11 Best lenses for Nikon d3100: (2023 Guide & Reviews)

Last Updated on November 22, 2023 by Sharon Advik

Nowadays, photography has become a profession for many people.

It is the art of shooting light with a camera, usually through a digital sensor or film, to make an image.

With a good camera, you can photograph wavelengths of light invisible to the human eye, as well as infrared, UV, and radio.

So, we all depend on a good camera lens for videography and photography.

Everyone wants good quality with a low budget.

After conducting thorough research, I got my hands on a few of the best lenses for the Nikon d3100, and I would love to share their details with you:

Which are the best lenses for Nikon d3100?

Here are my recommended top 11 best lenses for Nikon d3100:–

Nikon 85mm f/1.8: (best lens for Nikon d3100 for portraits)

There was a wedding function in my family.

I had to cover the entire event to make it unique and perfect.

For this purpose, I need an ideal lens for my Nikon d3100.

I am picky in selecting lenses because I had no experience with my previous lenses.

Every lens had an issue with it. Someone had suggested a Nikon 85mm f/1.8 lens.

When I searched about its features, I was amazed.

It was all one offer.

With this camera lens, I made the whole event memorable.

I captured beautiful portraits of the groom and bride.

They told me that I had made their day.

Have a look at its features:

Features:
Short Telephoto lens
Minimum focus range: 0.80 meter
Nikon super integrated coating (sic)
Fast aperture
Maximum Aperture: 1.8
Minimum Aperture: 16
Nano Crystal coating
Dust and drip-resistant
ED glass elements

The advantages are:

Nano AR Coating:

The advanced Nano AR coating can help you reduce ghosting and flare from the images and keep the pictures quiet and silent even in unfavorable situations.

It gives precise and more defined images with good detail and contrast.

Chromatic aberration and ED Glass:

The autofocus of 85mm with 9 elements of glass and Extra-low dispersions makes it super-efficient for capturing high-quality images.

Versatile:

It reduces aberration and increases the quality of the image integrity.

It delivers excellent outcomes.

You can capture pictures with creativity and the angles you choose for them.

The versatile lens gives you the perfect perspective for taking amazing photos.

Sharp images:

It delivers me fast and quick photos.

The pictures are flare-free, and no space for ghosting is there in the lens.

The brilliant colors seem appealing to my eyes.

I enjoy working with this lens because I get incredible outcomes from this lens.

Conclusion:

It was my best experience with this lens.

It’s my go-to lens for portraits and legendary pieces of glass.

It was not always easy to take good pictures and random clicks, especially portrait pictures.

I do it very comfortably with this lens.

You can also try it yourself!

Sigma 105mm F2.8: (best lens for Nikon d3100 for food photography)

I am a foodie person.

I dreamed of visiting all the world’s countries to taste their different foods and take pictures of them from childhood.

I needed a perfect lens for my Nikon d3100 Camera to fulfill my dream.

After wasting time on other lenses, I finally got the right one.

It was my Sigma 105mm F2.8 lens.

Right now, it is a great blessing on me from God.

I got the same lens that I wanted.

It was a macro lens through which I could closely capture the image.

It gave me a clear and sharp idea.

Through this lens, someone can see every food spice in the picture.

If you want to check its results, you can visit my page on Instagram.

But for this time, have a look at its unique features:

Features
Macro lens type
Lens not zoomable
High rendering performance
Handheld photography with ease
Floating inner focusing
Quiet and speedy AF
Rounded 9 blades diaphragm
Maximum Aperture: 2.8mm
Minimum Aperture: 22

The advantages are here:

Quiet and speedy AF:

The lens is equipped with a Hyper Sonic Motor driven by ultrasonic waves.

It gives you quiet and high-speed AF.

Even if the lens is set to autofocus, it can use full-time manual focus.

Floating inner focusing:

This lens includes floating inner focusing, which runs two lens groups separately.

This also improves image distortion, especially when taking close-up pictures.

This lens is easy to hold and use since focusing does not change length.

High rendering performance:

The lens power layout provides excellent optical performance.

It gives high rendering performance at all shooting distances.

