10 Best lenses for Nikon D3300 [2023 guide]

The Nikon D3300 is an excellent entry-level DSLR camera that delivers high-quality images and offers various features that are perfect for beginners. However, to take full advantage of the camera’s capabilities, it’s important to pair it with the right lenses.

Choosing the best lens for your Nikon D3300 can be overwhelming, as there are many options available in the market. In this guide, we will discuss some of the best lenses for Nikon D3300, covering a variety of focal lengths and price points, to help you choose the right lens for your needs and budget.

What lenses are compatible with the Nikon D3300?

The Nikon D3300 is compatible with Nikon’s F-mount lenses, which is the same mount used by Nikon’s other DX-format DSLRs. This means that you have a wide variety of lenses to choose from, both new and used, to meet your photography needs.

It’s important to note that the Nikon D3300 is a DX-format camera, which means that it has a smaller sensor than Nikon’s full-frame FX-format cameras. This affects the effective focal length of lenses used on the camera. For example, a 50mm lens on a DX-format camera like the D3300 will have an effective focal length of around 75mm, due to the sensor crop factor.

However, the benefit of using Nikon DX-format lenses on a DX-format camera is that they are specifically designed to cover the smaller sensor size, resulting in smaller, lighter, and often less expensive lenses compared to their FX-format counterparts.

How to choose the best lens for Nikon D3300?

Choosing the best lens for Nikon D3300 camera depends on your photography needs and preferences. Here are some factors to consider:

Focal length: The focal length of a lens determines its angle of view, and whether it is a wide-angle, normal, or telephoto lens. A wider angle is suitable for landscape and architectural photography, while a longer focal length is better for portraits and sports photography.

Aperture: The aperture of a lens determines the amount of light that can enter the camera, and how shallow the depth of field can be. A larger aperture (smaller f-stop number) is better for low light photography and creating shallow depth of field for portraits.

Image stabilization: Image stabilization technology helps to reduce blur caused by camera shake. If you plan on shooting in low light conditions or using a longer focal length lens, image stabilization is an important feature to consider.

Lens type: Nikon D3300 is compatible with F-mount lenses, and DX-format lenses are specifically designed for this camera. DX-format lenses are smaller and lighter, and generally less expensive than full-frame lenses.

Budget: Consider how much you are willing to spend on a lens, as prices can vary widely depending on the type of lens and its features.

By considering these factors, you can choose a lens that meets your needs and helps you to capture high-quality images with your Nikon D3300 camera.In this list, we have gone through all these factors so you can make your best investment.

What are the best lenses for Nikon D3300?

There are many different lenses available for the Nikon D3300, each with its own unique features and advantages. To help you choose the best lens for your needs, we’ve compiled a list of some of the top lenses for the Nikon D3300 based on their performance, image quality, versatility, and affordability. Whether you’re interested in landscape photography, portrait photography, or macro photography, there’s a lens on this list that will help you capture stunning images.

The list of Nikon D3300 lenses:

PORTRAIT lenses
1. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G
2. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G
3. Sigma 30mm f/1.4 ART DC HSM Lens

SPORTS lens
4. Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3 Contemporary DG OS HSM

WILDLIFE lens
5. Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED

LANDSCAPE lenses
6. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED
7. Tokina AT-X PRO 11-16mm F2.8 DXII Lens

ZOOM lenses
8. Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM
9. Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM

MACRO lens
10. Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED

Nikon D3300 lenses for portraits

1. Nikon AF S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G

What type of lens is best for portraits? This question is subjective as the desired outcome varies from person to person. However, there are typically three prime lenses that are heavily discussed for portrait photography: 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm. The Nikon D3300 85mm lens is a popular choice among many due to its impressive features.

Build and handling: Similar to other recent Nikon prime lenses, the Nikon 85mm f/1.8G has a robust design that combines a plastic body and a metal lens mount. It also comes equipped with a rubber gasket on the mount, which effectively shields the camera from dust. Despite its substantial appearance, this lens is surprisingly lightweight.

Performance: With its f/1.8 aperture, the Nikon D3300 portrait lens can elevate your photos to new heights by providing a beautiful depth of field, even in dimly lit situations. This lens offers versatility with its manual priority AF and manual focus modes, while the wave motor delivers quick and silent performance, making it ideal for videos too.

Best for: It’s evident that this lens is designed for capturing beautiful portraits with a soft touch. However, it’s crucial to consider that the 85mm focal length also has some disadvantages. It’s not very practical for indoor photography, as it demands more space. Therefore, it may not be an ideal choice for crowded events like weddings and parties.

