What are the best prime lenses for Nikon Z series cameras?

I hear you on the FTZ situation. Using that adapter for a year when the Z system first came out taught me that it just ruins the balance of the camera for me. In my experience shooting weddings you want to stay light so you dont burn out by the reception. Over the years I've tried many different setups and I honestly think the f/1.8 S-line primes are the smartest way to spend your money right now. You dont need to drop four grand on the f/1.2 monsters to get pro results. The Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S is probably the sharpest 50mm I have ever used and it fits your budget perfectly. It's fast enough for those dim ceremonies and way more reliable than the old glass. For the Seattle wedding you'll definitely want the Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S for portraits. Its lightweight and the autofocus is snappy which is a lifesaver when things are moving fast. Skipping the non-S lenses is usually my advice for professional work tho. Stick to the S-line for the weather sealing alone... Seattle rain is no joke. If you shop smart you can actually grab both the 50mm and the 85mm for right around that 1500 mark. That's a solid two-lens kit that will cover 90% of your day without making your arms feel like lead. If you find yourself needing more width later you can eventually pick up the Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S but for now the 50 and 85 are the safest bet for quality vs cost.

Saw your post and had to jump in because native glass is a total game changer for the Z6! If you want the most bang for your buck with that $1500 budget, the f/1.8 S line is absolutely the way to go. These lenses are incredibly sharp and weigh basically nothing compared to anything youve been using with that adapter. Methodically, I would split the budget like this:

• Get the Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S for about $700. Its fantastic for those wider wedding shots and the low light performance is amazing.
• Spend the rest on the Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S which is usually around $800. The bokeh is gorgeous for portraits! If you need to stay even further under budget, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S is a total steal for the quality you get. Honestly, the autofocus speed on these native primes is so much snappier... youre gonna love the difference at your Seattle shoot!

> i have a wedding coming up in Seattle next month I totally agree with the previous post about the balance being totally off. Tbh I learned my lesson the hard way during a rainy shoot in Port Townsend where my hand literally cramped into a claw because of that front-heavy FTZ setup. Just a quick heads up tho, you might want to consider the focus breathing on some of these native lenses. Be careful if you're planning on doing any video for the ceremony because some fast glass has this shifting that can be super distracting. Honestly, I'd suggest checking the weather sealing specs too since Seattle drizzle is no joke and some native gear is way more vulnerable than others... you dont want a foggy element during the vows.