5 Lenses for Nikon D3500 to Buy in 2025

Nikon lenses for D3500 for angles and shooting conditions

Equipped with a 24-MP sensor, user-friendly controls, a 5fps burst shooting mode, and being capable of delivering terrific picture quality, the D3500 offers everything one might expect from a modern camera.

That said, if you’d like to enhance the quality of your images even further, you can’t go wrong with purchasing a new Nikon lens for your gear setup. This post goes over the best lenses for Nikon D3500, offering suitable options for any genre. The prices for the lenses on this list range from $397 to $1057.

I suggest considering the budget-friendly AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR if you’re a beginner photographer. On the other hand, if you’re willing to make a larger investment or have some experience behind your back, I recommend checking out the Nikon AF-S FX Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E.

If you’re in search of a lens suitable for portrait photoshoot, then you can’t go wrong with the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G. For a wide-angle model, try out the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 while micro enthusiasts will surely appreciate the Venus Laowa 25mm f/2.8.

Lens type: Prime | Minimum focus distance: 0.45m/17.72 inches | Filter diameter: 58mm | Size: 2.13 x 2.91 x 2.91 inches | Weight: 0.64 lbs

The AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G delivers a highly sharp picture even when using the highest aperture stop. This Nikon 50mm lens allows you to enjoy top-tier image quality even when shooting at f/1.4.

Admittedly, the edge sharpness is a bit lower at such a wide aperture but the central area continues to provide an incredible level of sharpness given the budget-friendly nature of this lens.

This product is a fantastic option for portrait photography due to the included 9-blade diaphragm that creates a beautiful bokeh effect. Even though its autofocus isn’t the fastest, it compensates for that drawback by producing essentially zero noise, which wasn’t the case with its predecessors.

Lens type: Telephoto | Minimum focus distance: 1.1 m/3.7 ft | Filter diameter: 58mm | Size: 4.92 x 2.83 x 2.83 inches | Weight: 0.91 lbs

A huge upgrade compared to alternative entry-grade Nikon superzoom lenses, this camera lens for Nikon D3500 provides impeccable focusing and solid vibration minimization while relying on extra-low dispersion glass to produce a clear picture.

Being offered at a reasonable price, this model is a great choice for sports, animal, and astronomical photography.

The broad range of available focal lengths further increases the versatility of this lens. The AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm focusing system is pleasantly fast but the biggest selling point of this product is its super lightweight and compact design, as this telephoto lens for Nikon camera weighs only 415 grams!

Lens type: Telephoto | Minimum focus distance: 2.2 m/7.22 ft | Filter diameter: 95mm | Size: 7.48 x 7.48 x 17.2 inches | Weight: 5.07 lbs

This Nikon product covers a broad range of different focal lengths while sporting a fixed f/5.6 aperture that allows you to enjoy terrific picture quality and unlimited depth of field control regardless of which zoom ratio you’re using.

The implemented vibration minimization enables you to use shutter speeds 4.5 stops lower than normal while the VR Sport mode is perfect for continuously tracking moving subjects.

Probably the biggest drawback of this model is the absence of nano-coating on the front element. That said, it does come with a silent wave drive, a built-in focus system, and 3 ultra-low-dispersion elements, which more than make up for that flaw.

This lens was developed with beginner and enthusiast-level sports and wildlife photographers in mind and that is reflected in nearly all its characteristics.

Lens type: Wide Angle | Minimum focus distance: 24cm/9.4 inches | Filter diameter: 82mm | Size: 7.5 x 5.5 x 5.5 inches | Weight: 1.9 pounds

The Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 is an ultra wide-angle lens for Nikon cameras. It’s compatible with big filters and is designed in a way that even thick rims don’t lead to increased vignetting. This product relies on a proprietary ultrasonic focusing motor that resembles the ones included in AF-S Nikon lenses. This lens is also a great option for architecture, as it shares similar characteristics with some of the best lenses for real estate photography.

This model offers a nice tactile feel and is comfortable to operate while having a solid weight of just over 500g. When pairing this lens with a camera like the D3500, the weight balance will be skewed a bit towards the front but that shouldn’t make using it any less comfortable.

Lens type: Macro | Minimum focus distance: 17.3 cm/6.81" | Filter diameter: - | Size (W x L): 2.56 x 3.23" / 65 x 82 mm | Weight: 400g

The Venus Laowa 25mm is one of the best lenses for Nikon D3500 if you’re looking for a full-frame ultra-macro model and aren’t afraid of manual focusing. The provided focal length lets you take highly sharp photos as well as snap several shots with varying focus points and then stitch them together.

It should also be noted that the rounded frontal element obstructs a smaller amount of light compared to Nikon standard lenses.

The Venus 25mm optics are comprised of 8 elements and offer a minimum operating distance of 17mm while their special coating effectively deals with chromatic aberration. This lens provides a magnification range of 2.5:1 to 5:1, letting you take close-up photos of all possible kinds. The produced picture offers fantastic sharpness and accurate colors while the ultra-low-dispersion elements minimize color ghosting.

The Nikon D3500 is a 24-megapixel enthusiast-grade DSLR equipped with an APS-C CMOS sensor and a durable battery. It covers an ISO range of 100 to 25,600 and offers an 11-point AF system via its optical viewfinder.

When choosing the lens for your Nikon D3500, it’s important to account for such factors as focal length, aperture, and stabilization.

If you plan to take wide-angle photos of vast landscapes and city streets, then it’s recommended to get a lens with a shorter focal length. A longer lens, on the other hand, is a better fit for long-distance wildlife and hiking photography. This parameter also has an impact on the minimum focusing distance and how far you have to be from the subject to keep it in focus. Such lenses allow you to zoom in on your subject and capture more detail from a distance. They can also help to blur the background and create a shallow depth of field, which can be useful for isolating your subject and creating a more artistic effect.

Bigger aperture values mean that the lens aperture is narrower and won’t offer the same level of performance when using a Nikon D3500 or any other low light camera in poor lighting conditions.

If you use a narrow aperture like F/4, you might have trouble receiving sharp and clear photos in low-light environments. The upside of such models is that they are usually quite cheap and can still offer good results if you use a tripod.

Sadly, the D3500 isn’t supplied with image stabilization functionality. Thankfully, a lot of Nikon D3500 compatible lenses offer integrated stabilization that will help you take sharp photos with minimum effort. Examples of such lenses include the Nikon 16-35mm f4G ED VR, Nikon AF-P DX 10-20mm F4.5-5.6G VR, and the Tamron 10-24mm F3.5-4.5 Di II VC HLD.