10 Best Nikon D7100 Lenses in (2024) [Expert Reviews]

The Nikon D7100 is an impressive DSLR.

It comes with an 18-140mm zoom lens, but it is hardly enough.

Of course, if you have a great camera, you would need more than one lens.

That’s why I am here with a list of must-have lenses for your Nikon D7100.

Before We Start

The elite-level camera has a large 24MP sensor capable of snapping the most vivid pictures you can imagine.

In low light, it is equally impressive, and the internal electronic wizardry makes each photo have unmatched clarity.

But it would be great if you get a high-quality telephoto for far away shots and a good prime or macro lens for close-ups.

Worry not, as I have the finest collection of highly recommended Nikon D7100 lenses in this article.

Before diving into the reviews, let me give a peek view and compare all the variants you’ll find in this article.

Note that this is just a bird’s eye view, and you should also check the in-depth reviews to know if it suits your requirements.

• Filters: You would need a set of color filters and neutral density filters (ND), circular polarisers (CPL) if you are shooting outside.
  These are required since natural light is never good enough. It is either too little due to clouds or too much, which washes out all the colors.
• Autofocus: Most modern lenses have a sensor that automatically detects the distance from the object and automatically focuses the camera.
  While it is not a must-use feature, it is exceedingly helpful, especially when the subject is moving.
  Moreover, those who are short-sighted prefer to use autofocus because they cannot use manual adjustments effectively.
• Lens Mount: It is how the camera attaches to the lens.
  Every company has a variety of mounts, and Nikon D7100 uses the F-type mount.
  While lenses are usually made for a specific mount, adapters can plug a lens into a different mount.

Best Lenses for Nikon D7100 in (2024)

Finding a lens for this camera isn’t a big deal.

The confusion arises when you have to choose just one from the pool of variations floating in the market.

You also have to make sure that it is a Nikon D7100 compatible lens and fits both your budget and use.

Hence, I have shortlisted and reviewed only worthwhile options here:

1. Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5 – 5.6G VR AF-P DX

If you are looking for a versatile lens, your search ends here.

The Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5 – 5.6G VR AF-P DX is a go-to lens on any occasion.

It is equipped with a Vibration Reduction (VR) function that combines well with your DX-format DSLR.

It basically uses pulse motor for super-fast function has a silent auto-focus and 2 Aspherical lens that contributes to the outstanding performance.

You can now shoot wide-angle pictures and group photos.

Smooth HD videos are a reality now.

There will be great clarity and precision.

The lens is equipped with VR image stabilization that allows your camera to take pictures in low light conditions.

You can now shoot great videos.

The lens is compact and lightweight, which makes things better.

The lens has a 3.1x zoom 18-55mm focal length, which is great for group shots and landscape photos.

The lens has a retractable barrel that makes the design compact, sleek and it fits correctly with DX-format DSLRs.

You can now shoot great photos and HD videos with ease.

The image quality is awesome.

The AF-P DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 G VR is made with the best technology which is used on Nikon’s high-end lenses.

You will get superior quality optical performance and rich, vivid color in your photos.

You get photos and videos without distortion and soft backgrounds.

It gives you the best photographs and videos with great backgrounds.

2. Nikon 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-P DX VR

The Nikon 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR AF-P DX lens is capable of capturing everything, practically.

It is an ultra-wide-angle lens that helps you shoot landscapes, architecture, and absolutely anything.

It offers the best Vibration Reduction Image stabilization.

It is just great for recording videos.

It is compact and lightweight so that you can carry it everywhere.

Now, you can look at life from a wider perspective.

The lens has an ultra-wide angle that is better than any other kit lens.

The AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR will give you an endless array of options like foreground, middle ground, and background.

There are too many possibilities with this lens.

It is small in size but big in terms of quality.

It captures the best of images in low light conditions.

You can get shots at a close range of 0.8 feet.

You can now capture images in tight spaces as well.

This Nikon D7100 wide angle lens focuses like a pro.

