OZMON Loc: WIGAN UK

I am a pensioner for a liking for photography, I have a Nikon D3300 camera and was wondering if anyone could tell me the best lens for landscape photography, I cannot afford the professional level lens.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Consider the 18-105VR or the 18-200VR.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Hello and welcome. I shoot landscapes and like to include near and far in one image, so I tend to go to wider angle lenses. With this in mind I would like to recommend the Nikon 10-20 mm lens, it costs about $300.00 but best of all it is a Nikon lens designed and built to be used with YOUR camera.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1341603-REG/nikon_20067_af_p_dx_nikkor_10_20mm.html?sts=pi&pim=Y
If you like to shoot further out for landscapes try the 75 to 300 mm Nikon. It comes in at nearly $400.00 and again this lens was designed and built to work specifically with your Nikon camera.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1275036-REG/nikon_20062_afp_dx_nikkor_70_300mm.html?sts=pi&pim=Y
Then there is a lens between the two above, the Nikon 18-200, this lens gives you a little of both wide and tele and is a fine choice. Make sure you get the version II of this lens. Many fine examples can be had on ebay where you get 30 days to return it if you don't want it.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1311&_nkw=nikon+18-200+mm+af-s+dx+vr+ii+lens&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_osacat=0&_odkw=nikon+18-200+mm+af-s+dx+vr+lens
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

Ditto on the 18-200.

Very sharp, and it’s also a decent telephoto.

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

Nikon makes good lenses but on a budget the Sigma 10-20 is a quality lens that does a good job and the price is considerably less. I used one professionally and nobody knew the difference.

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

I'll put in a vote for the 18-200 mm lens. At the advice of UHH, I put the 18-200 lens on my D5500 to replace an 18-55 and 55-300 pair of lenses. The 18-200 is considered one of Nikon's workhorses and it takes sharp photos throughout it's zoom range. It stays on my camera 95% of the time. If there's drawback to this lens, it's that it's fairly heavy and bulky, weighing more than the camera body. If weight is a factor, consider a shorter zoom such as Nikon's 15-85 mm lens which is very, very sharp.

lamontcranston

I have a Nikon D3300 and have both of these lenses for it. You can't go wrong with either of them. I personally prefer the 18-200VR for it's extra reach. In terms of sharpness it's a tossup.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

"I am a pensioner for a liking for photography, I have a Nikon D3300 camera and was wondering if anyone could tell me the best lens for landscape photography, I cannot afford the professional level lens."

You have to concentrate your attention on a lens that will give you the results you want with the focal lengths that you use or will use more often. There is no such thing as the "best" lens for landscape photography. Have you tried the 18-55 kit lens? For many photographers using a camera like yours 18 mm is all the wide angle they will ever need. This lens also has other focal lengths that will prove useful but that is for you to decide.

Lenses like the 18-140 or the 18-200 are very versatile lenses...but more expensive than the 18-55 kit lens that has proven to be an excellent choice for beginners.

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

It's difficult to recommend a lens without mentioning how much you're willing to spend. Also would recommend buying a used lens from a reputable retailer such as KEH.

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

The Nikon 18-140 is a good walk-around lens that could be had for a good price used. The 18-130 not so good....

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I see that you are in the UK, so the suggestions to buy used from US dealers may not be as convenient for you as they would be for us here. You don't tell us what lens you already have, so there is some risk that our suggestions may duplicate what you already own.

From your question, however, it sounds like you may still be searching for exactly what form of landscape photography you like best. For instance, I do lots of landscape photography, but almost never use a really wide lens...I just don't like the way that they stretch the background so far into the distance.

As a couple of others have done, I would suggest that you consider the 18-200 VR. Stay away from the really wide lenses, at least for now, especially if your budget is limited. They are good lenses, and can be very useful, but they bring lots of challenges with them. There are always tons of used ones for sale (at least here in the US) by folks who thought they had to have one, then found them too problematic to use.

The 18 - 200mm is not a perfect lens. I have one and use it for some specific applications, but it does have some significant weaknesses. Its big benefit, though, is that it is extremely versatile. It will cover almost anything that you might want to do.

Good luck as you choose, and above all, have fun.

User ID

Strictly for landscape ? Save money by using a manual lens. At your chosen FL, put your money into quality rather than automation. No one can choose your FL for you, but with a manual lens you can get going, using your best “guesstimate”, at less expense !

Ourspolair

I use sigma 10-20mm and agree, it is an excellent lens for the cost. Also the 17-70mm.

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

The kit lens should be good for most work. The important thing is to get out and take pictures! Take note of when you would like a different and you will see what new lens would work for you. Most lenses do well at f/8 to f/11. so you should not have to worry about quality. If you find (like many photographers) that the kit lens works for you for landscape and you want another lens look for one for your 2nd choice of photography. - Dave

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

My walk around is the NIKKOR 18-200 with a NIKKOR 10-20 in a jacket pocket ... I think the 10-20 will work with the D3300.