DxOMark: best lenses for the Nikon D800 camera

By [NR] admin | Published: March 13, 2013

DxOMark added test scores for 61 different lenses measured on the 36MP Nikon D800 camera and listed the best choices in several different categories (based on their DxOMark test score):

Best 50mm lenses for Nikon D800

Best 85mm - 105mm lenses for Nikon D800

Best zoom lenses for Nikon D800

This entry was posted in Nikon D800 and tagged DxoMark test results. Bookmark the permalink. Trackbacks are closed, but you can post a comment.

LeGO

The ranking / scoring has to be understood that it does not show how the image is rendered, quality of bokeh, etc. so while useful does not fully reflect the capabilities of the lens ranked.
- J shin
  
  True, but maybe people will stop automatically ragging on Sigma, for one.
  - RC
    
    I’ve tried a few Sigma zooms, and they produced noticeably softer results vs. Nikon. Maybe that’s why they have that reputation. Even if their new lenses are better, it will take a while to shake that.
  - neversink
    
    I had the Sigma 150-500 which I had to get repaired. Unfortunately AF motor stopped working during the first days of a month-long Kenyan trip. There are stories like mine posted throughout the internet. What a joke of a company. And it was soft from about 400-500 anyway, with very ugly angular and hard bokah. Yes, the Sigma 50 1.4 may have good glass, though I am not sure about the bokah, but given the history of this companies motors, when do you think the AF will stop working? And will the bokah be ugly? The Nikon 1.4 is cheaper and gets the same score and it’s a pretty sharp lens. But enjoy your Sigma lens if that is your choice.
  - itznfb
    
    Sigma makes a few really great lenses. But most of them are mediocre at best. They typically discontinue their best lenses after a short production period as well.
- http://loewald.com/ Tonio Loewald
  
  It’s also hard to determine how the overall score is constructed. E.g. A lens might be docked for vignetting at maximum aperture (which you might not care about for portraits, and which won’t be a factor when stopped down) or marked up purely for maximum aperture (which makes the 85 f1.8G look even better)
dan

Bye Zeiss
- RC
  
  and they don’t have AF. I will not buy a lens that doesn’t have AF….EVER
  - Tod
    
    That all right, lots of other things you can be besides a photographer
    - RC
      
      what have you decided to be?
carlos montalva

sigma 24-70? really? i’ve heard comments and seen samples. And it seems to be crapp.
- Akos Batorfi
  
  I was a bit amazed as well by this choice. I thought the new Tamron would be on that list. I have the Sigma 24-70 HSM. At 2.8 it is rather soft, but workable in low light situations. From f/4 it is a wonderful lens. I did not expect it to be the second best choice for a D800 zoom lens though.
  - GlobalGuy
    
    The Tamron isn’t necessarily sharper — in fact, it suffers from corner softness on full-frame. Its only sharp in the center; this is magnified in the D800′s pixels. The Tamron’s benefit is a magical new VR. Using it with movie mode is a wonderful experience. But that doesn’t make it the sharpest lens, just a smart lens that is a better choice than the Nikon if you need VR or make movies.
  - jack yell
    
    I don’t think they tested the Tamron with D800, and that’s probably the only reason why it’s not listed there
- Mansgame
  
  well it IS #2 and there is quite a bit of distance between the Nikkor.
  - Spy Black
    
    It’s annoying they compare different zoom ranges. There is a 24-70 Tamron that the Nikkor and Sigma should have been compared to. While not as optically sharp as the Nikkor, it’s certainly sharper than the Sigma, and has an optical stabilizer to boot!
- Andre
  
  You’re not understanding the zoom list correctly; the way I see it, it’s the Nikkor not being much better than the Sigma or Tamron, not that Sigma is second best …
onan

where da wides at?
Neil

In the end, I’ll trust my eyes as to what a lens does. These rankings are interesting but hardly definitive or authoritative.
KOM

I think the results only reflex the center resolution of these tested lenses, not over all resolution.
rich

who would have thought the old 24-120g would have been put on the best lens list! are they really testing all the lens options like tokina?
- rich
  
  and no 14-24 or 70-200!
  - Mike
    
    Rich, DxOMark doesn’t even have the 14-24mm lens on their list of Nikon lenses. I wrote them over a year ago tell them, but they just ignored me. I can’t figure it out.
- RC
  
