Best Nikon D3300 Lenses – Our Top Picks

If you’re really serious about photography, you may already know that a camera is only as good as the lens you attach to it. It’s the most critical component of any camera setup and has a significant impact on the quality of the images that you capture.

When it comes to Nikon D3300, this entry-level DSLR camera is certainly an excellent choice for beginners and enthusiasts alike. It provides high-resolution images and excellent low-light performance, but to take full advantage of its capabilities, investing in a good lens is a must.

The right lens can not only improve your photos’ sharpness, contrast, and color accuracy, but also help you achieve the desired artistic effect. However, with the sheer number of Nikon D3300 lenses available in the market, choosing the right one can be overwhelming.

In this article, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive guide on the best Nikon D3300 lenses that’ll help you elevate your photography skills in no time. So, let’s get started!

Which Lenses Work Best with Nikon D3300?

When it comes to choosing the lenses that work best with Nikon D3300, it’s important for you to note that this camera utilizes F mount lenses, just like most cameras in the DX iteration of Nikon. The good news is that this means any AF-S or AF-P Nikon lens will work just perfectly fine.

Moreover, while the camera in question is a DX camera, meaning it has a smaller sensor as compared to full-frame FX cameras, even FX lenses designed for full-frame cameras will work exceptionally well with the D3300 without any issues.

Also see: Nikon Z8 Announcement: The Game-Changing Camera

You need to, however, keep in mind that using an FX lens with a DX camera results in a focal length multiplier effect of 1.5x. This effectively extends the focal length of the lens, which can be a good thing in certain situations.

For instance, using a 50mm FX lens with the D3300 will provide an equivalent focal length of 75mm, which can be very useful for portrait photography. It’s also worth noting that DX lenses designed for this camera are readily available and often more affordable than FX lenses.

So, if you have a budget for a shoestring and have no plans to upgrade to an FX camera in the future, DX lenses might be the best option for you. The type of photography you’ll be doing impacts your choice of the right lens as well.

If you’re interested in landscape photography, a wide-angle lens would be ideal for you, while a telephoto lens would be better for wildlife or sports photography. In addition, you can also look into macro lenses if close-up shots are your point of interest.

8 Best Nikon D3300 Lenses Reviewed

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s take a closer look at some of the best Nikon D3300 lenses currently available in the market:

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens – The Best Overall

If you’re in search of a versatile lens that functions well in a variety of situations, the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G is an excellent choice for you. It has a fast maximum aperture of f/1.8 that allows for unparalleled low-light performance and shallow depth of field effects.

One of the most prominent advantages of this lens is its focal length. At 35mm, it’s considered a normal lens and is similar to the human eye’s perspective, which makes it an ideal choice for everyday photography such as street, landscapes, and portraits.

Another impressive feature of this lens is the autofocus system that uses a Silent Wave Motor to provide a fast, accurate, and quiet autofocus performance. This comes especially handy when shooting video or in situations that require you to be discreet.

It’s also very compact and lightweight which makes it easy to carry around and use for extended periods. The build quality is also impressive, with a solid construction that provides it a highly premium look and feel.

Pros

• Fast maximum aperture
• Compact and lightweight
• Solid construction

Cons

• Fixed focal length

Bottom Line

All in all, the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G is an excellent all-around lens that offers a fast performance, great image quality, and a versatile focal length. Its overall performance and value make it an excellent investment for any photographer.

Also see: Best Nikon D3500 Lenses in 2023

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G Zoom Lens – Best for Zoom

The AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G zoom lens is an ultimate telephoto zoom lens that allows you to capture any view beautifully. With a massive zoom range that goes from wide-angle to super-telephoto, this lens is perfect for capturing wide scenic shots.

One of the standout features of this lens is its Vibration Reduction technology that helps combat camera shake and provides up to 4.0 stops of blur-free handheld shooting, which makes it ideal for low-light situations where you need to slow down your shutter speed.

The lens construction is built up of 16 elements in 12 groups, which includes three Aspherical (AS) and Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements for maximum contrast and minimal lens flare and ghosting. It also features a rounded 7-blade diaphragm that provides natural blur.

It’s also optimized for both stills and HD videos, featuring Nikon’s advanced lens technologies such as Silent Wave Motor, near-silent autofocusing, and internal focusing for more compact and streamlined lens design.

