Best Lenses for Nikon D3000

The Nikon D3000 camera might not be the hottest or the most up-to-date DSLR camera from Nikon, but still, it is one of the most sought-after and used cameras for photography. This is integrated with a Nikkor AF-S 18-55mm VR lean that though great is not perfect.

That is the reason why it really makes sense to look for a substitute lens for it. The best thing with this type of approach is that it is able to assist you to look for a lens that is suited for the job on hand.

For example, you are able to go for an extensive-angle lens if you want to shoot huge swatches of backdrop in your pictures. Certainly, you can also choose a standard prime lens if you are into portraiture.

Yes, it is really intimidating and nerve-wracking to know which lens is ideal for Nikon D3000 cameras. We know that when you buy a new piece of device, you may make the best out of it immediately, therefore there can be apprehension and alarm of getting the wrong one.

Luckily, we have gathered a list of the most excellent lenses for your Nikon D3000 camera as well as general features which you must look for when buying a perfect lens. We also include the FAQ section to answer some common questions pertaining to camera lenses.

Always keep in your mind that not all lenses have the same functions and features. Some of the lenses out there allow you to take specific kinds of pictures or utilize manual effects to produce the best result. There are also lenses available that are specific to wide-angle picture taking or could make your pictures really stunning. You can read Nikon Coolpix L340 Review here.

The common aspect of all of the camera lenses we have featured in this guide is they are the best among the best. So, you cannot go wrong when choosing one of the camera lenses detailed in this guide. Keep on reading if you want to get the best lenses for your most loved Nikon D300 camera.

Review of the Top Lenses for Nikon D3000

The lenses listed below are the ones that have rated 4.9 stars and below. They are the best lenses for Nikon D3000 cameras available on the market at this point.

These lenses can be purchased online, most particularly at Amazon. We have given each product a rating, and we also provided a brief overview of things you can anticipate from each lens and along with pros and cons. So, let’s get started.

1. Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G Zoom Lens: Best Overall Lenses for Nikon D3000

Key Features

• Plastic Mount
• Chromatic aberration
• 70/300 lens
• Focal range

At first glance, the very first thing that will get your attention is the amount that is made of plastic which is a one-of-a-kind feature. The lens comes with a tough plastic build that makes it tough and ideal for use by newbies.

What is more, it is integrated with a zoom barrel that has a substantial rubber grip which makes it easy and comfortable to use.

The integrated chromatic aberration is well-controlled. It has a remarkable 70mm resolution at f/8. The 70/300 lens will give you contrast and sharper images. The focal range is great, and it is super lightweight, which makes the best travel less.

2. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G lens: Best Overall Cheap Lens

Key Features

• Autofocus with 2156 lines
• Optical Viewfinder
• Live View
• Lightroom lens

The Nikon AF-S 35 mm lens is the cheapest lens available so far. It will provide you with a performance similar to 50mm prime. It is equipped with state-of-the-art features for a fraction of the cost, which makes it an all-around performer.

This lens measures 2.1 x 2.8 inches and weighs 7.1 oz, so it is super lightweight and tiny. It comes with tough construction and is integrated with a barrel made of tough polycarbonate. The metal mount, on the other hand, is totally metallic.

The integrated Autofocus works quietly and smoothly, it doesn’t matter if you are utilizing the Live View or the Optical Viewfinder.

An f/1.8 Imatest shows approximately 2156 lines. This entails an extremely sharp lens that will provide you with superior and clear pictures. There’s minimum barrel distortion that you can correct quickly through a Lightroom lens profile.

3. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm: Best VR lens

Key Features

• Focal lengths of less than 200mm
• High-quality Boken
• Clear and sharp vignetting
• Vibration Reduction Technology
• Extra-low Dispersion

The Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm lens was released in the year 2010, and it is well-suited to the Nikon DX sensors. What makes this lens apart from the rest is the fact that it utilizes VR or Vibration Reduction technology to make sure that you get sharp pictures, even if you are shooting at a slower shutter speed.

