Congratulations Alex Vincent, March 2024 PFRE Photographer of the Month! The theme this month was "Kitchen". Alex Vincent - #906 Yvonne Raaijmakers - #909 Peter Wingfield - #902 Here's what Alex has to say: Thank you for the award of Photographer of th ...
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The Nikon D5300 is an advanced-beginner camera sitting between the entry-level D3200 and the enthusiast-targeted D7100. With the best lens for Nikon D5300, you can use this DSLR to take professional-quality photos of the property interiors and exteriors, regardless of the subject distance or lighting conditions.
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The top lens for Nikon D5300 is the Nikon AF-S 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 because it features a wide aperture that allows you to take sharp images without cranking up the ISO.
The following lenses for Nikon D5300 include wide-angle lenses and telephoto zooms with flexible focal lengths that can magnify faraway subjects or draw the viewer's attention by isolating the subject from the background.
If you aim to make the rooms of the property look spacious, then you need a wide-angle lens such as the Nikon AF-S 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5. Typically, the zoom range changes to the equivalent of 15-36mm on the Nikon D5300.
On the downside, the lens doesn't maintain a constant aperture when zooming, and the aperture narrows to f/4.5 when using the longest focal length. This limits you from retaining a great image quality when isolating the subject from the background compared to the Nikon 50mm f/1.8.
Unlike the Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.8, which changes the wide-angle perspective to an equivalent of a standard lens, the Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 makes the focal length more versatile by spanning wide-angle and normal perspective when paired with an APS-C sensor.
Although the versatile lens takes sharp photos with shorter focal lengths, this lens for Nikon tends to lose focus and take soft photos around the edges when using a focal length longer than 20mm, forcing you to use the manual focus override option.
Although the Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.8 is another top lens for Nikon D5300 because it comes with a wide-angle focal length of 35mm, the crop factor of the Nikon D5300 makes the focal range 1.5 times longer. This creates an equivalent focal length of 52.5mm, like the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 on full-frame cameras.
Since the natural field of view of the human eye is around 50mm, this wide-angle lens gives you a natural field of view when paired with a Nikon D5300.
This results in minimal barrel distortion, making the lens ideal for taking photos of subjects you might need to retain their natural design proportions, such as portraits or straight lines in the design of a property.
Although this lens has a metal mount, it uses plastic in its construction, increasing its risk of being damaged in case of accidental falls.
However, the minimum aperture of f/16 might not result in a deeper depth of field compared to the Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3, which has a minimum aperture of f/22. As a result, the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 might not perform well in real estate exterior
The Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 is the top wide-angle lens for Nikon D5300 because it that combines a wide maximum aperture and flexible focal lengths that can make your Nikon D5300 suitable for almost all shooting conditions.
The zoom range of this lens changes to 27-52.5mm on the Nikon D5300, which spans both wide-angle and normal perspectives like the 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5, making it ideal for portrait and landscape
However, the wide f/1.8 aperture outperforms the 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 as it can take bright photos in bad lighting and isolate the subject better when shooting close-ups.
The 17 lens elements help to reduce the distortions that can make the real estate property look bent or distorted. If you are working in harsh environments such as snow, you will love the thermally stable composite material used to construct this lens.
Usually, this material is elastic and harder than polycarbonate and can withstand extreme cold and hot temperatures without degradation in optical performance.
The main downside with this lens is the autofocus that requires you to use the Sigma USB Dock to calibrate. Unlike lenses like the Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.8, you might not get the best focus performance out of the box.
If your goal is to highlight specific details in a real estate interior, such as taking close-ups of the closet design, consider getting the Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8 as a walk around lens for Nikon D5300. This prime lens has a focal length range of 50mm and an effective focal length of 75mm when paired with the Nikon D5300 DX sensor.
When you combine this lens with the fast f/1.8 aperture, you can take sharper images with a shallower depth of field. However, the aperture features seven blades, which might not render a pleasing bokeh compared to the nine blades of the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8.
With a weight of 0.4 pounds, it is one of the best lenses for Nikon D5300 you can use when capturing interior images in cramped spaces.
When the lens elements move back and forth when focusing, the lens barrel tends to suck air in and out, even if the lens features an internal focusing design. This increases the risk of dust finding its way inside the lens or on the camera sensor.
Fortunately, this unit features a rubber gasket around the mounting area, preventing dust from getting inside. Since this is a prime lens with minimal moving parts, it takes clearer and more high-quality photos than zoom lenses such as the Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3.
Suppose you want to take wide-angle photos of the exteriors or narrow them down to specific parts of the property, such as a solar panel on the roof. The Nikon AF-S 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 is a versatile zoom lens for Nikon D5300 since it can work well for nearby and distant subjects.
For one, the 18-300mm zoom range changes to a more versatile range of 27-450mm when paired with the DX sensor format of the Nikon D5300, resulting in the best zoom capability on my list. Maybe this versatility is the main reason Nikon gives this lens as a kit lens.
