Lenses for my Nikon D3300

[Khun3248]

I have the nikkor 50mm "D" lense and i'm looking into the nikkor 85mm.
Does that lense have a built in auto focus or do I need a camera that has a built in auto focus motor?
I currently have a Nikon D3300

 

[dennybeall]

If a Nikon lens has an "S" like AF-S Nikkor, then it has a built in motor.
I know the D5300 needs that but not sure about the D3300.

 

[fmw]

The D lenses require manual focus with your camera. You need AF-S lenses in order to use autofocus. Your camera doesn't have a focusing motor and the D lenses don't either.

 

[KmH]

Note that the D3300 has a feature called Rangefinder that aids manually focusing an AF (not AF-S) lens.
See pages 84 & 248 in the D3300 Reference Manual and post # 21 in this thread:
5200 upgrades

 

[benhasajeep46 44]

The D3300 you need a lens with a focus motor in the lens itself. Nikon AF-s or AF-i lenses, or third party lenses of same design. You can use the D lens on the camera and get full function except autofocus. You will get focus confirmation light in the viewfinder though.

The AF-D lenses use a mechanical drive in the camera body to focus the lens. I carry a D3300 with me while traveling for work. It's a really decent travel camera.
They also have some AF-G lenses that are not AF-S either.

AF-S for newer lenses, and AF-I for some used lenses is what you need to look for for your D3300.

Nikon does make an AF-S 85mm in f/1.4 and f/1.8 varieties. They are G lenses but have the AF-S motors in them.

 

[Derrel]

Nikon's newer G-series lenses are AF-S focusing...the 85mm f/1.8 AF-S G-Nikkor will work splendidly on the D3xxx or D5xxx series Nikons, whioch do require an in-lens focusing motor for automatic focusing--but those cameras CAN USE the D-sereies Nikkor lenses, but without automatic focusing.

The 50mm f/1.8 AF-S G or 85mm f/1.8 AF-S G lenses would be the most fully compatible with the Nikon D3300 camera, with fully automatic focusing available.

 

[rosh4u]

For auto focus you need AF-S lenses as the Nikon D3300 comes with D lenses in which you need to manually set the auto focus as your camera does not focusing motor and this camera is considered an entry level or beginner camera and which also have good features other than auto focus.

 

[goodguy]

Be sure you understand that's 85mm on APS-C sensor is in many ways a very limited focal range, I used the Nikon 85mm 1.8G on my D7100 and I rarely used it, eventually I sold it.
On the other hand on my FX camera 85mm is just perfect.
Remember 85mm on DX body gives you a FOV or 127.5mm which isn't very usable to anything but portrait. I would even argue that 50mm on DX is a better portrait lens being FOV of 75mm then 85mm lens.
Other then that if you still want an 85mm lens then get the Nikon 85mm 1.8G and not the Nikon 85mm 1.8D which is not sold new anymore.
There are some third party lens makers who make 85mm, you can get them too.