  I think the old 24-120 VR is an underrated lens. If I didn’t have the F4 version, I’d be shooting with it right now (I shot with it before I got the F4). It’s certainly a MUCH better value.
http://www.facebook.com/LGM.Photography Lukas Gisbert-Mora

What about the 70-200mm??? surprise to see the Samyang up there as I found the sigma much better
Youen

Tamron 24 70 VC ?
- Aldo
  
  I would only get this lens for video…
  - RC
    
    The only reason I’m not even considering the 24-70 is because it doesn’t have VR, and I don’t primarily shoot video.
    - Aldo
      
      the nikon 24-70 is the closest that you will get to a prime. This comparison supports that. My subjects lay all over the frame… and they are people. The tamaron loses too much sharpness when you escape the center of the frame. An obvious choice for me.
jake

Sigma 50f1.4 is better than Zeiss 50mmf2MP?

I don’t believe that , I think the Zeiss 50mm f2 MP is the best 50 in close to mid range and at infinity or near that , the Nikon AFS50mmf1.4G is better than the Sigma.

Also , Nikon AFS85mmf1.8G is not that good of a lens in real life , it may be a sharp lens but it does produce a bit nervous bokeh with a bit annoying Lo-CA in the corner.

so, as for its intended use (e.g, portrait and lowlight)it is not a great lens , at least not in the same league as the legendary AFS85mmf1.4G or Zeiss 85mmf1.4ZF2 , in fact in this case , the Sigma 85mmf1.4HSM beats both Nikon AFS85mmf1.8G and Zeiss 85mmf1.4ZF2.

Asfor the Zeiss 100f2, it must be the best of the best lenses in the range and I think DXO might have got a bad copy of this lens , other wise , it is hard to believe the Zeiss 100f2 could not beat the cheap Nikon AFS85mmf1.8G.

anyway, whwere is my Zeiss 25mmf2, Nikon AFD 105f2DC and nikon AFS70-200f2.8GEDVR2?
their lens test is always a bit odd and not as good designed as their sensor test.
- http://nikonrumors.com/ Nikon Rumors
  
  Check this comparison: http://nikonrumors.com/2011/11/03/seven-50mm-prime-lenses-for-nikon-f-mount-compared-by-cary-jordan.aspx/
- DigitalSprings
  
  I don’t know if you have used Nikon 85 1.8g lens. I use this lens and it is remarkable. Don’t go by price of this lens. I don’t think Nikon has ever produced any lens so good and so cheap combined.
  - No longer Pablo Ricasso
    
    The old 85 f1.8 is about as remarkable and cheaper. The old 50 is really really cheap…
    - DigitalSprings
      
      Old 85 is good but new G lens is much better in terms of sharpness wide open and bokeh quality. It’s not just about DXO or Photozone numbers but by looking at photos you can tell. Even bokeh of old 50 looks bad in comparison of this lens (I have old 50 1.8 as well). You will have to try it to believe.
      - RC
        
        Totally agree. I would never consider the old 85mm F1.8 but the bokeh of this new 85mm F1.8 looks great!
- Dan
  
  Not my 35 1.4G, between the Sigma 50 and Nikon 50 1.4, the Sigma is quite a bit, especially wide open, However, between the Sigma and Zeiss 50 F2 I have, the Zeiss is SO MUCH better especially at the edge, not even in the same league, unless they are compare at the F1.4, sure I agree, Zeiss 2.0 sucks there.
- preston
  
  I like how a product (the 85mm f/1.4 G) that isn’t even 3 years old yet is called “legendary”.
  
  Legend (n): a nonhistorical or unverifiable story handed down by tradition from earlier times and popularly accepted as historical.
  
  Even if you intend it to mean “something that inspires legends”, let’s be realistic here. You’re describing a camera lens.
  
