Best telephoto lenses for the Nikon Z8
24 telephoto lenses that fit the Nikon Z8 (Nikon Z mount) — reach for sports, wildlife and compressed portraits. Sorted brightest-aperture first; every spec from the manufacturer's catalog.
Start with the Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.4 Pro. At f/1.4 it is the brightest of the 24 telephoto Nikon Z lenses that fit the Nikon Z8 — the full comparison is below.
Showing 24 of 24 lenses
Stabilisation uses a marker in the manufacturer model name; no marker is not a negative claim. Price filters use a current price when available.
One limit of this table: it lists only Nikon Z lenses that mount natively on the Nikon Z8 — lenses fitted through an adapter are not included here. See which mounts adapt to which.
Weight & weather sealing on the Nikon Z8
On long approaches the decision is often made by weight, not aperture. Published weights for 24 of the 24 lenses above:
| Lens | Weight | Weather sealing |
|---|---|---|
| Viltrox AF 85mm f/2.0 EVO | 360g | Weather-sealed (bare-lens weight as published; Viltrox page claims a weather-sealed / dust-and-moisture-protected build) |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR | 570g | Not verified |
| Tamron 35-100mm F/2.8 Di III VXD (A078) | 575g | Not verified |
| Tamron 70-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD (A047) | 580g | Not verified |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR | 725g | Not verified |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-180mm f/2.8 | 795g | Not verified |
| Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.4 Pro | 835g | Not verified |
| Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 (A065) | 865g | Not verified |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena | 995g | Weather-sealed (S-Line) |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S II | 998g | Not verified |
| 7Artisans AF 135mm f/1.8 | 1014g | Not verified |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S | 1160g | Weather-sealed (S-Line; weight excludes the tripod collar (1,245 g with it); Nikon claims dust- and drip-resistance) |
| Tamron 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD (A067) | 1180g | Not verified |
| Tamron 35-150mm F/2-2.8 Di III VXD (A058) | 1190g | Not verified |
| Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB | 1265g | Not verified |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S | 1355g | Weather-sealed (S-Line; Nikon states S-Line lenses are extensively sealed against dust and moisture) |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S | 1360g | Weather-sealed (S-Line) |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S | 1390g | Weather-sealed (S-Line; weight excludes the tripod collar (1,470 g with it)) |
| Laowa AF 200mm f/2 FF | 1588g | Not verified |
| Tamron 150-500mm F/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD (A057) | 1720g | Not verified |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR | 1955g | Not verified |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S | 2385g | Weather-sealed (S-Line; weight as published (approx.); Nikon claims dust- and drip-resistance) |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S | 2950g | Weather-sealed (S-Line; weight as published (approx.); Nikon claims dust- and drip-resistance) |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S | 3260g | Weather-sealed (S-Line; weight as published (approx.); Nikon claims dust- and drip-resistance) |
Packing light? The lightest here is the Viltrox AF 85mm f/2.0 EVO at 360g. The lightest weather-sealed option is the Viltrox AF 85mm f/2.0 EVO at 360g — the same lens.
FAQ
What is the best telephoto lens for the Nikon Z8?
Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.4 Pro (85mm f/1.4) is the standout telephoto option that fits the Nikon Z8. 24 telephoto Nikon Z lenses fit in total — compare them below.
Do these telephoto lenses fit the Nikon Z8?
Yes — every lens here is a Nikon Z mount lens, so it fits the Nikon Z8 and covers its full-frame sensor.
What is the lightest telephoto lens for the Nikon Z8?
The Viltrox AF 85mm f/2.0 EVO at 360g (manufacturer-published weight). The lightest weather-sealed option is the Viltrox AF 85mm f/2.0 EVO at 360g — the same lens. Weights for 24 of the 24 lenses on this page are in the weight table above.
Already own the Nikon Z8, shopping for a spare or an upgrade? See price on Amazon
Other uses on the Nikon Z8: Wide-angle (21) Astrophotography (22) Budget (38) Landscape (22) Vlogging (5) Low-light (41) Travel (19) Compact (19) Street (32) Everyday (41) Pro standard zoom (3) Wedding & event (23) Standard prime (24) Portrait (43) Macro (4) Wildlife (9) Sports & action (12)
All lenses for the Nikon Z8 · the same use across mounts: Telephoto lenses for Nikon Z · all cameras