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Use These Best Nikon D3300 Lenses to Improve Your Photography

I cannot be the only one who is stressed out every time I have to buy a new lens. I have seen this happening to so many photographers and even the veterans who have been in the field for as long as I can remember. The thing is, when you are getting your hands on a new lens, several little things can influence your purchase.

Now, take the best Nikon D3300 lenses, for instance. If you are buying the lens for a D3300, you might stumble upon a list of best lenses for D3200 and that would make you wonder if both lists will have similar lenses or not. In other situations, you might end up asking yourself if this lens is even going to work the way you want.

Best Nikon D3300 Lenses

The best lens that I can recommend for the Nikon D3300 is the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8. This is the lens that I have recommended time and again and it delivers excellent results regardless of the camera you pair it with.

Sigma 18-35mm – Best Overall Lens

Sigma 18-35mm has a constant aperture of f/1.8, making it the best lens for Nikon D3300.

The Sigma 18-35mm has been the de facto best lens for all the APS-C sensor cameras, for as long as I can remember. This lens was specifically designed for such sensors and while it does work on full-frame sensors, too. You will have to use it in the crop mode and it does not produce the same results.

With that said, I have mentioned this lens several times in my previous rounds ups. I called it the best overall lens for the Nikon D5100, as well. And well, here it is again. But what is so good about this lens? Well, for the lack of a better word and to avoid sounding like a broken record, this is a one-of-a-kind lens in the market. Let me tell you why.

For starters, you are getting a super-fast constant aperture of f/1.8. Something that you do not get to see every day and it honestly does a great job at what it is, too. You are also getting some of the best optics that you are going to find on any lens; this lens is sharp, and when I say sharp, I mean it.

Sigma 18-35mm - Sample - best Nikon d3300 lenses
Sigma 18-35mm Sample Image

Not just that, the autofocusing on this lens is silent and that is a good thing especially for video shooters because you will not be hearing the lens trying to focus in your videos. Sigma has also done a great job at the build quality of the lens; it feels solid and sturdy but at the same time, does not weigh much.

The highlight here is that much like other modern Sigma lenses, this is fully compatible with Sigma’s USB dock so you can make some optimizations and fine-tune the lens to your liking.

Honestly, during my testing, I did not find any fault with this lens aside from the fact that the zoom range might feel restricted to some people but overall, you are looking at an excellent lens that looks great and does not cost a lot of money, either. This easily is one of the best Sigma lenses for Nikon D3300.

  • Autofocus remains fast and quiet.
  • One of the best build qualities.
  • Full compatibility with Sigma’s USB dock.
  • The optical quality of this lens is one of the best.
  • The constant f/1.8 aperture is always a treat to use.
  • The zoom range might feel restricted to some.
Check Latest Price for Sigma 18-35mm

Nikon 35mm – Best Wide Angle Lens for Nikon D3300

Nikon 35mm has a bright aperture and is one of the most affordable lenses for the Nikon D3300 that you can get.

The thing that I love about 35mm lenses is the classic field of view that these lenses make and I know it might sound like something that is not as important or necessary to some of you. Hey, if you are getting great-looking pictures and videos out of a lens then why not go ahead with it and buy something nice?

The 35mm lens does just that and more. This is what I love about this lens is that it can be used for so many purposes without needing to change the lens multiple times. For starters, you are getting an excellent portrait lens if you move a bit closer to your subject. Move a bit farther from it and it can take some stunning landscapes as well.

This could also be used for some urban and street photography without really compromising on anything, to begin with. This is the best lens for the Nikon d3300 also barely costs anything and that is what makes this such a great offering. You are not going to have to spend a lot of money here and I believe that is one thing that one can always appreciate.

Nikon 35mm - Sample
Nikon 35mm Sample Image

The compact and lightweight design of this lens allows everyone to carry it with ease and without having any issues.

Again, the highlight is going to be the bright aperture, of course. It just works and works well. You can take pictures in varying lighting conditions knowing that you have a lens that has a bright aperture, and it is always what we would suggest.