  Taking that into account the Zeiss fanboyism that follows makes a lot more sense
  - KnightPhoto
    
    I agree with the poster, the 85mm f/1.4G is becoming a legend in its own time. I know I sure want one Would love to take advantage of the current $300 rebate…
    
    Sure its little brother is gaining a deserved reputation, but it still doesn’t match the 1.4 bokeh. And the 1.4 beats all others for sharpness wide-open, which is something I could use for Theatre. No other 85mm combines the 1.4G’s bokeh quality with its wide-open sharpness. Not to mention its stopped down excellent to the corners resolving ability, so it can do triple duty as a landscape lens too.
    - Umihira
      
      which store selling this lens with $300 rebate? I’ve read somewhere say focus speed is lower than 1.8G (like 50 1.4g vs 50 1.8g), does it right?
      - http://twitter.com/antodechav Anto de Chav
        
        Makes sense that the 1.8 focuses faster.. it has less glass to move.. i have both,the 1.8 is ver sharp and very light for walking around but is more prone to flare,still it’s a steal at the price…
      - David
        
        I can’t make that comparison but the 85 1.4G focuses incredibly fast. I know this is subjective but as an owner, its handling is just as impressive as its IQ.
    - Peter
      
      If they stop making the 85mm 1.4G, it will definitely break 2k in cost. I shoot with two primes at weddings, a 24 1.4G and a 85 1.4G, and I just can’t see any other two primes which are better that you could carry around.
  - wheremyD400nikonsan
    
    Yes I have old 85mm f1.4D, not sharp at 1.4 in corners but bokeh is buttery. At f2.0 is razor sharp, bokeh still excellent, pictures pop.
    
    Bokeh of old 85mm 1.8D not as nice.
    
    The new 1.4 G, nice bokeh, bit sharper, very expensive though. Still happy with my 85mm f1.4D.
- Friend of the Pineapple
  
  I have rented that Zeiss 100f2 and while it was a nice lens, it was not noticeably better than my 24-70 at the distance I was using it. I was using the lenses for a tabletop shoot (food) and using speedlights which maybe doesn’t push a lens to it’s limits.
- Csaba Molnár
  
  “… so, as for its intended use (e.g, portrait and lowlight) it is not a great lens”
  
  The 85mm F/.18 G is a fantastic lens, precisely for the kind of work you claim it’s not great. I used it over the weekend in low light for candid portraits. Some of the photos here were taken at ISO 9051 (Hi.0.3 settings on the d800): http://z7photo.com/2013/03/tiniworld-event-in-ct-plaza/
  
  (EXIF info is preserved, you can check them yourself).
peterw

is it stated the Nikkor micro 105 F2,8AF-S VR is less in quality than 85 F1,8D?

this does not make any sense at all. In all aspects the 105 micro is better, sharpness contrast, bokeh, corners, starting from F2,8. I have one 105 and I had a 85 F1,8 AF and a AF-D. Now I own a 85 F1,8 AF-S and I don’t see an obvious difference in sharpness. I don’t care so much that I would explore the difference.
Aldo

I got the best zoom lens !
- Calibrator
  
  I’m so happy for you, Aldo!
  - Aldo
- RC
  
  Me too! and it’s on my camera right now!
  - Aldo
    
    *high five!
Štěpán Roučka

Don’t trust this “score” rating too much. The sigma 105 mm is better or equal to Samyang 85 mm at equivalent apertures (according to their review), yet the Samyang has much higher score. It seems that this is because Sigma allows high apertures to f/36 (being a macro lens), which are heavily affected by diffraction. Samyang is better, because it goes to f/22 only!?
http://www.facebook.com/marlomontanaro Marlo Montanaro

Interesting that the Nikkor 70-200/2.8 didn’t make the list. Such a great lens. But then again, no 70-200 made the list, so I’d be interested to see further down the list of zooms.
- http://nikonrumors.com/ Nikon Rumors
  
  You can go to their website and do the comparison for yourself. I am just not sure which lenses were measured on the D800 (total of 61).
  - Robert Ash
    
    Also, the 70-200 is much-promoted but is not the best quality Nikkor. http://www.slrgear.com does a very good evaluation and I was rather shocked reading it.It turns out the 70-200/2.8 is soft around the edges, while the 70-300 has noticeably better image quality at the edges. It’s also 1/3 the price and 1/2 the weight. So I bought the 70-300, saved a ton and haven’t looked back.
    - AM
      
