The 5 Best Lenses for Nikon D3200 – [Reviews & Rankings]

Camera lenses, known otherwise as photographic lenses or photographic objectives, are light-concentrating and conditioning instruments that allow light to pass into the camera body and onto a sensor.

The lenses, which mount to the front of the camera, are required to focus the incoming light onto the sensor surface properly; a camera cannot function without one. They are usually about 4 inches wide, and depending on the model can be up to a foot long, but most are 3-5 inches.

These devices work by varying the distance between optical elements to change the point at which the captured light rays converge onto the sensor. They also have mechanisms to control how much light passes through to the sensor (Source).

The Nikon D3200 is an excellent entry-level DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera. It’s ease-of-use and powerful feature-set make it an attractive option for beginners and professionals alike. If you have outgrown your included kit-lens, you have come to the right place to find an upgrade.

There are many different lens types, and they all produce a different visual style. Before you purchase a lens, consider the aperture type, amount of F-stops, and focal distance. You should also consider its zoom capability, ease of use, price, and durability (Source).

In this review, we’ll examine the top-rated lenses for your D3200. All of the lenses in this article are great options, whether you are taking pictures of your family on vacation, shooting video of your favorite team on the field, or starting a photography business.

What Is The Best Telephoto Lens for the Nikon D3200?

The Nikon AF-S DX 35 is the best long-focus lens, owing to its quality and image clarity. The bokeh (blurry background) will be a thing of the past, and the 1.8 aperture will impress you. By extending the light path, this lens will leave you with professional shots you’ll love.

Do All Nikon Lenses Fit All Nikon Cameras?

If the lens fits once you put it on the camera, it will work with your Nikon. However, some lenses, like ones without autofocus, may not fit or work. AF lenses, however, will fit any Nikon camera.

 

Comparing The Best Lenses for Nikon D3200

1. Nikon AF-S DX 35 MM F/1.8G Lens – Best Overall

This is the best overall Nikon D3200 lens. It is an AF-S 35mm prime lens for the DX-format crop size sensor cameras. AF-S stands for autofocus silent wave motor. Unlike conventional lenses, this model produces constantly stunning images.

It is a fairly lightweight lens made of plastic and carbon fiber. It is well-made and feels sturdy. The black body finish and texture are very good, and it gives a premium look to the lens. The only part that appears cheaply designed is the focus ring. It rotates with a plasticity feeling.

This lens has a fast, maximum aperture of f/1.8 that allows for a superior depth of field control. This helps you to isolate your subjects as well as develop spectacular portraits. This uniquely made aperture is ideal for low light shooting.

This model comes with an aspherical lens element that does a great job of minimizing coma to improve image integrity. Its super integrated coating improves light transmission efficiency and provides reduced flare and color efficiency.

2. Nikon 50MM F/1.8G Autofocus-S Nikkor FX Lens – Best Dual Focus Lens

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This is the latest iteration of the Nikon 50 mm f/1.8G lens. This new type replaces the traditional model with a contemporary AF-S system. With this new model, you can easily perform a manual focus override by using the focus ring.

This unique model provides 3D rendering capabilities and pleasing blur features at a very reasonable price tag. It features a fast maximum aperture that is ideal for everyday shooting. The aperture presents superior performance even in low light situations.

It is incorporated with silent wave motor technology for precise and fast autofocus. With M/A focus mode switch, you can effortlessly change from manual to autofocus operation. It also comes with an aspherical lens element that allows for high contrast and superb optical performance.

3. Nikon 55-200MM F/4-5.6G VR II DX AF-S ED Zoom Nikkor Lens – Most Versatile Lens

This is a compact telephoto lens that is highly resourceful for travel, people and action. This model is enhanced for Nikon compact DX format DSLRs. It comes with a retracting construction that is not only small, but also lightweight.

The lens has a versatile zoom that ranges from 55mm to 200mm. The 55mm zoom range is ideal for group photos and portraits, while the 200mm is perfect for capturing close-ups on school events and sports fields.

Unlike conventional lenses that produce shaky videos and blurry photos, this unique lens is equipped with vibration reduction that guarantees steady videos and sharp photos. Not to mention, it delivers continuous coverage.

This remarkable lens will push your Nikon D3200 high resolution to peak performance. It features a super integrated coating that reduces lens flare and ghosting to deliver advanced color quality. Also, the extra-low dispersion glass does a good job of eliminating optical distortion.

4. Altura Photo 8MM F/3.0 Fisheye Lens – Best Fisheye Lens

The 8MM F/3.0 Fisheye is the latest addition to the Altura brand. It has an outstanding build quality that guarantees straightforward ease of use and superb performance for both novice and experienced photographers.

With multi-layer lens coating and hybrid aspherical elements, this lens does a great job of unlocking powerful viewing angles and produce sharply defined portraits. If you have an APS-C camera, you will enjoy an exaggerated perspective with this lens.

If used with a full-frame camera, it produces iconic circular image floating. The lens is equipped with a 6-blade aperture along with clickable stops that range from F/3.0 to F/22. You also get a custom made protective case for safe lens storage.