Pros

• All-in-one telephoto zoom lens
• Specialized vibration reduction technology
• Wide-angle scenic landscapes and group photos

Cons

• Heavy at 29.3 oz

Bottom Line

In a nutshell, this lens is an excellent choice for those who want maximum versatility in a lens. It provides stunning image quality with vibrant color, sharp detail, and minimal distortion, making it perfect for capturing life’s great views.

Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G Fixed Lens – Best for Portraits

If you’re looking for a lens with fast aperture, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G lens certainly fits the bill for you. This lens is designed specifically to provide you sharp, high-quality images with a beautiful bokeh.

The greatest advantage of this lens is its fast f/1.8 aperture, which provides excellent low-light performance and shallow depth of field. This comes particularly useful when shooting portraits, where you want to separate the subject from the background.

This lens also features internal focus, which means that it doesn’t change the size or rotate during focusing, making it easy to use with polarizing filters and allows for fast and quiet autofocusing. The build-quality is sturdy and durable too.

It features Nikon’s super integrated coating for enhanced light transmission and reduced ghosting and flare. The lens also provides a maximum reproduction ratio of 0.12x, which also makes it ideal for capturing fine details and textures in portraits.

Pros

• Great internal focus
• Amazing low-light performance
• High-quality construction

Cons

• Fixed focal length of 85mm

Bottom Line

Overall, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G Fixed Lens certainly fits the bill for portrait photographers who need a high-quality and fast aperture lens. Its fast and quite autofocus, sharp image quality, and beautiful bokeh make it ideal for capturing stunning portraits.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens – Best Value for Money

For photographers seeking the best budget-friendly lens that delivers high-quality results, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens is an excellent choice. This lens certainly fits the bill for those looking to capture portraits, landscapes, and everyday shots with a fast aperture and 50mm focal length.

The compact and lightweight design of this lens make it easy to carry around, and the newly developed optical system with an aspherical lens ensures edge-to-edge sharpness on both FX and DX format DSLRs.

Moreover, the exclusive Nikon Silent Wave Motor (SWM) offers smooth and quiet autofocus, in addition to the M/A focus mode switch that allows for quick and easy switching between autofocus and manual focus.

With a picture angle of 47 degrees and a maximum reproduction ratio of 0.15X, this lens is ideal for capturing detailed shots with excellent depth of field. It also has a minimum focus distance of 1.48 feet (0.45 meters), allowing for up-close shots with a beautiful background blur.

• Pros
• Budget-friendly price 
• Exclusive Nikon Silent Wave Motor 
• 47 degree picture angle 

Cons

• Not very feature rich 

Bottom Line

The bottom line is that the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens is an excellent budget-friendly option for photographers looking to capture high-quality portraits, landscapes, and everyday shots with a fast aperture and 50mm focal length. 

Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR Lens – Best for Wide Angle 

If you’re looking for an ultra-wide-angle lens that offers incredible versatility and exceptional performance, the Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR Lens is definitely worth considering.

First of all, this amazing lens delivers an ultra-wide-angle view that surpasses any kit lens, allowing you to get creative with your compositions and capture stunning landscapes and certain other wide-angle shots.

With an angle of view ranging from 109-70 degrees, you’ll be able to capture a broad range of scenes with ease. It also has a compact, lightweight, and durable design that makes it ideal for travel and outdoor outings.

Whether you’re hiking, exploring a new city, or just out for a walk, this lens won’t weigh you down or take up too much space in your bag. The real highlight of this lens is its outstanding optics, which deliver beautiful photos and videos even in challenging situations.

Pros

• Ultra-wide-angle views
• Outstanding optics
• Near-silent autofocus

Cons

• No weather sealing

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a wide-angle lens that delivers exceptional performance and versatility, the Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR Lens is an excellent choice. It certainly fits the bill for wide-angle shots.

Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR Lens – Best for Macro

The Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR Lens is one of the best lenses for Nikon D3300 if you’re searching for a versatile macro lens that can capture stunning macro close-up shots, portraits, and a lot more.

This advanced medium-telephoto macro lens comes with Vibration Reduction (VR II) image stabilization that allows you to take handheld shots while maintaining sharpness, even in low light conditions to help you capture every detail with exquisite sharpness and clarity.

