5 Best Nikon D7000 Lenses in 2023 – Picks for Amateurs and Pros

If you are a photographer who rocks Nikon D7000, it is likely that you already gave a shot to more than a couple of lenses. This is a great camera that offers plenty of capabilities, so it is not surprising if you are looking for an upgrade in this department. We want to assist you with finding the perfect match for this unit, so today, we are going to talk about the best Nikon D7000 lenses you can find in today’s market.

Finding a great lens is very important, especially if you are using the kit lens, which will only help you do some basic stuff, but that is as far as you will be able to go. These lenses do not offer a good zoom range or wide-angle capabilities from that matter, so you will be very limited.

Choosing the appropriate lens can be rather confusing, especially for photographers who are only beginners. It is likely that you will have to pay a considerable amount of money for a quality lens, so making a mistake can create a series of issues and disrupt your workflow. We will not let that happen, and we made a list of some of the finest picks in today’s market. There is a lot to cover, so let us begin.

List of Best Nikon D7000 Lenses for DX Users

1. Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G Lens

This lens is one of the best you can find in today’s market, as it offers a great balance of value and price. It is loaded with quality features that will take the quality of your photos to the next level. You can use it to shoot weddings, concerts, and various other motives on different events.

This is a simple yet highly effective lens that sports a total of nine elements in its optical path. The autofocus is absolutely amazing due to the well-performing ring-type ultrasonic autofocus system that is available with the usual focus distance scale and manual override facility.

It has a minimum focus distance of 0.8 m, which is something that you will generally get with an 85 mm prime lens. It provides you with a maximum magnification factor that stands at 0.124 x, which is pretty good. The build quality is also on point, as there is a rubber water seal on the mounting plate.

With this lens, you will enjoy exceptional sharpness across most of the frame at the widest aperture. It is a small, fast, and sharp lens, and when you consider everything that you get it with, the price seems almost unrealistically low. It delivers active bokeh and superb sharpness, and as such, it is definitely worth your attention, especially if you do product or jewelry photography, where this lens truly shines.

Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G Lens Specifications

2. Nikon AF S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G Lens

Nikon AF S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G lens is one of the best-performing, all-around lenses for Nikon D7000 you can find in today’s very competitive market. This is a very compact unit that delivers a standard-angle field of view and offers a set of features that will serve a wide variety of purposes.

It is a very light and compact lens, standing at 6.6 ounces, and it measures 2.1 by 2.8 inches. Close focus is limited to slightly under 1.5 feet, which will allow you to frame everything tightly and open the aperture to blur the background. The downside of this unit is that it does not have any type of image stabilization, but it does not come as a surprise, as Nikon only puts this technology into zooms and telephoto prime lenses.

When it is all said and done, this product is an excellent choice for most photographers due to its speed, excellent sharpness, and more than the reasonable price tag. It will also suit people that require a good lens but work on a tighter budget. Although it is not the sharpest 50 mm lens on the market, it still offers great image quality.

This is a fairly small, light, and cost-efficient lens that creates a great combination of a classic 50 mm focal length with a fast f/1.8 aperture. However, this being a budget lens does not mean the quality is compromised, as it shines in a variety of uses and is a great all-around unit.

Nikon AF S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G Lens Specifications

3. Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD

The fact that you own an intermediate camera, such as Nikon D7000, means that you are becoming well-versed in photography, and buying a new lens will be a huge step in the right direction. This lens from the Sigma store will provide you with just that, and it will be a significant upgrade, especially if you use a kit lens.

This is a unit that provides a very effective wide-angle zoom at an affordable price. Various tests of this lens have proved that it can outperform even some competitors from Nikon that come at a higher price. The fact that it offers similar advantages as its counterparts in a similar range and for almost half the cost is one of the first reasons you should inspect this unit more closely.

This is a product that comes with an ultrasonic autofocus system, and the fact that it is not of the ring-type variety contributes to its compact construction. It is not a perfect autofocus system, and it does come with its flaws, such as a lack of full-time manual override, but it does perform at a suitable level.

As far as the image quality goes, you will get sharp photos across most of the image frame, while the corners can be quite soft, particularly at short to mid-zoom settings. It is worth pointing out that this occurs when you use apertures wider than f/5.6. Handling is also on point, and the features that come with this unit are well worth the cost.

Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD Specifications

4. Tamron SP 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD for Nikon

This is a rare lens that is no longer in production, so if you get a chance to find it online or in some local shop, you should definitely check it out. Wildlife photographers should give this lens a chance as it provides photos with exceptional and vivid colors that you will hardly be able to capture with other lenses in this class.

This is a unit that can deliver so much at an affordable price. It can do nice macro photography and provides you with a fast autofocusing element, and these are only some of its numerous capabilities. The build quality is also on point, as it feels very sturdy and well-made when handling it.

Considering the fact it weighs around 1.68 lbs, it is safe to say that it is not the lightest unit out there, and it essentially weighs more than the camera, so it will take some getting used to it, as holding the balance can create some problems, at least initially.

Feature-wise, this lens is absolutely loaded. It uses professional-grade components such as vibration compensation and ultrasonic silent drive that ensure smooth and stable images even when the object you want to photograph is mobile. With its extra-low dispersion grade lenses, the spectral hues will be at the bare minimum. Overall, it is a great lens for a great price.