Another remarkable feature of this lens for the Nikon D3000 camera is the autofocus that works silently. This is due to the integrated Silent Wave Motor feature in the lens itself. It also comes with seventeen optical elements in eleven groups, two of that are ED or Extra-low Dispersion elements that are essential in reducing chromatic aberration. This leads to clearer and sharper pictures at bigger apertures.

This lens is mostly plastic. It comes with a sturdy metal mount. This lens only weighs 580g, thus making it one of the lightest lenses available for your Nikon D3000 camera. It is also comfortable to use and very portable.

You’ll be astounded at how reliable and effective this lens can focus on ample light. It has focal lengths of less than 200mm. Also, it is relatively sharp at 55-135mm with the middle being consistent in this factor.

Another impressive feature is the boken which is extremely superior and high-quality. On the other hand, the vignetting is barely clear and visible below 135mm. It also comes with a distortion that is under control at the short focal lengths.

4. Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8G lens: Best for Wildlife Photography

Key Features

• Silent Wave Motor
• Aspherical element
• Autofocus system

Are you into wildlife photography and want to make your shot clear and shaper all the time? Look no further Nikon AF-S 50mm lens. This lens was made to replace the Nikon AF-D lens. The optical design of this lens has seven elements in six groups, and one of these is an aspherical element that plays a vital role in reducing chromatic aberrations.

The Nikon AF- 50mm is an extremely tough and durable lens for Nikon D3000 whose front element neither rotates nor extends during the operations of Autofocus, and this makes it so simple and stress-free to integrate filter holders as well as circular filters.

What is more, this also uses the AF-S or silent wave motor, to make sure that the operation of the autofocus is superbly quiet. Also, it integrates Super Integrated Coating to provide a fantastic flare as well as ghosting resistance.

It is also super lightweight; the external is made of hard plastic material with a metal mount. Last but not least, the autofocus system works fast and its remarkable accuracy.

5. Nikon AF-S 55-200mm VR II lens: Best for cropped-sensor DSLRs

Key Features

• ED Glass Element
• Vibration Reduction Technology
• Rubber seal
• Weighs 300g

Looking for a reliable and cheap lens for your Nikon D3000? Why not give Nikon AF-S 55-200mm a try? This is considered one of the cheapest lenses so far which works reliably with the 18-55mm kit zone and it is well-matched with the mainstream DSLRs with cropped sensors.

Its optical design includes thirteen elements in nine groups and one of these is an ED glass element that will help a lot in minimizing chromatic aberrations.

What makes this lens apart from the rest is that it only weighs 300g, making it one of the lightest lenses for Nikon D3000 available today. Most of the exterior of this lens is made of high-quality plastic materials. It is also equipped with essential VR or Vibration Reduction technology that provides extremely stable pictures and photos.

Even if the lens itself isn’t water-resistant, it comes with a seal made of rubber around the lens mount thus keeping it safe from dust and grime. Last but not least, it comes with a decent bokeh while the vignetting is noticeable.

6. Tamron AF 70-300mm Macro Zoom lens: Best lens portraits and sports

Key Features

• 70-3000 zoom range
• Plastic build
• 70mm distortion level
• Good bokeh

Are you a fanatic of sports or landscape and want to make a remembrance of it in the form of a picture? Well, in this case, you will need a high-quality lens for Nikon this purpose. We are happy to introduce to you the Tamron AF- 70-30mm macro zoom lens.

State-of-the-art Tamron AF 70-300mm macro zoom lens is considered one of the cheapest and best Nikon D3000 lenses on the list. It has a focal range of 70-300mm, which makes it very versatile. Also, you can use it to capture sports, wildlife, portraits as well as landscape.

This lens is relatively light at 16oz only. This quality is improved by the plastic build. This is tougher and more durable than the usual metallic materials.

If you need consistent sharpness all the picture, make sure you utilize a minimum f-stop of f/6.3. It has a distortion level of 70mm. It is integrated with 9 aperture blades which make an equally round shape that results in smooth as well as remarkable bokeh. Additionally, colored fingers are apparent.

