Nikon lenses have dominated professional photography over the past few decades and many Nikkor lenses have become classics during that time such as the 105mm Micro Nikkor or the Nikon 180mm F2.8 lens which was favored by fashion photographers in the past.
Today's Nikon digital slr line up is dominated by cameras using the smaller APS-C size sensor although Nikon have released a few professional full frame digital SLR cameras in recent years.
Although the Nikon lens mount has remained consistent over the decades, allowing most Nikon lenses to be used on most Nikon SLR and DLSR bodies, Nikon DX lenses designed only for digital SLR cameras with smaller sensors cannot be used on full frame cameras as the image circle covered by the lens is inadequate.
Purchasing the right Nikon lens for your needs can be a difficult process but the table below showing a list of the top 10 best selling Nikon lenses for digital SLR cameras 2011 will provide some guidance as to the most popular Nikon lenses for beginners, intermediate and advanced photographers currently available. To gain an overview of the current Nikon lens system, most of the Nikon lenses available on the market are listed below together with a key outlining the main features of Nikon lenses.
Key to Nikon Lens Features
AF-S
Silent Wave Motor
DX
Lenses compatible with Nikon DSLRs with small APS size sensor
ED
Extra Low Dispersion glass
FX
Full frame sensor equivalent in size to 35mm film.