The Nikon F-mount was introduced in the late 1950s, and over the years the mount and bodies that work with it have evolved a little with the times by adding CPU contacts, AF motor drives, and 3D Matrix metering.

And while the D850 is the latest and greatest in a long line and brings with it the culmination and experience of other FX bodies, with its high-pixel-count, full fame 4K and the first BSI CMOS Sensor; it is often said that a camera is only as good as the glass you put in front of it. As such, Nikon does currently offer more than 70 lenses for its DSLRs, a collection just high enough to be perplexing to someone looking to invest in great glass. In one of his latest videos, Kai Wong offers his insight offering his list of Top 5 Nikon Full Frame Lenses.

[REWIND: Why Every Photographer Should Have A 24-70mm 2.8]

Nikon 58mm f/1.4  

Kai’s List of Top 5 Nikon Full Frame Lenses

Third-party lens manufactures like Tamron, Sigma, and Tokina have stolen a bit of the spotlight when it comes to lenses for any system. Take the first lens from the list, the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 FL as a prime example, as many photographers would rather pick up the Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 G2 for nearly the same functionality for a faction of the price.

Pushing the latest from the optical giant may be the best stance when confronted with the position that Kai is in, and the higher price of the the newest gear can often equate to quality, but the latest is not necessarily the greatest. Recommendations rely on context and experience of the recommender themselves.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G

Taking recommendations with a grain of salt is par for the course, but don’t let your bias be swayed by your favorite Youtuber, there are excellent full frame lenses that Nikon that has been offering for years that are well within the realm of affordability for most users, and we’ll list some out below.

Nikon AF Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8D

[RELATED: When To Buy a 1.8 Lens Over a ‘Better’ 1.4 Lens]

Alternative Top 5 Nikon Full Frame Lenses

Again the argument is brought up witch is better a 1.8 vs a 1.4 lens, and again cost doesn’t equate to quality. The Nikon 58mm f/1.4 is one of the most overrated and over priced lenses that Nikon offers. Comparing it to the 50mm f/1.8 G you may lose 8mm and 0.7 stops of light, but you will have a faster focusing, sharper, and a better contrast lens, not to mention extra zeros in your bank account.

Nikon 85mm f/1.8G