You get great videos with smooth stepping motor function and minimal noise.

The body is made of plastic that lends to the idea behind a lower price.

There are quite a few cameras that are compatible with this lens.

Updates may be required very frequently.

3. Nikon 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX VR II

The AF-S DX Nikkor 18-200 mm is a versatile and high-performance lens from the stables of Nikon.

It is a slight improvement over the older version of the lens and comes with a new zoom lock at 18mm.

It is great for a wide range of photography and can fit into most people’s ambit of work.

This lens is compatible with almost every camera but make sure to check the compatibility before purchase.

The lens features two Extra-low Dispersion (ED) lenses and three aspherical lens elements for high-quality images.

The images are extremely crisp and high quality.

There can be minute variations in the zoom range, but it comes within minimum acceptable levels of variation.

The lens is equipped with ultra-quiet Nikon Silent Wave Motor technology.

This makes operation in indoor environments peaceful and smooth.

Nikon’s VR II vibration reduction makes for a smooth and hassle-free photography experience for professionals and amateurs alike.

Overall, this lens is perfect for almost everyone, and if you wish to purchase it and have the budget, you should go for it.

4. Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G AF-P DX ED

The Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300 mm lens is a basic lens from the stables of Nikon.

It is moderately priced and is perfect for those who are looking for a high-performance lens without dishing out a lot of money.

The lens is made out of plastic making it lightweight and portable.

The image quality is extremely crisp and the focusing is very fast, in fact, one of the fastest of any DX telephoto lens.

One thing to note with this lens is that the new AF-P system can only work on the latest cameras.

This system implements a manual override to the autofocus when the front focus ring is held at any time.

The AF-P mode is extremely silent and is perfect for indoor photography.

It also features Vibration Reduction which makes handheld operation go smoothly providing great clarity and reduced blur in your images.

Overall, this is a lightweight, silent, high performing lens that you can get at a competitive price.

It is great for someone who is in the market for an entry-level lens.

5. Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM

The Sigma 150-600 mm 5-6.3 DG HSM OS Contemporary is a lens that focuses primarily on maximum portability with the best image quality, in a variable aperture hyper-telephoto zoom lens, it is lightweight and compact in size.

It is engineered to meet the needs of outdoor photography.

With its HSM system, it allows the lens to move quietly and efficiently.

It also boasts of an Optical Stabilizer (OS) with an accelerometer that helps when panning for photographs whether vertically or horizontally.

It also has a zoom lock switch which locks the lens at any focal length.

The lens is equipped with a manual override which can be used for focus control.

The lens firmware can also be updated using the Sigma USB dock along with adjustments to the focus limiter and AF speed and OS view.

The lens is sharp even at 500/600 mm and there is very little softening at the edges.

It has a water and oil-repellent coating on the front glass element which makes maintenance very easy.

It boasts a splash-proof and dustproof mount.

The manual focus ring, however, is rather flimsy, and manual focusing is sometimes a problem.

It behaves in a choppy manner, and this adds to the problem.

Overall, this lens is a low-maintenance lens at a good price.

6. Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED Vibration Reduction Zoom Lens with Auto Focus is an enhanced kit lens.

It comes with a snap on front lens cap, a rear lens cap and a bayonet lens hood.

It also comes with a flexible lens pouch.

It is engineered with VR, Vibration Reduction technology and allows for handheld shooting at 3 stops below normal.

This can be toggled by a switch on the lens barrel, along with the manual and autofocus settings.

The aspherical lens elements almost eliminate lens aberrations such as coma, improving the image quality.

The lens glass has Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC), thereby enhancing light transmission and improving color consistency.

It also helps reduce flare.

The lens measures 3.5 by 3 inches and weighs in at 14.8 ounces.

It has a close focus distance of 1.5 feet at all focal lengths, allowing creation of a shallow depth of field.

The zoom ring occupies much of the barrel and is textured for better grip when trying to adjust the focal length.

The lens is sharp at the wide at the tele end.

