The Nikon D3400 is one of those digital cameras that beginners and experts love. Its small size makes it a fantastic travel camera, and the learning curve isn't too steep for newbies. The affordable D3400 accepts both DX lenses designed for crop sensors and FX lenses made for full-frame, though you may find the latter a bit heavy for your camera. These Nikon D3400 lenses are our top choices for the year.
A go-everywhere lens
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm
Staff Pick
The versatile NIKKOR 18-140mm zoom is one of the best Nikon D3400 lenses in their lineup. It goes wide for landscapes and zooms in to bring far away objects up close. The Nikon Silent Wave Motor is quiet and quick, giving you superb autofocus in bright daylight or evening hours. If you prefer to carry only one lens, this is one of Nikon's best.
$497 at Amazon $500 at Best Buy $497 at B&H
Compact all-in-one
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 18-105mm VR
This is one of the smallest zoom lenses put out by Nikon, and it covers a lot of ground. At 18mm, you can shoot landscapes and architecture photos, and zoomed in to 105mm, you can focus in on birds in your yard or the kids splashing in the waves. The vibration motor keeps shots steady, even when extended, and the compact 18mm-105mm delivers ultra-sharp photos and videos and never takes up too much room in your bag.
Nify fifty
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm
The highly sought after 50mm on a crop sensor body like the Nikon D3400 lends itself well to portraits, closeups, family photos, and more. The 50mm prime lens shoots at a fixed focal length and f/1.8 aperture for maximum light gathering. The combo leads to tack sharp photos and videos in bright sunlight or at the golden hour. The NIKKOR AF-S 50mm fits crop sensor cameras like the D3400 and full-frame models to share the lens between kits.
$217 at Amazon $220 at Best Buy $217 at Adorama
A budget 50mm
Yongnuo YN EF 50mm
I've owned Yongnuo's 50mm prime for a few years, and it's every bit as sharp as Nikon's offering. Specs are primarily the same: 50mm fixed focal length and f/1.8 aperture. The only troublespot on this otherwise perfect bargain lens is that the focus motor is noisy. If that doesn't bother you, it's a bargain-basement priced prime piece of glass that fits crop sensors and full-frame cameras, and one of the best Nikon D3400 lenses for your money. It also makes a fantastic webcam lens.
$74 at Amazon $75 at B&H Photo
Best budget landscape option
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 10-20mm
Landscape lenses give you a wider angle of view so that you're able to squeeze sprawling mountains or long cityscapes into a single shot. Ultrawide lenses are pricey. The Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 10-20mm is the cheapest wide-angle DX lens on the market, and it produces stunning images. The autofocus motor is silent, and built-in vibration reduction stabilizes every handheld snap of the shutter. This affordable lens comes with a lens hood and a soft storage bag. If you're into landscapes, this is the one of the best wide-angle Nikon D3400 lenses.
$277 at Amazon $280 at Best Buy $277 at Adorama
A long zoom
Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm VR II
A telephoto zoom is the lens you want to use to capture images of wildlife and objects that are far away from you. The NIKKOR 70-300mm VR II is an update to one of the kit lenses you may have received when you bought your D3400. It has enhanced vibration reduction that cuts down on handshake and allows you to shoot at slower shutter speeds without sacrificing sharpness. The Silent Wave Motor gives fast and quiet autofocus, making it a good choice for those who shoot sports and wildlife.
$397 at Amazon $350 at Best Buy $400 at B&H
Best update for your kit lens
Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD
When you're ready to upgrade your kit lens, the Sigma 17-50mm is the best lens going. Images are bright and crisp, and it has a steady f/2.8 aperture. I've had this lens in my kit for three years, and it remains one of my favorites. It's big, and it's cumbersome, but it produces images that are in a different league from the usual Nikon kit lens. This lens comes with a soft-sided carrying case and a petal-shaped hood.
$300 at Amazon $370 at Best Buy $369 at B&H
One lens for every job
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm ED VR
If you're not keen on keeping a bag full of interchangeable lenses with you at all times, reach for the Nikon 18-300mm. This is an all-around lens that you can use for everything from sunsets to family photos to pictures of wildlife in your local park. It's not cheap, but it is a lightweight option that works for travel and those who prefer a one-size-fits-all approach.
$600 at Amazon $630 at Best Buy $627 at B&H
A fast prime
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm
The 35mm from Nikon is a fast f/1.8 prime lens. It performs phenomenally well in low-light conditions, on vacation, portraits and street photography, and hikes. Its small size and low weight match the D3400 perfectly and give you a hike-friendly shooting kit that's almost pocketable. Images are sharp, focusing is fast and silent, and the price of this lens is a steal.
$197 at Amazon $200 at Best Buy $197 at B&H
A fisheye favorite
Nikon AF DX NIKKOR 10.5mm Fisheye
Fisheye are ultra-wide-angle lenses that give your images strong but pleasing visual distortion. They're ideal for creating a wide panoramic image or showcasing an entire cityscape. Nikon's 10.5mm Fisheye comes with an f/2.8 aperture and inbuilt automatic correction to help you take the sharpest pictures possible. Chromatic aberration is eliminated, too, thanks to extra-low dispersion glass elements. This best-selling fisheye comes with a soft carry pouch and a petal-shaped hood.
$850 at Amazon $772 at Adorama
Best vacation lens
Tamron AF 18-200mm
The Tamron 18-200mm is a solid choice if you only want to take one lens on vacation. With a fast autofocus motor, vibration compensation, and wide zoom range, the inexpensive Tamron can fill the shoes of many other lenses. Images are always sharp, and the lens is compact enough to tuck away in your luggage or leave attached to your camera for all-day shoots. If you're heading out on vacation, this is the Nikon D3400 lens you want in your camera bag.
$199 at Amazon $200 at Best Buy
A dual-purpose lens
Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 Contemporary DC Macro OS HSM
This contemporary lens from Sigma does both sweeping landscapes and has macro capabilities. If you've ever wanted to get a super close-up shot of a bug or a leaf or something with tremendous detail, you need a macro lens. This model from Sigma shoots at 17-70mm and has a quiet Hyper Sonic Motor and Optical Stabilization to steady your hands, so your images never show camera shake.
Picking the right lenses for your kit
Nikon's D3400 is a capable, inexpensive camera that outputs results far above its price class. Coupled with the right lens, your skills as a photographer grow while your images improve. My favorite lens for most environments comes directly from Nikon and is the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm. This a lightweight lens with an expansive zoom range that works for a wide variety of shots.
An ultra-wide-angle lens is a must in gear bags of budding landscape photographers, and the Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm is a featherweight option that belongs in your bag. Photos are sharp, even handheld, and you'll save a few bucks by going with this focal range over similar offerings.
If you want a lens that covers a lot of ground, I recommend the Tamron AF 18-200mm. Autofocus is blazing fast, images are clear, and the whole set up is compact enough to carry all day or pack in a suitcase.
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