Best camera lens for a Nikon d3400

Imagine you’re holding your Nikon D3400, ready to capture the world’s beauty, but something’s missing. That perfect lens. In photography, choosing the perfect lens can be a game-changer.

Whether you’re just starting in photography or an experienced pro, the right lens can make all the difference. In this article, I’ll help you discover the best camera lens options for your Nikon D3400, simplifying your selection process.

Each lens has a unique tale, and I’ll explore them all.  Join me as I explore lens options that will change how you see the world through your Nikon D3400.

List of the best camera lens for a Nikon d3400 [Quick list]

Here, I have simplified a list of the best camera lens for the Nikon D3400.

1. Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DX – Best All-round Lens for the Nikon D3400
2. Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 – Best Everyday Zoom Lens for the Nikon D3400
3. Nikon 35mm f/1.8G DX – Best Prime Lens for the Nikon D3400
4. Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 – Best Ultra-wide-angle Lens for the Nikon D3400
5. Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G – Best Wide-angle Lens for the Nikon D3400
6. Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 – Best Telephoto Lens for the Nikon D3400
7. Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 – Best Sports Telephoto Lens for the Nikon D3400
8. Nikon 85mm f/3.5 DX Micro – Best Macro Lens for the Nikon D3400
9. Nikon 105mm F2.8 VR G – Best Long Macro Lens for the Nikon D3400
10. Sigma 20mm F1.4 Art – Best Portrait Lens for the Nikon D3400
11. Nikon 50mm F1.8 G – Most Versatile Portrait Lens for the Nikon D3400

List of the best camera lenses for a Nikon d3400 [Detailed analysis]

Here, I’ve provided an in-depth analysis of the best camera lens for the Nikon D3400.

1. Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DX – Best All-round Lens for the Nikon D3400

• The Nikon 18-300mm offers a maximum aperture of f/3.5-6.3.
• The lens has a filter diameter of 67 mm.
• Frame chromatic aberration may be present.

Brand	Nikon.
Type	Telephoto lens.
Lens format coverage	DX-format DSLR cameras.
Compatible Mounting	Nikon F (DX).
Image Stabilization	The lens features Vibration Reduction (VR) technology.
No.of diaphragm blades	7 blades.
Lens construction	16 elements in 12 groups.
Minimum focus distance	0.48 m.
Weight	525 g.
Adjustment	The lens has autofocus and manual focus capabilities.

Reasons to buy: 

• Versatile focal length.
• Outstanding optics and image quality
• The body is lightweight and small.

Reasons to avoid: 

• There is no lens hood.
• There is some distortion and soft corners.
• The lens is a metal mount.
• Magenta-green CA is seen in high-contrast areas and extreme corners. Mostly noticeable when the lens is wide open, however zooming in seems to reduce it.

 

2. Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 – Best Everyday Zoom Lens for the Nikon D3400

• The Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 offers a maximum aperture of f/2.8.
• The lens has a filter diameter of 77 mm.
• It is a compact and lightweight lens.
• There is some noticeable chromatic aberration in the corners and across the frame.

 

Brand	Sigma.
Type	Standard zoom lens.
Lens format coverage	APS-C format digital SLRs.
Compatible Mounting	Canon EF, Nikon F (DX).
Image Stabilization	OS (Optical Stabilizer) function.
No.of diaphragm blades	7 blades.
Lens construction	17 elements in 13 groups.
Minimum focus distance	28 cm.
Weight	565 g.
Adjustment	The lens has autofocus and manual focus capabilities Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) for fast and quiet autofocus.

Reasons to buy: 

• Zooming function that is smooth.
• The aperture is fixed at f/2.8.
• Hyper Sonic Engine.

Reasons to avoid: 

• The outer cover is made of plastic.
• At f/11, the resolution begins to decrease.
• Wide open with soft borders.

3. Nikon 35mm f/1.8G DX – Best Prime Lens for the Nikon D3400

• The Nikon 35mm f/1.8G DX offers a maximum aperture of f/1.8.
• The lens has a filter diameter of 52 mm.
• The barrel is made of durable polycarbonate, while the lens mount is of metal.
• Wide open, chromatic aberrations (color shadows at sharp contrast transitions) are mild but relatively significant across the aperture range.

 

Brand	Nikon.
Type	Standard.
Lens format coverage	APS-C.
Compatible Mounting	Nikon F.
Image Stabilization	No image stabilization.
No.of diaphragm blades	7 blades.
Lens construction	8 elements in 6 groups.
Minimum focus distance	30 cm.
Weight	200 g.
Adjustment	Manual focusing is available at any time by just gripping the focus ring.