Autofocus operations are quick and virtually soundless.

7. Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR AF-S FX

The Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR AF-S FX is a super-telephoto lens that captures stunning and sharp images of wildlife, sports, birds, and other objects at a distance.

It has a constant fast f/5.6 aperture which results in great out-of-focus backgrounds for your photos, and it does this across the entire zoom range.

The lens has a Super Integrated Coating that has been applied to the elements to lessen flare and ghosting.

It also results in improved contrast and clarity.

The Silent Wave Motor AF system produces fast, almost silent focusing that helps both stills, and movie recording.

This can be manually overridden by simply turning the manual focus ring.

It can be used at 7.2 feet away for rich and detailed close-ups.

4.5 stops of vibration Reduction – at super-telephoto distances, Since the smallest camera movements can cause image blur, the Vibration Reduction image stabilization steadies camera shake up to ~4.5 stops for sharp photos and better videos.

It helps when shooting at lower and therefore slower shutter speeds in low light.

Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass reduces glare, especially from bright sunlight.

The Silent Wave Motor (SWM) offers fast, near-silent autofocusing with seamless manual override.

It has a zoom lock lever that prevents lens creep while carrying.

Included in the price is a full rotating tripod mount.

8. Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM

The Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro lens is a compact and lightweight lens.

Its f2.8 aperture coupled with the zoom feature of the lens makes it useful for everyday use and also because of its lightweight easier to carry.

The f2.8 aperture setting allows working in available light and is useful for the depth of field control, thus isolating the subject.

The lens has 3 aspherical elements that help reduce distortion and also spherical aberrations, leading to sharper pictures.

The lens has a Super Multi-Layer Coating which helps to reduce lens flare and ghosting.

This results in contrast-rich pictures.

It incorporates a Hyper Sonic Motor which allows for fast and quiet autofocus.

The focus is also extremely precise. It has a manual override that may be used to improve or change focus.

The built-in Optical Stabiliser minimizes camera shake, especially in handheld situations.

Useful when camera shake might seriously blur the image.

The lens is made from a Thermally Stable Composite material which can withstand wide temperature variations.

It also has a brass bayonet which helps in mounting accuracy and rigidity.

The special software (SIGMA Optimization Pro) can update the lens firmware and help adjust various parameters such as focus which is an added bonus.

9. Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 AF SP Di II LD Aspherical (IF)

The Tamron Auto Focus 10-24mm is the most premium telephoto lens for Nikon D7100 with a very wide-angle view which is 16-37mm when converted to full format.

The lens has a number of special coatings to give a sharp and distortion-free image.

The low dispersion glass and a spherical elements result in better color resolution and less flare and correct other aberrations.

This lens covers a wide focal length range, has a great zoom ratio, and offers a fast maximum aperture.

In spite of this, the lens is lightweight and compact.

To allow for a close-focusing capability TAMRON has built-in a minimum focus distance of 0.24m.

This allows the user to shoot images with exaggerated perspectives, essential in wide-angle photography.

Internal Focusing System (IF) has a nonrotating front filter ring, this means that polarising and graduated filters do not have problems with positioning.

In addition, the IF provides better optical performance by reducing illumination loss at the corners of the image field and suppresses other aberrations.

The lens weighs in at 406 grams and is reasonably lightweight and the small size allows it to be used on smaller cameras.

This lens may have an issue with onboard flashes of most DSLR cameras.

Most standard flashes cover an angle of view when using an 18mm lens.

This means that the flash will give uneven illumination, with darkening at the edges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict

I’ve tried all of the listed lenses with Nikon D7100 and tested them exhaustively to make sure they are worth the money.

However, if you still can’t make up your mind, here are my two evergreen recommendations:

• The Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Zoom Lens is the clear winner.
  It has sharp autofocus and is very user-friendly. There was no distortion even when I used it to photograph sunsets.
• The second place is grabbed by Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM.
  It is an ideal lens for use under different conditions and works well with the Nikon D7100.