Howdy friends! I received a couple questions regarding compatible lenses for the Nikon D3000 and thought it would be best to post the answers here in an easy to understand compatibility guide.
The D3000 can only autofocus with lenses that have a built-in focusing motor. If the lens doesn’t have a built-in focusing motor, you’ll need to adjust the focus manually.
Nikon (Nikkor) Lenses compatible with the D3000
Here’s what you’ll need to look for. If you’re purchasing a Nikon (Nikkor) branded lens, you’ll want to make sure that it’s labeled with either AF-S or AF-I. These are the only Nikon lenses that will autofocus on the Nikon D3000.
Here’s a short list of the compatible Nikon (Nikkor) lenses:
Sigma Lenses compatible with the D3000
If you’re wanting to purchase a lens designed by Sigma for the Nikon D3000, you’ll have to make sure the lens is labeled with HSM. These are the only Sigma lenses that will autofocus on the D3000.
Here’s a short list of the compatible Sigma lenses:
Tamron Lenses compatible with the D3000
Tamron lenses are a little bit trickier to sort out. On Amazon, there are certain Tamron lenses that are labeled with ‘Built-in Motor for Nikon DSLR‘. These are the only Tamron lenses that will autofocus on the D3000.
Here’s a short list of the compatible Tamron lenses:
Will older lenses still work on the Nikon D3000?
The answer to that question is yes…lenses without a built-in motor will “work” on the D3000, but you’ll have to adjust focus manually.
I hope that clears up some of the confusion surrounding the compatible lenses for the Nikon D3000. If you have any questions, feel free to post a question to this post.
Happy Shooting!
Written by Moose on Tuesday, May 4, 2010
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Will the sigma 28-135 mm aspherical if macro will auto focus on my d3000? it says it has a motor for focusing? Thanks here is the link for the lense.
http://lensbuyersguide.com/en/lens/show/Sigma/28-135mm_f3.8-5.6_ASPHERICAL_IF_MACRO
Will the sigma 28-135mm f/3.8-5.6 aspherical IF Macro will auto focus on my d3000?thanks
Will the sigma 28-135mm f/3.8-5.6 aspherical IF MACRO will auto focus ony d3000? Cheers
have d3000. looking for 2x converter…does not have to be
auto focus or vr….suggestions would be appreciated…
thank you for your time..
Can anyone tell me if the Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD will autofocus with my Nikon d3000?? I can’t find the answer to this anywhere… Much Thanks!!
Hi!
I would like to purchase a nikkor 50mm f/1.8d lens, but i heard it wont autofocus on my Nikon d3000. Yet, I’m really interested in buying since I heard the lens is excellent for taking portraits. Will the absence of its AF be of any disadvantage? or can I still get the same result as to other compatible cameras when I manually focus the lens.
hi,
I am interested in shallow depth of field photography and bokeh. For this purpose i am thinking of buying Nikon 50mm f1.8D lens. I understand that it will not autofocus with D3000. But not having autofocus shall really hamper me, considering the type of photography i am interested in? Though Nikon 35mm f1.8G and 50mm f1.8G is available, 50mm1.8D is costs considerably less. Please advise.
Hye Moose,
I am very beginner in photography. Could you please recommend lens for my d3000, I am looking forward to take photos of people, with bokeh, especially during events, i.e wedding, dinner, presentation. Some one suggest tamron 90mm f/2.8 for portrait and macro photography. What say you? any addition?
Hi there,
I have the Nikon 35mm f/1.8, it works amazingly and can get bokehs. It’s auto focuses very well and is Ideal for portraits.
Hi,
I have a d3100, and I have been trying to find a 35-70 mm lens that will work with it. I’ve been having a horrible time finding a lens. My minolta 7000 has a 35-70 lens that I love and i just want to find one for my d3100. is that lens not made or is there a similar lens i could get?
Does tamron 90mm f/2.8 can fit into d3000?
Hi,
Is the Kenko Macro Extension Tube set of 12mm, 20mm, 36mm compatible with the D3000?
Kindly,
Anand.P
Anand,
The Kenko DG extension tube set is fully compatible with Nikon AF-S lenses. This means you can autofocus and meter properly.
