Best Nikon D3400 Lenses [2024 Review]

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If you’re looking for the best lenses for your Nikon D3400, you’ve landed in the right place!

Camera lenses can make or break your photography experience.

In this article, you will find the complete roundup the best lenses for each type of photography, so you can fulfill your photographic dreams with full satisfaction. 

Review of the Best Nikon D3400 Lenses

Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with the lens in detail, let’s dive into the review of the best ones on the market for the Nikon D3400. Here is a complete breakdown of the best lens for the D3400 in the market:

Brand
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR
Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR
Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR
Product
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens with Auto...
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G Lens
Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR Lens
Focal Length
35mm
50mm
10-20mm
Aperture
F/1.8G
F/1.8G
F/4.5-5.6G
Brand
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR
Product
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens with Auto...
Focal Length
35mm
Aperture
F/1.8G
Brand
Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR
Product
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G Lens
Focal Length
50mm
Aperture
F/1.8G
Brand
Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR
Product
Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR Lens
Focal Length
10-20mm
Aperture
F/4.5-5.6G

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

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens with Auto...

PROS

  • Has a great focal length
  • Produces crisp and refined images
  • Excellent mesh of sharpness and vibrant colors
  • The motor is silent, so it produces images quietly
  • Compact and super-lightweight, which means it does not strain the wrists

CONS

  • Faces some barrel distortion
  • Does not have optical stabilization
  • Since it’s a prime lens, it does not have zooming features

What Recent Buyers Report

Users of this Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm find this to be an astonishing unit with great functionality and versatility, as well as incredible features and sharp images. It gives you images you can only dream of with beautiful bokeh, and smooth, silky finishes. This lens truly helps beginners capture their true potential of photography.

Why it Stands Out to Us

This lens allows you to maximize the full potential of your camera with beautiful blurs to focus on your subject and vibrant colors to make your image stand out. Moreover, it performs outstandingly in low-light conditions and is super-versatile, which means it can function in really harsh conditions, as well.

Who Will Use This Most

This camera gives a unique feel to images, such as those taken with zoom lenses. It is specifically designed for landscape scenes and shooting discrete images. This fast and f/1.8 lens is ideal for areas where there is low light and also for environmental portraits, travel, and general photography. Overall, it’s a great all-rounder lens.

Bottom Line

If you want an amazing lens capable of performing wonderfully and worth every penny, then this is the one for you. It produces refined, sharp images and has a quality that competes with other high-end lenses. Overall, it’s one of the best you can purchase for the D3400.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens with Auto...
  • F mount lens/DX format. Picture angle with Nikon DX format 44 degree
  • 52.5 millimeter (35-millimeter equivalent). Rear focusing; Manual focus override
  • Aperture range: F/1.8 to 22; Dimensions(approx.) 70 x 52.5 millimeter

Best for the Money: Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G Lens

PROS

  • Has a super-fast auto-focus system
  • Creates creamy and beautiful bokeh
  • Weight is pretty light and easy to hold
  • Blends the background with subject seamlessly
  • Gives you a high resolution in the center on the full aperture

CONS

  • Has some lens distortion issues
  • Vignette is evident at full aperture
  • Does not have vibration reduction or an aperture ring

What Recent Buyers Report

Photographers find that the bokeh rendering is soft and silky, and the lens allows beginners of photography to capture decent photos and improve their skills. Images are clear and sharp, with amazing contrasts and stellar low-lighting performance. It’s also super-fast and provides bright, colorful, and crisp portraits every time.

Why it Stands Out to Us

Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm is a small, yet compact lens. While the size may be small, it is packed with marvelous features that make this lens stand out. It is an amazing lens that performs powerfully, offering the most stellar images in any light conditions. The latest technological features are installed in it at a very reasonable and affordable price. It is the true companion to your D3400.

Who Will Use This Most

Novices and beginners who start their career as portrait photographers or are new in the photography industry find this lens to be one of the top picks. This is because it is quite reasonable and delivers a bang for the buck. It is also an ideal lens for professional photographers who do special event photography, such as birthdays or wedding events, where portrait photography is more popular.