Conclusion:

The advanced and modern technologies used in this lens are just mind-blowing.

It has all the features and qualities you are looking for.

I guarantee you will all be amazed after seeing its outstanding result.

Tamron 90mm f/2.8: (best macro lens for Nikon d3100)

I am a photographer by profession.

I love to capture tiny things on my camera.

For this purpose, I have a Tamron 90mm f/2.8 lens for my Nikon d3100.

I am a nature-loving person.

I often capture random things like insects, a human eye, leaves, seeds, etc.

This lens shows perfect close-ups of everything.

It has unique designs that provide you with sharp images.

It’s an ideal lens for nature photography.

I have been using this lens for 2 years; it is the best investment of my life.

Go through its features:

Features:
Macro lens
Maximum Aperture Range: F2.8
Minimum Aperture: 32
Minimum Focal Length: 90mm
Minimum Operating Distance: 0.29 meters
Maximum Format Size: 35mm full-frame
Compatible Mountings
Super Performance (SP) for Discriminating Shooters
Auto-focus/Manual-focus

Advantages are:

Auto-focus/Manual-focus (AF/MF):

The ability to switch rapidly between auto-focus (AF) and manual focus (MF) is the best asset in different kinds of shooting, especially sports and nature photography.

This is easily achieved by Tamron’s ingenious AF/MF system.

You can select the AF or MF focusing position by sliding the focus ring back and forth between the two parts.

Super Performance (SP) for Discriminating Shooters:

In creating SP lenses, Tamron’s optical designers prioritized attaining better performance parameters—they are all structured to a higher standard with little regard for cost constraints.

Sharp images:

It delivers me fast and quick photos.

The pictures are flare-free, and no space for ghosting is there in the lens.

The brilliant colors seem appealing to my eyes.

I enjoy working with this lens because I get incredible outcomes from this lens.

Conclusion:

This Tamron 90mm f/2.8 lens has all the unique features one must have.

It is incredibly the best one in its speed and sharpness.

If you are looking for something best, give it a chance.

Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3: (best telephoto lens for Nikon d3100)

It was a Perseids Meteor Shower night.

It is an event that occurs yearly when the Earth travels through debris left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle.

As those nuggets of comets collide with the Earth’s atmosphere, they spark into bright lights that fall through the sky.

The name comes from the Perseus constellation, from which they form to radiate.

I captured this beautiful view with a Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 lens and my Nikon d3100.

It’s a telephonic lens with an 18-300mm focal length and takes photos with varying focal lengths.

It’s a perfect lens for isolating object that is far away.

Here are its features;

Features:
Telephoto lens
Aperture range from f/35 to f/22
Minimum focus distance: 16 feet
Maximum magnification: 0S32x
Unparalleled versatility
Vibration Reduction image stabilization
Superb image quality and consistency
Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements
Maximum Aperture: f/3.5
Maximum Aperture Range: F3.5 – F6.3

Some of its advantages are:

Vibration Reduction image stabilization:

A camera shake can destroy otherwise good photos or video, especially when shooting at super-telephoto distances.

To combat camera shake, the Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 features Nikon’s Vibration Reduction technology, which gives 4.0 stops of blur-free handheld shooting.

Additionally, VR significantly benefits low-light situations and reduces shutter speed without compromising sharpness.

Superb image quality and consistency:

Like all Nikkon lenses, the Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 provides stunning image quality, vibrant color, minimal distortion, and sharp detail.

It includes Nikon’s modern lens technologies, which enhance its superb optical performance and maximize its versatility as a photo and video lens.

One outstanding lens; endless beautiful memories:

It’s a super-telephoto lens that can capture far-away objects without any blurry effect, making your memories beautiful and endless.

It will help you to capture the most beautiful moments of your life in a significant way.

Conclusion:

It includes three Aspherical (AS) and Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements for maximum contrast and minimal lens flare and ghosting.

Silent Wave Motor (SWM) technology provides ultra-fast, near-silent autofocusing. Internal Focusing (IF) creates a more compact, streamlined lens design, and a rounded 7-blade diaphragm produces a beautiful, natural background blur. Go and buy now!