Another great thing that you are getting out of this lens is the fact that it is one of the sharpest lenses that I have used and the images that it produces are always excellent, without looking out of place. So, this is one thing that you must know.

There is some barrel distortion faced with this lens and that is the only thing that might come in the way, but other than that, the lens is optically amazing and does not cost a lot of money, too.

Honestly, it is really hard to mess up a 35mm lens, or any prime lens, for that matter. Nikon knows this and they have created one of the best lenses that you can get for your Nikon D3300 or any other Nikon camera, for that matter.

  • Compact and lightweight.
  • The bright aperture is always a treat to use.
  • One of the most affordable lenses on the market.
  • The images look sharp in almost every scenario.
  • Some barrel distortion.
Check Latest Price for Nikon 35mm

Nikon 50mm – Best Nikon D3300 Lens for Portraits

Nikon 50mm has an excellent aperture and makes up for an incredible lens for the Nikon D3300.

Now, it is important to understand that by default, the 50mm lens was never meant for portraits. Simply put, 50mm is still considered a wide-angle field of view. However, this only applies to full-frame sensors because when you put the 50mm on a crop sensor camera, things take a different turn, so you need to understand that.

For starters, the Nikon D3300 along with all the other Nikon crop sensor cameras comes with a 1.5x crop factor, which means that the 50mm focal length gets converted to 75mm, putting this lens very close to the telephoto realms, and that is not a bad thing, at all. It is good.

So, if you are looking for a good portrait lens for your Nikon D3300 or any other crop sensor camera, this is it and this is going to do the job. There is so much to love about this lens, to be honest. You are getting one of the sharpest optics out there and you can write it down that the optical performance on this lens is excellent.

Nikon 50mm - Sample
Nikon 50mm Sample Image

Not just that, the lens itself is super compact and you can easily carry it around without having to worry much about carrying too much. The best thing that Nikon has done about this lens is that they have priced it competitively. I will not call it the cheapest 50mm lens but it is not going to cost you a lot.

Of course, the f/1.8 aperture is not forgotten as without that, this lens would not have been relevant at all. The fast aperture makes it an absolute treat to use the lens and you can take some stunning pictures with it.

Honestly, this lens has been around for some time now, and back then, lenses were a lot simpler than they are now. That is the reason why this lens does not come with any advanced features.

Overall, I would say that the 50mm is a no-brainer of a lens. Sure, it might not be as versatile as you would want on a crop sensor camera but it does have all the chops that make it an excellent lens for everyone to use and it is one of the easiest lenses to get used to, as well.

  • Sharp and superior optics.
  • One of the most compact lenses.
  • The fastest aperture is great to have.
  • The lens does not cost a lot of money.
  • Lacking in the more advanced features.
Check Latest Price for Nikon 50mm

Nikon 18-300mm – Best Budget Telephoto Lens for Nikon D3300

Nikon 18-300mm comes with a 16.7x zoom range which makes it the best telephoto lens for Nikon D3300.

There is nothing wrong with getting a good telephoto lens or a telephoto zoom lens as we are looking at one right now. For the longest time, I used to have something against zoom lenses but after using these for some time, I realized that there is nothing wrong with these lenses.

For starters, the Nikon 18-300mm is one of the lenses, and if you are looking for something good and reliable then getting your hands on this lens is the right thing to do and you will not be let down, either. that is what I can assure you, to be honest. There is a lot to love about this lens.

For starters, the fact that you are getting access to a long zoom range of 16.7x magnification makes this lens a great choice. This is one of the best Nikon D3300 lenses for wildlife photography. You will not be let down with how it performs as the performance on this best zoom lens for Nikon d3300 is outstanding.

Nikon 18-300mm - Sample
Nikon 18-300mm Sample Image

Not just that, there is also optical stabilization that makes this lens useful for capturing wildlife pictures because when you are zoomed in, you would experience more shakiness, and in such situations, the camera needs to be the most stable so nothing else goes wrong either. Which always works well.

