Do you want to know the best lenses for Nikon D3300 in 2024?
If so, you will agree when I say:
Finding the best lens for Nikon D3300 is not as easy as it may seem at first glance.
There are too many choices on the market in 2024 and not enough valuable lens-buying guides.
For this reason:
Throughout my photography career, I’ve critically tested a wide range of lenses.
The Nikon D3300, along with its variety of compatible lenses, was part of this comprehensive inspection.
For those seeking a speedy summary, here’s a snapshot of my findings:
Nikon 35mm f/1.8G Lens | Nikon 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6G | Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G Lens |
Unleash your creativity with this fast lens, perfect for capturing breathtaking moments in any lighting conditions. | From wide-angle landscapes to telephoto zoom, this lens covers all your photography needs. | Affordable and lightweight, this lens delivers impressive performance for wildlife and sports photography. |
5.0 | 4.9 | 4.8 |
Nikon 35mm f/1.8G Lens
Unleash your creativity with this fast lens, perfect for capturing breathtaking moments in any lighting conditions.
Nikon 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6G
From wide-angle landscapes to telephoto zoom, this lens covers all your photography needs.
Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G Lens
Affordable and lightweight, this lens delivers impressive performance for wildlife and sports photography.
You might be wondering: is the Nikon D3300 a smart investment for your photography journey?
Let’s dive into the nuances of this user-friendly camera, evaluating its assets and potential limitations.
Stay with me as we ascertain whether the Nikon D3300 should be the next addition to your photography toolkit.
Is Nikon D3300 worth the money in 2024?
As someone who has personally used the Nikon D3300, I can vouch for its enduring appeal in 2024.
The camera’s 24.2 MP sensor impressed me with its ability to produce sharp, clear images.
I was particularly fond of its lightweight design and how comfortably it fit in my hands, making it a reliable companion during my photography outings.
Despite the progression of camera technology over the years, the Nikon D3300’s straightforward user experience and remarkable image quality affirm its value in the entry-level DSLR category.
But listen to this:
You need the right lenses to go with your camera, otherwise you are just wasting performance away.
For this reason, I made this amazing Nikon D3300 best lenses guide that will teach you everything you need to know about choosing the right lens for your camera.
Let’s start!
Best Prime Lenses for Portraits and Modeling
Portrait photography is one of the most popular types since it’s everywhere worldwide. Prom nights, family gatherings, and weddings are only a few examples where portraits are represented.
The prime lens is what you need on these occasions. Distinction from zoom or all-in-one lenses is the ability to zoom in or out. Since there are fewer parts, Prime lenses are more compact.
Sharpness is an important characteristic, and the quality of photos taken with this lens is on the next level.
Momentous photographers need at least one Prime in their collection.
Capture stunning detail with Nikon's 35mm f/1.8G lens; optimal sharpness, stellar low-light performance, and bokeh mastery await.
- Lens Type: Normal
- Mounting Type: Nikon F
- Focal Length Range: 35mm
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.3 m
- Weight: 0.44 pounds
- Dimensions: 2.09 x 2.76 x 2.76 inches
This lens is one of the best portrait lenses for this model, as it includes some pretty impressive features that would be attractive to most DX-format users.
Covering a relatively large area under your frame and offering tremendous and easily manageable control over the DOF, this lens might be perfect for people who like taking photos at night or otherwise enjoying street view shots and similar settings.
Nikon 35mm f/1.8G is budget solution for people who need prime lens.
To propel this finely adjusted gadget and enable a long run and excellent image quality throughout, the power supply of choice for this particular model is the Nikon silent wave motor, which allows stability and a long running time.
In my honest opinion:
Nikon DX Format 35mm f/1.8 Lens is the best portrait lens for the Nikon D3300 camera!
Additionally, this lens offers Nikon’s super-integrated coating and one aspherical lens. Also, it’s considerably smaller and more lightweight than the previous versions, which may be attractive to some users who prefer more compact equipment.
