Image Restoration Center Blog Logo

What Are The Best Lenses For The Nikon D3500?

By Emily - Image Restoration Center
We independently research, review, and recommend the best products. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

The Nikon D3500 comes with a standard kit lens best for portrait photography, but it may not be suited for a wide range of shooting styles, such as landscape photography, sports photography, and more.
Using just the standard lens on the Nikon D3500 can be restricting. Adding other lenses to your kit can greatly expand what your camera can do and what photography techniques are available to you.
If you want to buy another lens for a different use, it can be difficult to choose from the overwhelming selection on the market. Keep reading to learn about the Nikon D3500, the types of lenses compatible with it, and what the best lens is for the D3500.

The Nikon D3500

Perfect for beginners, the Nikon D3500 is a very efficient and affordable entry-level DSLR camera. It produces good-quality images, especially when capturing casual and candid photos, with its 24-megapixel sensor paired with an EXPEED 4 image processor – pretty exceptional for an entry-level DSLR. 

When it comes to videos, this camera is best used for short clips only, not full-length videos, because it does not have vibration reduction (i.e. image stabilization) and can only shoot for up to 20 minutes with the highest capture quality.

The camera has two focus modes that allow the photographer to shoot using either a manual or automated focus setting. It also comes with an AF-area feature, where the photographer can select an area to focus on from the frame shown on the screen. These focus settings can be limited in some scenarios, such as when shooting with complex lighting or taking photos of moving subjects. 

While it may be unnecessary for seasoned photographers, the Guide Mode makes it easy to navigate the camera’s more technical features. 

 

Nikon D3500 specifications

Camera type

Digital single-lens reflex

Lens mount type

Nikon F mount with (AF) auto-focus contacts

Lens aperture

Aperture size of f/1.4-f/5.6; electronically controlled and with instant return

Autofocus support

Can be used with AF-P, type E, and G AF-S lenses

Dimensions

124 x 97 x 69.5 mm (4.9 x 3.9 x 2.8 in.)

Weight

415 g (14.6 oz) with battery and memory card

Flange focal distance

46.5 mm

Best Lenses For The Nikon D3500

When buying a camera, you might notice that it comes with a lens kit so you can start shooting right away. The AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR kit lens that is included with the Nikon D3500 covers only the most commonly used focal lengths, ranging from 18–55mm. While the included lens is pretty useful, it’s not versatile enough for advanced photographers. If you’ve already mastered the standard Nikon D3500 camera lens, you may find that you need to expand your lens kit to broaden your horizons and expand your photography styles. Whether you’re looking for the best sports lens for the Nikon D3500, need to zoom in on crawling little insects, or want to try out more artistic and experimental approaches to photography, you will need to invest in more lenses if you want to grow your skill set. Below you’ll find some of the best lenses for Nikon D3500 for a wide range of uses. We’ve included a few Nikon lenses as these are guaranteed to be compatible with your camera, as well as a few other third-party lenses you might want to check out.
Image Courtesy Of Amazon
4.8
5/5
Best portrait lens for the Nikon D3500

Best portrait lens for the Nikon D3500

The Nikon 35mm lens is a compact lens perfect for taking portraits. Because of its wide aperture of f/1.8, fast shutter speed, and round diaphragm, photographers can achieve a soft, blurred background and bokeh effect.

Features

  • Weight: Approximately 200 g (7 oz)
  • Dimensions: 70 mm × 52.5 mm 
  • Focus settings: 
  • Rear Focusing (RF) system
  • Autofocus with Silent Wave Motor
  • Manual focus with separate focus ring
  • Aperture range: f/1.8-f/22
  • Focal length: 35mm
  • Flange focus distance: 46.5mm
  • Lens mount type: Three-lug bayonet F-mount

Pros

  • Weight: Approximately 200 g (7 oz)
  • Dimensions: 70 mm × 52.5 mm 
  • Focus settings: 
  • Rear Focusing (RF) system
  • Autofocus with Silent Wave Motor
  • Manual focus with separate focus ring
  • Aperture range: f/1.8-f/22
  • Focal length: 35mm
  • Flange focus distance: 46.5mm
  • Lens mount type: Three-lug bayonet F-mount

Cons

  • Weight: Approximately 200 g (7 oz)
  • Dimensions: 70 mm × 52.5 mm 
  • Focus settings: 
  • Rear Focusing (RF) system
  • Autofocus with Silent Wave Motor
  • Manual focus with separate focus ring
  • Aperture range: f/1.8-f/22
  • Focal length: 35mm
  • Flange focus distance: 46.5mm
  • Lens mount type: Three-lug bayonet F-mount
4.7
4.9/5
Best budget zoom lens for the Nikon D3500

This lens is an Art-series zoom lens with a versatile zoom range that covers everything from normal focal lengths to wide-angled shots. This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 27.94 cm and a maximum magnification of 0.23x.

Features

  • Weight: Approximately 810 g / 28.5 oz
  • Dimensions: 3.07 x 4.76″ / 78 x 121 mm
  • Focus setting: Autofocus
  • Aperture range: f/1.8 constant maximum aperture to f/16 minimum aperture
  • Focal length: 18 to 35mm 
  • Flange focus distance: 44.0mm
  • Lens mount type: Canon EF
  • Zoom range: 27mm-52.5mm

Pros

  • High clarity and sharpness
  • Can work in low-light conditions
  • Fast, silent, and precise autofocus
  • Capable of producing bokeh
  • Low vignetting

cons

  • No built-in image stabilization system
  • Not weather-resistant
  • Limited zoom range
  • Inconsistent focus accuracy
4.4
4.9/5
Best wide-angle lens for the Nikon D3500

Best wide-angle lens for the Nikon D3500

Tokina ATX is a versatile wide-angle lens that is best used for shooting architecture, interiors, and landscapes.

Features

  • Weight: Approximately 810 g / 28.5 oz
  • Dimensions: 3.07 x 4.76″ / 78 x 121 mm
  • Focus setting: Autofocus
  • Aperture range: f/1.8 constant maximum aperture to f/16 minimum aperture
  • Focal length: 18 to 35mm 
  • Flange focus distance: 44.0mm
  • Lens mount type: Canon EF
  • Zoom range: 27mm-52.5mm

Pros

  • High clarity and sharpness
  • Can work in low-light conditions
  • Fast, silent, and precise autofocus
  • Capable of producing bokeh
  • Low vignetting

cons

  • No built-in image stabilization system
  • Not weather-resistant
  • Limited zoom range
  • Inconsistent focus accuracy
4.4
4.9/5
Best telephoto lens for the Nikon D3500

Best telephoto lens for the Nikon D3500

Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm has an optical design that maintains great image quality and reduces color fringing. It is ideal for outdoor photography.

Features

  • Weight: Approximately 810 g / 28.5 oz
  • Dimensions: 3.07 x 4.76″ / 78 x 121 mm
  • Focus setting: Autofocus
  • Aperture range: f/1.8 constant maximum aperture to f/16 minimum aperture
  • Focal length: 18 to 35mm 
  • Flange focus distance: 44.0mm
  • Lens mount type: Canon EF
  • Zoom range: 27mm-52.5mm

Pros

  • High clarity and sharpness
  • Can work in low-light conditions
  • Fast, silent, and precise autofocus
  • Capable of producing bokeh
  • Low vignetting

cons

  • No built-in image stabilization system
  • Not weather-resistant
  • Limited zoom range
  • Inconsistent focus accuracy