      As John McEnroe would say, You cannot be serious!!!
      - GlobalGuy
        
        He must have a bad copy, because that is not the case with my lenses and I have both the 70-200VRII and the 70-300VR. If he was analyzing the FIRST 70-200/2.8 it might make sense (soft corners). But the VRII version is incredibly sharp and an f/2.8 lens. The 70-300 is a variable dark zoom (not a bright lens). Its literally a night and day comparison. Try the 70-200/VRII at f/4.
        
        AM
        
        That’s the problem. He’s never had a copy of the 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII in his hands and bases his opinion on something that he read somewhere. It never stops to amaze me how people just vent their opinion without even taking a single picture by themselves with the gear they are talking about.
      - desmo
        
        Mac shoots Canon,
        or was that Andre?
    - Rudi
      
      I only find the evaluation of the 70-200/4 on slrgear!?? Nothing about 70-200/2.8 VR I or VR II.
    - neversink
      
      You have to be kidding…. I own both and don’t even bother using the 70-300. If I want the reach, I put any of the TCs on the 70-200 VRII and I have no IQ degradation. The IQ on the 70-200 VRII is incredible. My images, even with the TC 20EIII, are tack sharp on this great lens. Not sure why I haven’t sold the 70-300.
- AM
  
  The comparison only goes up to standard zooms. It does not include telephoto zooms.
- FredBear
  
  They haven’t tested the 70-200 yet – amongst a bunch of other ‘obvious ones’ like the 60mm Micro.
  70-200 test is due later in the month I believe.
- Rudi
  
  Just read the article correctly and you’ll find out why!
ElSmurf

DxOMark making a list of the lenses with the best DxO scores on a D800. That’s really interesting if DxO scores are the most important aspect of your photography.
- Aldo
  
  a good photographer can shoot with a toaster comment? I think any review, test , score is interesting by anyone.
  - ElSmurf
    
    Interesting maybe, relevant not so much. For real world lens suggestions for the D800(E) check out Ming Thein’s blog, the LensRentals article or Luminous Landscape.
CJ

I’ll be damed if I believe this list !
Eric Calabos

I love how DxO generates lots of comments and discussion in photography related websites
craigo

Glad to see my old 50mm 1.4 D on here, I was wondering whether to upgrade or not. I think though the G might be better for autofocus though where accuracy is critical on the D800.
- neversink
  
  The G is better!!!
whisky

DxOmark offers the benefit of objectively baselining glass which otherwise has to be evaluated through someone’s subjective filters. it’s my observation that some of those people are often too keen to validate their purchase decisions at any cost. sure we have to trust our eyes, but they have been known to deceive us — especially in matters where we hold a strong bias.
Mansgame

Glad to hear the 50mm 1.4D is as good as the G version.
- peterw
  
  it is not
  not it is
  edges are far better in G.
  over all, the image is a bit more crispy in G
  (but the difference between 85 1,8D and 1,8G is much larger
  I really don’t see why the 1,8D is rated as good as the 105 micro, which is very much better, and more like the 1,8G. I don’t see a difference in IQ from these two lenses. – The 105 gives reassonable results with a TC20-EIII, which is rather impressive.)
  If you want to compare the quality of lenses from websites, don’t forget to use photozone DOT de . Very usefull, since you can compare what is important for your own photography. They use D3x and D7000 now.
jerre

Hmm interesting. Glad to see some of my lenses made the list (in case I want to upgrade from my D700… However I have some lenses that didnt make the list (i.e. 35mm f/2D and 70-200 f/2.8 VRII), and even so, it doesn’t sadden nor affect me at all because I know I can make good shots with them and I am more than confident that even with a D800 it would still produce good results if paired with the right hands.

Good lenses are good and can make great photos easier to make, but even the “not so good” lenses can be great in the hands of a great photographer. Search for “pro photographer cheap camera” on youtube and you’ll see what I mean

ofcourse its not to say that everyone should sell all their gear to get a crappix P&S or the like… LoL
KnightPhoto

Anyone compare to explain DxO’s comparatively low rating of the Nikon 24-120 f/4 to the Nikon 24-70?

