Most lenses with decent quality are expensive, so choosing the best lens for D5300 is crucial.

We tested over 30 Nikon lenses compatible with the D5300 camera so we can make these ultimate best lenses for Nikon D5300 2023 guide to help you decide which D5300 lens is best for your type of photography.

We listed 12 different Nikon D5300 lens options for every occasion. You will also learn the benefits and drawbacks of each lens we mentioned.

We promise you that by the end of this guide, you will know enough about Nikon D5300 lenses that you will be able to make the right decision.

We cover 5 of the essential lens types:

• Macro
• Wide-Angle
• Prime
• All-In-One 
• Telephoto

However, before answering all these questions, we must say a few words about the Nikon d5300 camera itself.

The ultimate secret of Nikon D5300 camera

Nikon D5300 camera was released on October 17, 2013, with a powerful 24MP DX-format CMOS sensor.

It’s the successor of the already popular Nikon D5200 Camera and was replaced by the newer D5500 model.

Although this is a relatively old product, it’s still prevalent primarily thanks to its futuristic features, such as Built-in Wi-Fi, GPS, and a 39-point AF system that performs flawlessly.

It can shoot photos and videos in full HD at five frames per second continuously.

The 3.2″ LCD can swivel 180 degrees, which makes it easier to shoot from any angle. Beautiful blur, precise details, and vibrant colors will make your photos look stunning.

We highly recommend you check it out if you don’t already own it.

Still:

Even the best cameras are worthless without a good pair of lenses, so you should carefully read our Nikon D5300 lens guide.

Let’s get started!

Best macro lenses for macro photography

Sharpness is the main characteristic of macro lenses, and every real macro photographer needs to have a few capable macro lenses in their arsenal.

The correct macro ratio is 1:1, so keep that in mind when shopping for a new lens.

We selected the two best macro lenses for the Nikon D5300 that give this type of photography the best performance.

We also considered other factors, such as weight, size, price, features, etc.

Still:

The most crucial factor was real-world use, or how good this lens would perform in real-life situations.

We compared photos taken by each lens on the same Nikon D5300 camera, analyzed the results, and came up with these two top-notch lenses.

The Nikon 40mm f/2.8G is the best option for macro lenses.

Sharpness is an excellent attribute, and although the two lenses mentioned after this one are better in terms of quality, this is, in our opinion, a lens with the best bang for the buck.

We won’t go too much into specifications such as those you can read on Nikon’s official site, Amazon, and many others.

As previously mentioned, we are more interested in how the lens will perform when taking photos and the level of quality it offers.

In this case, Nikon 40mm f/2.8G will do fine; of course, you can’t expect it to have the same performance as the more expensive Nikon D5300 lenses in this guide.

Even tho this is a macro lens; the focal length is 40mm which is excellent for all-around photography.

It’s not as fast as Nikon D5300 35mm lens but is capable enough for most tasks.

One field where 40mm f/2.8G is lacking is shallow light photography without flash.

What’s our conclusion:

It’s a perfect choice for photographers who are looking for a decent macro lens but don’t want the financial commitment you get when buying a more expensive option, such as Tamron 90mm f/2.8.

First thing first:

We couldn’t decide between this lens and Nikon 60mm f/2.8G since they are both similar in terms of price as well as quality.

Ultimately, we decided to give Tamron a place on this list since we don’t focus as much on Tamron lenses for Nikon D5300 as we should.

It shoots very sharp photos for macro purposes, but it can be used for portraits, also.

When we first started using it, it felt very lightweight and cheap, like it’s not worth the price. Indeed focusing is not always as fast as you would like.

The focal point is very narrow, and it could take you some time to get the mainframe in focus.

But even with a few of the drawbacks, this is a fantastic lens that will take some beautiful photos.

After a while, it quickly becomes your favorite lens, and you want to use it all the time.

In our opinion, it’s worth it in the long run, and we are sure you will be more than happy with it, especially if your main priority is macro photography.

Nikon 105mm f/2.8G is top of a line macro lens with incredible abilities that will satisfy even professional photographers.

Let’s be clear about one thing:

Nikon 105mm f/2.8G is not a cheap lens.

It’s designed for virtually any photographic situation, so even tho this is intended as a macro lens it will shoot great portraits and other standard photos.

Sharpness is on a whole new level, and details are crisp, images are fantastic.

Combine that with a beautiful soft blur and fast autofocus, and you get the Nikon 105mm f/2.8G!

