The Best Nikon D100 Lenses
If you know the focal length of Nikon lens you are looking for, find out about the best lenses for the Nikon D100 below.
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- Best Zoom Lens - Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR
- Best Wide Angle Lens - Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX II
- Best Telephoto Lens - Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G
- Best First Prime - Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G
- Best Macro Lens - Nikon Micro-Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G
- Best All in One Lens - Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX VR
Best Zoom Lenses for Nikon D100
Quite possibly the most affordable and useful zoom lens is the Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G, one of the kit lenses included with the Nikon D100. The 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 is going to be omitted as it is already with the camera.
Wide zooms are covered further down the page.
Telephoto zoom lenses are great with the Nikon D100 for sports,wildlife, action, portraits, or any subject that is far off.
Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR
- Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for Fast and Quiet Autofocus
- Vibration Reduction Image Stabilization for Great Handheld Shots
- Has a Wide Focal Length Coverage
- Excellent Focal Length for Wildlife Photography with the Nikon D100
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The primary draw of the Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G is the range the lens has combined with image stabilization. It’s going to be a great pick any time you cannot get nearer to what you would like to photograph. Like the other zooms mentioned, the aperture of f/5.6 at the far end of the zoom range is a little small, faster options cost significantly more.
You are not going to have to break your budget to get this zoom. There are loads of second hand copies out there as it was included with the Nikon D3400, D5600, and D5500 digital cameras.
The large zoom range of the lens is constructed of 17 elements in 11 groups. Two of the elements are extra-low dispersion and one is a high refractive index element to ensure sharp images.
It weighs in at 580g (18.7 oz), with dimensions of (Diameter x Length) 3.0 in. (76.5 mm) x 4.8 in. (123 mm). While not small, it can still easily be carried around on the camera or in your bag.
Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR
- Excellent Value When Purchased Second hand
- Silent Wave Motor for Accurate Autofocus
- Great for Wildlife, Sports, Action, & Portraits
- 2 Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) Lens Elements
- (VR) Vibration Reduction Image Stabilization
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The Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5. 6G was frequently sold with the D3100, D3300 And D2300 DSLR cameras. It’s a outstanding deal when purchased second-hand.
A copy in decent cosmetic condition is found for half the cost of a second-hand Nikon 55-300mm.
The only disadvantage of the 55-200mm is the loss of 100mm of reach. It still has VR image stabilization and to help you get sharp images when shooting hand-held.
One positive aspect of the lens is that carrying it around won’t be a huge concern. It only weighs 335g (11.8 oz) with dimensions of (Diameter x Length) 2.9 in. (73.6 mm) x 3.9 in. (99.5 mm).
Tamron 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD
- Ultra Silent Drive (USD) Autofocus Motor
- Extra Low Dispersion (XLD) Glass Element
- Broad-Band Anti-Reflection (BBAR) Lens Coating
- 9 Aperture Blades for Beautiful Bokeh
- Minimal focus distance 59.1"
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The Tamron 70-300mm is a good alternative if you want 300mm of reach, but don’t want to pay as much for the 55-300mm from Nikon.
One big disadvantage is that there is no image stabilization. This will make it more challenging to get sharp images hand holding the lens.
Similar optical image stabilization is included in the Tamron as found in the Nikons. All of them have extra-low dispersion elements and anti-reflective lens coatings.
The lens weighs 16.1oz (458g). It has a length of 5.6" and diameter of 3.2".
Best Wide Angle Lenses
A wide angle lens is helpful for landscapes, astrophotography, architecture, group photos, real estate photography, and more.
One thing to watch out for is the wide angle causing strong distortion. Portraits can be a problem as noses or any body part close to the camera lens will appear deformed.
One advantage of a wide angle is that image stabilization is significantly less important. Small movements or vibrations are less likely to be noticeable in an image.
Having a fast maximum aperture is critical for astrophotography. {To get the most impressive photos, you want at least a f/4, if not f/2.8|To get the best possible images, you want the maximum aperture to be at least f/4.
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX II
- Perfect pick for night photography
- Fast f/2.8 Maximum Aperture
- 77mm Front Filter Threads
- Focus Clutch Style M/A Selector
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The Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 is fast and sharp. With a large aperture, this lens is a great pick for astrophotography.
One key feature of the lens is the focus clutch that controls changing between manual focus and autofocus. To switch focus, the entire focus ring is either pushed forward or pulled back.
There’s a built-in autofocus motor, but it is loud. This is often a problem if you need quiet operation when shooting at an event.
In terms of size, the lens is somewhat large. It weighs 550g (1.21 lbs) with dimensions of 4.02 x 4.02 x 4.02 in (L x W x H).
Be mindful when you go to buy the lens. Tokina also makes versions that use a different lens mount like the Canon EF or Sony A mounts. Check to make sure the lens you get is compatible with Nikon cameras.
Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM ELD SLD Aspherical
- Hyper-Sonic Motor (HSM)
- Ultra-wide angle lens
- Internal Focus and Very Good Build Quality
- Super Multi-Layer Coating
- Built with Aspherical Elements that Reduce Distortion
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The Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 falls into the same price range as the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8. It has a larger zoom range, but a slightly smaller maximum aperture.
At 10mm the lens is going to produce an exaggerated distorted perspective. You’re likely going to see distortion, which you can reduce through post-processing.
4 aspherical elements have been made use of to help reduce distortion and aberrations. In total there are 13 lens elements in 10 groups to ensure the best image quality possible.
All that glass doesn’t make the lens too heavy, coming in at a weight of 520g (18.3 oz). Dimensions are diameter of 3.4" (87.3mm) and length of 3.5" (88.2mm).
Be careful if you are looking to purchase this lens. Sigma also made copies of the lens for other DSLR camera mounts including, Canon EF, Sony A, and Pentax K mounts. Make sure the one you buy uses the Nikon F lens mount.
Best Telephoto Lenses
The 55-300mm & 55-200mm lenses reviewed in the zoom section are also the lenses to look for first if you need a telephoto lens.
This section is going to take a look at telephoto prime lenses for sports, action, wildlife, and portrait photography. There is no shortage of these lenses available for the Nikon F-mount.
However, telephoto prime lenses tend to be expensive because the amount of optics that need to be utilized. The weight of the lens and ergonomics when mounted on a camera body need to be taken into account. The right lens the one that is easy to handle and use so you can capture memorable pictures.
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G
- Best Lens for Portraits
- Internal Focus (IF)
- Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
- Superb Color Reproduction
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The Nikon 85mm f/1.8G is one of the best Nikon lenses for professional photographers. It’s a fast lens that delivers excellent images and pleasing bokeh.
The 85mm 1.8G is a full frame lens. You’ll notice two differences when comparing it against a DX lens.
First, full frame lenses are usually more expensive than DX lenses. They have larger lens elements, which translates to additional cost.
Second, the lens is larger than many DX lenses. While not a huge issue, if you plan to carry it around with another lens, you’ll definitely need a bag.
Nikon AF-S FX Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G
- Great Lens with a Fast Aperture
- Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
- Small and Lightweight
- Excellent Choice for Low Light Photography
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Taking the crop factor focal length multiplier into account, this lens could be looked at a short telephoto lens. It is an economical fast prime that can be employed for portraits and indoors.
The FX 50mm f/1.8G provides more reach than the DX 35mm f/1.8G, while still having a comparable price.
There won’t huge differences between the lenses. With the 50mm, you’ll get a bit more reach and blurring the background will be much easier.
It weighs 185g (6.6 oz) and has dimensions of (Diameter x Length) 2.83" x 2.01".
Best First Prime
Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G
- Very Accurate Autofocus Performance
- Takes Outstanding Pictures in Challenging Lighting Situations
- Excellent Nikon D100 lens for street photography
- High Build Quality
- Best option for an all around lens
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The Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G is the best first prime lens to get for the Nikon D100.
A maximum aperture of f/1.8, means you’ll be able to isolate your subjects and create beautiful bokeh. Indoors the lens is fast enough to where you will not need to use flash.
With a 35mm equivalent field of view of 52.5mm, you’ll have a “standard” field of view. Your photos will have a perspective that is similar to what is seen by human eyes.
Weighing just 200g (7oz), there’s never a reason not to have the lens with you. With dimensions of (Diameter x Length) 2.8 in. (70 mm) x 2.1 in. (52.5 mm), you can easily keep it in a coat pocket or bag.
Macro Photography Best Nikon D100 Lenses
Macro photography starts with a reproduction ratio of 1:1. That 1:1 ratio can also be referred to as life size or 1X magnification.
Those terms all mean that the subject being photographed is the same size as the camera’s sensor. Popular subjects are insects, coins, flowers, copy work and academic subjects.
There are other ways to achieve macro magnification, such as extensions tubes. Personally, I find that a macro lens easier to use and gives better results. That’s because a macro lens has a large minimum focus distance.
As a quick note, Nikon branded their macros as Micro-Nikkor lenses. This is a constant source of confusion as micro and macro have opposite meanings.
Nikon Micro-Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G
- Close-Range Correction System (CRC)
- Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
- Maximum Reproduction Ratio of 1X
- Well Built with a Rubber Sealing Mount Protects Against Dust and Moisture
- Excellent option for Close Ups
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The Nikon Micro-Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G is the best selection for getting started with macro and close-up photography with the Nikon D100.