If you are a professional photographer looking for the best telephonic lens, you should go for it.

Nikon 55-200mm F4-5.6: (best lens for Nikon d3100 for wildlife)

For me, one life is not enough to cherish the beauty of wildlife.

I love capturing the wildlife picture as it is a kind of adventure.

Once I got a chance to visit The Amazon Rainforest, South America.

I was excited to capture a wild animal in my Nikon d3100 camera with a Nikon 55-200mm F4-5.6 lens.

I saw a snake there.

He was green in color, just like the leaves of the forest.

It seemed so beautiful.

A lion was running to prey on a deer.

I captured all these views with my telephonic lens, capturing the object with multiple focal lengths without destroying the quality of the image.

Let me introduce myself with some of its features:

Features
Telephoto lens
Silent Wave Motor
Super Integrated Coating
Focal length: 55-200mm
Ultra-compact 3x zoom lens
Lightweight
Autofocus
ED glass elements
Affordable lens

The advantages are here:

Ultra-compact, lightweight telephoto lens:

This ultra-weighted Nikon 55-200mm F4-5.6 lens gives you a remarkable cost-to-performance ratio.

It is ideally suited for Nikon d3100 cameras.

Its lightweight minimizes the handshake, and such a lens works better in low-light conditions.

ED glass element:

For optics, the lens includes two ED glass elements with high resolution and contrast while reducing chromatic aberration and other forms of distortion.

Using this lens and Nikon d3100, photographers can achieve a focal length range from 18-millimeter wide-angle to 200-millimeter telephoto.

This range permits you to cover an extremely wide variety of subjects and shooting conditions.

Quite Autofocus performance:

It is the best lens for candid sports, wildlife, and nature photos.

Conclusion:

For those looking for high quality with an affordable budget, this lens is for you.

It is light in weight; you can capture a quick moment easily without shaking your hand.

Nikon 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G: (best zoom lens for Nikon d3100)

Have you ever thought about what will be the most challenging thing for a professional photographer?

Yes, it is the selection of the best lens for your camera.

But luckily, I have gotten rid of this problem for the past 2 years.

I have a Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G lens for Nikon d3100, one of the best zoom lenses.

Once, I visited South Island, New Zealand.

When I saw its captivating views, I was amazed.

I wanted to capture all its islands on my camera.

My Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G lens made it possible because of its zooming characteristics.

I took photos of islands and mountains with different focal lengths.

It maintained focus even when I changed its focal length.

Have a look at its outstanding features:

Features
Short telephoto Zoom lens
VR image stabilization
Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass
Nikon Super Integrated Coating
17 elements in 12 groups
Nikon Silent Wave Motor
Internal Focus
Non-Rotating front element
Seven-blade rounded diaphragm

The advantages are:

Clarity within reach:

Zoom out for an 18mm wide-angle view that’s best for group shots, landscapes, or any time you require to fit more into the frame.

Zoom in for 140mm of short telephoto reach, enough to take close-ups of your favorite player from the sidelines.

In between are standard views, the same as what you see with your eyes, and short telephoto views ideal for portraits.

With every shot that comes your way, you’ll be ready to catch it.

Using moderate shutter speeds and long distances, you can take sharp, shake-free handheld photos and videos in low-light situations, when even the smallest amount of camera shake can destroy a shot.

Advanced Nikon technology:

This lens is based on advanced Nikon technology. ED (extra-low dispersion) glass virtually reduces reflections and lens flare for good contrast, and aspherical (AS) lens elements decrease aberration and improve image integrity and color.

Conclusion:

My experience with this lens is incredible.

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8: (best lens for Nikon d3100 for sports)

After a long day of classes, I went to the stadium.

The last football game was about to start, and I wanted some good shots for my portfolio.

My Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 lens would be perfect for capturing players’ running back and forth on the field.

As soon as the whistle blew, signaling kickoff, players jumped into action across the pitch so fast that they were blurred by motion blur before I could press my shutter button.

But with my Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 telephoto lens and Nikon d3100, I accurately captured the player’s movement without any blurry effect.

