it a great tool to work with.

Moreover, with the Nikon D700 lenses I have described, D700 shined and performed exceptionally well, even compared to newer cameras. If you are on the search for new lenses for your Nikon, look no more.

Pick any of those five lenses I mentioned based on your needs, and you are good to go.

If this guide helped you make the right decision, please share it using the social buttons below. You can also read other guides on this website, such as the Nikon D5600 lenses guide and the best lenses for Nikon D3500.

BEST RECOMMENDATION:

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