Extension tubes allow you to focus closer, which has the effect of ‘magnifying’ your subject. They can basically turn any ordinary lens into a macro lens capable of some really nice close-ups.
- Moose
Hi,
I have a Nikon D3000. I want to purchase a good lens that would help me get good birding/wildlife shots, with auto-focus and preferably with VR too. But I don’t want to carry around a large,heavy telephoto that would require a tripod. Please provide suggestions,I don’t want to spend a bomb.
Thanks!
Varun,
The best overall lens based on price, size, VR and telephoto reach is the Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR lens. It’s sharp from edge to edge and has quick (quiet) focusing which is important when shooting wildlife. Best of luck!
- Moose
Hi, it’s me again.
I have another question. I wanted to use my D3000 to take beautiful micro shots with nice bokeh and also to capture my son’s soccer game. I was looking at reviews and questions here. My question is, would Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR [Vibration Reduction] Nikkor Zoom Lens be a perfect lens for me?
Thanks again!
Also, how would compare Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR and Tamron AF 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Zoom Lens with Built In Motor based on what I needed my d3000 for?
Thanks so much. You dont know how much help you are to me because I’m very new to DSLRs.
Dionsmom,
Tough choice…the Nikon 55-200mm is a bit sharper than the Tamron and comes equipped with vibration reduction which will help minimize camera shake.
The Tamron 18-270mm on the other hand will allow you to quickly shoot everything from wide-angle to telephoto. With the Nikon 55-200mm, you’ll have to switch back and forth between your kit lens when you want to shoot wide-angle or telephoto.
Almost always, I advise people to go the one lens route in the beginning…even if you sacrifice a little in the image quality department. As you grow, you can upgrade to lenses that better match your interests. Best of luck in your decision!
- Moose
I have a d3000 and I wanted a lens that can do macro shots but I’m on a budget. What can you suggest? Thanks!
Dionsmom,
Definitely go for the Raynox DCR-250 macro converter. For around $60 bucks, you’ll have the ability to transform your kit lens into a macro snapping machine. :)
Here’s a link to some macro photos that were taken using the D3000 and Raynox DCR-250. Best of luck!
- Moose
Thanks for responding.
Would this fit the 18-55mm that came with my camera as a kit?
Dionsmom,
Yes, it will fit lenses with filter threads between 52 to 67mm. The D3000 kit lens (18-55mm) has 52mm filter threads.
- Moose
Is the Sigma 70-300mm compatible with D3000?
MOK,
Yes, the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 SLD DG lens is compatible with the D3000.
- Moose
sir,
will it auto focus on a D3000? or will I be doing it manually?
thanks!
cookie
Cookie,
Yes, the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 SLD DG will auto-focus on the D3000. Happy shooting!
- Moose
Hi,
I’m considering the Tamron AF 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Zoom Lens for my Nikon D3000. I’m going on vacation this summer and want to be able to take various types of photos like macro photography,building, landscapes and nature. Is this lens compatible with D3000?
Thanking U,
Anand
Anand,
Yes, the Tamron 18-270mm is compatible with the D3000. It’s a great starter lens, allowing you to capture everything from wide-angle to full telephoto. Highly recommended!
- Moose
I bought the D3000 for my real estate business. When I bought it I thought it would take a wider angle picture than my other camera but unfortunately it doesn’t. I would like to buy either a wide angle lens or a lens attachment. I would prefer the lens attachment if it would work for me. Can you give me some advice on this?
Kim,
I’ve got good news and bad news for you…
Good news: The Nikon D3000 is an excellent camera
Bad news: Wide-angle lenses are very expensive
I’m not sure how much you paid for your D3000, but wide-angle lenses are often more expensive than buying a camera brand new. If you’re on a budget, the best “value” wide-angle lens is the Tokina 12-24mm f/4 lens. Priced towards the low end of the scale for wide-angle lenses, it’s actually a fantastic lens. The zoom range will allow you to get extremely wide shots, which can be helpful for a real estate agent shooting in tight spaces. This Tokina lens is compatible with the D3000 and will allow you to auto-focus quickly and efficiently. Best of luck in your decision!
- Moose
I am looking for a good lense for my Nikon D3000 to get good action shots of my son playing football. I am seen people be able to zoom in really good and get the wonderful expressions from their face. I bought a Nikon 70-300mm lens from someone and didn’t realize that it was not auto focus. When I look in my view finder and focus, everything looks clear but when I view the picture, it is really blurred. Can you recommend a good lens that has the auto focus for action shots.
