Best Nikon Macro Lenses

I’m expanding my lens guides to cover a wider range of options. After presenting you with top Z-mount telephoto lenses and the best Z wide-angle lenses, I’m here to share my personal picks for the best Nikon macro lenses, suitable for both Z-mount (mirrorless) and F-mount (SLRs). Feel free to explore our comprehensive guide, encompassing all current Nikon Z lenses, whether with or without autofocus and compatible with various brands.

Macro photography involves capturing small subjects at a minimum magnification of 1:1. This means the lens allows you to get close enough that one centimeter in real life is represented as one centimeter on the sensor. For instance, a rectangular subject measuring 24x36mm will entirely fill the frame on a full-frame sensor of the same size. However, it’s worth noting that some lenses labeled as ‘macro’ may not achieve a 1:1 ratio but are still suitable for macro photography in a broader sense. These lenses allow you to capture images where the subject appears larger than it is in reality.

In this article, we will exclusively focus on lenses with a minimum 1:1 magnification ratio. These lenses will be categorized based on the type of camera body they are designed for, starting with mirrorless cameras, then SLRs, followed by sensor size, and finally, whether they offer automatic or manual focusing.

Regarding Nikon mirrorless cameras, the selection is still somewhat limited due to the relatively recent introduction of the Z-mount. Nevertheless, you have the option to use SLR lenses with the FTZ adapter ring, although new ones may be scarce. If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the new Z lenses, purpose-built for the Z-mount and equipped with all its unique features. Additionally, we’ve taken an extra step by creating a comprehensive guide to the best Nikon Z macro lenses.

So which lens should you choose? Let us tell you all about it!

If you’re interested in finding out more, this page will give you details of all the full-frame Nikon mirrorless cameras currently available. (It’ll also help you make the right choice.). Here’s a link that also includes firmware updates for Nikon Z lenses.

If you’re looking for a macro lens for your full-frame Nikon Z camera, there’s currently very little choice. Below is an in-depth look at the only two options currently available. Everything you need to know about these 2 lenses is summarized in the table below.

The main features of these two prime lenses are summarized in the table below.

You can click directly on the lens names for a description:

• Nikon Z 105mm f/2.8 S MC VR
• Nikon Z 50mm f/2.8 MC
• Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Macro Z

In June 2021, Nikon announced the arrival of the first macro lens for its range of mirrorless cameras. In line with the lenses they offer for SLRs, they are adding a 105mm f/2.8 stabilized lens to their range. This lens is part of the S-series, which is Nikon’s top of the range hybrid lens. The build construction is great and tropicalised, with customisable buttons, a control screen, a selector to switch from AF to manual focus and a focus distance limiter. The manual focus ring is very wide and its non-linear design obviously prevents a scale of magnification ratios (like the Sigma mirrorless version), as the focusing distance does not follow the same path depending on whether you turn the ring slowly or quickly. The slower you turn, the more precise the focus, and vice versa.

Optically, this 105mm macro offers a very high level of detail across the entire image field from full aperture, making it a worthy representative of this lens type. Distortion and chromatic aberration are virtually non-existent, which is to be expected from a top-of-the-range 105mm. (Between you and me, macro or not, the 105mm focal length is not the hardest to correct for distortion.) Vignetting, on the other hand, is very pronounced and Nikon, like many others, relies on software corrections to focus on sharpness and reduce size and weight. In fact, the lens is relatively light for its reach and features. Bokeh is not perfect, but it remains relatively soft for a macro and can be used for other purposes, such as portraits. The AF is decent, but also depends a lot on the camera body. A Z8 will obviously be more comfortable than a Z6, given its newer, more powerful technology. For macro photography, however, you’ll often need to use manual focus, and the wide focus ring is very handy.

It is priced at about 1200 Euros, which is high but logical for such a lens. Competitors’ top-of-the-range 100mm macro lenses are also priced at this level. If you want to specialize in macro photography with the Nikon Z-mount, this is probably the best lens for you.