Bottom Line

The design and features of this lens are extraordinary, and it all comes down to an affordable price range for young or new photographer enthusiasts. It is travel-friendly, lightweight, good quality, and takes superb, sharp portrait photos with fast auto-focus that works silently and seamlessly.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G Lens
  • Fast, upgraded f/1.8, compact FX format prime lens. The picture angle with 35 millimeter (135)...
  • Focal length 50 millimeter, minimum focus distance 1.48 feet (0.45 meter)
  • Newly developed optical system with aspherical lens element, exclusive Nikon silent wave motor (SWM)

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

Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR Lens

PROS

  • Gives extremely sharp results across the frame
  • Super-light and compact, which makes it easy to hold
  • Silent auto-focus, which makes it great for taking videos
  • Beautiful optics which render high-quality images, even in harsh conditions
  • Optical stabilization assures that the image is crystal-clear without any blurriness

CONS

  • Produces visible barrel distortion
  • Creates some chromatic aberration
  • Equipped with a very narrow aperture

What Recent Buyers Report

Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm exceeds customer expectations, as it produces beautiful images with crystal-clear quality at a reasonable price. The lens itself is super lightweight, as well, and you will feel like you’re not even holding one at all. It creates stunning colors and is the perfect wide-angle lens by Nikon.

Why it Stands Out to Us

This camera has a vibration reduction image stabilization and quiet auto-focus, which makes it super high-end and delivers excellent performance. It lets you get creative with the composition and allows you to take images you only dreamed of in your head. Overall, it’s a technologically-advanced and highly recommended wide-angle lens.

Who Will Use This Most

This camera lens is designed for photographers who want to capture the whole scene, which may not be possible with a cropped frame lens. This lens is ideal if you want to take landscape photos, group photos, cityscapes, architecture, etc. It captures large spaces or views and gives you a wide-angle view.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for the best wide-angle lens from Nikon for your D3400, this is the one to go with. Its stunning results and incremental technology will blow your mind with respect to the clarity and results of your images. At a fairly low price, this delivers a bang for the buck.

Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR Lens
  • Ultra-wide-angle view that surpasses any Kit Lens and lets you get creative with Composition
  • Compact, lightweight, durable design that's great for travel and outings.Angle of view:109 degree to...
  • Outstanding Optics deliver beautiful photos and videos, even in challenging situations. Minimum...

Best Macro Lens: Tokina at-X PRO M 100mm F2.8

Tokina at-X PRO M 100mm F2.8 D Macro Lens - Nikon...

PROS

  • Produces sharp and high-quality images
  • Distortion is very low and so is vignetting
  • Unfazed by backlighting and does not ghost
  • Has an even rendering across the entire image
  • Can alternate as a portrait lens and create lovely bokeh

CONS

  • Camera lens isn’t lightweight
  • Auto-focus is quite slow and noisy
  • Does not have in-built image stabilization

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent buyers have found Tokina at-X PRO M 100mm F2.8 to be one of the best macro lenses on the market for the Nikon D3400. It is sharp and produces images at a refined quality. It has great clarity and is also a great option if you’re into portrait photography, as it creates a silky-smooth bokeh.

Why it Stands Out to Us

This lens has a One Touch Focus Clutch, which allows you to switch between manual and auto-focus in a jiffy. Moreover, it ensures faster focusing and provides enhanced handling due to fewer movements near the center. Overall, this lens can get super-close with subjects to produce real, life-sized images at excellent sharpness and clarity.

Who Will Use This Most

In order to get extreme close-ups of your subjects, such as for nature photography, this lens is a perfect addition to your D3400. It can render creamy bokeh and can also be used for portrait photography at weddings or events. Overall, it can handle both the film and the digital world easily.

Bottom Line

All in all, if you’re looking for one of the most reliable macro lenses for your D3400 to get sharp close-ups, then you will not be disappointed with this one. It has amazing features and beautiful image quality that will leave you in awe each time you click a photo.