Thanks so much,
Lanyce Miller
Lanyce,
I would recommend three lenses with the same zoom range…
Budget: If you’re on a budget then I would start with the Tamron 70-300mm lens. This lens will autofocus on your D3000 and will give you the zoom range you’re after. It’s not super sharp and the focusing can be a bit slow especially at telephoto, but it’s a good starter lens.
Better performance on a budget: The Nikon 55-200mm VR (Vibration Reduction) lens doesn’t have quite the telephoto reach of a 70-300mm, but it’s sharp and focusing is much faster than the budget Tamron.
Optimal performance and zoom range: The Nikon 70-300mm VR (Vibration Reduction) lens combines the zoom range you’re after, along with fast autofocus on the D3000. This lens is very sharp and comes equipped with Vibration Reduction which will help control “camera shake”.
Best of luck!
- Moose
Hi Lanyce
Are you shure that you made a good adjustment of Aperture and Shutter? Cause if you taking action pictures without a tripod you have to make that adjustment earlier. Probably the blur that you see
on your son´s pictures is caused by vibration (even minimun) with a long shutter time or a high aperture (more ligth coming). Check this and good luck. Maybe you can think about a monopod too.
Avik,
The key is locating “Internal Focus” labels for each lens. With Nikon lenses, they use the term “AF-S” or “AF-I” for the lenses that come equipped with internal focus. With third party lenses like Tamron and Sigma, you’ll need to find their terms…Tamron “IF” and Sigma “HSM”.
- Moose
Hi
Useful article, thank you. I have a d3000 and am looking for cheap macro lens. I found a used sigma 90mm f/2.8 for cheap with a Nikon mount. I know it won’t autofocus but otherwise is it compatible with the d3000. Thanks in advance
Steve,
Along with the lack of autofocus, I believe you won’t be able to meter (3D color matrix, spot, center weighted, etc…) with the Sigma 90mm f/2.8. Best of luck!
- Moose
Also i was told the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 isn’t compatible with D3000, that it will not auto focus – you will have to do it manually? is this true?
Katie,
You’re correct, the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 is an old film lens and doesn’t have a focusing motor built-in, thus it relies on the cameras internal focusing system to achieve focus. The D3000 unfortunately doesn’t come with an internal focusing system, so the 50mm lens will have to be focused manually.
- Moose
i have a nikon d3000, i want a new lens for it to take portraits and have the blurred background. would you recommend the Nikon 35mm AF-S f/1.8 DX Price: $200 or Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.4G Price: $450. the one is much cheaper but what one would be better to purchase?
Katie,
I would go with the Nikon 35mm f/1.8. Not only is it half the price, but it takes wonderfully sharp image with excellent bokeh (blurred backgrounds). Make sure you shoot in aperture priority mode (A) and select the lowest available f/number, which is f/1.8. This will put your subject into focus with the background blurred.
- Moose
Hi- I wanted to get the tameron 11-18 mm but I don’t think it’ll autofocus on my d3000. I was wondering if you could tell me if it would and if not- what other wide angle lens will? thank you!!
Tamron SP AF 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Lens
This is the one I was looking at. Now, I think I remember that the IF will auto focus but can’t be sure? What does “SP” mean?
Lauren,
Yes, the Tamron AF 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Di-II SP LD Aspherical (IF) lens will autofocus on your Nikon D3000. The lens comes with an internal focus motor, so no need to worry about it not working with your D3000.
- Moose
Hi,
I have just purchased a Nikon d3000 for nature photography? Which is the best lens compatible with the d3000 for flower and wildlife photograpy?
Cynthia,
You have two options…
1. Attach a Raynox DCR-250 macro conversion lens to your kit lens. The macro conversion lens acts like a magnifying glass, allowing you to “magnify” the flower.
2. Get the Tamron 18-270mm. This lens can handle macro shots and telephoto shots which is great for wildlife. The D3000 has with a focal length multiplier of 1.5x, which basically means the 18-270mm lens is actually 27mm-405mm.
