^ This. Also, Anthony is spot on about the third party stuff. Unfortunately, I've found that some of the native S-line lenses are just getting way too pricey for what they offer lately. I had high hopes for the Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S but honestly it wasn't as good as expected for the cost, especially with that heavy distortion you gotta fix in post. Tbh it felt a bit flimsy for the price tag. If you want to save a ton of cash for landscapes, look at the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 Z. It is a total beast and way cheaper than the Nikon equivalent. For the wildlife side of things, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-180mm f/2.8 is basically your best bet under a grand right now. It's not a true S lens, but it gets the job done without breaking the bank. I've been going the DIY route lately by adapting older glass with the Nikon FTZ II Mount Adapter to save money for actual trips. You can find used F-mount lenses like the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR for pennies these days... definitely worth a look if you dont mind the extra bulk.

Kit Lenses: 

• Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3
• Nikon nikkor z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 vr 

Native Z-Mount Lenses

• NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S - Outstanding standard prime with beautiful bokeh
• NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S - Versatile wide-angle prime for everyday shooting
• NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S - Superb portrait lens with exceptional clarity

Tbh I’ve been shooting with the Z system for a while and honestly, I’ve had some mixed feelings about the standard recommendations. I spent way too much on some S-line lenses early on and ended up pretty disappointed with the value for money. It felt like I was paying a huge premium just for the name brand glass... If you want to actually stay under that 1k mark and get stuff that performs well in the real world, here is what I eventually settled on after a lot of trial and error:

• Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD
• For wildlife, everyone pushes the heavy Nikon glass, but this Tamron is way easier to hike with. The lack of lens VR is a total bummer though, so you really gotta lean on the Z5 II internal stabilization.
• Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 Z AF
• I had some annoying issues with the AF hunting on the first version, but the firmware updates fixed it. It’s a total steal for portraits and the bokeh is actually smoother than the Nikon S version imo.
• Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8
• Since you mentioned landscapes, I'd skip that 14-30. This one is faster and honestly just feels better in the hand, even if it’s not quite as wide. I wasted a lot of time chasing the perfect native setup, but going third-party or picking the non-S Nikon stuff saved my budget in the end.

Here are two excellent zoom lens recommendations for your Nikon Z5 II:

Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S: This versatile standard zoom is considered the perfect everyday companion for your Z5 II. It delivers exceptional sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and impressive edge-to-edge clarity throughout its zoom range. Its compact size balances well with your camera body, and its constant f/4 aperture provides consistent exposure during zooming. This lens is a bestseller due to its excellent performance-to-price ratio.

Nikkor Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR: for maximum versatility in a single lens, this all-in-one zoom covers everything from wide-angle to telephoto. While the variable aperture is slower than premium options, the built-in Vibration Reduction helps in lower light. The remarkable part is how well it maintains image quality across its impressive range, making it perfect for travel photography when you don't want to change lenses.

Both lenses feature Nikon's renowned optics and are designed specifically for the Z-mount system.

Basically, ur entering the Z system at a really good time because the market is finally opening up to more than just Nikon's own glass. Tbh, looking at the market research, you can get way more bang for your buck if you look beyond the first-party stuff. • Honestly, you should look into the third-party brands that are now officially licensed. Brands like Tamron are basically making glass that performs almost identically to the native stuff but for way less money, which is what I'd go with.
• Don't sleep on the newer Chinese brands like Viltrox. Their latest primes are honestly getting sooo close to the S-line quality that the price difference is hard to ignore. It’s a great way to stretch that $1,000 budget to cover multiple focal lengths, you know?
• For the wildlife and landscape side of things, just look for any of the recent zooms from the partner manufacturers. You get way more versatility for ur dollar compared to the high-end professional glass that Nikon pushes. It really just comes down to what brand ecosystem you feel most comfortable with!

> Which lenses would give me the most versatility for my Nikon Z5 II? Basically, the thread has covered everything from the high-end S-line primes to the newer third-party stuff that’s hitting the market now. It's a lot to digest! Honestly, I’m still a bit of a beginner when it comes to the technical side of the Z system, but I’ve always been a DIY enthusiast when it comes to my kit. I prefer doing my own "field tests" by renting first because what a pro calls "sharp" might not even matter for what ur shooting. I’m curious though, are you planning on mostly shooting handheld or using a tripod? And are you looking to buy everything NEW, or are you open to the DIY route of scouring the used market to stretch that $1,000 budget even further? It makes a HUGE difference in what ur final bag will look like.

Versatile Zoom Lenses

• NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S - Excellent all-purpose lens, compact and sharp
• NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR - Great travel lens with wide zoom range

Prime Lenses

• NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S - Exceptional standard prime with beautiful bokeh
• NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S - Versatile wide-angle for street and environmental shots

Budget Options

• NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 - Compact, affordable prime with good performance
• NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 - Small, lightweight wide-angle