If you are looking for the best lens for Nikon D5300, I suggest checking its focal length, maximum aperture, and stabilization. Below, I have listed the top five products based on these features. Read on to learn why they are important.
When I think about the best Nikon budget cameras, the first one on my mind is the Nikon D5300. Although it is relatively an old model first launched in 2013, it is still popular due to its reliable features.
It is the first line of Nikon DSLRs with built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, making it relevant today. It even packs a 24MP sensor that shoots 1080/60p.
But no matter how good this camera can be, it is worthless without a good pair of lenses.
Deciding on the best lenses is not an easy task, though. The countless products on the market can quickly overwhelm you.
Fortunately, we did the hard work for you. We compared the 20 leading lenses for Nikon D5300 based on various articles and customer reviews. Then, we narrowed them down to the five best products to help save your time.
So sit back, relax, and learn all about our top picks below!
Types of Camera Lenses
Before anything else, we will briefly discuss the different types of camera lenses to make things simpler for you.
If you are already familiar with these, feel free to skip to our recommended products below.
Otherwise, you can read on to learn about the differences in the lenses available and figure out which one is best for your needs.
Prime Lenses
A prime lens features a fixed focal length, meaning that you cannot zoom in or out with it. You have to move closer or far away from your subject physically.
However, you can rely on a prime lens for a particular type of photography, unlike a zoom lens which does not specialize. You may also capture stunning background blur because these lenses usually shoot at lower apertures, such as f/1.8 or f/2.0.
Finally, you can achieve sharper images and generally better image quality with a prime lens.
Perhaps the most popular focal length of a prime lens is 50mm, also known as a Nifty Fifty. It is perfect for portraits because the focal length is close to what the human eye sees.
Zoom Lenses
As its name suggests, a zoom lens has multiple focal lengths, so you can zoom in or out whenever you need it.
It is an incredibly versatile lens as it allows you to shoot both close-up and in the distance. Thus, a zoom lens is ideal for different kinds of photography, such as landscapes, weddings, portraits, or sports. For instance, the 18-200mm zoom is an excellent all-in-one lens for various purposes.
The downsides are that they do not offer the same image quality as you get from primes, and they are quite heavy.
Standard Lenses
A standard lens uses a focal length between 40mm and 60mm, with the most common focal length being 50mm as it falls in the middle of this range.
Out of all the other types of lenses, standard lenses offer a natural view without distortion. The final image does not seem zoomed in or out; it simply looks similar to what our eyes see. As such, these lenses are perfect for portraits and street photography.
Wide-Angle Lenses
A wide-angle lens typically has a shorter focal length of 14mm-35mm. It allows you to fit more objects in the frame than a standard lens. Thus, the final image seems zoomed out.
This type of lenses is suitable for group shots, landscapes, and lifestyle photography.
But be careful when choosing a wide-angle lens. The shorter its focal length, the more distorted the final result can get.
Telephoto Lenses
A telephoto lens is the opposite of a wide-angle lens. It has a longer focal length that magnifies the subject, so you can capture photos even if you are far away.
Any lens with a focal range above 60mm is considered a telephoto lens. They are ideal for sports, wildlife, and astronomy.
Macro Lenses
A macro lens refers to glass with a 1:1 ratio, meaning that it captures photos at life-size magnification. It is best suited for close-up photography where you want to capture as much detail as possible. Thus, it is popular among food, nature, and insect photographers.
Specialty Lenses
Finally, there are specialty lenses that focus on creating a unique look to the image. They are further divided into subtypes, such as the fisheye lens and the tilt-shift lens.
The former is basically an ultra-wide-angle lens that can capture a distorted 180° view. Meanwhile, a tilt-shift lens changes perspective, resulting in images that appear to be miniature.
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5 Best Lenses for Nikon D5300
Now let’s move on to our top picks!
When deciding on this list, we made sure that we covered most types of lenses available. In that way, you can find the best lenses for your various needs.