Build quality is excellent, and you can feel that Nikon company worked hard to design this macro lens.

One drawback is the weight you will feel if you shoot without the tripod.

One thing to note if you plan on shooting the portraits with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G is that it will require post-processing.

Our opinion: 

If you can afford it, we think you should buy it! Words can’t describe the clarity of 105mm f/2.8G.

It truly is the best macro lens for Nikon D5300.

Best wide-angle lenses for landscapes

Nikon D5300 wide-angle lens is used mainly for landscapes and nature photos. They can also work great with indoor photography if appropriately used.

Wide-angle lenses are used mainly when a wider angle is needed or when you need an entire field of view.

We tested quite a few wide-angle lenses (seven to be precise), and we opt-in for three of them, which offer the best quality for the price.

Are you ready?

Here it goes, our choice for the best Nikon D5300 wide-angle lens, sorted from cheapest to most expensive.

The first wide-angle option on our list, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8, offers the best value.

It is an excellent solution for beginners who don’t want to pay top dollar for a wide-angle lens.

Tokina is a third-party manufacturer; however, you can feel the quality when you take this lens into your hands.

Sharpness is surprisingly outstanding, considering this is a budget lens, and build quality is also excellent.

The model we tested dropped from my hands from about 4ft height on a solid surface and didn’t even make a scratch.

We even returned the item to our local shop after reviewing it, and they checked it thoroughly and didn’t find any defects.

One of the best features is infinity focus which makes this one of the best landscape lenses for Nikon D5300.

As previously mentioned right out of the box, you notice this is a solid piece of equipment.

It has a decent weight on it; still, it’s not too heavy to feel uncomfortable in your hands while shooting.

On the downside, the zoom is not that powerful, but this shouldn’t concern you too much. It has a wide-angle that focuses on the center of the image to create a stunning photo.

Verdict:

If you are looking for the best wide-angle lens for Nikon D5300 but don’t want to pay more than double for the Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6, this Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 is an excellent choice for you.

We were discussing the topic of which lens we should include in the middle position. Should we use this one or Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G?

In the end, we arranged to include both of them on our list, especially since the prices are very similar as well as the performance.

Build Quality is rock solid, giving you plenty of grips when holding it in your hands.

The focus ring is smooth and zoomed, while the field of view is wide enough for the image not to be distorted.

Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 performs excellently in low-light situations. If you like shooting open skies, this lens will adequately fit your D5300 Nikon camera.

It works great for sports events and may be the best video lens for Nikon D5300.

On the backside, you could have some problems with focusing, especially if you are shooting wide-open photos.

Still, after a few hours of using this lens, you will learn all the perks that should help you reduce the issue but will not eliminate it.

We had almost 48 hours to test this lens thoroughly, and we became pretty used to it after only two hours of full-time use. We also discovered how to eliminate the problem by focusing on a simple solution.

What is the solution?

Buying a corresponding SIGMA USB dock for your camera mount can fix these minor issues.

This is a far better solution than anything we came up with. We think every lens manufacturer should provide users with a way to micro-adjust their lenses.

Don’t let this talk about micro-adjustment turn you down from buying Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8. 

It is a great lens, works great for video and action photography, and in our opinion, it is one of the best landscape lenses for the Nikon D5300.

However:

If you want the best performance,, then the lens below is the best for you and your Nikon D5300 DSLR.

Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G is the best wide-angle lens with an ultimate execution that will exceed your expectations.

It will allow you to capture unique perspectives thanks to its wide angle of view.

There is little distortion at the wide end, but this can easily be fixed at post-production.

As far as build quality goes, Nikon did an excellent job with a 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G hence you can feel the difference just from holding it.

It is made out of plastic, but it is durable, and you would have to pay two or even three times more to get a lens built from metal, and it would also be much more substantial.

Image quality is superior to vibrant color reproduction. Contrast is excellent, enabling you to get perfect photos every time.

Since this is a workhorse of a lens if you want to protect it and take good care of it, we recommend the best Nikon D5300 lens filter. This will, for sure, save your lens from dust and other everyday situations.

The correction of optical aberrations performs tremendously, and we guarantee you will not have any problems with Chromatic Aberration.

At 10mm, it almost looks like a fisheye lens. When you zoom out just a little bit, it can be used as a prime or for portraits.

When you don’t need to use it for portraits or close-up photos, you can crank it up and use it to take gorgeous pictures of a landscape.