Reasons to buy: 

• Small and lightweight.
• Excellent in low light.
• Affordable.

Reasons to avoid: 

• The focus ring is narrow.
• There is no optical stabilization.
• Barrel distortion.

 

4. Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 – Best Ultra-wide-angle Lens for the Nikon D3400

• The Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 offers a maximum aperture of f/3.5.
• The lens has a filter diameter of 82 mm.
• The ultra multi-layer lens coating eliminates flare and ghosting while maintaining good image quality across the zoom range.
• Chromatic aberration is a little high in the corners.

Brand	Sigma.
Type	Wide angle zoom lens.
Lens format coverage	APS-C format digital SLRs.
Compatible Mounting	Nikon F (DX).
Image Stabilization	No image stabilization.
No.of diaphragm blades	7 blades.
Lens construction	13 elements in 10 groups.
Minimum focus distance	0.24 m.
Weight	520 g.
Adjustment	The HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) provides quick and quiet autofocus while also providing full-time manual focus override.

Reasons to buy: 

• For use in architecture and landscape design.
• Excellent vision.
• Zooming mechanism that is smooth.

Reasons to avoid: 

• Soft edges
• There is no weather sealing.

 

5. Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G – Best Wide-angle Lens for the Nikon D3400

• The Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G offers a maximum aperture of f/3.5.
• The lens has a filter diameter of 55 mm.
• Chromatic aberration appears best at full wide angle, average in the center, and better at longer focal lengths.
• Vignetting is significant at maximum wide angle and aperture, but it decreases gradually to less than 0.4EV at f/5.6.

 

Brand	Nikon.
Type	Mid-range zoom lens.
Lens format coverage	APS-C format digital SLRs.
Compatible Mounting	Nikon F (DX).
Image Stabilization	The lens features Vibration Reduction (VR) technology.
No.of diaphragm blades	7 blades.
Lens construction	12 elements in 9 groups.
Minimum focus distance	0.28 m.
Weight	210 g.
Adjustment	This lens has a small silent-wave motor for autofocus.

Reasons to buy: 

• Lightweight and compact
• The zoom range is versatile.
• Excellent sharpness.

Reasons to avoid: 

• There is some chromatic aberration and distortion.
• Plastic construction.

 

6. Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 – Best Telephoto Lens for the Nikon D3400

• The Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 offers a maximum aperture of f/2.8.
• The lens has a filter diameter of 77 mm.
• Chromatic abberation is absent at 50 and 70mm but starts to show in corners at 100mm and becomes strong at 150mm. with f/2.8, corners.
• Corner vignetting at f/2.8 is visible at 150mm. 150mm prefers f/5.6 for evenly lit corners, but f/4 clears most corner shadowing.

Brand	Sigma.
Type	Telephoto.
Lens format coverage	APS-C format.
Compatible Mounting
Image Stabilization	OS (Optical Stabilizer) function.
No.of diaphragm blades	9 blades.
Lens construction	18 elements in 14 groups.
Minimum focus distance	1 m.
Weight	1340 g.
Adjustment	The HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) provides quick and quiet autofocus.

Reasons to buy: 

• Image stabilization.
• Silent autofocus.
• Excellent build.

Reasons to avoid: 

• Large and hefty
• There is no weather sealing.

 

7. Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 – Best Sports Telephoto Lens for the Nikon D3400

• The Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 offers a maximum aperture of f/2.8.
• The lens has a filter diameter of 95 mm.
• Lightweight and compact in construction for higher useability.
• Water and oil repellent coating on the front glass element makes maintenance of the lens surface.

 

Brand	Sigma.
Type	Telephoto.
Lens format coverage	Designed to work with both full-frame and APS-C cameras.
Compatible Mounting	Canon EF.
Image Stabilization	OS (Optical Stabilizer) function.
No.of diaphragm blades	9 blades.
Lens construction	20 elements in 14 groups.
Minimum focus distance	2.8 m.
Weight	1930 g.
Adjustment	The HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) provides quick and quiet autofocus.

Reasons to buy: 

• Strong zoom.
• Excellent clarity.
• Coating that repels water and oil.

Reasons to avoid: 

• Heavy and prolonged.
• Not ideal for low-light situations.
• A long focusing distance.

