What is the best budget-friendly lens for a Nikon D3500? I am mostly shooting street photography and candid portraits of my dog around town, so I need something decent that wont break the bank. My budget is around 200 bucks. I read that the 35mm f/1.8 DX is the way to go because it is super sharp, but then I see people recommending the 50mm f/1.8G instead and I just cant decide which focal length is better for a beginner. Is the 35mm worth the extra cash over a used kit lens or should I just save up for something else entirely...
@Reply #1 - good point! Honestly, I had issues with that lens when I first started. While everyone swears by the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G, I personally found the chromatic aberration wide open at f/1.8 to be pretty annoying for street work. It's sharp in the center, sure, but the edges were just not as good as expected, unfortunately. I spent a few months dragging that lens around town and realized my hit rate on focus was inconsistent on my older body. If you really want that prime look, look into the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G. Yeah, it is tight on a DX sensor, but the optics are actually sharper than the 35mm DX version, imo. Just be prepared to step back a lot. Quick tip: if you stick with your kit lens, stop it down to f/5.6 or f/8 in daylight. You will get way better corner sharpness than any budget prime can offer wide open. Also, shoot in RAW. The D3500 sensor has decent dynamic range, but you need to pull that detail out in post. Don't stress about the gear too much. Just focus on your composition for now. If you're struggling with the narrow field of view, try stitching a few shots together in post to get a wider perspective. It is a pain, but it works.
TL;DR: Grab the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G and never look back. Seriously, it is a game changer for the D3500. Quick reply while I have a sec because I remember this exact struggle. I started with that basic kit lens too, and yeah, it is fine, but you're gonna hit a wall once you try to shoot in the evening or want that creamy background blur. I took my Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G out to a park last month to grab photos of my golden retriever running around and the results were just insane! The autofocus is surprisingly snappy for the price and the way it handles lower light is night and day compared to the kit glass. Forget the 50mm for now, it's just way too cramped on a DX sensor. You'd be backing up into traffic trying to get a full street shot. The 35mm gives you that classic look that feels natural for candid stuff. It feels solid, not like a cheap plastic toy, and itll basically live on your camera body 90% of the time. You can definitely find these used for way under 200 bucks if you look around. Stop overthinking the specs and just go for it, you will absolutely love the jump in quality!
Can confirm this works. Did the same thing on mine and its been solid ever since.
Honestly, grab the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G. It is way better for street shots on your D3500 than the 50mm, which gets pretty tight on DX sensors.