As far as modern macro lenses go, the lens is relatively inexpensive. It also has a high-quality autofocus motor and uses current optics.
This means the lens can also be utilised for general photography. That’s not the case with older macros, as their image quality only becomes good after the aperture has been stopped down.
The lens weighs 235g (8.3 oz) with dimensions (diameter x length) of 2.7 in. (68.5 mm) x 2.5 in. (64.5 mm).
Nikon AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 85mm f/3.5G ED VR
- Super Integrated Coating (SIC) to reduce Chromatic Aberration
- Maximum Reproduction Ratio of 1X
- Built with Internal Focus (IF)
- VR - Vibration Reduction Image Stabilization
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The main benefit of the 85mm macro lens over the 40mm is a longer working distance. That’s the distance from the front of the lens to the subject.
At 1X magnification, the front of the lens is going to be close to the subject. If you are trying to photograph an insect, this may cause them to try to get away.
Another issue could be properly lighting a subject. Depending on your light source it could be laborious to get it setup without the lens blocking it.
The downside is that a little more working distance adds to the cost of the lens.
While not the primary purpose of the lens, it can be used for portraits, but the f/3.5 maximum aperture might not create the best background bokeh.
Lens Selection Criteria
- Overall Image Quality
- Price to Performance
- Focal Length Range
Having a high-quality lens is even more important for image quality than an expensive camera. Lenses don’t wear out, you will be able to keep your lenses if you ever decide to upgrade your Nikon D100.
That doesn’t mean that price is not a factor. It doesn’t seem sensible to suggest high priced lenses, even if they are the best quality.
All the most commonly used focal lengths have been reviewed.
Professional or niche lenses such as perspective control, specialist macro, mirror, and fisheye lenses were not covered. They are expensive enough to warrant a camera upgrade.
When to Upgrade Your Camera
The Nikon D100 was released in 2005. It should be come as no surprise that there are many Nikon D100 upgrade options available. One of the nice things is that you can still use the same lenses with a more recent camera, the vast majority with seamless compatibility.
Having access to different focal lengths, a fast prime, or a cutting edge lens will do more for you than a brand new camera. However, it is very difficult to overlook the high resolution available from a newer APS-C camera body as well as fast continuous shooting speed and more white balance options.
The price of a pre-owned Nikon D100 replacement is a tiny proportion of the cost when the camera was new. That same drop in price also applies to recent camera models.
An upgrade that is perfect for what you want is very likely cheaper than you imagine if you are prepared to sell your D100 camera as soon as you have an upgrade.
Types of Lenses
Focal Lengths
- Wide Angle - Captures a large angle of view of a scene. These have a short focal length.
- Standard - Has a field of view that looks "natural" when viewed by people. Any focal length between 35mm to 50mm.
- Telephoto - Lenses with a narrow field of view, very helpful for subjects that are far away or small. Wildlife photos are a popular use for this type of focal length.
- Macro - Has the ability to take images close up to a subject at a 1:1 magnification ratio of subject to sensor size.
- Fisheye - Ultra wide-angle lenses that produce distorted circular images.
Zoom vs Prime
- Zoom - The focal length is variable. The zoom range coverage will vary, but manufacturers are always trying to make more impressive zooms.
- Prime - Lenses with a fixed focal length. Usually, they have larger apertures than zoom lenses. Larger apertures are better for low light condition and creating blurry backgrounds with a telephoto lens. Better ones will have razor sharp image clarity.
Compatible Lenses
Nikon F Mount
The D100 camera works with Nikon F-mount lenses. Nikon has been employing the F-mount since 1959. There are many different variations of the lens mount as it has been altered over time to work with digital SLR cameras.
Initial autofocus lenses used a focus motor built into camera bodies. The Nikon D100 is one of the only entry level digital SLR cameras to have the focus motor built-in. As a result, autofocus will work with early autofocus lenses.
The Nikon D100 does not have a meter coupling ridge or EE servo coupling post. Light metering won’t work correctly for manual lenses without electrical contacts. AF lenses with physical aperture rings will likely need to be stopped down to their smallest aperture.
Nikon D100 Kit Lens
The Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX VR was originally included with the Nikon D100. This was most commonly bundled with used D100’s for sale on eBay or Amazon.
It is one of the many dx nikkor lenses that have been bundled with cameras over the years. These make up the right lens selection for a large percentage of the anticipated needs of a Nikon D100 owner.
In challenging low light conditions using fill flash from the camera will help. Compatible lighting equipment like Nikon’s creative lighting system can be useful if you can get a hold of second hand flashes that are inexpensive.
If you don’t have this lens, it is an excellent first option for the camera. The focal length, image stabilization, and performance is decent, especially taking into account the low-cost of a second hand copy. The one undesirable aspect is the f/5.6 aperture at the long end.