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.
Check the Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.4 Pro price on Amazon →
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 19 of the 24 lenses above (the other 5 have no verified weight in our dataset yet — omitted, never estimated):
| Lens | Weight | Weather sealing |
|---|---|---|
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR | 570g | Not verified (weight from the Nikon Z-mount list row for designation 'VR', released 2020-02-11; sealing not stated on the source page) |
| Tamron 35-100mm F/2.8 Di III VXD (A078) | 575g | Not verified (weight from the Nikon Z-mount list row for designation 'Di III VXD'; sealing not stated on the source page) |
| Tamron 70-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD (A047) | 580g | Not verified (weight from the Nikon Z-mount list row for designation 'Di III RXD', released 2022-09-07; sealing not stated on the source page) |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR | 725g | Not verified |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-180mm f/2.8 | 795g | Not verified (weight from the Nikon Z-mount list row (no designation suffix), released 2023-06-21; sealing not stated on the source page) |
| Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.4 Pro | 835g | Not verified (weight from the Nikon Z-mount list row for designation 'Pro', released 2025-11-19; sealing not stated on the source page) |
| Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 (A065) | 865g | Not verified (weight from the Nikon Z-mount list row for designation 'Di III VC VXD G2'; sealing not stated on the source page) |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena | 995g | Weather-sealed (S-Line) |
| 7Artisans AF 135mm f/1.8 | 1014g | Not verified (weight from the Nikon Z-mount list row for designation 'Max', released 2026-05-20; sealing not stated on the source page [corrected 2026-09-02: thousands separator had been dropped on import]) |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S II | 1030g | Not verified (weight from the Nikon Z-mount list row for designation 'VR S II', released 2026-02-24; sealing not stated on the source page) |
| Tamron 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD (A067) | 1180g | Not verified (weight from the Nikon Z-mount list row for designation 'Di III VC VXD', released 2024-08-29; sealing not stated on the source page [corrected 2026-09-02: thousands separator had been dropped on import]) |
| Tamron 35-150mm F/2-2.8 Di III VXD (A058) | 1190g | Not verified (weight from the Nikon Z-mount list row for designation 'Di III VXD', released 2023-07-25; sealing not stated on the source page [corrected 2026-09-02: thousands separator had been dropped on import]) |
| Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB | 1265g | Not verified (weight from the Nikon Z-mount list row for designation 'LAB', released 2025-03-19; sealing not stated on the source page [corrected 2026-09-02: thousands separator had been dropped on import]) |
| 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 (weight from the Nikon Z-mount list row for designation 'C-Dreamer', released 2025-10-15; sealing not stated on the source page [corrected 2026-09-02: thousands separator had been dropped on import]) |
| Tamron 150-500mm F/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD (A057) | 1720g | Not verified (weight from the Nikon Z-mount list row for designation 'Di III VC VXD', released 2023-10-10; sealing not stated on the source page [corrected 2026-09-02: thousands separator had been dropped on import]) |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR | 1955g | Not verified (weight excludes the tripod collar (2,140 g with it)) |
Packing light? The lightest here is the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR at 570g. The lightest weather-sealed option is the Nikon NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena at 995g.
Complete the kit for the Nikon Z8
- The Nikon Z8 takes an EN-EL15c battery (SD (Secure Digital) and UHS-II compliant SDHC and SDXC memory cards, CFexpress (Type B), XQD Type Memory) — a spare battery and the right card class are body-specific, not lens-specific. EN-EL15c battery on Amazon →
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 Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR at 570g (manufacturer-published weight). The lightest weather-sealed option is the Nikon NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena at 995g. Weights for 19 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? Nikon Z8 on Amazon →
All lenses for the Nikon Z8 · the same use across mounts: Telephoto lenses for Nikon Z · all cameras