Are you looking for a workhorse lens that lets you reframe shots without moving? The versatility of this telephoto lens is further enhanced by the 4-stop image stabilization system that reduces the camera shake effect. This allows you to take photos handheld with minimal degradation in image quality.
The main limitation of this telephoto lens for Nikon is the narrower maximum aperture of f/3.5. The aperture doesn't remain constant when zooming and reduces to f/6.3 when using the longest focal length range of 300mm.
This makes it challenging to take bright photos without good ambient lighting. Like the Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8, the aperture of this best telephoto lens features seven blades, which results in a less pleasing heptagon-shaped bokeh.
Even if you have a zoom lens, your camera arsenal might not be complete without a lens that can take macro photos, such as the Nikon AF-S 40mm f/2.8. It is one of the best lenses you can use in macro
This makes it the best macro lens as you can take detailed photos of tiny subjects such as a closet or faucet handle. Unlike the other lenses for Nikon D5300 on this list, this unit has a minimum focus distance of 0.53 feet. This gives you the flexibility to focus and take sharp photos in cramped corners.
Since macro
With a maximum wide aperture of f/2.8, this lens allows you to achieve excellent image quality when capturing close-ups. Also, the wide aperture makes the macro lens have a great low-light performance.
The main issue you might face is the inability to set up a tripod in such areas. Yet, the lens doesn't have a vibration reduction mechanism to help combat camera shakes when photographing handheld.
Like Nikon cameras, the best lenses come in various sizes, build qualities and specifications. Knowing which lens is compatible with DX cameras like the Nikon D5300 and which has the best specs for your
Fortunately, you can use the features below to identify a lens unit that suits your lighting condition, subject distance, and bokeh quality requirements. The following table contrasts the crucial specs you should consider in the lenses.
| Lenses | Maximum Reproduction Ratio | Aperture Diaphragms | Weight (Pounds) |
| Nikon AF-S 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 | 0.20x | 7 | 1.01 |
| Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.8 | 0.24x | 7 | 0.675 |
| Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 | 0.23x | 9 | 1.79 |
| Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8 | 0.15x | 7 | 0.4 |
| Nikon AF-S 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 | 1.5x | 9 | 1.21 |
| Nikon AF-S 40mm f/2.8 | 1.0x | 7 | 0.52 |
You can categorize camera lenses into two types: prime lenses and zoom lenses. Prime lenses have a fixed focal length. Since the focal length range determines the angle of view, the angle of view in prime lenses is set.
Move closer or further away if you want to vary the subject's prominence in the frame. On the other hand, zoom lenses have variable focal lengths, which allows you to change the angle of view.
Usually, the focal length of a wide-angle zoom lens is indicated as a range such as 18-300mm in the Nikon AF-S 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3. The lens zooms in on the subject when you increase the focal length towards the 300mm limit and zooms out when you decrease like towards the 18mm limit.
The aperture is a fraction of the focal length and is therefore measured in f-stops. Usually, this is the specification indicated by an f followed by a number on the lens barrel. The aperture controls the light reaching the camera sensor, making it a member of the exposure triangle.
Since it’s a fraction, an f/1.8 aperture is larger than f/3.5. In terms of lighting, the f/1.8 aperture can allow more light to enter compared to the f/3.5 aperture. Generally, the aperture affects the other members of the exposure triangle, such as the shutter speed and ISO.
If you are photographing in tricky lighting, the right lens for Nikon D5300 should have a wide maximum aperture, such as the Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8. This ensures excellent image quality without slowing the shutter speed or cranking up the ISO.
In
On the other hand, deeper depth of field is when the subject, the foreground, and the background are in focus. When using a deeper depth of field, the entire frame is in focus, and you might be unable to tell which is the main subject.
In close-up or portrait
Different lenses have different angles of view, and some can capture broader scenes than others. Lenses are divided into the following types depending on the perspectives they capture: ultra-wide-angle, wide-angle, standard, telephoto, and super telephoto. The ultra-wide-angle has the widest angle of view, while the super telephoto lens has the narrowest.
The narrow angle of view of a super telephoto lens makes it have a magnifying effect. When you are taking interior photos, space can be a challenge, and you might not have enough room to back off and feature the entire room in a single shot.
In such cases, an ultra-wide-angle lens such as the Nikon AF-S 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 can be a better choice due to the broader field of view. On the other hand, if the subject is small and far away, get a lens with a bigger magnification effect, such as the Nikon AF-S 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3.
Even if the lens is designed to refract and bend the light and convert it towards the camera sensor, the glass can still cause reflections. When taking photos in backlit situations or harsh lighting, this reflection can cause glares on the subject.
At the same time, the defects in the optics can make the different wavelengths of the light not fall at the same focal point. Since these wavelengths are the different color tones of the subject, this error results in color fringing around the edges.