7. 52mm 0.43x Altura Photo Professional HD: The Best wide-angle lens

Key Features

• 53mm zoom range
• Wide angle lens
• Macro lens
• Multicoated elements

Another best lens for Nikon D3000 available is the 53mm 0.43x Altura Photo. Aside from being easy to use and very reasonable, it comes with a wide-angle lens. So, you are able to broadly capture pictures. What is more, this lend can be utilized by both newbie and skilled photographers. You’ll find it remarkably useful and valuable when you planned to use it to capture family photos.

What makes this apart from the rest is that aside from the ideal lens for Nikon D3000 it is also compatible with many DSLR cameras from Canon. So, just in case you own Nikon and Canon, this is the best lens to buy to save you a considerable amount of money from buying individual lenses.

To use this on your camera, all you need is to simply screw it on the fore portion of your unit. Also, it comes with a macro lens that is removable and will allow you to get close-ups of tiny objects in remarkably high resolutions.

Its optical design consists of multicoated elements that make it have remarkable flare resistance and minimum distortion. We assure you that you’ll end up with astonishingly top-notch pictures in the end.

8. Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM: Perfect Travel Lens

Key Features

• F-mount lens
• 8- 480mm or 35mm equivalent
• Four FLD elements and one SLD element
• f/3.5 to f/22 aperture range

Sigma 18-300mm is indeed the ideal lens for travel. You can bring this out for a stroll, or utilize it as the only lens when touring all over the world. It offers a softer image due to its 300mm zoom range, and the f/8 greatly enhances sharpness.

Sad to say, this is not an ideal lens for indoor shots due to 300mm wherein you need to take pictures with long shutter speeds.

This lens can be fixed through letting Optical Stabilization or utilizing a high ISO speed. This lens is easy to use, super lightweight and it has four FLD elements as well as one SLD Element.

9. Nikon NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G: Highest Resolution Lens

Key Features

• Silent Wave Motor
• Super integrated coating
• Sharp images from infinity to life-size
• Natural Background Blur

Macro photography assures a fun and exceptional means of capturing the things which stun you most it doesn’t matter if it is the eye of a bug, a flower leaf, or the smallest flower.

The Nikon NIKKOR 40mm offers high resolution as well as a contrast from infinity to life-size to focus additional close on the subjects, which allows you to get lost in the small details of life.

This lens is superb at capturing landscapes and natural surrounding and utilizing it for extreme close-ups. The capability of the lens to render fine detail is what makes it apart from the rest when it comes to landscape work.

10. Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX II Digital Zoom Lens: Best for Landscape

Key Features

• Amazing autofocus
• Two Aspheric Lens
• 11-16mm
• Two Super-Low Dispersion Lens

If you are looking for a telephoto lens for your Nikon D3000, look no further than this one. It has enough apertures so you can fiddle with the setting of your camera and get an artistic, exceptional image.

If you love landscape or nature, then consider this lens. It is ideal for capturing a beautiful landscape with clarity. You can also utilize this lens to capture glorious panoramic shots. Rest easy that each detail will be accounted for if you utilize this lens.

Buying Guide for Best Lenses for Nikon D3000

Even if the Nikon D3000 isn’t the greatest and newest camera available, still it is best to spend a considerable amount of money on a new lens as opposed to purchasing a new camera.

With more than 60 plus lenses available to select from, which include macro, wide angle, telephoto, and many others, you have the freedom and many options thus it is easy to get lost especially if you are not aware of what to look for. Also, there are third-party manufacturers like Tamron and Sigma which make remarkable lenses for Nikon cameras.

Prior to knowing the factors to consider when buying a lens for Nikon D3000, first you need to know the different types of lenses available. They are:

Wide angle

This kind of lens is very valuable in capturing many of your scenes, normally from 8 to 35mm. Wide angle lenses are utilized for landscape, nature as well as indoor photography

Telephoto

This type of lens is ideal for capturing the faraway subject, usually from 85 to 600mm. A telephoto lens is longer and most of the time heavier due to the fact that requires making the subject look much closer than it really is. Oftentimes moving close does the work.

