These are the best Nikon lenses for headshot photography, chosen for how they deliver flattering compression, smooth bokeh, neutral skin tones, and confident, eye-detect autofocus—mixing sharp, quiet Z primes/zooms with proven F-mount favorites via FTZ. Headshots are about proportion and polish: focal lengths that keep features natural (85–135mm on full frame), fast apertures for gentle falloff, coatings that tame backlight, and optics with minimal LoCA so hair and highlights don’t fringe. On Z full-frame, anchor with the NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S for flagship, cat’s-eye-free blur and tack eye focus, or the Z 85mm f/1.8 S for a featherweight, budget-clean portrait staple; step to longer compression with the Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena, which delivers creamy separation and immaculate edge behavior, and keep the Z 50mm f/1.2 S for tighter spaces where a fast normal still flatters head-and-shoulders; the Z 50mm f/1.8 S remains a compact workhorse with neutral color and elegant roll-off. Zoom shooters get studio-grade results with the NIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 S—razor acuity, beautiful bokeh, and teleconverter-ready reach—living mostly at 105–200mm for refined facial geometry; for beauty and detail crops (lashes, jewelry), the NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S adds flat-field sharpness and polished, non-distracting blur with VR that pairs well with IBIS. F-mount value via FTZ is stellar: the AF-S 105mm f/1.4E is a cult tele for luminous compression, the AF-S 85mm f/1.8G offers creamy, reliable results on a budget, the AF-S 85mm f/1.4G delivers classic smoothness, and the AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G VR doubles for beauty detail with flattering bokeh; event-ready versatility comes from AF-S 70–200mm f/2.8E FL VR (or 70–200/4G VR when weight matters). DX shooters can build a compact headshot kit with the Viltrox 56mm f/1.4 Z (~85mm-equiv) for shallow depth and clean color, backed by the Z DX 50–250mm f/4.5–6.3 VR for outdoor compression; the Z DX 24mm f/1.7 is useful for tight environmental portraits but stick near frame center to avoid distortion. Image priorities that make these “best” on set: round aperture shapes at working stops, restrained longitudinal/lateral CA so white shirts and hair lights stay clean, coatings that keep contrast under backlit windows, modest breathing for hybrid video, and quiet motors so refocus is inaudible; IBIS/VR steadies subtle movements at lower ISOs. Technique finishes the look—work 85–135mm at 3–6 feet for flattering proportion, start headshots at f/1.8–f/2.8 for luminous eyes and gentle ears, stop to f/3.5–f/5.6 for corporate sets or groups, focus on the nearer eye with eye-detect AF (or magnified live view for manual), place subjects well off the background to let bokeh breathe, and use slim diffusion (⅛–¼) to soften speculars; keep a simple reflector for catchlights, cross-polarize only when gloss is an issue, and standardize filter sizes with step-ups for CPL/diffusion. A practical kit recipe is simple: Z FX prime spine—85/1.8 S (or 85/1.2 S) plus 135/1.8 S Plena, with MC 105/2.8 S for beauty; zoom-based studio—70–200/2.8 S around 105–200mm with 50/1.8 S for tight rooms; FTZ value—AF-S 105/1.4E + 85/1.8G (add 70–200/2.8E FL VR for versatility); DX compact—Viltrox 56/1.4 + Z DX 50–250 VR. Whether you’re crafting luminous actor headshots, clean corporate portraits, beauty close-ups, or hybrid video intros, the best Nikon headshot lenses deliver flattering geometry, calm background melt, and dependable, quiet focus that make faces look intentional, dimensional, and elegantly lit straight out of camera.