 

8. Nikon 85mm f/3.5 DX Micro – Best Macro Lens for the Nikon D3400

• The Nikon 85mm f/3.5 DX Micro offers a maximum aperture of f/2.8.
• The lens has a filter diameter of 52 mm.
• With typical values of 0.4 to 0.5 pixels at the image border, lateral CAs (color shadows during high-contrast transitions) are well under control.

 

Brand	Nikon.
Type	Macro telephoto.
Lens format coverage	For DX, Nikon AF-S DX Micro.
Compatible Mounting	Nikon F (DX).
Image Stabilization	Image Stabilization, Nikon VR II (Vibration Reduction).
No.of diaphragm blades	9 blades.
Lens construction	14 elements in 10 groups.
Minimum focus distance	0.286 m.
Weight	355 g.
Adjustment	Nikon’s exclusive Silent Wave Motor (SWM).

Reasons to buy: 

• Exceptionally sharp.
• Excellent stabilization.
• Magnification 1:1.

Reasons to avoid: 

• There is some distortion.
• Bokeh is average.

 

9. Nikon 105mm F2.8 VR G – Best Long Macro Lens for the Nikon D3400

• The Nikon 105mm F2.8 VR G offers a maximum aperture of f/2.8.
• The lens has a filter diameter of 62 mm.
• Nano-crystal coating and ED glass elements improve overall image quality by lowering flare and chromatic aberrations even further.
• There is some longitudinal chromatic aberration present.

 

Brand	Nikon.
Type	Telephoto.
Lens format coverage	Full frame.
Compatible Mounting	Nikon F (FX).
Image Stabilization	OS (Optical Stabilizer) function.
No.of diaphragm blades	9 blades.
Lens construction	14 elements in 12 groups.
Minimum focus distance	31.4 cm.
Weight	790 g.
Adjustment	Internal focus allows quick and quiet auto-focusing without changing the length of the lens.

Reasons to buy: 

• Excellent in low light.
• HD videos.
• Silent autofocus.

Reasons to avoid: 

• Heavy.
• Soft image at maximum aperture.
• It can be slow.

 

10. Sigma 20mm F1.4 Art – Best Portrait Lens for the Nikon D3400

• The Sigma 20mm F1.4 Art offers a maximum aperture of f/2.8.
• The lens has a filter diameter of 82 mm.
• Chromatic abberation is relatively negligible, even wide-open, on both full-frame and sub-frame cameras, with just minor purple and green coloring on high-contrast borders in the corners.

 

Brand	Sigma.
Type	Standard.
Lens format coverage	Designed to work with both full-frame and APS-C cameras.
Compatible Mounting	Canon EF.
Image Stabilization	No image stabilization.
No.of diaphragm blades	11 blades.
Lens construction	15 elements in 11 groups.
Minimum focus distance	27.6 cm.
Weight	950 g.
Adjustment	A stepping focus motor (STM) is present.

Reasons to buy:

• Sharpness from edge to edge.
• Fantastic in low light.
• Lovely bokeh.

Reasons to avoid:

• It’s quite pricey.
• Heavy.
• There is no filter thread.

 

11. Nikon 50mm F1.8 G – Most Versatile Portrait Lens for the Nikon D3400

• The Nikon 50mm F1.8 G offers a maximum aperture of f/1.8.
• The lens has a filter diameter of 58 mm.
• The lens controls chromatic aberration nicely.

 

Brand	Nikon.
Type	Standard.
Lens format coverage	Designed to work with both full-frame and APS-C cameras.
Compatible Mounting	Nikon F (FX).
Image Stabilization	No image stabilization.
No.of diaphragm blades	7 blades.
Lens construction	7 elements in 6 groups.
Minimum focus distance	0.45 m.
Weight	185 g.
Adjustment	The lens has an exclusive silent wave motor (SWM).

Reasons to buy: 

• Light and compact.
• Fast aperture.
• Affordable.

Reasons to avoid: 

• Lacks VR.

What to look for best camera lens for a Nikon d3400

1- Lens type

When searching for the best camera lens for your Nikon D3400, consider key factors like lens type, focal length, and aperture. Determine your photography needs, such as portraits, landscapes, or low-light scenarios. Opt for versatile prime or zoom lenses to suit your preferences.

The lens type should match your shooting style, ensuring it meets your creative and technical requirements. Additionally, assess compatibility with your camera, considering both DX and FX-format lenses.

Carefully weigh these aspects to find the perfect lens for your Nikon D3400 and enhance your photography experience.