Nikon 50mm f/1.8G – Best Standard Lens
The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G is among the best standard lenses for Nikon D5300.
The 50mm focal length is suitable for everyday photography and portraits.
Meanwhile, the fast and upgraded maximum aperture of f/1.8 allows more light into the sensor. Thus, this lens ensures reliable low-light performance.
The lower f-stop also offers sharper and steadier images. It is crucial for the D5300 because it lacks in-body image stabilization.
Furthermore, the Nikkor 50mm standard lens is compatible with the FX series. So if you are planning to upgrade to a full-frame camera in the future, you may want to consider this lens.
Most customer reviews for this product were positive. A lot of users suggested having the Nikkor 50mm in your arsenal.
However, a few reported problems regarding the built-in autofocus of this lens: they said the Nikkor Vibration Reduction (VR) technology did not work on their D5300. And if it did function, they were disappointed with the slow AF performance.
Nevertheless, the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G is a must-have prime lens. And if you primarily shoot portrait photography, this glass might be enough for your needs.
Specifications:
Maximum Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50mm
Weight: 6.53 ounces
Dimensions: 2.09 x 2.83 x 2.83 inches
Nikon 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G – Best All-in-One Lens
Are you looking for a versatile zoom lens? Then consider getting the Nikon 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G.
This Nikon DX format lens has a versatile zoom range suitable for different types of photography. It is wide open at 18mm, allowing you to shoot group photos and landscapes. It can also zoom in at 140mm, perfect for your telephoto needs.
Additionally, this NIkon lens features a variable aperture that can go as wide as f/3.5. It is not the fastest and sharpest lens by any means. It also does not offer a more shallow depth of field, which is crucial for portraits.
With that said, it still delivers great photos as long as you have the proper lighting.
Considering these benefits, the Nikon 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G is one of the best zoom lenses that you can bring anywhere.
Specifications:
Maximum Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 18-140mm
Weight: 20.8 ounces
Dimensions: 3.81 x 3.07 x 3.07 inches
Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 – Best Wide Angle Lens
If you love shooting landscapes, a wide-angle lens like the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 can meet most of your needs.
It has a short focal range of 10-20mm that allows you to capture more of the scene in front of you. This piece of glass is also perfect for architecture, interior design, and group photos.
Meanwhile, the aperture stays at a maximum of f/3.5 throughout the entire zoom range. It ensures sharp photos and allows for a faster shutter speed.
What’s more, the lens package comes with a petal-type lens hood. This item eliminates the potential glare you can get from shooting wide.
There are a few downsides to this wide-angle lens, though.
While it includes a built-in autofocus, it does not work correctly in the Nikon D5300 because the camera only supports Nikkor AF-S dedicated lenses.
You also have to consider the fact that Sigma is a third-party lens provider. They cannot guarantee that all the special features on their lenses will work on a particular camera model.
Nevertheless, the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 is still among the best wide angle zoom lenses for Nikon D5300. It is relatively cheaper, too, especially for the specs it provides.
Specifications:
Maximum Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 10-20mm
Weight: 18.4 ounces
Dimensions: 3.46 x 3.43 x 3.43 inches
Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E – Best for Wildlife and Sports Photography
For those who are into wildlife and sports photography, consider getting the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E.
This zoom lens has a very long focal length range of 200 to 500mm. This super-telephoto lens allows you to get up close to birds or wild animals without the need to be physically near. It is also suitable for photographing race cars, motorsports, concert events, and other distant subjects.
As for the aperture, this telephoto zoom lens constantly opens wide at f/5.6. It offers stunning bokeh and low-light photos.
Moreover, this Nikon lens comes with a 4.5-stop Vibration Reduction (VR) technology. This image stabilization system can help reduce camera shake while shooting.
Despite these advantages, some users reported that image quality is not as sharp as they want. A few customer reviews also mentioned that the lens is heavy.
However, weight seems to be a common problem among telephoto zoom lenses because of how they are built.