I thought these two lenses have the rep of being pretty close in IQ? e.g. according to Mansurov and others.
- http://Flickr.com/inthemist InTheMist
  
  I had a 24-120/4 and my copy was not that good. Replaced with 24-70/2.8. Much happier
  - RC
    
    My first 24-120 had focusing issues but my 2nd one is perfect. This is the lens on my camera 95% of the time.
Nick

Can we all just save ourselves a lot of bother and accept that the “objective” DXO tests are not actually objective, as the produce a score from a range of tests, and the weighting given to different factors is itself a subjective decision?
- RC
  
  They should allow users to rank the subscores for themselves. I don’t really mind vignetting, corner softness, chromatic abberation, etc. but I care a lot about bokeh, vibration reduction, center sharpness…
FredBear

Judging by some of the comments here it seems that ppl don’t understand that DXO have not tested all lenses and their results are based on those they have tested only.
MIA is the 70-200, 60mm micro, 105DC, 180 F2.8 etc which might just sneak into these tables.
I have th 50mm F1.4 D and it sucks big time on edges below circa F5.6. No way it’s a ‘good lens’ especially that at a max aperture of F1.4 one would have thought that it was supposed to be shot ‘open’?
- http://Flickr.com/inthemist InTheMist
  
  Telephotos and super zooms coming later it says.
Grev

I want a dollar each time when someone saids “But I think my lens is better than the one that is on the list”.

All of this chit chat is rather pointless. I have the AiS 50mm f1.2 and AiS 105 f1.8 that aren’t on the list and I’m not justifying why they should be… Otherwise I have many of the lenses on the list, in which I just want to say, just take your photos and less banter on here, or worst yet, dpreview or photography-on-the-net forums, worst forums on the internet.
- desmo
  
  saving up to buy a D4 are you?
Splendid Footstool

The whole thing of DxOMark is that they’re trying to examine how will this particular lens work with this particular sensor; so I can understand why my results may not match theirs, because for instance, I do not shoot with a D800. Still, it’s interesting approach because if one works in a studio shooting jewelry, or fur coats, or cars and needs the ultimate in resolution and can ignore everything else about a camera (focus speed and accuracy, ergonomics, buffer size, weather proofness, and all the other things that affect performance) this is a pretty good guide.
Micah Goldstein

To understand the DX0mark’s seemingly arbitrary number, one has to understand that they are averaging the rating across the aperture range. The 50/1.4G is the best wide open. The 50/1.4D is right behind it. The Sigma is only sharp in the center when you compare them above f4.

Closed down past f8 it’s possible the Sigma is slightly ahead of the others, but who cares? They all look about the same in that range to me, even if a test shows a difference. The real visible difference is at the larger apertures, and these crap ratings mask that.

If you want to compare lenses, just get them together and shoot the same things side by side–that’s the only thing that will tell you anything. Not some numbers from a crappy website by a company trying to peddle software.
northrop

Well, I do happen to own the Nikkor 24-70, Nikkor 50 1.4D, and the Nikkor 85 1.4G listed above. In my lineup, the 50mm is by far the worst of the three, with the 24-70 being just a tad bit better. 85 smokes them both in terms of IQ. 85 is probably my sharpest lens, with the 70-200 II close second, followed by the 14-24.
- neversink
  
  Either I got a good sample of the 50 f1.4 Nikon lens or else you got a bad copy I agree that the 70-200 is a great lens as is the 14-24. I don’t believe the 24-70 is as bad as you say. it’s not my favorite lens, but it is sharp. In fact, I prefer the 70-200 over the 85 because of its versatility. It’s also just a wonderful lens throughout its range. The perfect tele-zoom.
http://twitter.com/livefromphilly LFP

I’d really love to see them test some legacy glass. I wonder where the 105 f/2.5 and 58 f/1.2 would rank.
Jonny Gawler

