The latter is best suited to specific needs, such as sports, action, wildlife, or weddings and events. The former is a good option as a walk around lens, giving you flexibility to shoot at different focal lengths without zooming in too far. Here we have separated the options into “standard zoom” and “telephoto zoom”. The next thing to consider is the type of zoom lens you need. So, as an example, the equivalent focal length of a standard 18-55mm kit lens used on an APS-C body is 27-82.5mm. For Nikon cameras, that represents 1.5x the focal length written on the lens. If you’re using an APS-C sized sensor, also known as DX, you need to be aware of the crop factor. That is, whether it’s got an APS-C sized sensor, such as the Nikon D500, Nikon D7500, Nikon D5600, or a full-frame sensor, such as the Nikon D850 or the Nikon D5, also known as FX. When you’re deciding which zoom lens to pick, first of all consider which type of camera you’re shooting with.
Even with the best zoom lenses, one big compromise tends to be a narrower maximum aperture than you usually find with prime lenses. Of course, as with everything in life – you’ll usually find there’s some sort of compromise. You can shoot at different focal lengths, without the hassle and fuss of having to change lenses (or carry them around). If you’re after the most flexible type of lens, a zoom lens is generally considered a good idea, here we highlight some of the best zoom lenses for Nikon DSLRs.