Saw this earlier and honestly wanted to warn you because Ive been down this road before. I once picked up a cheap Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro thinking I got a steal but it was a total letdown for sports. The autofocus just couldnt keep up with a running kid and half my shots ended up in the trash. Unfortunately $150 is a tight spot where you can easily buy something that isnt actually reliable.

• Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR is what you want. I tried the non-VR version and regretted it immediately because every little hand shake ruined the photo at full zoom.
• Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II is shorter but safer. It actually stays sharp when you are moving around the sidelines. Basically, dont buy any lens without VR or youll just be frustrated.

> my logic was that a bigger lens means better zoom but I have no idea where to start... I only have like $150 tops. You actually have a few solid options, but you might want to consider the specific technical requirements of your camera first. Make sure to look for AF-P lenses since they focus much faster for soccer. I would suggest the Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR as your primary target. Be careful to verify it has the VR designation. Without vibration reduction, your shots at the long end will likely be blurry. Another methodical choice would be the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II. It is slightly older tech but very reliable for a tight budget. Ngl, the 300mm reach is gonna be much better for tracking kids across a large field. Just double check used prices on sites like MPB or KEH to stay under that $150 limit... those sites are usually safer than random eBay sellers.

ugh honestly i am in the same exact boat right now and it is so frustrating... i have been looking for a decent telephoto for my d3400 for like three months and every time i think i find a bargain the technical specs are just such a letdown. basically every lens i see under 150 bucks either has a super slow motor or the glass quality is just depressing for fast moving sports. its like if you dont spend half a grand you are stuck with blurry shots of your kids running around. i really want to help us both figure this out tho because the gear wall is real. just to be sure i am looking for the right stuff for both of us... are your kids playing in full daylight or is it mostly those evening games under the stadium lights? i have been having major issues with low light performance on everything i test.

To add to the point above: honestly, in my experience, you should really stick to the official Nikon glass. Over the years I've tried many third-party options to save money, but they just dont have the same reliability when it comes to autofocus speed. For kids sports, you need something that is gonna lock on fast. Just get any telephoto zoom from the Nikon DX line that has the vibration reduction feature. Staying with the same brand as your camera is usually the safest bet for compatibility... it just works better. Don't gamble on off-brand stuff for $150 because you'll likely end up with a lens that hunts for focus the whole game. Stick to the manufacturer's own lenses and you wont have to worry about the gear failing you when it matters most.

ngl i spent way too long trying to cheap out with old manual gear when i first started shooting my nephews games. thought i was being a diy genius by buying $40 vintage lenses but i just ended up with a thousand blurry photos of grass... it was a disaster lol. basically you really gotta watch for the af-p label on the lens barrel. since you have a d3400 that tech is gonna be your best friend because it locks onto moving targets way faster than the older af-s stuff. plus the vr or vibration reduction is non-negotiable if you arent using a tripod. it keeps the image steady so you dont get that shaky-cam look when zoomed all the way in. honestly id just hunt for a used Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR on a site like mpb or keh. they usually test the gear before selling so you wont get burned like i did on craigslist. i managed to snag mine for about $140 and it still works like a charm for weekend games.

Been using this for years, no complaints