- Moose
Hello. I bought the D3000 to photograph my child, however I’d like a lens that will work better for portraits and blur the background. Any suggestions for a mom on a budget?
Tansy,
I highly recommend the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D lens. For around $120 you will have a lens that is capable of outstanding portraits with wonderfully blurred backgrounds. It also does really well in low light (indoors)!
- Moose
Hi there. First of all, thanks for a fantastic valuable site! Now, question. I found a cheap tamron af 70-300mm f/1:4-5:6 lens with a Nikon mount. I am a bit sceptical as to if i should purchase this lens for my d3000? Could you tell me, would this lens be compatible with my camera and what kind of performance are we looking at? Thanks.
Cherie,
Thanks for the kind words! To answer your question…Yes, the Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens will mount and auto-focus with the Nikon D3000. Just make sure the Tamron lens you’re talking about comes with the (AF) designation. I know Australia doesn’t have an Amazon, but you can click the link I provided above to see if the lens you are purchasing is the same one I linked to. If they’re the same, then the lens will work with your D3000.
As far as performance, this is a budget zoom with macro abilities. Since the D3000 comes with a focal length multiplier of 1.5, the Tamron 70-300mm lens will actually be 105mm to 450mm. You’ll have to consider the amount of shooting you will do at that focal length range. The focusing with this lens attached to the D3000 can be a bit slow for sports, but sufficient for wildlife photography. Edge to edge sharpness is above average, but not great.
If you’re after a budget zoom, I would look at the Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S Vibration Reduction lens. This lens sells for around $220 and will give you much better sharpness and control with the built-in vibration reduction (or otherwise known as image stabilization) which reduces camera shake when shooting at the long end of the zoom range.
Best of luck!
- Moose
Thanks,
I think you are right there. It will be easier for her to handle a proper Nikon lens. And I have to realize that my old Pentax camera is for ever dead and buried in the digital world…
Hi,
My grandchild has just bought a new d3000. I have some lenses for my old Pentax. Is there a way to use them with her camera? Adapter?
Brandberg,
If your Pentax lenses are the older 42mm screw mount lenses, then you can use them on the D3000 using the Fotodiox Lens Mount Adapter. Your grandchild will have to focus and setup the D3000 to shoot manually. If she’s a beginner, I would probably sell or trade the old Pentax lenses for a good Nikon lens. Hope that helps!
- Moose
Will the Tamron 55-200mm macro lense be compatible with the d3000?
Howdy V,
The Tamron 55-200mm will not be able to auto-focus on the D3000. Your next best option is the Nikon 55-200mm lens which is only about $60 bucks more than the Tamron. It also comes with vibration reduction which will help you steady your telephoto shots. Hope that helps!
- Moose
Thanks anyways.
That hurts so bad :-(
I came to know of a Sigma lens that comes with VR…its 300+US$…perhaps would go for it…no choice…Nikkor is 500+ US$
Thanks for the information:
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Motorized as suggested by you, does this come with VR?
I am believing that I do not have much choice with Nikon D3000 as camera body.
Please do reply.
Hi Shobhit,
Unfortunately that lens does not come with VR. The D3000 is a great camera, but your lens choices are limited.
- Moose
I was about to buy a sigma 70-300 mm lens for my D3000.
However, by seeing your list, do I assume that Sigma has not made any auto focus lens that is compatible with D3000?
How is Tamron lens performance as compared with Sigma?
Also, does Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Lens with Built-in Motor for Nikon DSLR, have vibration reduction?
Shobhit,
There are a couple 70-300mm Sigma lenses to choose from, but the only one that will auto-focus with the D3000 is the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Motorized lens. Tamron and Sigma are about equal in my book. No, that specific Tamron lens does not have vibration reduction. Hope that helps!
- Moose
You’ve given me terrific advice. Thanks for your time! I’ve decided and went along with the Nikon 60mm :) Cant wait for it to arrive!
My friends birthday is coming and I wanted to buy him a Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 Di SP A/M but I don’t know if it will work on his Nikon D3000. Do you know if this lens works on the camera. Thanks again.
-Sam
Hey Sam,
No problem…you’re going to love the 60mm lens. To answer your question, the Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 comes with a built-in motor to control the auto-focus system on the D3000. So Yes, it will work.