Pros
- It comes packaged with a carrying case
- Captures crisp images
- Great in low-light situations
- It can fit more in the frame
Cons
- There is some barrel distortion
- The bokeh is sluggish
Best All-in-one Lens for Travelling and Everyday photography
An all-in-one lens is best when you can choose only one lens. While it won’t have the sharpness of the primes lens, it will do an excellent task in any photography.
They have the most extended operating margin and are a substitute for every lens, from macro to telephoto.
Photographers who travel a lot but can only carry one or two lenses are the best nominees for the all-in-one type.
Besides risking getting dust in your camera, switching lenses is an exhausting task that takes your precious time.
This is where the all-in-one lens can come in handy, and we got just the right lens for your favorite Nikon D3300 Camera.
This is one of the most popular Nikon lenses made from durable plastic, it includes a Super Integrated Coating and shots sharp images.
- Lens Type: Telephoto
- Mounting Type: Nikon F (DX)
- Focal Length Range: 18-200mm
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.5 m
- Weight: 1.25 pounds
- Dimensions: 3.82 x 3.03 x 3.03 inches
This all-rounder Nikon lens is one of the most standard and versatile options. It includes regular features, enhanced zooming, and some other innovations.
One of these new additions is the second generation of the Image stabilization property, which significantly enhances the sharpness of the image, even in harmful conditions.
Another exciting feature in making specific shots is the newly introduced zoom lock switch.
This will enable you to zoom a great distance and steady your position. This allows you to concentrate on whatever you choose to record.
Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G has top-notch quality and great zoom.
To reduce flare and the so-called ghost effects, there is a Nikon super integrated coating that will help you take photos of the desired subjects or objects from whatever angle you like, without worrying that the sun and some artificial light sources will get in the way.
On the downside:
These numerous qualities come at a certain disadvantage such as size, which some people can find to be a bit too bulky.
However, if you don’t really mind the size of the lens, then, by all means, try out this fantastic solution which is as well-rounded as it gets in the world of photography.
Is this the best travel lens for D3300? It just might be for some users.
Pros
- Focus is fast and accurate
- Zoom range covers everything
- Image quality is excellent
- Compact for its range
Cons
- Weight can be an issue
- Creates shadow while using flash
Best Telephoto Lenses for Wildlife and Action Photography
When taking a photo or a video from an object that is far away, such as in wildlife photography or sports, your best option is Nikon D3300 telephoto lens.
They are strictly designed with this in mind, so zooming without losing quality is their strong point.
Because of their zoom ability, their bodies are heavier compared to other lens types. They are usually bulky and often more expensive than primes.
I consider the next lens one of the best Nikon D3300 telephoto lenses.
Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G is a budget-friendly lens that offers excellent value and decent performance for beginners and amateur photographers.
- Lens Type: Telephoto
- Mounting Type: Nikon F (DX)
- Focal Length Range: 55-200mm
- Minimum Focus Distance: 1.1 m
- Weight: 0.56 pounds
- Dimensions: 2.7 x 3.1 inches
The next option on our list of Nikon D3300 lenses is one of the most affordable solutions, so pay attention if you’re a bit tight on your budget and require a high-performance zooming lens.
Some of the most prominent features of this lens are the emphatic sharpness and wideness of the images, which are additionally secured and positioned correctly by the advanced inbuilt image stabilization system, which boasts excellent vibration reduction properties.
Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G is one of the best Nikon D3300 telephoto lenses.
Further on:
This Nikon lens has dramatically enhanced the focusing part of the preparatory process for taking a high-quality photo.
It has been equipped with a brand new rod-type silent wave motor that enables efficient, fast, and quiet autofocusing, thus allowing you to concentrate on other delicate settings.
An extra-low dispersion glass element has been installed to minimize the adverse effects of chromatic aberration. It leaves you enough room to take photos of things in the distance without worrying about blurriness.
The downside might be that it tends to show a bit of Vignetting at corners, which may be annoying. This is undoubtedly one of the best zoom lenses for the Nikon D3300.
Pros
- Compact design
- Fast autofocus speed
- Excellent value
- Good build quality
Cons
- It doesn’t come with a lens hood
- Generic rear lens cap
Best Wide-Angle Lenses for Landscapes and Urban areas
If you are interested in any photography wide-angle lens will come in handy.