In summary, the Nikon 85mm f/1.8G is an outstanding lens for the Nikon D3300, capable of delivering exceptional portrait photography results. Its ability to produce a smooth background, shallow depth of field and high contrast makes it an ideal choice for enhancing portrait compositions. Additionally, the lens is reasonably priced, making it an even more enticing option for photographers who want impressive results without overspending.

2. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G

The Nikon D3300 portrait lens is specifically designed to cater to beginners, offering similar specifications as the previous 85mm lens, while remaining affordable. Despite its lower price, this lens boasts several advantages and quality features that make it a practical choice for anyone starting their photography journey.

Build and handling: Like the previous 85mm, this lens is also intended for consumer use and comes equipped with all the necessary features. However, the Nikon D3300 portrait lens is even lighter than the previous one, weighing just 6.6 oz (185 g), making it an excellent option for photographers who plan to shoot handheld for an extended period.

Performance: With an impressive f/1.8 aperture, this lens is capable of producing stunning bokeh and achieving beautiful subject differentiation from the background. While the autofocus speed may be standard, the large aperture ensures sharp images. However, it’s worth noting that using wider apertures may result in some edge softness or corner vignetting.

Best for: Tailored specifically for portrait photography, this Nikon D3300 lens has a smaller focal length, making it easier to work with in tight spaces compared to the 85mm version. Its versatility makes it suitable for indoor settings with limited space, allowing for the capture of beautiful product shots, landscapes, and various events.

In summary, for Nikon D3300 users on a tight budget, this lens may be one of the best options for portrait photography. It boasts a wide aperture, lightweight construction, and solid image quality, making it an excellent choice for beginners looking to try their hand at portrait photography.

3. Sigma 30mm f/1.4 ART DC HSM Lens

Looking at a lens with an f/1.4 aperture, it is clear that it has remarkable benefits. The 30mm lens shares this characteristic, with its speedy HSM autofocus and impressive construction. Moreover, its small size and reasonable price make it an attractive investment.

Build and handling: The Nikon D3300 prime lens features a captivating metallic sheen and thermally stable composite construction, which enhances its durability. Its perfectly calibrated focusing ring offers just the right amount of resistance, allowing for smooth movement during use.

Performance: The Sigma lens for Nikon D3300 features an impressive internal autofocus system powered by Hypersonic Motor, which operates smoothly and quietly. It produces a beautiful bokeh effect with its 8-blade aperture, and while chromatic aberration may occur, it is well-managed and needs only minimal post-processing adjustments.

Best for: The Nikon D3300 prime lens is an excellent option for capturing indoor portraits, thanks to its short focal length and wide f/1.4 aperture that allows for sharp image capture in low-light environments. Additionally, the lens is versatile enough to be used for architecture, events, and everyday travel shots.

The Nikon D3300 lens is an excellent investment that offers impressive construction quality and produces stunning bokeh effects in out-of-focus areas. Despite not being weather-sealed, this lens produces remarkable photos at a very reasonable price point.

Nikon D3300 lens for sports

4. Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3 Contemporary DG OS HSM

At an affordable price point, this telephoto zoom lens is an ideal choice for capturing wildlife or sporting events. It stands out as one of the best lenses for Nikon D3300 camera, especially for sports photography, considering its cost.

Build and handling: It is a well-known fact among telephoto lens users that they are usually quite heavy. Nevertheless, this particular lens, which weighs 68.1 oz (1,930 g), is comparatively lightweight when compared to others in this class which often weigh 35 oz (1 kg) more. Despite its lower weight, it still feels professional and has not compromised any of its build or handling elements.

Performance: The Nikon D3300 lens for sports is designed to capture images at a distance with several professional-grade features. Its wide aperture performs exceptionally well in low-light conditions, while its hypersonic motor allows for smooth autofocus. Additionally, it is equipped with built-in image stabilization that makes capturing sharp images even easier.

Best for: If you want to take high-quality pictures of subjects that are far away, this Nikon D3300 telephoto lens is a great choice. It can reach a maximum focal length of 600mm, and when used with a tripod, it produces even sharper images. It’s a great option for photographing wildlife that is difficult to approach. Additionally, it’s not just limited to sports events and can be used for capturing detailed landscapes as well.

In summary, if you aim to capture faraway subjects such as wildlife or sports events, this lens is the top choice for your Nikon D3300. Although it is one of the more expensive lenses on the list, its features and capabilities make it a worthwhile investment that offers excellent value for your money.