Along with the 105mm macro, Nikon announced the 50mm f/2.8 macro in June 2021. In contrast to the 105 mm, this lens does not belong to the high-end category. As a result, even though its construction is solid and weather-resistant, it falls a little short in comparison. The advantage of this design, apart from the shorter focal length, is its compact and lightweight build construction. There are no customisable buttons or a control screen. However, there is an AF/MF switch and a focus distance limiter. This time, the linear focus allows a scale to appear on the barrel showing the magnification ratios as it extends to approach the minimum focusing distance.

As far as optical quality is concerned, it’s not at the top of the range and doesn’t reach the level of detail offered by the 105mm, especially with a significant difference between the center and the edges, even when the aperture is stopped down. However, the center is quite sharp. In terms of distortion and chromatic aberrations, the smaller 50mm is on a par with the 105mm. Unfortunately, the same is true of vignetting, where it is just as badly affected as the 105 mm. Its 50mm focal length can make it somewhat more versatile, akin to a standard 50mm lens without the f/1.4 or f/1.8 aperture but with the macro capability. Bokeh isn’t one of the best. The autofocus, which is also slightly audible, isn’t a standout either.

Of course, being in a lower price range usually means a lower cost. However, the price of €750 is still relatively high considering the category and features. Compared to the price of the 105mm, you might have expected a reduction of €150-€200.

The Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di III Macro VXD is a quality lens for Nikon Z-mount full-frame cameras. With a maximum aperture of f/2.8 and a focusing distance of 23cm, it offers a 1:1 magnification, perfect for detailed images. Its weight and dimensions remain reasonable, making it a fairly compact lens. As for its optical construction, it features 15 elements in 12 groups, including 4 low dispersion glass elements that ensure good control of chromatic aberrations. There is also a 12-blade circular aperture that produces soft, creamy bokeh, ideal for macro and portrait photography. Note that the lens is not stabilised.

In terms of use, the autofocus of the lens is fast, efficient and silent: a good point for macro photography, even if we often use manual focus in this field. With this lens, it is quite possible to achieve good sharpness at full aperture, with excellent colour rendition (although the diaphragm is often closed to increase the depth of field in macro shots). It is therefore equally suited to portrait and landscape photography. On the other hand, vignetting is noticeable at full aperture, but this can always be corrected in post-production.

As you can see, this lens is clearly designed for macro and portrait photography enthusiasts. It perfectly combines performance and affordability. In my opinion, it’s a good deal!

The main characteristics of these two lenses are compared in the table below.

Laowa’s macro lenses are mainly found here. Many of them are adaptations of their SLR versions. This is a brand that offers serious, high-quality products, and its macro lenses have the advantage of offering an even higher macro ratio. They are ideal for macro photography, where AF is less important, thanks to their manual focus. These are truly specialized lenses. They come in a range of prices, but their build quality and image quality are generally quite good. These full-frame lenses are compatible with Nikon’s APS-C hybrids, as are the 50mm and 105mm lenses.

I won’t go into as much detail as I did with the autofocus lenses above, but in my opinion these are the Nikon Z macro lenses with manual focus that get the best reviews.

The table below summarizes the main features of the lenses set out below.