In terms of lens quality, lens manufacturers usually use complex lens elements to combat these distortions and color-fringing issues. If you want to take photos with more accurate colors, especially when working in harsh lighting, get a good lens with more lens elements, such as the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8.
Depending on your
That means you might need to use a gimbal or shoot handheld. On the other hand, if you are taking long exposure photos, you might need a tripod to combat camera shakes. Generally, the right lens weight depends on whether you are photographing with a tripod or handheld.
A lightweight lens such as the Nikon AF-S 40mm f/2.8 is ideal for handheld use as the weight can’t hurt your wrists. On the other hand, a heavier lens, such as the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8, is preferable when using a tripod due to the added stability.
The vibration reduction system, commonly known as image stabilization in other camera brands such as Sony and Canon, is a system that combats camera shakes. The aim of this system is to smoothen out the shakes of the hand when photographing handheld.
The performance of this system is usually measured in stops of light. These stops are related to the shutter speed of the camera, with a budget lens offering fewer f-stops than a high-end version. Generally, a camera has a shutter speed setting at which it can capture sharp photos without motion blur.
The stop numbers in the vibration reduction system allow you to use a shutter speed as slower as the number of stops without introducing image blur. For example, the four-stop image stabilization system in the Nikon AF-S 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 allows you to use a shutter speed four times slower.
In most cases, the focus is as important as the composition, as this is what can let the viewer know the main subject, even without adding descriptions to your photos. If you get it wrong, the subject might appear soft and the background or foreground elements sharp.
Most Nikon lenses relieve the hassle of the manual focus ring by incorporating a silent wave motor in the lens. The performance of the autofocus mainly depends on how accurately it can detect and track a subject, especially in bad lighting.
The performance also varies on how fast the silent wave motor can track, especially when switching back and forth from nearby to distant subjects. If you are photographing a subject in motion, get a lens with a fast and accurate autofocus performance, such as the Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8.
As a real estate photographer who moves from room to room and property to property, I love keeping my D5300 camera bag lightweight, carrying the lens that I believe will shoot in almost all conditions. If you are unsure of what to pack in your camera bag, let me walk you through some lenses you can carry depending on your
Although the D5300 is an interchangeable lens camera, it can be cumbersome to carry several lenses when going for a photoshoot. Changing lenses on location can also increase the chances of dust or moisture entering the lens or reaching the camera sensor.
When packing, ask yourself whether you need a prime lens or a zoom lens. A prime lens has a fixed focal length, such as the Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.8. Usually, these lenses have wider apertures and better image quality compared to zoom lenses.
If you are planning to capture interior photos in poor lighting, then consider getting a prime lens with a wide aperture. On the other hand, if you want an all-in-one lens that you can use to capture both nearby and distant subjects, then a zoom lens might be the better choice.
Since the D5300 is manufactured by Nikon, the lenses apart from Nikon's lenses are considered third-party. For instance, the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 is a third-party lens.
Since the lens is not made by Nikon, you can't get it as a kit lens for any Nikon camera. Although third-party lenses for Nikon D5300 might have a lower image quality compared to their Nikon counterparts, the performance difference might not be noticeable.
The good thing about a third-party Nikon F-mount lens is that you can enjoy higher specifications with this lens type at a more affordable price tag.
The maximum resolution you can record videos with the Nikon D5300 is 1080p. Although this lens type is not the best quality compared to modern high-end cameras, you can make your footage outstanding by getting the right video lens.
I personally prefer using a zoom lens with a vibration reduction system such as the Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3. When paired with the Nikon D5300, the focal range is versatile, and I can mount it on a tripod and capture it without moving around due to the wide zoom range.
The vibration reduction system further enhances the footage's stability and smoothness. Considering that Nikon autofocus motors don't excel in tracking motion compared to Canon autofocus, I prefer using the focus ring for precise focusing.
You can use most of the Nikon FX lenses on other Nikon DSLRs, such as the Nikon D5300. Although the APS-C sensor of the Nikon D5300 is smaller than the full-frame sensor, you can mount the FX lenses without an adapter, just as you do with the DX lenses. Compared to a DX lens, the larger diameter of an FX lens allows you to take photos without vignetting.
Yes, you can use manual focus lenses with the Nikon D5300, but you need to set the lens and camera to manual focusing mode. Simply move the focus switch on the lens to the manual position, which is usually marked M or MF, and set the Focus mode to MF on the camera. You can also select a focus point and rotate the focusing ring on the lens to bring the subject into focus.
Yes, it is possible to use other lenses with the Nikon D5300 as long as they have the same mount type. Some third-party lens manufacturers that produce Nikon F mount lenses are Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, and Samyang.
With the best lens for Nikon D5300, you can take sharp images in bad lighting or magnify distant subjects to take detailed shots. If you are taking close-ups, get a prime lens with a normal angle of view. If you are shooting videos, get a lens with varying zoom ranges.
