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Time to go beyond your kit lens? For the Nikon DSLR users who are looking for a reasonably priced lens to add to their gear bag, we’ve put together this list of lenses that will let you explore photography beyond where your kit lens can take you! We think that these lenses represent some of the best value for the money, giving outstanding results without costing an arm and a leg.
Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens
Ultra-wide angle lenses are seldom cheap. Nikon’s 12-24mm f/4 lens is a fantastic piece of glass, but with a price tag of more than $1,100 it is out of the price range many photographers are willing to spend unless they can justify it as a professional expense. The Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 lens is a worthy alternative at less than half the cost, bringing ultra-wide angle results into the budget of semi-pro and hobbyist shooters. The focus motor is fast and accurate and the color, contrast, and sharpness of this lens are very good.
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Nikon 50mm f/1.8G AF-S NIKKOR FX Lens
Every serious photographer should eventually add a 50mm lens to their bag — they’re called nifty 50’s for a good reason! The Nikon 50mm f/1.8 lens is a very sharp prime, perfect for travel portraits, close-ups of nature, and even some landscape work. The big maximum aperture allows lots of light in, making this a great lens for low light situations and for getting that creamy, dreamy bokeh. Priced around $200, this lens is the perfect choice for photographers who want a high performance 50mm lens, but aren’t willing to spend nearly twice as much for the Nikon 50mm f/1.4 lens (also an outstanding lens worth considering).
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Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens
If you’ve been finding that your kit lens isn’t able to bring you close enough to your subjects, the Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 lens is a great and very affordable way to zoom into the action from a distance. With such a wide range, you can use the lens to photograph landscapes and nearby subjects at 18mm and distant wildlife at 300mm, producing sharp photos at every focal length. Used on a crop sensor body, this lens effectively functions as a 82.5 to 450mm lens! This lens features Nikon’s VR (Vibration Reduction) technology, improving image stability by compensating for camera shake, allowing you to hand hold this lens using slower shutter speeds than you otherwise could.