- Moose
Thanks for the advice. I had another question. I had heard the Nikon 60mm f2.8 G auto focus does not work on the Nikon D3000. Is this true or the auto focus works on the D3000? Thanks
Hey Sam,
The Nikon 60mm f/2.8G AF-S lens WILL auto-focus on the D3000. Any lens with labeled with AF-S or AF-I can auto-focus on the Nikon D3000. Hope that helps!
- Moose
Thanks for the reply! about 2 weeks ago I bought the Hoya Diopter with 4 different magnifying glasses which act like the close up lens. It is good but the minimum working distance increases with taking pictures unfortunately.
I’ve researched the Nikon 60mm and it was a pretty nice lens. I am into macro but I am going on vacation this summer and want to be able to take various types of photos like building, landscapes and nature while having the macro capability as well. Will is Nikon 60mm do the job or is their any universal lens that fits my criteria?
Sam,
The dedicated macro or “Micro” lenses made by Nikon will give you the closest working distance to your macro subjects. If you’re looking for an “all-in-one” lens with macro abilities, then I’d consider the Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 macro zoom lens. If you couple it with a Raynox DCR-250 you’ll be able to take some amazing macros, while still having the ability to shoot buildings and landscapes.
- Moose
Hi,
I’ve had the Nikon D3000 for about a month and I’ve done wonders with the kit lens. Its seems to be a good lens but it limits me sometimes when I’m doing macro photography.
I am looking for a macro lens and have a budget of $550 since I’m kinda new to photography but experienced. I’ve had my eye on the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC HSM Macro Lens for Nikon DSLR (not sure if this is works on the D3000) and I was thinking of buying this. Of course before buy this lens I should ask advice from more experienced photographers. My basic use for the lens would be macro photography but a lens that will also be able to take landscape and nature shots on occasion. Do you have any specific lens that you would recommend me or is the Sigma lens good? Thanks
-Sam D
Sam,
Great question! Before you go dropping $550 on a new lens, let me suggest that you try adding a close-up lens to your existing kit lens. A close-up lens will basically give you the same effect as a magnifying glass. When you attach a close-up lens to your existing lens, the subject will appear larger and fill the entire frame of the camera. To get an even more dramatic effect, you can stack close-up lenses on top of each other to get an even higher magnification.
There are a couple close-up lens attachements to consider…
Nikon has basically discontinued their Close-up lens attachments, so you would have to locate one on eBay. My suggestion would be to find a Nikon 6T close-up lens. This close-up lens fits onto a 62mm lens thread, so with the kit lens you’ll need to purchase a step down ring. This setup will cost you around $50 to $80 depending on your eBay skills. If you purchase a couple of these Nikon 6T’s you can stack them on top of each other for further magnification. Here are some photos with the Nikon 6T: flickr gallery
My next recommendation would be the Raynox DCR-250. What’s great about this close up lens is that it will just snap on to your existing lens, without the need for a step down ring. For around $60, you can’t go wrong with this setup. Here are some photos with the Raynox DCR-250: flickr gallery
While a true macro lens like the Nikon 60mm f/2.8G AF-S Micro lens will give you amazing edge to edge sharpness and excellent image quality, I’ve taken (and seen) some amazing macro’s with the close-up lens attachments. For an investment under $100, you can’t go wrong.
- Moose
Hi,
I just bought the Nikon D3000 and I want to use the AF 70-300mm lens. I know that it’s only compatible with higher advanced cameras like the D90 and D300s.
Can you tell me which lens mount should i use for my D3000?
Regards,
Ayman
Ayman,
The lack of a lens motor on the D3000 can be a little frustrating. You’re correct that the budget Nikon 70-300mm AF lens will not auto-focus on the D3000.
Your next best option would be the Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR lens. It’s a little pricey, but it will auto-focus on the D3000 and also comes equipped with vibration reduction to help reduce “camera shake” in low light conditions. Here’s some sample photos: Nikon 70-300mm AF-S flickr gallery
If you’re on a tight budget and don’t mind sacrificing a little bit of zoom, then I would go with the Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR lens. This lens comes with a built-in lens motor so you can use auto-focus on the D3000, plus it’s equipped with vibration reduction. Here’s some sample photos: Nikon 55-200mm AF-S flickr gallery
Hope that helps!
- Moose