Nikon D3300 lens for wildlife

5. Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED

If you’re in search of a wildlife lens for Nikon D3300 but have budget constraints, this lens might be your top choice. It provides excellent image quality and performance while also saving you a significant amount of money upfront.

Build and handling: The build of this Nikon D3300 lens for wildlife is comparable to other consumer-level options from this manufacturer, nothing extraordinary but not underwhelming either. It is lightweight at only 14.7 oz. (415 g), making it effortless to take clear handheld shots. Its compact and simple design makes it an excellent choice for capturing your subjects on the go.

Performance: Although the f/4.5 aperture of this lens may not be ideal for low-light conditions, its Vibration Reduction image stabilization technology helps to make up for this deficiency. However, to fully utilize all of the features, it is recommended to use a tripod. This allows for slower shutter speeds to be used without compromising image quality.

Best for: This lens is an excellent choice for photographing wildlife and nature due to its convenient lightweight design, making it easy to carry and capture those rare moments. It’s lightweight enough for handheld shooting, which is an added advantage.

To sum up, if you are an amateur photographer searching for a budget-friendly choice for wildlife photography using your Nikon D3300, then this lens is the ideal choice. It delivers great performance for its cost and introduces fresh focal lengths and dimensions to elevate your photography portfolio.

Nikon D3300 lenses for landscape

6. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED

If you are new to photography, the Nikon D3300 wide-angle zoom lens is an ideal choice to begin with. It offers quick autofocus and a range of focal lengths that can add depth and perspective to your photos. Moreover, its affordable price makes it an even more attractive option.

Build and handling: This consumer-level Nikon D3300 lens weighs just 16.2 oz (458 g), making it suitable for handheld shooting. Despite its compact size, it can still produce high-quality images. Its internal focusing system is advantageous as the front element and filter thread remain in place when adjusting focus, making it an ideal choice for photographers who frequently use polarizers or ND filters.

Performance: The Nikon D3300 lens for landscape photography provides a decent maximum aperture of f/3.5 at a reasonable cost. However, adequate lighting is essential for optimal results to avoid any graininess or noise in your photos or videos. Additionally, this lens is equipped with Silent Wave Motor technology which ensures great video quality that is both sharp and vivid.

Best for: In addition to landscape photography, this lens is also well-suited for shooting in small spaces such as real estate and crowded events due to its wide-angle capabilities and range of focal lengths. It allows you to capture a large area or multiple objects in a single frame.

If you’re a hobbyist photographer looking to expand your gear, the Nikon D3300 wide-angle lens is a great option because it’s compact and lightweight. It offers the opportunity to explore new photography scenes and enhance your skills.

7. Tokina AT-X PRO 11-16mm F2.8 DXII Lens

If you desire sharp and high-quality images in low light conditions, the Tokina lens for Nikon D3300 may be a suitable option. It features an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens with an f/2.8 aperture that produces clear images at any distance while providing consistent aperture control, making it perfect for both indoor and outdoor photography.

Build and handling: The Tokina lens is made of a sturdy plastic casing and features a rubberized ring that offers a comfortable and secure grip for better handling. It has nine aperture blades that create smooth bokeh effects with great accuracy. Additionally, the lens contains two Super Low Dispersion glass elements and two aspherical elements that help reduce chromatic aberration, resulting in better contrast and clarity. The lens also comes with advanced multi-layered coatings that minimize surface reflections and enhance optical performance.

Performance: The internal motor of the autofocus system operates quietly and precisely, allowing for sharp images without noticeable edge degradation. In situations where strong natural light is present, some slight chromatic aberration or fringing may appear in the corners of photos, but this can be easily corrected during post-processing.

Best for: To capture images in limited spaces, such as real estate or indoor events, the Nikon D3300 lens provides a wide field of view. With its broad aperture and wide-angle capabilities, it can be used to frame landscape vistas or take large group photos without excluding anyone! Additionally, this lens can be used to capture beautiful night sky shots, providing you with limitless opportunities.

If you are looking for superior quality and performance, this wide-angle lens for the Nikon D3300 is among the best options available. It boasts a wide and constant aperture across the zoom range, as well as outstanding optical performance, making it a great value for your investment.

Nikon D3300 zoom lenses

8. Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM

The Sigma lens for Nikon D3300 is a top-notch option for professionals due to its exceptional features, which justify its higher price point. Opting for this lens will be a wise investment, offering superior specifications compared to other lenses in its category.

