When you’re a new photographer it’s hard to justify investing in a lens that’s more expensive than your camera. The five Nikon D3500 lenses I chose for this video are not only affordable, but they’ll also let you use your Nikon D3500 in new, more advanced ways.
The D3500 is one of the most popular beginner DSLRs on the market. It’s affordable, lightweight, and has built-in guides that help you adjust the settings to get the shot you want. All of these features make it a great camera for people who are ready to graduate from a smartphone to something more serious. Let’s get started.
1. Nikon 35mm f/1.8 Lens
First, let’s talk about the Nikon 35mm f/1.8. With its wide aperture and incredible sharpness, this lens is an ideal everyday lens that features smooth, natural bokeh. It’s the least expensive lens on our list at $199.95.
This lens has a 52.5mm focal length which is a 35mm equivalent and a minimum focal distance of 11.8 inches. A few key features are Nikon’s Rear Focusing System so it’s always as compact as it looks and a M/A switch which allows you to instantly switch from autofocus to manual focus in a heartbeat.
2. Venus 25mm f/2.8 Lens
Second, we have the Venus 25mm f/2.8. I recommend this lens if you’re interested in close-up nature photography or you’re a germaphobe. It’s made for macro photography and has an extreme 5:1 magnification.
Unlike a lot of other macro lenses, this 25mm Venus gives you corner to corner sharpness in every shot. It’s also small and lightweight which makes it easy to carry with you on a nature hike. You can find this lens on our website for $399.00.
3. Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 Lens
Moving on to our next lens the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8. This is a little pricier at $799.00 but don’t let the sticker shock scare you away. We’re going to talk about why this is a great lens in a second, but Focus Camera also gives you a free SIGMA USB dock and memory card with the purchase.
The Sigma 18-35mm 1.8 translates to 27mm-52.5mm on a full frame camera. It also has extraordinary optics that professional photographers look for to give their images an extra pop. It’s called an art lens for a reason.
This Sigma lens has exceptional focus-related features. To ensure stability while focusing, this lens moves its inner lens groups without changing the lens’s physical length. It helps you take fast, very clear images. It also has an internal motor powered by ultrasonic waves that produce a quiet, high-speed auto-focus.
4. Nikon 85mm f/1.8 Lens
The fourth lens on the list is perfect for shooting portraits or concerts in low light. The Nikon 85mm f/1.8 has a maximum aperture ideal for low-light portraits, weddings, concerts, or recitals. It also has a silent wave motor autofocus system so you can capture the moment without any noise.
This lens has a minimum focal distance of 2’6” and is equivalent to a 127.5mm focal length on a full frame camera. It features an internal autofocus system and a M/A focus mode switch on the side of the lens barrel. All at the price of $476.95.
5. Tamron 18-270mm Lens
The last of our Nikon D3500 lenses is the Tamron 18-270mm. This $349.00 lens is a go-to for high powered zoom. It has 15x magnification and can switch from wide-angle to telephoto zoom macro.
If you don’t have a tripod using such an extreme zoom can get jittery so Tamron factored that issue in and added vibration compensation as well as a PDU autofocus motor which makes this lens lighter, slimmer, and easier to hold.