2- Price 

When evaluating the price of the best camera lens for your Nikon D3400, start by setting a budget that aligns with your photography goals. Research various lenses and their prices, considering factors like brand, lens type, and condition (new or used). Look for deals from reputable retailers or online marketplaces and read customer reviews for insights.

Don’t forget to account for essential accessories, such as lens filters or hoods, which can add to the overall cost. Balance your budget with the lens quality and features that matter most to you to make an informed purchase.

3- Aperture

When assessing the aperture for the best camera lens for your Nikon D3400, consider your photography style and lighting conditions. A lower f-number, like f/1.4 or f/2.8, offers wider apertures ideal for low light and creating background blur (bokeh), perfect for portraits.

Higher f-numbers, such as f/8 or f/16, provide greater depth of field for landscapes and well-lit scenes. The versatility of a lens with adjustable apertures allows you to adapt to different shooting scenarios.

Always weigh your preferences and intended use to select the ideal aperture for your Nikon D3400 lens.

4- Focal length

To choose the right focal length for your Nikon D3400, consider your photographic needs. Shorter focal lengths, typically under 35mm, are great for wide-angle shots and landscapes. Standard focal lengths of around 50mm are versatile and suitable for everyday photography.

Longer focal lengths, often 85mm or more, excel in portraits and telephoto shots. Assess your shooting preferences and subjects, whether close-ups or distant scenes. The focal length determines the lens’s field of view, so align it with your photographic style to ensure the best results for your Nikon D3400.

5- Image stabilization

When considering image stabilization for your Nikon D3400 lens, prioritize your shooting conditions and style. Lenses with built-in image stabilization, often called VR (Vibration Reduction) in Nikon lenses, help reduce camera shake, particularly in low light or when using telephoto focal lengths.

This feature is crucial for hand-held shooting without tripod support. Assess your need for stability and opt for lenses equipped with image stabilization if you frequently shoot in challenging conditions, ensuring your photos are sharp and blur-free.

6- Size and weight 

When evaluating the size and weight of a lens for your Nikon D3400, prioritize your portability and comfort. Smaller, lighter lenses are ideal for on-the-go and travel photography, reducing the bulk of your gear. However, larger and heavier lenses often offer advanced features and better image quality.

Consider your shooting preferences and how much you’re willing to carry. Strike a balance between convenience and performance by selecting a size and weight that aligns with your photography needs and comfort during long shooting sessions.

7- Construction 

When assessing construction quality for a Nikon D3400 lens, focus on materials and build. Look for lenses made with robust materials like metal or high-quality plastics for durability.

Weather-sealed construction protects against moisture and dust, enhancing versatility for outdoor shooting. Pay attention to features like a metal mount, which adds stability.

Check the overall build for a solid and precise feel. Durable construction ensures longevity and reliable performance, making it essential for your Nikon D3400 lens, especially if you’re an enthusiast or professional photographer.

Best Camera lens for a Nikon d3400 FAQs

What is the sharpest lens for the Nikon D3400?

If you want to photograph a lot of close-ups or headshots, the Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-S G is the ideal portrait lens for the Nikon D3400. It is also Nikon’s sharpest lens. However, it is sharper than Nikon 50mm f/1.8 G.

What are the disadvantages of the Nikon D3400?

The D3400 is not excellent at tracking moving subjects, yet its subject-tracking AF setting can handle huge, slow-moving subjects well. At 22mm (33mm equivalent), f/8.0, 0.6s, ISO 100, using the AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR Nikkor lens.

How do I take sharp pictures with my Nikon D3400?

Select the aperture-priority auto mode and the lowest f-number. The idea of the photograph is evident by focusing on the brush in the subject’s hand and blurring everything else for an amazing shot that brings the main subject into striking perspective.

How many photos can a Nikon D3400 take?

The D3400 also offers significantly improved battery performance over its predecessor, with Nikon claiming that the camera can record up to 1,200 images on a full charge, compared to 700 images on the D3300.

Conclusion

In conclusion, after thoroughly researching the best camera lens for a Nikon D3400, the choice ultimately depends on your specific photography needs and preferences. The D3400 is a versatile camera, and selecting the right lens can significantly impact your photography.

For those who are beginners in photography, I recommend my previous article, “Beginner’s Guide for Buying Camera Lenses.” This guide provides valuable insights into lens selection, explaining essential terminology and helping you make informed decisions.

Now, with the knowledge gained from my research and the beginner’s guide, you can confidently choose the best camera lens for your needs and capture stunning images that align with your photography goals and style.