Are you trying to find out which lenses are compatible with your Nikon D3100? There are so many different lenses available for the Nikon D3100 that it is easy to get lost if you don’t know where to look or what really matters. In this guide, we’re going to show you the how to pick your dream Nikon D3100 Lenses and hope to give you all the information you’re looking for.
The Thumb rule as we all know is, Good image quality = good lenses
Is the Nikon D3100 still a good camera? Yes! While the D3100 may not be the newest and best, it’s still better to spend your money on a new quality lens than on a newer entry-level DSLR. Since the D3100 launched in August 2010, you can probably find good deals there.
With over 60 Nikon lenses to choose from including wide angle, macro, telephoto, and more, you have so much freedom and choice that it’s easy to get lost if you don’t know what. you have to take care.
Best Walkaround/All-around Lenses:
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM
Sigma 18-300mm f/4-5.6 DC OS HSM
Best Portrait/Wedding/Low Light Lenses:
Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S
Nikon 50mm f/1.8G AF-S
Nikon 85mm f/1.8G AF-S
Best Wideangle & Macro Lenses:
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 Pro DX II
Nikon 40mm f/2.8G Micro
Best Telephoto/Action Lenses:
Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR
Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR
Buying guides Nikon D3100 Lenses:
How do I know if a lens fits on the D3100?
- Nikon -> If the name contains “DX”, that’s fine
- Sigma -> “DC” stands for crop cameras, it’s the D3100.
- Tokina -> also uses “DX” in their name
- Tamron -> “Di-II” is only developed for crop cameras. “Di” works on all Nikon digital SLRs
Types of lenses:
Wide Angle – Useful for capturing many things in your scene (typically 8-35mm)
Standard – where most photos are taken (35-85mm)
Telephoto – For distant subjects (85-600mm, only a few lenses go higher)
Macro – 1: 1 ratio that enlarges your subject to its actual size (typically 60-180mm)
Wide angle lenses are often used for nature, landscape and indoor photography.
A standard lens most closely resembles the way we see the world and is perfect for most types of photography. Our favorite pick is the Nikon 35mm f / 1.8G and if you are looking for sharpness and good image quality, besides taking pictures at night, you are going to love it.
Telephoto lenses are longer and often heavier because they should make your subject appear much closer than it actually is. Sometimes getting close is enough, but there are times when you need a telephoto lens; you can’t just jump on a basketball court for a few seconds to take some pictures let alone in the wild with dangerous animals. The Nikon 55-250mm f / 4-5.6 is an affordable and lightweight option.
Last on our list are macro lenses. They work like a magnifying glass and make your subject look as large as it does in real life (known as a 1: 1 magnification ratio). They are great for detailing, bugs, and product photography, especially small items. Nikon recently announced the Nikon 40mm f / 2.8G Micro and you can find it on all of our lens guides.
Zoom lenses – Focal length can be changed
Prime lenses – Same focal length
Simply put, with a zoom lens you can get closer to your subject by rotating the zoom ring (like a 55-300mm ranging from 55mm, anything between and 300mm).
A fixed focal length lens, on the other hand, always has the same focal length (eg 50mm). The quality is generally better and the maximum aperture can be wider without the lens being huge.
Conclusion:
I hope you could gather all the information on the best Nikon D3100 lenses available in the market. If you have got any doubts, feel free to contact us. Thanks to Wren for helping us with the write up.
Happy Shopping!