The large field of view allows you to contain more of what you see in the picture. Photos taken with a wide-angle lens have a unique feel because of the curves toward the corners.
Since D3300 is a DX-format camera, every photo taken will act 1.5 times longer.
Nikon and other third-party companies, such as sigma, have this in mind when designing their glass, so you don’t have to worry too much.
We did test more than a couple of Nikon lenses for DX-format cameras but concluded that this is perhaps one of the best wide-angle lenses for the Nikon D3300.
Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G is a wide angle lens that ofers superior sharpness and it produces beautiful photos with stunning effects.
- Lens Type: Wide Angle
- Mounting Type: Nikon F (DX)
- Focal Length Range: 10-24mm
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.24 m
- Weight: 1.01 pounds
- Dimensions: 3.43 x 3.27 x 3.27 inches
This Nikon’s lens is probably one of the best, if not the best, wide-angle Nikon D3300 on the market, specifically for this advanced camera model.
The most prominent selling point tends to be its highly-optimized images which offer excellent sharpness.
This is very important in any wide-angle shot, as the increased general wideness of the photo is always at risk, in a way, of being under-optimized in the field of the image sharpness, which decreases as the shot gets bigger.
For that reason, having a lens that has been made to pay special attention to resetting and correcting the sharpness levels in the photo can be as crucial to the end quality as the desired wideness of the shot.
Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G offers beautiful blur effects.
Regarding some finer aspects of preciseness and high-quality photo finishes, an improved new feature is used to increase the effectiveness of close focusing.
To achieve this, a unique Internal focus feature is introduced. There’s a silent wave motor for the power supply that ensures that the setting and focusing process is vibration-free and solid.
The only negative trait of this model would be the price, which could be lower—the size may not seem as attractive as some of the most compact solutions.
Overall, we are looking at one of the best wide-angle lenses for the Nikon d3300.
Pros
- Easy to carry all-day
- Great image quality
- Excellent wide angle
- More than adequately sharp
Cons
- There is some chromatic aberration
- A little bit bulky
Best macro lens for macro photography
Nikon D3300 macro lenses are great for anybody interested in macro photography. This means taking photos of flowers, insects, small objects, and anything tiny.
A macro lens will allow you to get closer to the subject and take stunning images. One important thing to remember when buying the Nikon D3300 macro lenses is that they should have a magnification ratio of at least 1:1 or higher.
Nikon D3300 macro lenses are sharp, and our next choice won’t disappoint. After some testing, this lens is one of the best macro lenses for the Nikon D3300.
This lens is well-built and you can expect good performance from it: autofocus is fast and silent and it provides sharp images and true colors.
- Lens Type: Telephoto
- Mounting Type: Nikon F (DX)
- Focal Length Range: 85mm
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.29 m
- Weight: 0.78 pounds
- Dimensions: 3.9 x 2.87 x 2.87 inches
Nikon 85mm f/3.5G is a well-balanced macro lens that works great when paired with Nikon D3300.
It is well-built and made chiefly from plastic materials. Still, when holding the Nikon 85mm, f/3.5G feels like a premium lens.
All accounted for:
The build quality of this macro lens is excellent. It is a lightweight lens, and you can expect continuous performance.
Speaking of performance, autofocus is fast and silent; it works flawlessly in most situations. I had some issues with autofocus when shooting in pitch-dark areas, but this is to be expected from a lens of this caliber.
Nikon 85mm f/3.5G is considered as one of the best Nikon D3300 macro lenses.
Also, in macro photography, a manual focus is often preferred, as you have better control over your images.
This macro lens also has an excellent M/A function. It will allow you to override autofocus manually without switching to manual focusing first.
Images are sharp and provide excellent details with accurate colors. Minimal focusing is also quite proper, as it is pretty short.
At the start, I worried about having 3.5 f-stops, as 2.8 is more common. But after testing the lens for a few hours, I realized that the difference is minimum.