• Laowa 100mm f/2.8 Ultra Macro APO Z (2:1) : With good image quality and robust build construction, this Laowa 100mm is the best choice for a 100mm macro focal length. This is a cheap macro lens for Nikon and of very good quality.
• Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO Z (2:1) : The Laowa 90mm Macro for Z-mount has a high quality metal finish and an aperture ring. It produces high quality images with effective flare control. Another affordable macro lens for nikon,
• Laowa 25mm f/2.8 Ultra Macro Z (5:1) : This is a very special lens with magnifications from 2.5x to 5x. With ultra-short depth of field, it opens the door to extreme detail,
• Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2X Ultra-Macro APO Z (2:1) : This Laowa 85mm is a lightweight, compact option at an affordable price. It features solid construction and an aperture ring. With effective management of optical aberrations, image quality is excellent at f/8,
• Laowa 24mm f/14 Ultra Macro Z (2:1) : The Laowa 24mm is a unique lens with a 2:1 magnification ratio, a length of 40cm, waterproof to 20cm and built-in LED illumination. It opens up unique creative possibilities in photography and offers excellent image quality. It is supplied in a metal carrying case.
• Voigtlander MACRO APO-LANTHAR 65mm f/2 ASPH Z (1:2) : Here’s a high end manual focusing lens, built to the highest standards. Despite being limited to a 1:2 ratio, the image quality is exceptional. Optical flaws are generally not a problem. However, at 625g, the lens is quite heavy (built to last!),

Here are the key points to remember when looking at the manual focusing lenses mentioned above.

There are many other manual macro lenses for Z-mount (full-frame) cameras, but they’re often of average quality, hard to find, but generally not too expensive. Here are a few ideas:

Nikon has yet to release any dedicated APS-C Z-mount macro lenses for its hybrids, and only third-party brands offer manual-focus macro lenses. If you’re looking for a macro lens for your Nikon Z APS-C body, here are the three currently available.

The table below compares the key features of these lenses.

• Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO Z : The Laowa is probably the best choice for a macro lens for the Nikon Z APS-C format. It is lightweight and offers a magnification ratio of 2:1. The build quality is excellent. Image quality is excellent even at full aperture, with very few optical flaws, including perfect chromatic aberration control. Compared to the 7Artisans, the Laowa – despite being more expensive – offers a far superior level of sharpness and better build quality.
• TTArtisan 40mm f/2.8 Macro Lens Z : This lens has a good build quality, a magnification ratio of 2:1 and a good image quality, especially at full aperture and up to f/5.6. Despite some minor optical flaws, its affordable price makes it a good choice for macro photography.
• 7artisans 60mm f/2.8 Macro Mark II Z : 7Artisans offers an improved version of its 60mm macro lens, with decent image quality at full aperture, ideal for macro photography. However, its performance at longer distances is less impressive. It’s a good, affordable choice for beginners to macro photography.

The table below shows and compares the characteristics of the lenses.

Although DSLR cameras are on the wane and can now be considered a thing of the past, we wanted to mention a few options that we think are worth considering if you want to try your hand at macro photography with a Nikon DSLR camera.

There used to be a large number of full-frame macro lenses, compatible with APS-C sensors, but many of them are no longer produced. I’ve divided them into 2 categories: lenses with autofocus and lenses without autofocus.

Thanks to its affordable price and good quality, Sigma’s 105mm Macro remains a benchmark for macro lenses. As with all macro lenses, it offers a high level of detail with optical flaws that are fairly minor in nature. AF is not the fastest but, again, this is not usually a crucial point for a macro lens. It’s very well built and image stabilization is relatively effective, although it’s not the strongest point (but not crucial either).

If you’re looking for a well-designed, relatively affordable macro stabilized lens, this Sigma macro lens for Nikon is the one to go for. It performs very well and is still relatively easy to find. This is in my opinion the best macro lens for Nikon Fx cameras.

This Tokina is an excellent alternative to the Sigma 105mm if you don’t need stabilization. It comes at an even more attractive price.

This ATX-i version has a more ‘modern’ look than its predecessor thanks to its very small size and weight. However, you have to bear in mind that it doesn’t have an internal motor like the Sigma, so you’ll need a body that does, which means that no D3x00/D5x00 DSLR or mirrorless with a ring will be able to benefit from its AF. A great Nikkor macro lens.

Sigma had the 150mm and 180mm f/2.8 Macro OS lenses on sale for a while, but unfortunately they have been discontinued recently. However, if you can find a second-hand one at a good price, don’t hesitate – both are very good performers and would be at the top of this list if they were still in production. The same goes for Tamron’s 90mm f/2.8 VC. But it’s no longer in production either.

