Nikon DX Lens Recommend: A friend gave me a Nikon DX 3100 camera, battery and charger, but no lens. It appears to be in excellent condition, but I don’t know for sure since I don’t...

Bike guy Loc: Atlanta

A friend gave me a Nikon DX 3100 camera, battery and charger, but no lens. It appears to be in excellent condition, but I don’t know for sure since I don’t have a lens.
I have Sony EMount and Canon EFS equipment.
I just want to have some fun with it, and obviously at this point don’t want to spend too much.
How are the kit 18-55 mm lenses? They can be bought at KEH reasonably cheap.
On the other hand I do have 18-55’s for both the Sony and Canon, 24 mp bodies.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

Bike guy wrote:

A friend gave me a Nikon DX 3100 camera, battery and charger, but no lens. It appears to be in excellent condition, but I don’t know for sure since I don’t have a lens.
I have Sony EMount and Canon EFS equipment.
I just want to have some fun with it, and obviously at this point don’t want to spend too much.
How are the kit 18-55 mm lenses? They can be bought at KEH reasonably cheap.
On the other hand I do have 18-55’s for both the Sony and Canon, 24 mp bodies.

Since you have the 18-55mm in other mounts maybe try a 55-300mm.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Bike guy wrote:

A friend gave me a Nikon DX 3100 camera, battery and charger, but no lens. It appears to be in excellent condition, but I don’t know for sure since I don’t have a lens.
I have Sony EMount and Canon EFS equipment.
I just want to have some fun with it, and obviously at this point don’t want to spend too much.
How are the kit 18-55 mm lenses? They can be bought at KEH reasonably cheap.
On the other hand I do have 18-55’s for both the Sony and Canon, 24 mp bodies.

Get the Nikon 35mm 1.8 DX. Great versatile lens for the money.

Pete D

Or a nifty 50mm great lens also

Bike guy Loc: Atlanta

[quote=Drbobcameraguy]Since you have the 18-55mm in other mounts maybe try a 55-300mm.[/quote

Hmm, don’t have any thing that long
Thank you.
I do have a Canon 50 1.8

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I would think about a used 18-140. Paired with a D3100, my wife got a pleasing assortment from flowers on up. She did move to a Tamron 18-400 for more range to accommodate wildlife, but dollar wise the 18-140 works well and won't break the bank.

Bike guy Loc: Atlanta

DaveO wrote:

I would think about a used 18-140. Paired with a D3100, my wife got a pleasing assortment from flowers on up. She did move to a Tamron 18-400 for more range to accommodate wildlife, but dollar wise the 18-140 works well and won't break the bank.

Just read my mind. I think for this camera, one walk around would do me well.
Thanks

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Bike guy wrote:

Just read my mind. I think for this camera, one walk around would do me well.
Thanks

You are already familiar with an 18-55, so if you want a little more focal range, you've got the experience to know what you should get.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The DX 18-55 lenses are fine, especially the VR enabled. The focal range is limited, depending on what you want to use the camera for. A lens covering 18-105, or the other options out to 18-200 are more general purpose. They're all pretty much the same, so it just depends on how much or little you want to spend.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...Get the Nikon 35mm 1.8 DX. Great versatile lens for the money..." one of the very few professional grade Nikkors that is capable stellar imagery... Kmgw9v speaks of with much wisdom here... 35mm on DX has the same angle of view of a "Normal" 50mm on Full Frame... and this is the fastest DX optic that Nikon makes... I have it and shoot it... stellar for 3/4 length editorials...

toxdoc42

The 55-250 is a great lens!

Bbarn Loc: Ohio

The DX 18-55mm and prime DX 35mm both work well on the DX Nikons. The additional speed of the 35mm adds an enjoyable aspect lacking in the 18-55.
Stay away from the DX AF-P lenses since they won't work on the 3100.

Bike guy Loc: Atlanta

Bbarn wrote:

The DX 18-55mm and prime DX 35mm both work well on the DX Nikons. The additional speed of the 35mm adds an enjoyable aspect lacking in the 18-55.
Stay away from the DX AF-P lenses since they won't work on the 3100.

Thanks

Bill_de Loc: US

I agree with those who recommended the DX 35mm F/1.8. I bought it to have something light and inexpensive to play with. It turned out to be one of the sharpest lenses ever. You might wind up leaving it on the D3100.

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bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

Bike guy wrote:

A friend gave me a Nikon DX 3100 camera, battery and charger, but no lens. It appears to be in excellent condition, but I don’t know for sure since I don’t have a lens.
I have Sony EMount and Canon EFS equipment.
I just want to have some fun with it, and obviously at this point don’t want to spend too much.
How are the kit 18-55 mm lenses? They can be bought at KEH reasonably cheap.
On the other hand I do have 18-55’s for both the Sony and Canon, 24 mp bodies.

Another lens to consider is the https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1308132-DEMO/nikon_2183_af_s_dx_nikkor_35mm.html, it is a prime lens (it does not zoom) it is inexpensive and B&H warantes it. The advantage of a prime lens is that, in this case, it cost less than a zoom, but the most important thing is that for a beginner, it is the best possible starter lens. It is also much faster than any low end zoom so it will allow you to shoot with less light at a faster shutter speed. It is what is called a "normal lens" for the DX format which means that the AOV (Angle of View) is about the same as the AOV of your eyes. As a casual photographer or beginner it will teach you a lot about photograpy.