The DxOmark score is the low light test is it not? If so, they test f/2.8 at 800 iso, f/4 at 1600 iso, f/5.6 3200 iso etc. So resolution is impacted by noise as the aperture is stopped down. Therefore wide aperture primes always do much better than variable-aperture zooms.
FredBear

Hmm,
On the few lenses that have been tested on the D800 and D600 it would seem that the lens ratings are the same so one can also use the D800 DXO lens tables equally for the D600.
So there is no benefit in IQ with current lenses using the D800 and D600?
- Jonny Gawler
  
  Depends which rating you’re looking at. In the “DxOmark Score” any resolution increase (and most other IQ criteria) from D600 to D800 is masked first by the methodology and then by the application of relative weightings.
EnticingHavoc

The ultimate letdown for Zeiss. Not one 1st rank. Another legend shattered.
Not always do you get what you pay. Some might call it rip-off.
Pete Grady

I’d rather make pictures than worry about this crap
- RC
  
  LoL, you’re here.
foodarchitecht

nice, glad to see the 24-70 as the best zoom lens since that is the one i just bought thanks to the special rebates nikon has going on right now
http://www.facebook.com/MarkWhiteJr1 Mark White

I believed all of this until I sar the Sigma 24-70 on the list. I owned the lens on the D800, and it was abysmal. Seriously, no good until you reach around F/5.6. If that’s the case, why put the money out for the F/2.8? Also, I don’t think the 50/1.8D should be on there. But that’s just a personal choice.
Simanta

No matter whatever rating DXOmark gives for Sigma/Tamron I can never agree about their built quality. A mere sharp image is not just enough. One fine morning you wake up and find their AF/VR not functioning. This exactly had happened to three of my friend’s lenses, all under 1 year. To sum it up in one word- they are just ‘crap’! Take this for guaranteed; being the poor man you’ll end up paying twice.
http://Flickr.com/inthemist InTheMist

I wish people would stop bitching about a single number and click through to measurements to see WHY a lens was rated lower. It’s all there in easy-to-read charts. For example, it took 30 seconds to see why the Nikkor 85s beats the Zeiss 85. DxOMark has never let me down.
John

Good for a general guide, but misses the mark for those interested in specific lens characteristics – like sharpness in the corners wide open.
For instance, the 100/2 MP is listed as having a lower sharpness score than the 85′s from Nikon, but wide open the 100/2MP is remarkably sharp across the whole frame – very good sharpness and very very even – where the Nikkors are mainly sharp in the center.
- FredBear
  
  Or specific characteristics like
  Bokeh
  Colour accuracy
  Contrast & micro-contrast
  Drawing style
Rhonbo

With DX the numbers will be lower due to pixel density within a smaller area of the lens. Not going to be easy to get 24mp worth of resolution except for a few primes.
ocir

Have they tested the Nikon 60 2.8G on the D800 because I have this lens and it is ridiculously great !
http://www.facebook.com/marcusmelouliana Marcus Melo Uliana

When the DXOmark will test the 70-200mm f/2.8 G VR II with the D800 ? When the DXOmark will test too the Leica S2 to compare with D800 ? After that, Leica S2 will not be the so amazing like people says today …
http://www.facebook.com/jacob.wadsworth.961 Jacob Wadsworth

Most great lenses have expensive prices. When looking for a lens, you should consider what your subjects are so that you can buy the right lens that can give the best quality images. – http://www.lensgiant.com/
Sam

They need to test:

- The new Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VRII
- The new Nikon 80-400
- The new Sigma 120-300
Ton

I’m curious as to why you didn’t test the Tamron AF 24-70mm F/2.8 SP Di USD VC, since that’s a newer and far superior model to the one you did test.
Markus84

Well, I just compared the Sigma 105mm OS to the Nikkor VR. Can anybody explain to me, why the Nikkor is four points above the Sigma? The Sigma lens is better in every single cathegory, except transmission. There they are the same. So why is the Nikon better in conclusion?
Peter

There’s no wide-angle list? Would definitely include the 24mm 1.4G and the 14-24mm 2.8. Both are beastly and really help the 36MP shine when you shoot in uncompressed RAW format. From my experience, the 24mm 1.4G on the D800 takes amazingly gorgeous group shots at weddings.

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