Tokina at-X PRO M 100mm F2.8 D Macro Lens - Nikon...
  • Macro lens capable of life-sized (1:1) reproduction
  • Closest macro focusing distance 11.8 inches (30 mm)
  • Suitable for DX and full frame DSLRs

Best Zoom Lens: Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8

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

PROS

  • Creates fast and bright images
  • Provides superb correction for all types of aberration
  • Equipped with image stabilization to eliminate blurriness
  • Has a constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the focal range
  • Has built-in auto-focus with HSM that makes it silent and fast

CONS

What Recent Buyers Report

Users find Sigma 17-50mm to be an outstanding, all-rounder lens that has many features to explore and get creative with. It has a nice weight and is built really well. Moreover, the optical quality is great and is one of the most versatile lenses you can attach to your D3400.

Why it Stands Out to Us

This lens had to be a part of the list because it is super-efficient and of high quality. The auto-focus is really fast and creates gorgeous, tack-sharp images. It can be used as a general-purpose lens, as well as a zoom lens because of its deep focal range. The optical image stabilization produces clear images at low shutter speeds.

Who Will Use This Most

This lens can be used for general purposes, however, it is designed for zoom photography. It can be used for astrophotography, landscape photography, or even for portraits. All in all, this lens is a great buy for a serious amateur who wants to get better at photography and is even suitable for professional photographers.

Bottom Line

If you’re on the hunt for the best zoom lens for your Nikon D3400, do not rule out third-party manufacturers completely, as they also produce lenses that will surprise you in terms of performance and image quality. This lens is an example of this, and has an excellent build quality and is packed full of amazing features.

The lens mount is a metal piece that is created to fit specific models of camera bodies. Different manufacturers use a unique design for the lens. It is imperative to find a lens that is compatible with your camera. 

Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD Large...
  • Large aperture, stabilized, standard zoom lens
  • FLD glass with performance equal to fluorite
  • Carrying case, lens hood, front & rear caps. Lens Construction : 17 Elements in 13 Groups

Comparison Chart of the Best Nikon D3400 Lenses

What Are The Components of a Lens?

What makes camera lenses so unique and different from each other are the different functions and capabilities that determine their prices and weight. However, all camera lenses have some basic elements that come standard. This portion aims to describe those features that are found in every lens. 

Optical Lens

When you look at the front side of the lens, there is a glass that allows light inside the camera and into the film. This lens body is made up of multiple other optical lenses that sharpen the image. All these lenses combined are known as elements. 

Focusing Ring

This feature is embedded in every lens. It allows the user to rotate the lens in order to focus on their subject. It’s usually marked with numbers that guide you on how far your subject is from the camera. 

Aperture Ring

This simply lets the photographer gain control over the aperture inside the lens. The settings for this can be found on the lens using f/stops. 

Nikon D3400 Lens

Source

Aperture

This component is a crucial one, as it is an adjustable opening that permits light into the film, and its size is measured by the f/stop setting. 

Focal Length Ring

Every lens that comes with zooming capabilities has a focal length ring, which lets you zoom into the subject or zoom out.

Filter Threads

In front of the optical lens is a tiny ring that has screw threads cut into it and allows accessories to be attached to the lens. 

Lens Mount

How Do I Know What Lens to Use? Can They Be Used For Any Occasion?

There are several features that differentiate one lens from one another, and you need to determine the compatibility of your lens with the camera first. Next, look into the following factors: aperture, fixed or zoom, focal length, crop factor, image stabilization, distortion, color refractive correction, etc. 

Not every type of lens can be used for all occasions. For example, a prime lens is fixed with no zooming options and is good for beginners. Meanwhile, zoom lenses are made for travel-friendly purposes and are versatile and convenient. This allows you to capture wide-angle shots of scenic landscapes. 

How to Choose a New Lens for Your Nikon D3400

The D3400 uses Nikon’s F-Mount, which means it is compatible with many different lens types, including lenses made from different manufacturers! Below is a list of lenses that are compatible with this camera and their specific uses, so you can choose which one you would like to buy. 

Manual Focus Lenses by Nikon

This is an entry-level lens by Nikon, which does not provide auto-focus or full exposure metering. Everything has to be done manually. 

Manual Focus Nikon Lens

Source

AF-S, AF-S G, AF-P Auto-Focus Lenses of Current Generation

This camera lens allows you to enjoy the latest auto-focus technology, latest metering, and for some lenses, VR vibration, as well. 