There’s a bit more choice in this category, thanks mainly to Laowa, which continues to sell its very special range of macro lenses, most of which offer a ratio even higher than 1:1. They are also compatible with APS-C SLRs.

• Laowa 15mm f/4 macro (1:1) : Amazon / B&H
• Laowa 24mm f/14 Ultra Macro (2:1) : B&H
• Laowa 25mm f/2.8 Ultra Macro (5:1) : Amazon / B&H
• Laowa 60mm f/2.8 Ultra-Macro (2:1) : Amazon
• Laowa 100mm f/2.8 Ultra Macro APO (2:1) : Amazon / B&H
• Irix 150mm f/2.8 macro dragonfly : Amazon / B&H

In addition to the lenses mentioned above, there are other brands that offer manual focus macro lenses for Nikon’s F-mount. These include

• Mitakon Zhongyi 20mm f/2 4.5x Super Macro F : Amazon / B&H
• Mitakon Zhongyi Creator 85mm f/2.8 1-5x Super Macro F : B&H
• Mitakon Zhongyi 200mm f/4 1x Macro : B&H
• ZEISS Milvus 100mm f/2M ZF.2 Macro : Amazon / B&H
• ZEISS Milvus 50mm f/2M ZF.2 Macro : Amazon / B&H
• Samyang 100mm f/2.8 Macro F : Amazon / B&H

Macro lenses for Nikon APS-C SLR cameras are few and far between, as compatibility with full-frame lenses is not an attractive design proposition for manufacturers. After all, why design a 105mm macro lens for APS-C when there is already a full-frame version (which can be sold at a higher price)? Here are some references for this format. Here are two Nikon Dx macro lenses then.

In my opinion, the 40mm f/2.8 is the most interesting Nikon micro lens for APS-C bodies. It’s lightweight, compact and relatively affordable. If you’re into close-ups, you’ll certainly like it more than the 35mm f/1.8 DX, despite its smaller maximum aperture.

The optical performance is very good, as is often the case with macro lenses. Its AF is not very fast, although this depends on the camera body it is used with. For macro use, however, this is not necessarily a major drawback, as this area is often more suited to manual focusing. The best macro lens for Nikon Dx camera.

The 85mm f/3.5 Macro is newer, but costs a lot more and seems less attractive than other full-frame lenses compatible with APS-C bodies, such as Tamron’s 90mm f/2.8 Macro or Sigma’s 105mm f/2.8 Macro.

It has a smaller maximum aperture and is more expensive than the 40mm. However, this won’t be a problem in macro photography, as you’ll tend to close the aperture to maximise depth of field. In any case, it’s already reduced automatically at the shortest distances. Image quality and AF are slightly better than on the 40mm, but again, if you’re really looking for a macro with a longer focal length, you’d be better off looking at the full-frame equivalents.

If you’re looking for a macro lens for your APS-C camera, Laowa also offers the Laowa 60mm f/2.8 2X Ultra-Macro F, which is dedicated to the brand’s APS-C SLR cameras. The lens is well built, the magnification ratio is interesting (2:1), the image quality is excellent and it is extremely affordable. If manual focusing is not a problem for you, I think this is a very good choice.

Macro photography is a very special area of photography. It requires rather specialised equipment and the difficulties are many, as the focusing distance required to achieve a 1:1 ratio (or higher) implies an extremely short depth of field (“sharpness area”). With a camera so close to the subject, you will regularly block out ambient light, and the ‘size’ of the subject in the frame will also increase the risk of camera shake and subject blur.

I’ve already written a full article explaining everything you need to know about choosing a macro lens. But here’s a summary.