For these reasons, 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G is an excellent choice when traveling since you can take various phototypes. If you travel a lot, that is another excellent reason for you to get this lens.

Final verdict:

Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G is the best wide-angle lens for Nikon D5300, and you will feel the quality when shooting hand-help photos.

Best prime lenses for portraits

Prime lenses are mainly used for portraits.

They have a fixed focal length, which has its advantages and drawbacks.

The benefits of prime lenses, when compared to other types, are weight and price. Since prime lenses don’t have moving parts, they are usually much lighter than any different lens type, and because they have fewer parts altogether, they are also cheaper.

Primes are also compact and fast and an excellent choice for traveling.

Some features that follow the primes are beautifully blurred backgrounds, shallow depth of field, and excellent low-light performance.

We tested several prime lenses, but ultimately, we included only two on our list.

Nikon 35mm f/1.8G is an excellent prime lens that is great for beginners or people on a budget.

Nikon 35mm f/1.8G is a must-have lens for every photographer looking for the right prime lens to shoot portraits.

The image quality is excellent, especially for the price, giving this lens the best value on our list.

Images are crisp with precise details, which, combined with fast autofocus, gives an excellent photographic experience.

As for the autofocus, this lens has the focus motor built into it, which, compared to the other lenses with a similar price tag, is far more silent and efficient.

Lens also performs excellently in low-light situations, allowing you to capture nice-looking photos in darker areas or even at night.

One more thing we found pretty helpful when using this lens in real-life situations is manual focus override or, in other words, the M/A button.

This will allow you to change autofocusing into a manual with a button click.

Why is this useful?

Sometimes you want to fine-tune the focus when shooting a photo, or you want more control of a guide when recording the video.

As for the drawbacks, the bokeh is not as good as on the lens below. This is a minor issue, but it’s worth mentioning that the quality of blurriness is not top-notch.

Another small issue we encountered is minor barrel distortion, which can easily be fixed in post-production.

That being said, what is our conclusion?

This is an excellent budget solution for anyone looking to get started in portrait photography; 35 mm f/1.8G will do a great job.

You can also consider getting the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G, which has similar performance and is as good as the 35mm one.

The only thing you should use to choose between these two lenses is your needs. Do you need a 35mm or 50mm lens?

Nikon 85mm f/1.8G is a lens for portrait photography with high performance and superior image quality.

Unlike the lens above, the bokeh in the 85mm model performs excellently, giving the photo a beautiful background blur, which is useful when shooting portraits.

Photographers who are shooting weddings or family gatherings all the time will love this lens.

You will also be amazed by its low-light ability allowing you to shoot in a pitch-dark environment.

Build quality is not the best since it is made of plastic, but it is decent enough. As long as you use it usually, it should last a long time without breaking.

Sharpness is above all the primes with this model competing.

We used it quite a bit while testing it, and we can honestly say that the indoor performance is outstanding.

Clear images with crisp details will make you never regret buying this lens.

As for the drawbacks, there aren’t many, you may notice some chromatic aberration in the center, but as always, this can be fixed in photo editing software.

Is this a lens for you?

If you are shooting portraits and need a quality lens with exceptional sharpness, Nikon 85mm f/1.8G is the best portrait lens for Nikon D5300.

Best all-in-one lenses for everyday photography

All-in-one lenses are designed with one thing in mind – to cover every photographic situation the best they can.

They are not specialized for only one type of photography, such as macro or telephoto lenses, but they can be used in those situations.

If you are traveling a lot and don’t want to carry a heavy bag full of lenses, you can take only one lens that will replace them all.

Are you only doing one style of photography? Great.

You don’t need an all-in-one lens.

But if you are a beginner and just starting with photography, instead of buying a couple of lenses for every type of photography, it is better to get a decent all-in-one lens and see what style suits you the best.

We decided to include three of the best all-in-one lenses for Nikon D5300 in this guide, ranged from cheapest to most expensive.

Enjoy!

This lens will be good at everything but not perfect. That is the review of the Nikon 18-200MM F/3.5-5.6G  in one sentence.

It is not a cheap lens, so you should research more before buying it.

However, it does perform very well in most photography types, from portraits and landscapes to wildlife and sports photography.

The build quality is decent. It can’t be compared with other top-of-the-line Nikon products, and even the barrel is made of plastic instead of metal.

Comparing the quality with the price, you get good value if you get this all-in-one lens from Nikon.