5. Altura 52MM 0.43X HD Wide Angle Lens – Most Affordable

If you are looking for a great alternative to professional, high-end lenses, you should look no further than the Altura Photo 0.43X. It will easily install in the front of your zoomed or fixed lens, allowing you to cover a wider field of view.

It effortlessly expands your field of view, allowing for incredible wide-angle camerawork. This makes it an exceptional choice for real estate photography and family photos. It comes with a detachable macro lens that allows for high-resolution close-ups.

This lens is a great choice for photographers on a budget. The most admirable feature of this product is the build quality. The lens is very much capable of surviving almost a four feet drop. It is definitely an outstanding economical addition to your Nikon D3200 gear.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Lens for the Nikon D3200

One of the hardest aspects to achieve when acquiring new camera gear is clarity.

How much you should spend, why you require new Nikon D3200 lenses, and where it fits are points that make the deciding process easy. Below are some of the key points you ought to look into when buying the best lens for Nikon D3200.

The almost sentence-long numbers and letters on the side of a lens barrel provide you with all the information regarding the lens.

However, the details you ought to pay close attention to, include maximum aperture, focal length, format type, and lens mount.

Focal Length

The focal length is always expressed in mm. The higher the number, the bigger the zoom. A lower number means that the lens may be used for extensive shots. For instance, the human eye is said to view the equals of 30-50mm on a camera, a figure lower than this will take in a wider view than naturally seen.

If the lens includes a focal length range of say 25-80mm, it is a zoom lens. This means that it is able to zoom and be used at any given point across that range. But, if there exists a single focal figure, say 60mm, for example, it is a prime lens. Taking in less or more of the view may require you to be close or far away from the subject.

Mostly, primes are considered to be superior when compared to zooms. But, that is not to indicate that zooms are no better than prime lenses. To make comprehending focal length more complex, a similar focal length lens gives a different view on devices with various sensor sizes, due to the crop factor.

Due to this, most manufacturers provide a 35mm-format equivalent of a lens designed for a device with small sensors. Therefore, if your device has a small sensor, consider this when deciding on a suitable lens.

Maximum Aperture

It is shown in various ways. Whether it is F2.8, f/2.8, or 1:2.8, it means the same thing and signifies the maximum amount of light that a lens can gather. A lens with a larger maximum aperture is able to gather more light.

As an F1.8 lens is capable of using more light as compared to the F4 lens, it means it is best in low-light situations without the need for using a flash. Other zoom lenses feature a variable maximum aperture. This means that it changes depending on the focal length.

Lens Mount

You probably want to acquire a lens that can be attached to your camera, and this is referred to as lens mount. Manufacturers normally make Nikon D3200 camera lenses with proprietary mounts that can only fit their devices.

Third-party producers also manufacture lenses with mounts that can fit various brands. It is crucial you know which mount your device uses before acquiring a lens.

Format Type

To add on the capability of mounting the lens onto your camera, you should be sure it will produce a big enough image to cover the image sensor. As different devices use different size sensors, producers manufacture specific lenses that will work with them.

APS-C or Full-Frame

Lenses for devices with a cropped sensor indicated as APS-C, differ from lenses for full-frame devices. Lenses for full-frame gadgets may be used on both cropped frame cameras and full-frame. APS-C lenses are only used on cropped frame cameras.

If you are planning to upgrade your APS-C device to a full-frame, later on, it makes more sense to start investing now in full-frame lenses.

Construction

If you happen to be a travel photographer and mostly shoot outdoors, how the lens and body of the device are built is crucial. Select a robust weatherproof body that will allow you to manage the difficult situations you will face without worrying. Remember that special protections are recommended for terrible dust or heavy rain.

Size and Weight

Maximum aperture influences the size and weight of the device. A larger aperture opening means a bigger lens. If you travel a lot and shoot in decent light, save yourself on carrying too much weight by selecting a lighter zoom lens that does not have a larger aperture opening.

Photography Style

Different types of lenses are best suited for a given subject. It is important you decide on what you intend to use the lens for. Is it portraits, travel, studio work, or landscape? It is important you look for features of a gear that you need to get a particular result.

If you are a professional photographer, you probably need a softbox for Speedlight as it will help you take better photographs. Softbox is used to diffuse light from an artificial source, and make the spread wider and more even

Ready To Buy The Best Lense for Nikon D3200?

When it comes to acquiring the best lens for Nikon D3200, you should be as informed as possible to find the one that will suit your needs just fine.

As you have learned, different Nikon D3200 lenses give you creative freedom to take different kinds of images. Remember that lenses can last longer than your camera as they will continue to work well on next-generation cameras.

This is why you should be ready to spend more on lenses than on the camera. Hopefully, the provided points will help you in selecting the next suitable lenses.

Do you own a small or medium photo studio? One of the most important things you should have is a quality continuous lighting kit. They provide a balanced daylight light continuously, which enables you to shoot high-quality photos.

Lenses are an essential gear when it comes to photography and videography. If you a professional photographer or videographer, you probably need quality DSLR shoulder rigs. It will help you shoot at various angles and while in motion.