The lens also brings 1:3 macro magnification and the macro is one of the niches that not a lot of people get into for one reason or another. If you ever want to have fun with the lens, this is how you are going to get started because it makes your overall experience a whole lot better and simpler, too.

With enough to love about this lens, it does run into some issues such as distortion and softer edges, but other than that, this lens is not going to bother you as much, especially if you are taking landscape or animal photography.

Overall, I would say that the Nikon 18-300mm is a pleasantly surprising lens that works well, for the most part. Sure, it does not come without its faults, but these faults do not make this lens any less of an experience than it would have been without these faults.

  • The lens does not weigh a lot.
  • The lens brings optical image stabilization.
  • The 1:3 macro magnification is a lot of fun to use.
  • The 16.7x long zoom range makes it ideal for wildlife and sports photography.
  • Your edges can be softer.
  • The lens does run into distortion issues.
Check Latest Price for Nikon 18-300mm

Sigma 18-250mm – Best Macro Lens for Nikon D3300

Sigma 18-250mm has a zoom range of 13.9x, with excellent macro capabilities.

We are all aware of the fact that macro lenses are a lot more fun than one might think. For instance, most of the pictures that I have taken using my Galaxy S21 Ultra have been macro shots and they look really good. So imagine what one can do with a dedicated lens because it is going to be only so much better and you cannot deny that.

With that said, the good news here is that if you are looking for a good and the best macro lens for the Nikon d3300, this is the way to go as you will not be let down. The overall results are going to be excellent on this lens and you will not be running into any issues, either. but you have to be certain that you are taking the right pictures and that too, without any issues that might come your way.

The fun part is that Sigma 18-250mm is one of the best macro lenses in the market and I am going to tell you how that is the case. For starters, the lens brings a 13.9x zoom range, but the most impressive thing about this lens is how good of a close-up capability it has, which makes it ideal for not just general purposes or traveling but also for macro photography.

Sigma 18-250mm - Sample
Sigma 18-250mm Sample Image

The lens also has one of the best autofocusing systems that is not only quiet but locks on quickly, as well. Making it a much better offering than some of the other lenses that are in the market.

Honestly, my favorite part aside from macro is the image stabilization. The lens has 3 stops of image stabilization that is effective across all the focal lengths. This also effectively makes this one of the best Nikon D3300 lenses for video, as well.

You are also getting an excellent build quality with this lens, with a smooth zoom ring and solid overall feel of the lens that makes it such a good offering.

Honestly, this lens is so much fun to use, that I almost forgot that I will be running into issues. My only concern here is that when you are using the lens wide open, it tends to be soft but this only happens in the middle of the focal range.

In conclusion, Sigma 18-250mm is a great lens for a lot of reasons. It is not only a good macro lens but it is also an excellent lens for travel and general purpose. This is normally a sharp lens that can give you some excellent results and you will not be let down with how it performs.

  • The autofocusing system is fast and quiet.
  • You are getting one of the best image stabilization features.
  • The 13.9x zoom range with macro capabilities is great to have.
  • The overall build quality is excellent and the zoom ring is smooth.
  • The lens can be on the smoother side when you are using wide-open in the middle of the zoom range.
Check Latest Price for Sigma 18-250mm

Nikon 85mm – Best Telephoto Lens for Portraits

Nikon 85mm is an excellent telephoto lens for Nikon D3300, and the focal length is also one of the best.

The 85mm has always been the best focal length that most people are going to suggest to you for portraits. However, the difference here is that whenever you are looking at 85mm, you are looking at the fact that you do not have access to the same wide-angle and your use cases get limited.

That is why these lenses are normally suggested only to people who want to take portraits with the lens. Sure, you can always move farther away from your subject so you can squeeze more into your frame but that is not always suggested as it is only going to complicate matters for you and we do not want that.

With that out of the way, the lens offers excellent sharpness and that makes it one of the best options for portrait work; does not matter if you are a professional photographer or a hobbyist, this lens is going to do a great job for you and in every single case that you cannot possibly go wrong here.

