The Best Nikon FM2 Lenses (And What to Avoid)

This guide covers the best Nikon FM2 lenses for every type of photography and budget.

The FM2 is compatible with most F-mount lenses, with the best-value options being those popular in the 1980s.

Nikon FM2 Lens Compatibility

The FM2 works with Ai, Ai-S, AF, and D series F-mount lenses. G-series and Z-mount lenses will not work. G-series lenses lack an aperture ring, making exposure control impossible, and Z-mount lenses are physically incompatible.

Do not mount Non-Ai lenses. These lenses lack the aperture ring cutouts required by the FM2’s Meter Coupling Ridge and will damage the camera’s mount.

Non-Ai vs Ai & Ai-S Lenses

Non-Ai lenses are identified by their Meter Coupling Prong, a rabbit-ear-shaped protrusion on the aperture ring and the aperture ring lip is solid. Ai lenses have cutouts.

Some transition-period lenses have both coupling systems. See the F-mount compatibility guide for how to identify lens types.

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50mm Lenses

50mm is my favorite focal length and they are the easiest Nikon FM2 lenses to find.

They are great for street, general, portraits, landscapes, and grabbing candid shots.

Nikon 50mm f1.8 Series E

• One of the most popular 50mm lenses Nikon ever made.
• Excellent value and easy to find on the used market.
• Light, small, and compact.
• 52mm filter threads.

The best first lens for the FM2. Small, light, and sharp. Look for the second version with the chrome ring around the barrel as it has better build quality than the all-black first version.

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f1.4

• Outstanding optics.
• Advanced multi-coatings to reduce flare.
• 58mm filter threads.

Two-thirds of a stop faster than the f/1.8. Better optical coatings reduce chromatic aberration when shooting color. It’s worth the modest price premium if you shoot in low light or want improved bokeh.

Voigtlander 58mm f1.4 Noct

• High-end build with a buttery smooth focus ring.
• Has a Meter Coupling Prong that allow it to be used older Nikon SLRs.
• CPU Contacts or focus confirmation and EXIF data on DSLRs.
• 52mm or 58mm filter threads depending on the version.

The best lens available for the FM2. Modern optics in a manual focus body with an exceptionally smooth focus ring.

Outperforms the Nikon 55mm f/1.2 and 50mm f/1.2. CPU contacts provide EXIF data for shots taken on DSLRs.

Wide Angle Lenses

Nikon 28mm f2.8 Series E

• Perfect travel kit when combined with a 50mm lens.
• Small and compact design.
• 52mm filter threads.

A compact near-wide that pairs well with a 50mm as a two-lens travel kit. Look for the second version with the chrome barrel ring.

Nikon 24mm f2.8 Ai

• Minimal flare and distortion.
• Widely available on the used market.
• 52mm filter threads.

The best price-to-performance wide angle for the FM2. The Ai, Ai-S, AF, and D versions share the same optical design.

AF versions have improved coatings but are less pleasant to focus manually.

The 20mm f/2.8 has worse flare and distortion at a higher price.

Portrait & Telephoto Lenses

Nikon DC-Nikkor 105mm f2D

• Defocus Control allows you to control the bokeh.
• So popular it was produced from 1993 to 2016.
• It has CPU contacts and autofocus.
• 72mm filter threads.

One of the best portrait lenses Nikon ever made.

The DC (Defocus Control) ring lets you shape bokeh rendering. It’s a rare feature that can be used to recreate 90s portrait looks.

It can be found used for around the same price as the 85mm f/1.4 Ai.

Nikon 85mm f1.4 Ai

• Overpriced due to photographers adapting them to mirrorless cameras.
• Same optical design as the 85mm f/1.4 D series.
• 72mm filter threads.

It is overpriced due to demand from mirrorless adapter users. Under $400 in good condition is the only price worth considering.

Haze and dried helicoid grease are common problems. Watch out for fungus in lenses from Japan.

The D-series version uses the same optics and is easier to find in better condition. The 105mm f/2D is a better buy at the same price.

Nikon 100mm f2.8 Series E Lens

• Cheaper than an 85mm lens.
• Pairs well with other Series E lenses.
• 52mm filter threads.

A practical, affordable portrait lens.

It shares the 52mm filter thread with other Series E lenses.

Used copies are plentiful as 100mm and 135mm focal lengths were more common than 85mm during the FM2’s era.

Zoom Lenses

Condition is the main challenge with vintage zooms. More moving parts means more things to break.

Inspect a lens for problems before buying.

Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f3.5

• Covers a popular telephoto zoom range.
• Good for sports or wildlife photography.
• 67mm filter threads.

Better image quality than Nikon’s equivalent.

Useful for sports or wildlife. There are no intermediate aperture stops between f/3.5 and f/5.6, so low-light use is limited.

It was sold in multiple lens mounts. Confirm you are buying the Nikon F-mount version.

Vivitar Series 1 28-90mm f2.8-3.5

• Useful zoom range for general photography.
• 67mm filter threads.

A useful everyday range, but if you already own 28mm and 50mm primes the overlap makes this redundant. The primes are smaller, lighter, and sharper.

Nikon Macro Lenses

For 1:1 magnification, 90 to 105mm is the ideal range as it provides enough working distance to light the subject. All native Nikon 50/55mm macro lenses require extension tubes to reach 1:1.

Vivitar 90mm f2.8 Macro Lens

• Great image quality from a vintage macro lens.
• No extension tube needed for 1:1 magnification.
• 55mm filter threads.

Reaches 1:1 without an extension tube, with around 3 inches of working distance. The lens is tack sharp at f/5.6 to f/8.

Komine made the lens in different mounts. They were sold under the Panagor, Elicar, Quantaray, Spiratone, and Rokunar brand names.

Vivitar 90mm Macro Review.

Vivitar 55mm f2.8 Macro Lens

• Better than the 90mm for close-up photography.
• It doesn’t need an extension tube to achieve life-size magnification.
• Sharper than other vintage macro lenses at f5.6.
• 62mm filter threads.

Better than the 90mm for copy work, tabletop, and nature where working distance is not a concern. It reaches 1:1 without extension tubes.

Avoid the earlier f/3 version as the f/2.8 is significantly sharper.

Vivitar 55mm Macro Review.