This lens is perfect for shooting and isolating objects far away with multiple focal lengths.

Features
Telephoto lens
Dust- and splash-proof structure
11-blade rounded diaphragm
Ultra-smooth bokeh
Incorporates 9 FLD
SLD low-dispersion glass element
Magnesium alloy barrel
Maximum Aperture: 2.8mm
Minimum Aperture: 22mm

The advantages are here:

Maximum aperture of f/2.8:

The remarkable, bright telephoto lens features an f/2.8 maximum aperture that stays constant throughout the zoom range and an 11-blade circular aperture that produces dramatic images with excellent background blur.

Dust and Water-resistant:

The highly durable design is made to protect even the most challenging environments.

It is constructed to be dust- and water-resistant, with seals around the mount, zoom ring, switches, and other parts.

Ultra-smooth bokeh:

The Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 has a wide range of focal lengths that allow you to create truly spectacular images with the type of background that you’ve been looking for since day one.

Keep your shots sharp while capturing unique portraits, gorgeous landscapes, and far-away subjects, thanks to this quality product from Sigma.

With an aperture of 2.8, 200mm on full-frame is easily achievable in any lighting situation, so you can take drag racing photos even if it’s storming out during qualifying runs.

The 11-blade diaphragm helps vividly bring every shot to life, so everything looks exactly how it should be seen without being overwhelmed by bokeh or becoming blurry. Who would want that?

Conclusion:

Shoot through almost anything with this Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 lens that is dust and splash-proof, made perfect for your adventure trips!

With 9 specially crafted glass elements, 1 SLD low dispersion element, and an 11-blade diaphragm, the bokeh in every photo will be ultra-smooth.

Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8: (best lens for Nikon d3100 for landscape)

I used to be a passionate photographer.

I loved capturing landscapes and bought a Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8, the best wide-angle lens for Nikon D3100 landscape pictures.

With a wide-angle lens, you can capture close as much as possible.

When my new equipment was delivered, I drove an hour from home to photograph some beautiful hillsides.

After about an hour of shooting, I decided it would be fun to go down the hillside and get some shots from close range because many exciting details in the rocks could not be seen without getting up close.

So, with the camera still in hand, I began what turned out to be a very steep descent! The result was worth it.

Here are its features:

Features
Wide-angle lens
Excellent optical performance
Internal Focus
Edge-to-edge sharpness
Reduced flares and ghosting
Focal length: 11-16mm
Minimum Aperture: 22mm
Maximum Aperture: 2.6mm
Multi-Layer Coating

The advantages are;

Excellent optical performance:

This lens ideally complements any photographer who needs to capture wide landscape shots.

The large aperture lets you get up close and personal without obscuring essential details, enabling crisp images even in low-light situations.

Depending on the coverage you want, an f/2.8 aperture can be adjusted to show more or less of the subject in the frame.

Wide-angle lens:

A new perspective captures a whole world of possibilities.

This lens will give you a uniquely immersive feel with a focal length that falls in the ultra-wide range.

The razor-sharp optics will capture your subject with cinema-quality images and backgrounds to create unique perspectives of vast vistas and small details!

Reduced flares and ghosting:

This lens gives you a beautiful, low-light capturing wide-angle that will give your shots a breathtaking quality.

It barely flares, and it is scratch-resistant to boot!

Conclusion:

The Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 is a new, wide-angle camera lens designed for landscape and interior photography.

Shooting with this lens will allow you to capture expansive views, have a greater depth of field control, and manage low-light shooting situations better than ever before.

Sigma 18-35mm f1.8: (best lens for Nikon d3100 for video)

I was a videographer and had to cover a wedding event.

I decided this moment would be extraordinary, so I pulled out my camera with my Sigma 18-35mm f1.8, the best lens for the Nikon D3100.

The wide-angle lens makes close objects look very close, and distant objects look even farther away, creating a solid feeling of perspective.

The bride looked stunning in her long white dress as she walked down the aisle towards the groom, who waited at the end of it all.

She smiled, clasping the bouquets in each hand tightly as she continued to walk forward with grace and happiness.

We were there to capture their love story perfectly through film.