On the other hand, there are instances wherein you want this kind of lens. You cannot simply hop on a volleyball court for a couple of seconds to take some photos, let alone outside in nature with perilous animals.

Standard Lens

This is where a lot of photography takes place, normally from 35 to 85mm. A standard lens is similar to how you see the world and is ideal for many kinds of photography.

The best standard lens available so far is the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G. And if you are searching for sharpness as well as superior image, and at the same time allows you to shoot clear pictures at night, then you must definitely try this lens.

Macro

This lens has a 1:1 ratio which enlarged the subject to a real life-size, normally from 60 to 180mm). This kind of lens work like a magnifying glass as it makes the subject look as big as it is in true life. This kind of lens is ideal for bugs, details as well as product photography, most essentially smaller stuff. Recently Nikon announced the 40mm f/2.8G microlens and that is really exceptional.

Prime Lenses: The same focal length

The name Prime comes from the term for lenses with a focal length of only 25mm. Prime lenses are usually fast at ƒ/1.8 or ƒ/2.0, which means they are great for shooting in low light.

They are also excellent for shooting portraits because they have a depth of field that is shallow enough to blur out the background and focus on the subject. Prime lenses also don’t have zoom capability, which means you must move your feet to frame your image or change your subject’s position in order to alter the composition of your shot.

Zoom lenses: Can alter the focal length

Zoom lenses allow you to get closer to the subject by means of swiveling or turning the zoom ring. A prime lens, on the other hand, is at a fixed focal length, like for instance 50mm. Usually, quality is better, and the utmost aperture can be higher without changing the size of the lens.

Focal Length

When you say the focal point, it refers to the distance between the sensor and the lens which focuses on the target object. In simple terms, the focal length is how fuzzy or sharp the image will be. If the lens has more focal length, then it allows you to zoom in with amazing clarity.

A lesser focal length allows you to have a wider shot. This is ideal for sweeping landscapes as well as grand vistas. A shorter focal length is ideal for extreme close-ups and macro photography.

There are lots of lenses available which specialize in different focal lengths. You have to consider what you are planning on utilizing the camera for and pick the one which is ideal for your needs.

Lens Mount

The camera lens which you purchase will have to be affixed to the cam in some style and this is where the lens mounts are vital. You need to ensure that the cam lens you buy is compatible with the Nikon D3000, or else it will not fit on well. Ensure that you just buy lenses that will mount flawlessly onto your cam to keep away from any problems without the need of returning the lens.

Never try to force a lens to fit your cam, or attempt to work with a damaged one. The best-case situation is that you’ll take less than desirable photos with the ill-fitting lens. The worst-case situation is that the lens could fall and break down.

Due to the fact that lenses are costly, you don’t want to risk damaging one. Always ensure that the lens is well-matched with the NikonD3000 and also securely attached on prior to starting using it.

Aperture

Aperture in layman’s terms is the one that controls the amount of light that gets into the camera. Those amazing cool picture effects where an image is washed out or dark are intended by fiddling manually with the aperture to acquire a particular effect.

In case you are a person who wants to mess around with photography effects, or who knows the in and out of photography, acquiring a lens that has a higher maximum aperture is what you must think of.

When you choose not to utilize special effects, or you are now aware of the functionality of the camera, the aperture isn’t as important. Picking the best lens for Nikon D3000 is a personal choice, and of course, there is no wrong choice. It all boils down to your preference and choice.

• Style: If you shoot shots where the focus is up close, it is highly advisable to consider a prime lens.
• Depth of Field: In case you love taking photos outdoors, you have to buy a lens that comes with a wide angle of view in order to enrich the images or pictures.
• Image Stabilization: It is hard to take fixed photos most essentially if you do not have equipment like a tripod, and due to this, it really makes sense to look for a lens that comes with image stabilization features.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions about lenses? Worry no more, this FAQ section will give you an insight into the common questions when buying a lens. So, check this out!

Final Thoughts

There you have it. Here are some of the best lenses for the Nikon d3000 camera available. Make sure to choose the right one to make your photography session memorable and at the same time come up with the best picture.