Build and handling: The Sigma ART series is highly desired by photographers for its professional-grade quality, and has received praise from many. The lens is crafted from aluminum alloy, giving it a sleek and sophisticated appearance and a excellent feel in the hands. Despite weighing 28.6 oz (810 g), it is still considered lightweight when taking into account it’s features.

Performance: The Sigma 18-35mm is an exceptional choice for the camera owners as it offers a remarkable f/1.8 aperture, resulting in images with a shallow depth of field and stunning bokeh effects. Moreover, this lens operates quickly and silently due to its hypersonic motor, making it a suitable option for both professional and budget-conscious photographers.

Best for: A versatile and adaptable Nikon D3300 Sigma zoom lens is a great match for all your photography needs, with its wide-angle view and broad aperture that’s ideal for capturing indoor events and street scenes, as well as stunning portraits during daily travels. Furthermore, if astrophotography is your passion, this lens is an excellent choice to capture the beauty of the night sky.

To put it briefly, the Nikon D3300 zoom lens is an essential addition to any professional photographer’s equipment. Its versatility and ability to handle various shooting situations make it a perfect choice. Regardless of whether you encounter bright skies or low-light environments, this lens is sure to deliver outstanding outcomes!

9. Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM

This Nikon D3300 lens is an excellent option for traveling, offering a wide aperture and the ability to capture images at various distances. It’s the perfect companion for novice photographers seeking affordability and simplicity in a single package.

Build and handling: The lens is surprisingly light at 19.9 oz (565 g) and also features advanced optical stabilization technology to ensure clear and precise images. It is constructed with two Fluorite Low Dispersion elements, two glass-molded aspherical elements, and one hybrid aspherical element to deliver superior image quality. Additionally, it is coated with Super Multi-Layer Coating to minimize glare and further enhance image clarity.

Performance: The Nikon D3300 travel lens is capable of capturing exceptional visuals in low light conditions with its constant f/2.8 aperture. It delivers clear and sharp images from edge to edge as it maintains a fixed aperture throughout all of its focal lengths. However you might except some slight blurring that may occur at mid-zoom settings.

Best for: This lens is a great option for those looking to capture a variety of subjects while traveling, as it offers versatility with its focal lengths ranging from 17-50mm. Whether you want to take group shots, landscapes, street scenes, portraits, or other types of photos, this lens can handle it all. If you want a single lens that can meet all your travel photography needs, this lens is the one to go for.

The Nikon D3300 zoom lens is a budget-friendly option that offers excellent features for everyday photography. Its wide f/2.8 aperture and built-in optical stabilization are some of the additional benefits that make it an ideal companion for photographers.

Nikon D3300 macro lens

10. Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED Lens

For those who specialize in macro photography, this lens is the perfect solution. Despite its small size, it allows digital SLR sensors to capture life-sized images. Additionally, the f/2.8 aperture and built-in optical stabilization enable photographers to take high-quality shots even in low-light conditions.

Build and handling: The Nikon D3300 macro lens is an impressive engineering feat, crafted to offer superior comfort and performance. It has a size of 4.6 x 3.3 inches (116 x 83 mm) and a weight of 27.9 ounces (790 grams), made from black composite material. It features an ergonomic rubberized grip that encircles the manual focus ring and toggle switches for effortless access to autofocus or manual mode. Moreover, the lens has an Optical Stabilization system that can be turned on or off using buttons on the lens.

Performance: With a Silent Wave Motor technology, this lens provides a seamless and fast autofocus experience with a smooth transition from automatic to manual focus. Its Internal Focusing system allows for the front element of your camera to remain stationary, making it easy to use circular polarizing filters. Moreover, the advanced Vibration Reduction II feature ensures sharp and clear images, even with shutter speeds up to four stops lower.

Best for: The Nikon D3300 macro lens is an excellent choice for photographing small subjects like insects. Its 105mm focal length allows you to capture images from an appropriate distance and avoid any unwanted shadows from the lens. These features ensure that your photos come out perfectly without any issues.

In summary, if you specialize in macro photography, this is one of the best lenses for Nikon D3300 camera. Its focal length and functionalities are ideal for enhancing your macro photography skills.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Nikon D3300 is a great entry-level camera that can produce stunning images when paired with the right lens. With a range of lenses available in the market, choosing the best one can be overwhelming. However, the lenses mentioned above are some of the best options to consider for various types of photography. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced photographer, investing in a high-quality lens can greatly improve the quality of your photos and take your photography to the next level.

Disclosure: Some of the links may be affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. If you make a purchase then I will earn a commission, which helps me to run this website. Again: no additional cost for you.

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