In theory, as explained in the introduction to this article, a ‘true’ macro is an image taken at a minimum magnification ratio of 1:1. It is possible to increase the magnification ratio of a lens with the use of accessories such as an extension ring. However, it is important to remember that macro lenses with a native 1:1 ratio have been designed specifically for this discipline and will therefore very often offer superior image quality. This is especially true as lenses designed for conventional use tend to be less good at close range if they do not offer a 1:1 ratio. This is one of the reasons why a macro lens is bigger and heavier than a conventional lens. It’s a bit like taking a conventional lens and adding an extension ring.

Some people tend to recommend long focal lengths (telephoto) for macro photography of insects, so as not to scare them away. If you look at the minimum focusing distances of the Nikon Z 50mm and 105mm, the former achieves a 1:1 ratio at 16cm and the latter at 29cm. You’ll say: 13cm more distance is still important… except that this distance is calculated from the sensor, and the 105mm is 7.4cm longer than the 50mm, in other words the front element of your lens is only 5.6cm further away (get a ruler and see how much 5.6cm is, it’s not a lot!). It is therefore unlikely that any insect that sees you coming with the 105 mm lens will be any slower to flee than it would with the 50 mm lens.

Choosing a focal length will therefore affect the perspective of the image: the longer the focal length, the more compressed the shots will look. This is not because it’s a different focal length, but because you’ve moved a little closer. Always remember that it’s the distance to the subject that changes perspective, not the focal length. It will also have a slight effect on depth of field, because with a shorter focal length, for the same aperture, the depth of field will be larger (but this is offset by the fact that you are getting closer, so the difference is relatively small). On the other hand, it has NO IMPACT on the size of the subject; in any case, if you use a 1:1 ratio, the subject will be the same size in the frame, whatever the focal length. If you want to get even closer, you’ll need a lens with a higher ratio, or add an extension ring, for example, or simply zoom in, with all the drawbacks (perspective remains the same, unlike getting closer, and you obviously lose pixels). You should be aware that all camera lenses used for macro photography are fixed focal length lenses (not zoom lenses) with a constant aperture.

Autofocus is not really necessary for use dedicated to macro photography. In fact, it could be said to be counterproductive. After all, the 1:1 ratio (or more, depending on the lens) is obtained at a specific distance, so the aim is to stay at that distance and move back and forth to adjust the focus on the desired subject. However, you may want autofocus to make it easier to follow certain moving subjects, or simply to do something other than macro photography. (For example, 100/105mm lenses are often used for portrait photography).

Depth of field will be very shallow at such a short distance from the subject. Most macro lenses are limited to a maximum aperture of f/2.8, but you should be aware that in most cases you’ll need to regularly use smaller apertures such as f/8 or f/11 to get a minimum of context and sharpness in your subject. (You’ll even see in the list that there’s a macro lens with a maximum aperture of f/14!) Another solution, if it can be implemented, is to use focus stacking, i.e. a series of photos of the same subject, but each taken with a slightly different focus, so that you can, for example, use a large aperture such as f/2.8 in a low-light situation, but get the equivalent of a photo taken at f/32. The downside, of course, is that these photos will all have to be identical except for the area in focus. This makes it virtually impossible to use this technique when shooting handheld or with a moving subject.

On the other hand, this is a feature that can be interesting for macro photography, although it is highly overestimated. In other words, you may well be at a shutter speed that suits your focal length/distance, but the slightest movement of the subject could ruin your efforts and force you to reduce the shutter speed… making the effect of stabilization virtually negligible So it’s only really useful for handheld shots with a fixed subject.

That’s it, I’ve come to the end of this article on Nikon’s best macro lenses, both for the brand’s new mirrorless bodies and older DSLRs. Don’t hesitate to check out our full guide to the best Nikon Z lenses currently available!

See you soon for a new article, probably the same for Canon !

Written by Sylvain PONS

I've been passionate about photography since 2010, learning as I went along. Today, I dedicate myself to guiding others in their choice of camera gear and sharing a variety of tips to improve their photography skills.

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