My Go-To Lenses
Photographers often talk about their favorite lenses because lenses affect photos more than the camera body. As a hobbyist, I’ve never owned many lenses, but my choices changed when I moved from an entry-level DSLR to a better mirrorless camera.
Now, I mainly use two lenses: a 24-70mm and a 70-200mm. I also have two other lenses for general use. My camera, a Nikon Z8, has the newer Z lens mount that is larger than the old Nikon F-mount. I wanted to use native Z lenses, but that takes time. However, the Nikon Z cameras can use older F-mount lenses with an adapter. At first, I used this adapter successfully.
You may also notice that most of my lenses were purchased used. By buying from your local camera store or a reputable online source such as KEH or MPB, you can save a lot of money and still get an excellent lens.
Z 24-70mm f/2.8
The f/4 version of this lens is the basic lens that comes with many new Z cameras. It’s a Z mount lens with a useful zoom range. At 24mm, it’s not quite wide-angle, but still good for landscapes. Nikon also makes an f/2.8 version, which lets in more light but is much more expensive—over twice the price of the f/4. I upgraded to the f/2.8 version a few months ago for better indoor sports photos.
Z 70-200mm f/2.8
The 70-200mm lens is popular with most sports photographers. Some may need a longer reach for sports such as football, but they still have this one. I used an F-mount 70-200mm f/4 with an adapter on my Z camera, but it was only okay.
I take a lot of photos of my grandson’s sports and of college sports. For baseball, the 70-200mm zoom was good, but the f/4 aperture didn’t create enough background blur (bokeh). So, the player was sharp, but the background was also clear, making the subject less isolated.
I decided to upgrade to the f/2.8 version for better background blur. Instead of the F-mount, I chose the Z-mount for two reasons: better optics and similar price. Z-mount lenses are usually much more expensive, but that wasn’t the case here.
I saved money by buying a used lens from KEH in Atlanta. Selling my F-mount 70-200 f/4, an older 85mm lens, and the adapter helped lower the cost. Now, I’m fully committed to the Z-mount system.
My primary sports lenses: Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 (left) and Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8
Z 50mm f/1.8
I don’t use this lens much, but I bought it for three reasons. First, the image you see is close to what the human eye sees.
Second, it works well for indoor sports in dim school gyms because it lets in a lot of light.
Even though it’s a prime lens without zoom, it has superior optical quality and is great for basketball action near the basket.
Finally, I used to have a 50mm F-mount lens with filters for close-up shots. Those filters fit this lens with an adapter, and since I sold the old one, I needed a replacement.
So, the 50mm lens is my least used, but I still rely on it during basketball season and for macro work.
Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3
For a trip in 2022, I rented the Z-mount 24-200mm zoom lens. It’s not as solid as my main lenses, but it covers the full range of both, which is great for travel photography. Travelers often face the problem of needing different lenses for different shots, but this one lens solved that for me.
The 24-200mm is also lighter than my other lenses, especially my heavy 70-200mm f/2.8. Its aperture starts at f/4 but quickly drops to f/6.3, which isn’t as fast as my other lenses, but still good enough for most travel photos.
I found this lens works very well for general use as well as travel, making it a good walk-around lens. While it’s not quite as sharp as my other lenses, it’s good enough because I usually want a wider focus range in casual shots than I need in sports photos.
I ended up buying the lens that I had rented at a good discount. Despite some minor cosmetic flaws, it worked exactly as expected and is now my go-to lens for everyday situations.
The Future
I don’t plan to buy more lenses right now. These Z-mount lenses cover all the types of photography I do. That might change as new gear becomes available and my photography evolves. But for now, I’m happy with what I have.
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