One of the best things about this lens is its surprising versatility. The lens is optimized for DX-format cameras, but can also be used with FX-format cameras. With a Silent Wave Motor (SWM), it provides ultra-fast and ultra-quiet internal autofocusing, making it ideal for capturing live subjects.

And with its Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements and Super Integrated Coating (SIC), it delivers superior sharpness, color reproduction, and virtually eliminates ghosting and lens flare. It also delivers exceptional sharpness and detail, even when capturing fine textures and details.

Pros

• Excellent close-up macro performance
• Minimal distortion and flare
• Superior sharpness and color reproduction

Cons

• Autofocus can be slow in some situations

Bottom Line

The Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR Lens is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a macro lens that can deliver exceptional performance and versatility. Whether you’re capturing close-up shots or general photography, this lens has everything you need.

Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX II Digital Zoom Lens – Best Under Budget

The Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX II Digital Zoom Lens is an excellent product that delivers impressive results without breaking the bank. Designed for cameras with APS-C sensors, this lens is perfect for those who are looking to capture stunning wide-angle shots.

The best feature of this lens is its internal silent focusing AF motor, which allows for smooth and quiet autofocusing. This makes it ideal for shooting video as well as still photos. Additionally, the one-touch focus clutch mechanism allows you to switch between manual and autofocus with ease.

This lens also boasts two aspheric lens elements and two super-low dispersion lens elements, which work together to reduce distortion and chromatic aberrations. The improved multi-coating also helps to minimize flare and ghosting, resulting in sharper and more vibrant images.

Another benefit of this lens is its 77mm filter thread, which allows you to easily attach a variety of filters to enhance your shots even further. This makes it a versatile and practical choice for any photographer or videographer.

Pros

• Internal silent focusing AF motor
• One-touch focus clutch mechanism
• Two aspherical lens elements

Cons

• Limited zoom range

Bottom Line

In a nutshell, the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX II Digital Zoom Lens is a great option for anyone in need of a high-quality wide-angle lens that won’t break the bank. Its impressive features and affordable price point make it a fantastic value for any budget-conscious photographer.

Tamron Auto Focus 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens – Best for Telephoto

If you’re in the market for a telephoto lens, the Tamron Auto Focus 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens is definitely worth considering. This lens is incredibly versatile and offers some impressive features that make it stand out from the competition.

One of the standout features of this lens is its built-in motor, which ensures fast and accurate focusing. The lens has a close-focusing ability of 0.95m that allows you to get up close and personal with your subjects without having to switch lenses.

It also has a focal length range of 70-300mm, which is perfect for capturing distant subjects or cropping in tight. The angle of view is 34-8, so you can easily adjust your composition to get the perfect shot.

One of the most impressive features of this lens is its macro mode, which allows you to capture small objects up close with a magnification ratio of 1:2. This makes it perfect for capturing close-up shots of flowers, insects, or other small objects.

Pros

• Built-in motor for accurate focusing
• Close focusing ability
• Macro mode with a magnification ratio of 1:2

Cons

• May not perform well in low light conditions

Bottom Line

In conclusion, if you’re looking for a versatile telephoto lens that offers impressive features and performance, the Tamron Auto Focus 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens is definitely worth considering.

Things To Keep in Mind Before Buying a Lens for Your Nikon D3300

Zoom Lens or Prime Lens

Zoom lenses offer versatility by allowing you to change the focal length without having to switch lenses, while prime lenses typically offer better image quality and wider apertures for better low light performance.

Crop Factor

The Nikon D3300 has a crop factor of 1.5, which means that the focal length of your lens will be multiplied by 1.5 when you take a photo. This can affect the effective focal length of your lens and should be taken into consideration when choosing a lens.

Upgrading and Compatibility

Consider whether you plan on upgrading to a newer Nikon camera in the future. If so, you may want to choose a lens that is compatible with newer camera models to ensure compatibility and avoid having to purchase a new lens down the road.

Crop Factor

The Nikon D3300 has a crop factor of 1.5, which means that the focal length of your lens will be multiplied by 1.5 when you take a photo. This can affect the effective focal length of your lens and should be taken into consideration when choosing a lens.

The Takeaway

Choosing the best lens for your Nikon D3300 depends on your specific photography needs and preferences. Consider factors such as zoom vs. prime lenses, crop factor, upgrading and compatibility when selecting a lens that will work best for you and help you capture stunning photos.