Despite the rise of compact, mirrorless cameras, there are still many entry-level DSLRs that may be worth a look, including the Nikon D3200.
With 24MP CMOS sensor and Full HD 1080p30 video, it has a lot to offer, especially for blogging.
Not to mention that it has a competitive price, making it great for beginners too!
However, are you wanting to improve your photography or videography even more?
Instead of getting a new camera, have you ever thought of buying new lenses?
This is the easiest way to transform your photos and videos while still using the same D3200.
Below, we’ve broken down the best Nikon D3200 lenses for you.
You will also find a complete guide to choosing the right lens for what you need…
Want a quick answer? Check out the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G.
The best lens to get for your Nikon D3200 should suit your specific needs in these aspects:
First, take a look at the maximum aperture of your lens. This is denoted with an ‘f’ and simply refers to how much light your lens is able to let through, which determines its ability to shoot in low light environments.
An f/1.8 lens can capture blur-free images even in darker conditions, though it will be more expensive. If you’ll mainly be working in well-lit areas, you can save some money by getting the f/4 alternative!
Another important element is the focal length, which is the distance between the sensor and optical center of your lens. Measured in millimeters (mm), the focal length also decides the magnification of your photos.
A longer lens can perform a more powerful zoom, whereas a shorter lens is better suited for wide-angle shots and group photos. There are also two types of lenses: those with a changeable (zoom lens) or fixed length (prime lens).
The Nikon D3200 doesn't feature any image stabilization. This is one thing to keep in mind when you’re looking for a lens, and we recommend going for those that have in-body stabilization or Vibration Reduction!
How big and heavy your lens is should also come into consideration. Although a DSLR camera, the D3200 is relatively lightweight at just 505 g!
This means choosing a light and compact lens if you’re planning to use your camera for backpacking. That said, certain lenses for telephoto would naturally be hefty and weighty, so make sure you have the right camera backpack.
Next, don’t overlook the build quality of your lens too! This includes the construction and how well-made it is, which determines how long it will last you.
Plus, things like weather-sealing and dust resistance are great features to have, as they will be useful if you are shooting outdoors.
When you know how you’ll be using your camera, you can easily narrow down your options by looking only at specific lens types. For instance, are you more interested in shooting portraits of landscapes?
Alternatively, if you want something more multifunctional, you might prefer a standard zoom lens.
Finally, think about how much you can spare for a camera lens, which will depend on whether you are using the camera for professional or personal purposes.
Foregoing certain features that you may not be using can also help you save money. For example, opting for a lens with a more narrow aperture because you don’t really need to photograph in low light.
Here are a few different types of lenses you can use with your Nikon D3200:
A standard prime lens features a fixed focal length that is not zoomable, which means you will have to physically move to reframe your scene. While this lens type sounds less versatile, it usually has higher resolution and sharpness for better quality photos.
Moreover, a lot of prime lenses have a perspective that’s very natural to the human eye. This can be great for producing more flattering and realistic images.
In contrast, a zoom lens may be better for you if you want the flexibility of a changeable focal length. This makes it easier to adapt to a variety of shots and scenarios.
Zoom lenses are probably the most versatile type you can go for, as it allows you to shoot from wide-angle to telephoto with the same lens.
A wide-angle lens refers to a lens that can fit more of a scenery into one frame, which is why it’s ideal for landscape and architecture photography. Most wide-angle lenses perform well in low light, so you can also use it for shooting night skies.
Additionally, this lens type is great for street photography as you can easily fit the entire atmosphere into your shot. We personally love a good wide-angle lens to accompany our travels!
When most people think of a photographer, they might imagine gigantic lenses that weigh a ton. Well, this type of lens is known as telephoto lenses!
They specialize in long-distance photography and often have a very powerful zoom range, which means you can capture faraway subjects in superb sharpness. This is great for wildlife, sports, and event photography.
If you want to capture more details and get up close with small subjects, you’re probably looking for a macro lens. It’s capable of 1:1 life-sized magnification and usually has a closer minimum focusing distance.
From tiny insects, flowers, food details, and textured fabrics, a macro lens can produce super sharp photos. The three main categories of macro lenses include short, intermediate, and long.