Tamron SP 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD Specifications

5. Nikon AF S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens

If you are an owner of a Nikon D7000 that seeks a quality lens for portrait capturing, then this model might be the perfect choice for you. Not only that this unit performs amazingly in a variety of conditions, but it also comes at a more than fair price, and when all the features are taken into consideration, this is a really good bargain.

This lens truly shines at taking photos of people at various events, such as weddings and concerts, and it also performs exceptionally at capturing low-light videos, which is, again, a great feature for filming concerts. The weight and design are also on point, making it a perfect fit for a unit such as D7000.

You will find a rubber mount ring on it that does a great job of preventing moisture and dust particles from entering the body of the lens. One of the main reasons portrait photographers should consider this product is its high focusing power. Although focusing takes a bit of time, and low-light conditions might bother it a bit, it is still a pretty good unit.

The strongest point of this product is definitely the sharpness it delivers, especially at the edges, which is not the case with your average lens. You will always get nice and well-rounded images with Nikkor 35 mm, and regarding the overall quality, it is second only to the 50mm for clicking portraits in its class.

Nikon AF S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens Specifications

Things to Consider When Buying a Lens for Nikon D7000

The lenses we have listed will certainly serve as a great upgrade for your Nikon D7000, and that is especially the case if you use the kit lens. However, to make the right choice, you need to know some specific features that will suit your photography needs. We want to assist you with that and help you get the best value for your money’s worth, so we have put together a brief list of guidelines you should follow.

Shooting Style

One of the main considerations you need to make before purchasing a lens for your camera is the intended purpose you have for it. Some photographers prefer to take portraits, while others like to take photos of nature, jewelry, or products.

Each type of photography requires a lens with specific features that will provide the best results. The basic things you require are a telephoto, macro, zoom, or standard lens. When you get all of it, your search should be narrowed down a bit, and you will be able to browse easier for the lens that will serve your purposes.

Build Quality

Chances are you will likely take your camera and equipment to various places, especially if you are a photographer that enjoys taking shots of landscapes and nature. This means you will likely be faced with different environments, and accidents and physical damage tend to happen under these circumstances.

For this reason, the wisest thing is to always look to buy a lens that possesses a solid construction (preferably metal) that will be able to take some abuse and withstand different environmental conditions.

Zoom

In case you are in the market for a multi-purpose lens, you should look for a model that comes with a variable focal length. This will enable you to zoom in to take quality photos that are at greater distances. Zoomable lenses are a perfect choice for photographers that need to use different focal lengths to take images in different environments.

Weather Sealing

Protection from physical damage is important, but there are other essential things you need to consider, such as weather sealing and dust sealing. These will protect your camera lens from dust particles and moisture entering the body of the unit and prolong its lifespan.

Lighting

Getting a lens that can work in different lighting environments and conditions is another important consideration. Light can often shift and spoil the quality of the images you are taking. To avoid such mishaps, you should opt for a lens that can perform well in low or extremely bright light. These devices are useful for both indoor and outdoor shooting.

Protective Pouch

Although this is not a necessity and it is totally optional, a well-cushioned pouch is something that you could look for when buying a brand-new lens. It is a great form of protection for your lens from scratches, bumps, dents, and any other type of physical damage that may occur by accident.

This pouch will also minimize dust from building up on the glass of your lens or even getting inside it. Not only will you dramatically reduce the need for cleaning, but you will also grant a longer lifespan for your lens.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What lens mount type do I need for Nikon D7000?

If you own Nikon D7000, you should look for lenses that have Nikon F-mount. You can also use different types of mounts if you get an F-mount adapter that can be attached to your camera.

2. Do other companies aside from Nikon produce lenses for D7000?

Nikon makes their own lenses under the brand Nikkor, but you can also find lenses compatible with D7000 from the manufacturers such as Tamron, Yongnuo, and Sigma.

3. Is the kit lens good enough for Nikon D7000?

If you are a casual photographer and do not care much about the quality of the images you are taking, then yes, the kit lens can be good enough. However, with it, you will not be taking full advantage of what this camera can do, and purchasing a quality lens can significantly improve the quality of your images.

4. Which lens is universally praised by photographers?

Countless photographers praise the mighty 50 mm lens. If you are on a budget and have money to buy only one lens, make it count and invest in a 50 mm lens that performs excellently in a variety of situations.

5. What lens for portraits provides the best sharpness?

If you want your portrait photos to look super-sharp, it is best to opt for an 85 mm prime lens. The majority of photographers agree that this is one of the best lenses for portraits, especially the f/1.8 variation. The first pick on our list is almost a perfect match for this description.

6. What type of lenses can I opt for?

There are different types of lenses you can opt for, and each one of them is unique in its own way. You can choose between wide-angle, standard, telephoto, and macro lenses.

Final Words

This concludes our guide about the best lenses for the Nikon D7000 camera. Every photographer knows just how much value a quality lens can deliver, and D7000, being a fantastic unit, too, can benefit a lot from the top-of-the-line lenses.

You can literally spend hours browsing for the perfect match for this camera, but it will be much easier to pick from our list. We hope you liked our picks and that you will find the lens you need among them. We update our content regularly, so feel to revisit it, as this list will likely get expanded in the future.