When using the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E, we recommend mounting your camera to a tripod. This can help minimize the load and stabilize your shots.
Specifications:
Maximum Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 200-500mm
Weight: 81.12 ounces
Dimensions: 10.53 x 4.25 x 4.25 inches
Nikon 40mm f/2.8G – Best Macro Lens
If you like to capture general close-up shots, you may want to invest in the Nikon 40mm f/2.8G.
It is one of the best dedicated macro lenses for Nikon D5300. It offers a maximum reproduction ratio of 1.0x and a minimum focus distance at 0.53 feet. Meanwhile, it has a fixed focal length of 40 mm.
This fixed macro lens is capable of shooting collectibles, food, flowers, and other small subjects in great detail.
Moreover, it is compact and lightweight enough so you can carry it anywhere.
The only downside of this lens is the poor autofocus performance. Some customer reviews said that it is not fast enough for capturing live insects up close.
Otherwise, the Nikon 40mm f/2.8G is a great macro lens for close-up photography. It is one of the best lenses for Nikon D5300.
Specifications:
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 40mm
Weight: 8.32 ounces
Dimensions: 2.56 x 2.72 x 2.72 inches
Things To Look for in Lenses for Nikon D5300
By now, you probably have an idea of which lens to choose for your photography needs.
But if you are still clueless or just want to ensure that you will not regret your purchase, we also included a helpful buying guide. It consists of the factors that you need to consider before buying a lens for the Nikon D5300.
Focal Length
Focal length refers to the amount of magnification in the lens. In simpler terms, it determines how large the subject will appear on the frame. It is measured in millimeters (mm).
So before buying a lens, ask yourself first if you need to capture more or less of the scene.
If you answered the former, then you will need a shorter equivalent zoom range, which is found on wide-angle lenses.
Those who want to shoot up-close will benefit from longer focal lengths in telephoto zoom lenses.
In general, though, most photographers need both types of lenses for capturing different subjects.
But if you are on a budget, you can always go with all-in-one lenses like the Nikon 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G.
Aperture
Aperture affects how much light travels into the sensor while the shutter is open. It also determines how much of the shot is in focus. Thus, it is crucial for ensuring high-quality bokeh photos.
The maximum aperture number of a lens is calculated in f-numbers, such as f/2.8 or f5.6.
The lower the number, the wider the opening of the lens, which allows more light into the sensor. Lower apertures (f/1.8) also offer stunning depth of field, ideal for portraits, wildlife, and night photography.
In contrast, lenses with higher apertures (f/16) mean that less light is entering the sensor. It makes everything in the shot in focus, perfect for landscapes or group shots.
Depending on the type of photos you take, you might need a larger or smaller aperture.
Lens Stabilization
The Nikon D5300 does not include in-body image stabilization. To reduce camera shake, you have to rely on lens stabilization.
Fortunately, most lenses on our list already include vibration reduction (VR). This technology ensures sharp images, ideal if you are shooting at slower shutter speeds and low-light conditions.
Weight
While often overlooked, weight is another essential factor to consider when choosing a lens for the Nikon D5300.
No one wants to carry around a heavy lens all day long. As much as possible, look for compact and lightweight lenses that you can put inside your bag quickly.
Warranty
Finally, before spending your money on a Nikon D5300 lens, consider getting a glass with a warranty. So if it suddenly malfunctions or stops working on your camera, you can return it to the manufacturer without extra cost to you.
Do note that most warranties, including the one that Nikon offers, only cover defects. You are not qualified for a replacement if you accidentally damaged the lens.
Conclusion
That concludes our list regarding the best lenses for the Nikon D5300!
We highly recommend every product in this article as they are the best among their categories. But before deciding on one, always consider the kind of photography you are planning to do.
For beginners, we suggest getting the Nikon 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G. It is an excellent all-around lens that allows you to shoot close-ups and wide shots.
Buy the Nikon 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G through this link today!