Yes, you can technically shoot human faces with any lens, but special portrait lenses will ensure the most flattering and beautiful portraits! They combine the ideal aperture and focal length so you can create gorgeous background blurs.
A longer portrait lens is great to focus on facial details, whereas a shorter lens can help you tell stories with the background.
Finally, specialty lenses refer to other types of lenses with unique characteristics that let you be more creative with your photography. From tilt shift, special bokehs, to fisheye effects.
Perhaps the more popular one would be a fisheye lens, which comes with a distorted ultra-wide-angle perspective for a more dramatic angle.
Minimum focus distance: 0.3 m
Focal length: 35 mm
Max aperture: f/1.8
Filter diameter: 52 mm
Weight: 200 g
Size (diameter x length): 70 x 52.5 mm
Our top pick for the Nikon D3200 is actually a prime lens, which is the all-round Nikon 35mm f/1.8G.
Its 35mm focal length is useful and is equivalent to a full-frame 50mm, which means you can use it for a variety of shots: portraits, street, sceneries, and even low light.
Yes, the f/1.8 max aperture is extremely impressive and works like a charm even when you’re in a poorly lit environment! Not to mention the great bokeh you can get.
The lens also features a quick and silent AF-S focusing, which lets you lock on a subject for the most precise focus and achieve blur-free photos.
What we love the most is the fact that it’s super affordable, making it ideal for any casual photographer who wants an everyday lens.
Plus, having a compact design and weighing only 200g, this Nikon lens is a fantastic option for any of your backpacking trips!
Minimum focus distance: 0.45 m
Focal length: 50 mm
Max aperture: f/1.8
Filter diameter: 58 mm
Weight: 185 g
Size (diameter x length): 72.1 x 5.4 mm
Another excellent prime lens for the D3200 you might want to consider is the Nikon 50mm f/1.8.
Also known as the nifty fifty, the 50mm lens is super versatile and best known for its beautiful rendering of portrait photographs.
As such, we’d recommend going for this one if you’re interested in shooting human subjects.
It’s also great for everyday use and can create creamy background blurs, which will make your subject stand out from the background.
Nikon's Super Integrated Coating (SIC) ensures efficient light transmission to produce consistent colors and less flaring.
Moreover, this lens is even more lightweight than the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G, and also very travel-friendly.
Minimum focus distance: 0.45 m
Focal length: 18-300 mm
Max aperture: f/3.5
Filter diameter: 77 mm
Weight: 830 g
Size (diameter x length): 83 x 120 mm
The Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6 DX might be our favorite zoom lens for the D3200, thanks to its super powerful zoom range.
With a single lens, you can try out a huge range of photography types, including wide-angle shots and really high-powered zooms. In fact, it's equivalent to a super-telephoto reach of 450mm!
This makes it handy if you want to shoot group photos and faraway action in a single event.
It also features a second generation VR II technology for sharp photos and videos, while the Silent Wave Motor provides fast and quiet autofocus.
Minimum focus distance: 0.24 m
Focal length: 10-20 mm
Max aperture: f/4
Filter diameter: 77 mm
Weight: 465 g
Size (diameter x length): 83.5 x 81 mm
When it comes to wide-angled shots, it’s probably hard to find a better lens than the Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6.
As a rotary zoom lens, the length of the lens physically changes as you adjust the zoom, which means it can be more compact at the 10mm end.
It features three special low dispersion (SLD) glass elements that can compensate for any chromatic aberration, whereas the Hypersonic Motor ensures silent and fast AF.
This Sigma lens also comes with a lens hood, which may be useful for reducing flare and ghosting.
Overall, this is a fantastic lens to capture all the sprawling sceneries you may come across while traveling, for example to places like Bali.
Minimum focus distance: 0.28 m
Focal length: 10-20 mm
Max aperture: f/2.8
Filter diameter: 82 mm
Weight: 560 g
Size (diameter x length): 89 x 92 mm
While not the cheapest wide-angle lens on the market, you should try the Tokina 11-20mm f/2.8 if you’re curious about using other third-party lenses on a Nikon camera.
This is an excellent contender with the same focal range as the previously mentioned wide-angle Sigma lens.
In fact, it also has a wider max aperture at f/2.8, which means it performs better in low light.