DX Nikon DSLR Lenses

Such a lens has an APS-C DX sensor, which is a DX-format body, making this camera compatible with DX lenses.

AF-P lenses are preferred over the AF-S lenses because they have a more advanced motor, which makes the functionality of the camera quieter and ensures faster auto-focus. Overall, no lens is labeled as the best, since it depends on what your intention for purchasing a lens is. However, a good all-rounder lens is the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G. 

What Do I Need To Know Before Buying?

A lot of factors should be considered before purchasing a lens for your D3400. One of the most important features is to know whether the lens you get is compatible with your camera or not. Here are the rest of the key points you should look into: 

Size and Weight

Two of the most important factors you should consider are the size and weight of your lens. Heavier lenses do produce higher quality images, but they are more expensive and difficult to manage for beginners. The more elements a lens has, the bigger and heavier it is. If you’re a professional photographer, chances are, you probably got used to the heavy lens, but if you’re a novice, you should invest in something lighter. 

Prime or Zoom Lens?

One of the greatest advantages of the zoom lens is that it is convenient to use. If you are a landscape photographer or an event photographer who needs to get everyone in the picture, a zoom lens will be more apt for you. However, prime lenses have wider apertures and higher-quality images and are excellent for portrait photographers who want blurred backgrounds and creamy bokeh. 

What is My Subject? 

You need to look at this factor in order to determine which lens will be more appropriate for you. If you’re into portrait photography, you may need to look at a lens with a focal length of 50mm. Macro lenses are used for close-up photography and require a focal length of 100-200mm. 

How to Clean and Care for a Lens

Cleaning a lens can be one of the most delicate and daunting tasks if you don’t know what you’re doing. However, it is pretty simple to clean one. All you need is a little patience and a few materials exclusive to lens-cleaning, and you will find your lens to be spotless and squeaky-clean in no time. 

  • Use a blower or mini-fan to remove the excess dirt from the camera’s lens. Make sure you do not make any physical contact with the lens. 
  • If a blower is not enough for your lens, then you can always use a microfiber cloth to gently wipe off the dust and dirt that has accumulated on the lens.
  • Use a lens cleaning solution on the cloth to ensure that the lens is deep cleaned without any muck on it.
  • Do not forget to clean the other part of the lens that attaches to the camera’s mount. Follow the same steps as before, by using a blower followed by a microfiber cloth to remove excess.
  • In order to clean your sensor, put your camera on manual cleaning mode that can be found in your camera’s settings. This will ensure that the mirror is flipped and the sensor is exposed. Use the same blower to remove the dust from inside. 
  • Do not use a brush, microfiber cloth, or lens pen in the sensor, as it will harm the materials in it. If you still find some dirt in it, take it to a professional for deep cleaning. 

People Also Ask

Now that you have figured out which lens to buy, let’s look at a few frequently asked questions so you can clear off the ambiguities you have regarding lens types and their functionality. Below are answers to some of the most asked questions. 

Will an AF-S lens work on D3400?

Absolutely! The AF-S lens works perfectly on the D3400. It is a lens that is equipped with an auto-focus lens system and operates on all DSLR cameras. Since the D3000 series does not have a focus motor embedded in the body, these cameras need a lens that has one installed in it. 

What is a Nikon AF-S lens?

An AF-S lens is a Silent Wave Focus motor that is engineered inside the lens. Since Nikon uses ultrasonic motors inside this lens, they have nicknamed it a Silent Wave Motor, and are manufactured in such a way that they are extremely accurate and super-quiet. 

Is a Nikon D3400 good for beginners?

The Nikon D3400 is surely one of the best beginner cameras out there in the market with intuitive controls and a really bright optical viewfinder. It has a step-by-step guide on how to maneuver the camera, as well and it also allows you to explore several features, which makes it very comfortable and easy to handle. 

Conclusion

Getting a lens can be a tricky job since your camera literally depends on it. Hopefully, by now, you have some insight into what factors to consider before choosing a good lens for your D3400, and now you can shop for a new one without any regrets later on.