So I finally picked up a used Nikon D3500 from a buddy and honestly have no clue what Im doing. The lens that came with it is fine I guess but I want something that can do a bit of everything because carrying around a bag of glass sounds like a nightmare. Im heading to Japan in about two months and just want one good lens to keep on the camera for street shots and maybe some scenery.
My budget is around 300 bucks if thats even realistic? Sorry if this is a totally dumb question but is there one lens that is considered the best for a complete beginner like me...
Building on the earlier suggestion, I've spent years lugging heavy gear through Tokyo and Kyoto, and honestly, keep it simple. You want that focal length flexibility for street photography without hitting the weight limit. In my experience, for a DX body like your D3500, you really want something with vibration reduction if you're gonna be shooting handheld at night. Check these out if you can find them used:
- Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR for that extra reach on scenery.
- Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G if you want to learn how light works with a fixed focal length. The 18-105mm is super versatile, but the 35mm prime will force you to actually frame your shots better. Just dont stress the gear too much, Japan is gonna be awesome regardless of what is on your mount.
Honestly, 300 bucks is a tight budget for a do-it-all lens, but I get why you dont want to lug a bunch of gear around Japan. I remember my first big trip abroad years ago, I brought like three different primes and ended up spending half my time swapping glass instead of just enjoying the view. It was a massive mistake and I definitely learned the hard way. Unfortunately, when you try to cover every focal length with one piece of glass, you usually end up with some compromises on image quality or low-light performance. I had major issues with the first superzoom I bought because it was just way too soft at the long end. It was not as good as I expected, so definitely keep your expectations realistic. Since you are heading to Japan soon, here is what I would focus on:
- Prioritize a lens with decent image stabilization because street shots can get shaky when youre tired.
- Look for something that covers the 18mm to 100mm range so you get wide angles for those massive shrines and some reach for architecture.
- Check out the used market locally since that usually stretches your budget way further than retail stores. Don't stress too much about the gear though. Just practice with that camera before you fly out so you arent fumbling with settings while you are trying to grab a quick photo of a street vendor. Youll have an awesome time regardless.