Its optical design incorporates three aspherical lens elements and three Super-low Dispersion glass elements that produce super contrast and sharpness.
We also love the One-touch Focus Clutch Mechanism that lets you easily change between AF and MF modes!
Minimum focus distance: 0.38 m
Focal length: 16-85 mm
Max aperture: f/3.5
Filter diameter: 67 mm
Weight: 485 g
Size (diameter x length): 72 x 85 mm
Many of the lenses we’re featuring today are great for travel—you just need to ensure they’re compact and lightweight enough for easier portability.
The Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 is an especially great lens to take on all sorts of trips, including to adventure-packed destinations such as Sri Lanka.
It’s got a versatile 5.3x zoom range, has excellent sharpness, and perfect for shooting videos!
We’d also recommend this for any travel videographers as the Nikon VR II technology ensures stable and smooth HD videos even without a gimbal.
In terms of photography, you can also cover everything from portraits to landscapes and architecture.
Moreover, the two Extra-low Dispersion glass elements ensure the ultimate sharpness and color correction.
Minimum focus distance: 1.4 m
Focal length: 55-300 mm
Max aperture: f/4.5
Filter diameter: 58 mm
Weight: 580 g
Size (diameter x length): 76.5 x 123 mm
The Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR is a wonderful all-around telephoto lens you can use for capturing subjects from a distance.
It’s a High Refractive Index (HRI) lens that can produce sharp, clear, and high-contrast photos at every focal length and aperture setting.
The best thing is that it’s relatively lightweight and compact for a telephoto lens, so this may be the lens to go for if you want something more portable.
It also comes with two Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements and the Nikon VR stabilization for 3 stops of blur-free shooting and video recording.
One downside of getting a telephoto lens is that it’s often only good for faraway subjects because of its far minimum focus distance, which in this case is 1.4m.
Minimum focus distance: 1.1 m
Focal length: 55-200 mm
Max aperture: f/4
Filter diameter: 52 mm
Weight: 335 g
Size (diameter x length): 73.6 x 99.5 mm
The Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6 VR can be a great budget alternative for those just starting out in telephoto photography.
It’s even more lightweight and compact, which we think is pretty impressive for a telephoto lens!
Don’t worry about using tripods either because the Vibration Reduction technology eliminates camera shake for shooting sports, events, and other subjects from a distance.
Plus, its Silent Wave Motor ensures fast and silent autofocus!
Minimum focus distance: 2.2 m
Focal length: 200-500 mm
Max aperture: f/5.6
Filter diameter: 95 mm
Weight: 2300 g
Size (diameter x length): 108 x 267.5 mm
Now, if you’re serious about getting only the best telephoto lens, we can’t recommend the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E enough.
The f/5.6 aperture may not be ideal for low light, but it’s constant and can give you beautiful background blurs.
Its Silent Wave Motor offers up to 4.5 stops of Vibration Reduction, and you’ll also get 3 extra-low dispersion lens elements for reduced glare.
Although if you want to photograph at dawn or dusk, just use a slow shutter speed!
This is especially great for shooting wildlife and sports action and ensuring you get blur-free images each time!
We adore the Sports Mode that can maximize camera pans that will definitely come in handy for any fast-paced subject movements.
Minimum focus distance: 0.85 m
Focal length: 70-200 mm
Max aperture: f/2.8
Filter diameter: 67 mm
Weight: 810 g
Size (diameter x length): 81 x 149 mm
Another really good telephoto lens for sports is the Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8, which is lightweight and beginner-friendly.
Though note that it’s on the pricier end too.
That said, this lens has a fast aperture and offers fantastic image quality overall.
It features some optical glasses for optimal performance, whereas Tamron’s new VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) delivers great autofocusing.
What’s also great is that despite the telephoto range, its close 0.85m focusing distance lets you get closer to your subjects and explore unique perspectives!
Oh, and it even has weather-sealing.
Minimum focus distance: 0.163 m
Focal length: 40 mm
Max aperture: f/2.8
Filter diameter: 52 mm
Weight: 235 g
Size (diameter x length): 68.5 x 64.5 mm
The Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm is always a great choice for macro photography, as it offers high resolution, contrast, and life-sized magnification.
This means you can get really close with your subject to capture more details, whereas the Silent Wave Motor (SWM) ensures accurate but super quiet autofocusing.