Nikon 85mm f/3,.5G is one of the best Nikon D3300 macro lenses.
Pros
- High sharpness
- Short minimal focusing
- Fast and silent autofocus
- True colors
Cons
- Made from plastic
Nikon D3300 lenses compatibility
Nikon D3300 is a DX-format camera that uses F-mount lenses. So both AF-S and AF-P Nikon lenses will be fully compatible with Nikon D3300.
One important thing to remember is that even though the Nikon D3300 is a DX camera, FX will still work well.
The one change is that the FX lens will have a multiplier effect of 1.5X. So if you use a 50mm FX lens on a DX body such as D3300, this FX lens will behave like a 75mm lens (X1.5).
This is not automatically a bad thing, but it’s something to keep in mind.
And also, as FX lenses are usually more premium, they might be a good investment for the future.
Answers to Your Burning Questions about the Best Lenses for Nikon D3300
What lenses fit Nikon D3300?
The Nikon D3300 is compatible with a wide range of lenses due to its Nikon F lens mount. This includes lenses from Nikon’s own lineup, such as the AF-S and AF-P types, which provide full compatibility including autofocus. However, AF lenses will not autofocus on the D3300 as it lacks an in-body focus motor. The camera is also compatible with lenses from third-party manufacturers such as Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina that offer Nikon F mount options.
What is the best overall lens for the Nikon D3300?
The best overall lens often depends on your specific needs, but the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED Vibration Reduction Zoom Lens is a versatile choice for the D3300. It offers a wide zoom range, making it useful for various shooting scenarios from landscapes to portraits.
What is the best portrait lens for the Nikon D3300?
For portrait photography, the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens is a great option. Its wide aperture allows for beautiful bokeh, highlighting the subject against a soft, blurred background.
What is the best zoom lens for the Nikon D3300?
The Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR is an excellent zoom lens for the D3300. It offers a broad zoom range and includes Vibration Reduction (VR) for sharper images.
What is best lens for Nikon D3300?
As you probably release, no single lens is best for all situations.
Instead, different lenses are better are other tasks. So you might want to consider expanding your lens collection.
And this wraps up our rundown of the best lenses for the Nikon D3300.
If you are interested in lenses for a specific camera, check out our other buying guides, such as the Nikon D3100 lenses and the Nikon D3200 lenses guide.
For any additional questions, contact us and say “Hi.”
We hope you enjoyed the ride; now it’s just a matter of jotting down your personal needs and preferences and finding the best Nikon lenses for D3300 for your individual needs.
If you have any additional questions about choosing the Nikon D3300 lenses, comment below.
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what would you suggest for a more premium prime lens? I owned both 35mm and 50mm since they are so cheap and easy to get, but I need something more premium. Your recommendations? Thanks!
It truly depends on what your budget is, but I would highly recommend that you check out Nikon 85mm f/1.8G, I personally use it when I am shooting portraits.
35mm f/1.8G or 50mm f/1.8G? Which one would you suggest?
They both offer great value for their price tag. I personally like 50mm more, but it all depends on your personal choice. If you can, go visit your local lens shop and see which one you like better.
I accidentally stumbled upon your website because I was searching for comparisons between Nikon D3400 and Nikon D3300 so I might as well ask which one would you recommend?
Performance wise they are both similar cameras with about same price tag. But I would suggest you for a Nikon D3400 as it was released two years after the Nikon D3300 which makes it a newer model.
Good luck!
One of the best guides as far as guides for nikon d3300 goes.. I am not looking for a D3300 lenses but I will recommend this to my friend who does have that camera..
great stuff edward :))
Excellent guide my friend!
Great guide!
Do you think 300$ is fair price for Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G USED? I can buy it from a guy near me for that price, since new on Amazon cost around 600$..
Hey Denise,
I think that is a decent price for the used lens you mentioned. Make sure to check if everything works correctly before you buy it. Good luck!
Hey There. I discovered your blog when reading about lens recommendations and I can honestly say this is a really well written article.
I’ll be sure to bookmark it as well! Thanks for the post.
Thank you for the feedback!