Another great thing is that the optical quality of this lens is top-notch which means that there is barely any distortion that you are going to experience in this lens.

Moving further, I love the wide aperture on this lens is one of my favorite things about this lens as it gets the job done in every single case, and that too, without any issues that you might come into. Not to forget, the lens is not going to cost you a lot of money, so you can be sure that you are buying a good lens.

Nikon 85mm - Sample
Nikon 85mm Sample Image

The only real issue here is the fact that this lens is on the older side and if you are looking for some advanced features, this lens is not going to bring those to the table, which does not seem to be a problem, be honest.

Simply put, the 85mm lens from Nikon is one of the best that you can get in the market, and funnily enough, it is not going to run into any issues, either. You are looking at a lens that has one of the most superior optical performances that you can find in any lens.

  • The wide aperture is great to have.
  • The lens offers excellent sharpness.
  • There is minimal distortion to experience.
  • You are not spending a lot of money on this lens.
  • The lens does lack some of the more advanced features.
Check Latest Price for Nikon 85mm

Nikon 10-24mm – Best Ultra Wide-Angle Lens for Nikon D3300

Nikon 10-24mm comes with a 2.4x zoom range, it is an excellent wide-angle lens for those who want to capture everything.

I am finally done with the list talking about the best lenses for the Nikon D3300 and for the last lens, we are looking at something different. This is perhaps the only lens that is specifically made for DX cameras. However, that does not mean that the crop factor does not apply here, because it does.

With that out of the way, the good thing about this lens is that it is one of the more affordable lenses in the market and if you are a fan of ultra-wide-angle photography like I am, this lens is going to be good for you. As it does deliver a lot of flexibility you can make the most of this lens without any issues.

For starters, the ultra-wide field of view might not be practical for everyone but if you are genuinely looking for some really good results, this is the best budget telephoto lens for Nikon d3300 that you should be going for. It will not let you down, that I can assure you.

Nikon 10-24mm - Sample
Nikon 10-24mm Sample Image

You are also getting access to a 2.4x times zoom and while it might not be a lot, remember that this lens is more geared towards those who want to take ultra-wide and wide-angle shots, and adding more zoom would have just taken away from the actual nature of the lens, in the first place.

My favorite thing about this lens, however, is the fact that it delivers excellent center sharpness that makes this lens one of the best for various photography types, and you will not be let down, to be honest. I genuinely enjoyed my time with this lens and there is no other way to put it.

That is not to say that this lens has no faults. There are some issues that you can run into. For starters, image quality does suffer at the edges, and you are going to notice some distortion at 10mm, which is not a surprise as this is a common occurrence in most of the lenses that are this wide.

Overall, the Nikon 10-24mm is surprisingly a great lens, to be honest. You are getting excellent performance out of this lens and it is not even going to cost you a lot of money. Not to forget, this lens does deliver excellent performance across the board with minor quirks that can be overlooked for the overall results.

  • A 2.4x zoom ratio is great to have.
  • The lens is also small and compact.
  • The center sharpness is one of the best.
  • The lens offers a gorgeous ultra-wide field of view.
  • There is some distortion at 10mm.
  • The image quality suffers when you are looking at the edges of the picture.
Check Latest Price for Nikon 10-24mm

Frequently Asked Questions

For all cameras, not just the Nikon D3300, I would always suggest that you are using the camera on manual settings as it gives you complete control of every aspect of the camera itself.

This varies from region to region but most of the time, a camera is going to be available both with a kit lens and without a kit lens option (just the body) and it will be up to you to decide.

The Nikon D3300 is a DX camera, which means that it has a crop sensor rather than a full-frame sensor.

Conclusion

The Nikon D3300 is undoubtedly one of the most competitive budget cameras that are available in the market. I say this because I personally used this camera a long time ago and it surprised me. Unsurprisingly, the camera still holds up in the modern-day age and is still capable of delivering excellent performance.

I would highly suggest that you pair a good lens with the camera, and that should take care of most of the things for you and you will not run into any issues, either. Just be sure that you have gone through this roundup and you will be all good.

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