Sharpness is not extreme, but it is decent across the entire range, more than you will probably ever need or even the professionals will notice.

There is some distortion at the low and high end of the focal length, but nothing to worry about. In all the rest of the focal length, it will work great without any drawbacks.

There is almost no ghosting or flaring, which even surprised us because we were expecting it before taking this thing out of the box for testing.

Sure, this lens has some drawbacks, but if you consider it has a focal length from 18mm up to 200mm, you will find that more than reasonable.

What are we trying to say?

If you need only one lens for different photography types instead of buying all separate lenses, this all-in-one lens is the solution.

If you travel a lot and can only bring one lens with you, buy it. It has excellent quality for what it offers.

If you need an all-in-one lens, which is more on the telephoto side, choose the 18-300mm below.

Similar to the previous choice, 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G is an all-in-one lens intended for users with a variety of shooting opportunities in mind.

It comes from Nikon packed with many features such as Vibration Reduction (VR) and Extra-low Dispersion.

In terms of sharpness and image quality, they are in the same range as the previous lens.

It may be a little bit better compared to the 18-200mm model only because it covers a more extended range of focal lengths and is a tint sharper.

There is some ghosting if you shoot to the light source, but nothing to worry about.

Here’s the thing:

While this lens may not satisfy professionals to the non-technical eye, it will create impressive pictures. It is worth your time.

One thing that surprised us while testing was the fast, precise, and silent focus.

Best telephoto lenses for wildlife photography

Telephoto or also known as zoom lenses are mainly used when shooting or recording objects that are far away.

They work best for types of photography, such as wildlife and action photography, where you don’t want or can’t get close enough for regular shots. Because of their ability to zoom from a distance, they are used in sports events.

Nikon D5300 telephoto lens has many moving parts, so the price skyrockets compared to other types, such as primes and weight, which is increased.

You want a fast shutter speed to avoid motion blur and achieve “freeze motion,” making your photos look even more refreshing.

It would be best to look at vibration reduction when shopping for a new Nikon D5300 zoom lens.

Luckily, we choose two Nikon D5300 telephoto lenses, which both have built-in VR. We didn’t find a Tamron zoom lens for Nikon D5300; hence they are both from Nikon company.

You don’t have to ask yourself what lenses are compatible with Nikon D5300 because these two will suit you perfectly.

Here they are:

This right-budget lens will perform well in wildlife, sports, and action photography.

Build quality is decent while offering enough features to help you decide to buy this 55-200mm lens.

When we opened this model out of the box, it felt nice in our hands with a decent weight and robust build-out of plastic.

Still, when we started testing, it performed exceptionally, providing good-quality shots and precise details.

Compact telephoto with a powerful zoom and fast focus will put a smile on your face while shooting.

As we previously mentioned, it has built-in Vibration Reduction, providing you with steady shots whenever you are not using the best Nikon D5300 tripod.

If you are shooting with a tripod, don’t forget to turn off the VR control. It’s a great addition to your standard kit lens.

However:

Don’t expect to get the sharpest photos; while it offers good image quality, it is not top-notch.

The 55-300mm offers similar performances but a better build and sharper images.

It has an excellent price/quality ratio and unique value. A useable focal length of up to 300mm makes this a superb choice for traveling.

The focus is upgraded faster, with the focus ring working more smoothly and precisely. The whole user experience is at another level.

As for drawbacks, it doesn’t have that many.

In our opinion, it has a telescoping body that doesn’t mean anything performance-wise, but it does affect the visible part.

Another thing worth mentioning is a loss of sharpness at 300mm.

But:

Even considering all this, the 55-300mm version is the best telephoto lens for Nikon D5300.

If you want a good Nikon D5300 telephoto lens that will deliver beautiful images, this is the one.

What is best Lens for Nikon D5300 Camera?

Congratulations!

You made it to the end of this fantastic “Nikon D5300 lenses” guide.

We genuinely hope that by now, you can make the correct decision when buying a new lens.

But wait:

If you are still unsure about the right lens for you, you should probably get this one.

The best thing you can do before ordering it directly from Amazon is to go to your local lens shop dealer and ask to review the lenses.

Also, feel free to contact us anytime; if you have any inquiries or additional questions, say “Hi” to us.

As we said, there isn’t one best Nikon D5300 lens; you must choose your photography path and the lens accordingly.

Also, check out our other guides, such as the best lenses for Nikon D5500 and the best lenses for Nikon D610.