With this camera lens, I made their event more beautiful and memorable.

Features
Wide-angle zoom lens
Ring-type ultrasonic-type AF motor
USB Dock compatible
0.23 optical Zoom
F1.8 maximum aperture
F16 minimum aperture
72mm filter size
9-blade rounded diaphragm
Thermally Composite Material

The advantages are as follows:

Great for video production:

Add professional-looking production value to your video with this full-frame, wide-angle lens.

The high aperture is perfect for shooting in low-light conditions, and the constant f1.8 will dramatically affect the depth of field.

Shoot up close action sequences or work creativity by zooming in on faces!

USB Dock compatible:

You can use Sigma 18- 35 mm F/1.4 to transmit the software in your lens.

You can revise the last firmware and adjust the measures with it.

This lens put me way ahead of the competition!

Ring-type ultrasonic-type AF motor:

If you want to take professional-style shots that rival dreamy, shallow, depth-of-field blurs, this lens is for you.

Ridiculously sharp and lightning-fast autofocus with a gorgeous F1.8 aperture–this versatile lens delivers on your creative vision.

Conclusion:

Sigma’s new 18-35 mm F1.8 lens is perfect for capturing that decisive moment in your life with the f1.8 maximum aperture that lets you shoot at lower lighting levels while giving you much creative control with the added depth of field.

It’s not just any wide to telephoto zoom range.

It has quickly become one of Sigma’s most acclaimed lenses among pros and hobbyists alike for its premium optics, fast autofocusing, beautiful out-of-focus rendering, versatile focal length range (18 mm to 35 mm), and solid build quality.

Sigma 17-50mm F2.8: (best everyday lens for Nikon d3100)

I feel like I was born to photograph things.

From the moment I held my father’s camera, it was love at first sight.

That feeling has never left me and all the cameras that followed suit.

Now, whenever someone needs a photographer for their event or party or whatever else they may need, I’m here to help them with whatever they want.

And you know what?

The best part about photography is that no matter how old I get, it will always fire up my soul and make me happy inside.

I used the Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 for all my shoots, the best standard lens for my Nikon D3100 camera.

You can use it in your daily routine.

Have a look at its features:

Features
Standard zoom lens
Maximum Magnifications 1:5
FLD glass
Minimum Focusing Distance: 28 cm
17 Elements in 13 Groups
Super Multi-Layer coating
Hypersonic Motor (HSM)
Compact and lightweight

The advantages are as follows:

Super Multi-Layer Coating:

The Super Multi-Layer coating minimizes flare and ghosting.

This lens boasts superior peripheral brightness and gives sharp, high-contrast images even at the maximum apertures.

It offers better protection from ghosting and blurriness when shooting in low light.

Compact and lightweight:

Most photographers know the 17-50mm focal range is a versatile, perfect all-around focal length.

Sigma has made an excellent lens even better with ultra-compact size and lightweight.

With minimal hassle, this new lens is ideal for daily photography or photojournalism needs.

Hypersonic Motor (HSM):

The HSM allows images with great detail and low noise – even at high ISO speeds.

It’s lightweight and easy to handle for various shooting styles, including street photography or candid portraits of friends and family. This new addition to the lineup gives you everything you want!

Conclusion:

The Sigma 17-50mm F2.8, with FLD glass optics, is an amazingly sharp lens that creates incredibly high-quality images.

The three-ring aperture blades allow you to shoot at the most optimal aperture for shallow depth-of-field effects and smooth bokeh backgrounds without ghosting or aberration.

And thanks to OS (Optical Stabilization), it’s perfect for handheld shooting even in low light conditions, allowing stable compositions without blur!

It can be carried anywhere due to its lightweight design, including a comfortable handgrip and carrying case.

Alright, guys, that concludes all the lenses we will discuss today in this article.

Do you guys have any experience with these lenses? What are your thoughts on them?

Which are your best lenses for the Nikon d3100?

Is there a lens I didn’t mention in this article that you love using for the Nikon d3100?

Please leave your thoughts and comments below.

Related posts:

Best lenses for Nikon d3200:

Best lenses for Nikon d7000: