So I recently picked up a used Nikon D3500 because I wanted to take photos of the birds in my backyard but honestly I have no idea what I am doing. I went to the zoo last weekend and realized my kit lens is definitely not cutting it for anything further than five feet away. I dont have much money to spend since I just bought the camera maybe like 300 bucks tops for a lens? Im totally lost with all these numbers like 70-300mm or whatever. What is a decent lens that wont break the bank for a total beginner like me?
If you are strictly on a budget, you might want to consider the Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED. Just be careful because this specific version doesnt have vibration reduction, so you really need to keep your shutter speed high or use a tripod to avoid blurry shots. Make sure to check if your D3500 firmware is updated first, otherwise the focus motor might not even work correctly.
Had a moment to think about this more. Regarding what #2 said about If you are strictly on a budget, you really have to be careful with that non-VR lens. I actually tried using the Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED a while back and honestly, it was pretty frustrating. Handheld shots were consistently soft because of the lack of stabilization, which was a huge bummer for backyard birding. Here is how I see it:
- The Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR version is definitely the way to go. The vibration reduction makes a massive difference.
- If that is too pricey, look for a used Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD. I had issues with the focus speed, but the stabilization is surprisingly good for the price. Basically, dont skip the VR. Youre gonna regret it every time the sun starts to dip.
Honestly, the kit lens struggle is so real. I remember starting out and feeling like I was basically trying to photograph wildlife with a telescope pointed the wrong way. If you want to shoot birds without dropping thousands, just look for any variable aperture telephoto zoom lens from Nikon. Basically, you want something that covers that 70mm to 300mm range. It is gonna give you the reach you need to actually see the birds instead of just tiny blurry dots. You can usually find a decent used copy of these at any camera shop for well under your budget. They are not the sharpest lenses in the world, but for backyard birds on a D3500, they get the job done just fine. Seriously, dont overthink the specs, just grab a telephoto zoom.