However, it’s also good for everyday photography and you don’t have to switch lenses to capture landscapes and portraits!
This lens is also capable of rendering stunning natural bokeh, thanks to its wide aperture and rounded 7-blade diaphragm.
Minimum focus distance: 0.8 m
Focal length: 85 mm
Max aperture: f/1.8
Filter diameter: 67 mm
Weight: 350 g
Size (diameter x length): 80 x 73 mm
If you’re interested in specialized portrait lenses, the Nikon 85mm f/1.8G may be for you.
It’s a medium telephoto portrait lens that’s especially great in studios, but also performs well outside.
You can also use this for HD videos even in low light, thanks to its fast and quiet AF with internal focusing, as well as wide aperture.
Plus, this lens can create truly stunning background blurs for flattering portraits!
Its focusing mode is also an intuitive feature that allows you to change focus modes with no lag time just by turning the focus ring.
Minimum focus distance: 0.3 m
Focal length: 11-16 mm
Max aperture: f/2.8
Filter diameter: 77 mm
Weight: 550 g
Size (diameter x length): 8474.6 x 89 mm
Few lenses can beat the Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8 when it comes to capturing night skies, making it an excellent astro lens for the Nikon D3200.
The bright constant f/2.8 aperture is important for when you want to shoot star-lit landscapes.
With an internal silent focusing motor, this lens offers both silent and accurate autofocus.
It’s got great optics due to two Super-Low Dispersion glass elements and two aspheric glass.
Of course, it also comes with Tokina’s very own One-touch Focus Clutch Mechanism for instinctive switching between AF and MF modes.
Minimum focus distance: 0.45 m
Focal length: 50 mm
Max aperture: f/2.8
Filter diameter: 52 mm
Weight: 120 g
Size (diameter x length): 73 x 55 mm
The Yongnuo 50mm F1.8N has to be the best affordable lens for the D3200.
Not only that, but it’s also very lightweight (only 120g) and compact, which means it’s really easy to bring around.
The 50mm focal length makes this a great everyday lens as it’s a versatile angle for different shots, including portraits, street, and even landscape.
Not to mention the fast f/1.8 maximum aperture.
Additionally, this Yongnuo lens features multi-coated glass elements that improves its transmittance and reduces lens flare.
Minimum focus distance: 0.3 m
Focal length: 8 mm
Max aperture: f/3.5
Filter diameter: -
Weight: 417 g
Size (diameter x length): 77.8 x 75.1 mm
The Samyang 8mm f/3.5 is the best specialty lens that’s still affordable for most photographers.
It delivers outstanding sharpness while offering an ultra-wide-angle perspective that is great for creating panoramas and 3D virtual tours.
As a fisheye lens, you can use this to explore exaggerated perspectives and extreme depth-of-field.
It comes with 10 lens elements in 7 optical groups, whereas the anti-reflective multi-coating minimizes both flare and ghosting.
The smooth focusing is also fantastic for indoor and night photography as you can easily achieve blur-free shots!
All the lenses we’ve featured today can be used on the D3200. But you can use any AF-S lens or other third-party lenses with the Nikon F mount.
Just remember that the camera has a Nikon DX sensor, which means your images will be cropped if you use a full-frame sensor!
Yes, the Nikon D3200 is still such a relevant and good camera in 2022, especially for beginners and casual photographers. It’s an excellent entry-level DSLR camera.
Shooting in RAW will give you the best image quality on the Nikon D3200, although you have to do some post-processing before publishing your photos. JPG is easier and more convenient, but not as high quality.
The easiest way is to use a lens with a high max aperture (like the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G) at wide open as narrower depth-of-fields can create background blurs.
You can also achieve a similar result by ensuring around 10-20 feet of separation between your subject and the background you want to blur.
Because the D3200 doesn’t have an internal focus motor, you can also use the autofocus with AF-S and AF-I lenses. Meanwhile, other AF lenses can only be used with manual focus.
That’s all for the top Nikon D3200 lenses!
All you need to do now is pick out the best one for your preferences and needs.
We’ve tried to cover a range of lenses, as well as budget and high-end options.
Do you think we missed any good Nikon D3200 lens?
Which one are you getting?
We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section!
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