D5300 70-300mm lens

Just.kale

New member
Ok so I am ridiculously confused. I recently got the Nikon D5300, and didn't buy the deal that included the 70-300mm lens because I have one from my previous Nikon. Well come to find out that it doesn't work on this model
So my question is where do I get this lens that is compatible with the D5300 so it will AF? I keep running into the lens that say they aren't compatible, then ones that don't say and I'm just getting frustrated cause I can't tell them apart. I'm trying to stay cheap and I need it soon :'( please help lol
 

Scott Murray

Senior Member
Ok so I am ridiculously confused. I recently got the Nikon D5300, and didn't buy the deal that included the 70-300mm lens because I have one from my previous Nikon. Well come to find out that it doesn't work on this model
So my question is where do I get this lens that is compatible with the D5300 so it will AF? I keep running into the lens that say they aren't compatible, then ones that don't say and I'm just getting frustrated cause I can't tell them apart. I'm trying to stay cheap and I need it soon :'( please help lol

Telephoto Zoom Lenses for Nikon D5300
 

RobHD

Senior Member
I use the sigma 70-300 APO I had with my D5200 works fine and I think that was the one Curry's in the U.K. We're selling with the d5300 and
D5200
 

robbins.photo

Senior Member
Ok so I am ridiculously confused. I recently got the Nikon D5300, and didn't buy the deal that included the 70-300mm lens because I have one from my previous Nikon. Well come to find out that it doesn't work on this model
So my question is where do I get this lens that is compatible with the D5300 so it will AF? I keep running into the lens that say they aren't compatible, then ones that don't say and I'm just getting frustrated cause I can't tell them apart. I'm trying to stay cheap and I need it soon :'( please help lol

Ok, the D5300 is often referred to as a "baby" nikon, meaning that it is one of the entry level models that doesn't have a focus motor built into the body.

Older Nikon lenses do not all have focus motors built into the lens. As a result these lenses rely on the camera having a focus motor built into the body to be able to focus. If the lens doesn't have that motor built in, then it won't be able to autofocus on a D5300.

Nikon refers to it's current generation lenses as G series, these have the built in focus motors. You'll also usually see the designation AF-S. For Sigma they call it HSM, Tamron refers to it as BIM.

So if your looking at Nikon lenses, the 70-300mm G or the 70-300mm G VR will both work fine with your 5300. Other options include the Tamron 70-300mm VR, which also has a built in focus motor.
 
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cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Welcome to the forum. If you look in my signature line you will see a Nikon 70-300 listed that works well with the D5300. In fact it works very very well. It is a great lens and camera combination.
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
Howdy and welcome to Nikonites!

As several have already answered with either requests for more info or pointers to help, I have nothing more to add other than the welcome and the hope to see you on the forum in the future.
 

Just.kale

New member
Ok, the D5300 is often referred to as a "baby" nikon, meaning that it is one of the entry level models that doesn't have a focus motor built into the body.

Older Nikon lenses do not all have focus motors built into the lens. As a result these lenses rely on the camera having a focus motor built into the body to be able to focus. If the lens doesn't have that motor built in, then it won't be able to autofocus on a D5300.

Nikon refers to it's current generation lenses as G series, these have the built in focus motors. You'll also usually see the designation AF-S. For Sigma they call it HSM, Tamron refers to it as BIM.

So if your looking at Nikon lenses, the 70-300mm G or the 70-300mm G VR will both work fine with your 5300. Other options include the Tamron 70-300mm VR, which also has a built in focus motor.

OK sorry for such a late response . ..I am trying to look at nikons new lens and under the description it says it's only compatible while in manual mode. Am I reading this wrong? I need a lens that'll auto focus in all modes. thanks so much for the help so far this has cleared up a lot. I just don't want to spend the money on a lens that ends up not working then I have to worry about returning it.
 

robbins.photo

Senior Member
OK sorry for such a late response . ..I am trying to look at nikons new lens and under the description it says it's only compatible while in manual mode. Am I reading this wrong? I need a lens that'll auto focus in all modes. thanks so much for the help so far this has cleared up a lot. I just don't want to spend the money on a lens that ends up not working then I have to worry about returning it.

Ok, well we need to be specific about which 70-300mm lens we are discussing because there are multiple versions. The "newest" version as far as I know is the 70-300mm af-P 4.5/5.6 vr, which should work fine with the D5300.

Older versions such as the 70-300mm AF-S 4.5/5.6 VR, which again has a built in focus motor and should autofocus fine on the D5300.

Very old versions, like the 70-300mm 4.5/5.6 D ED version do not have a motor built into the lens, and as such won't autofocus on the D5300.

Not sure where you got this information about "manual mode", perhaps you could provide a link?
 
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Just.kale

New member
Ok, well we need to be specific about which 70-300mm lens we are discussing because there are multiple versions. The "newest" version as far as I know is the 70-300mm af-P 4.5/5.6 vr, which should work fine with the D5300.

Older versions such as the 70-300mm AF-S 4.5/5.6 VR, which again has a built in focus motor and should autofocus fine on the D5300.

Very old versions, like the 70-300mm 4.5/5.6 D ED version do not have a motor built into the lens, and as such won't autofocus on the D5300.

Not sure where you got this information about "manual mode", perhaps you could provide a link?

OK I misread something somewhere then...but I think I might have found one. I just need to know if the ED makes any difference since you used it in the example as a old version. The website says it's compatible.

NEW Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED Lens for Nikon DSLR Cameras

I just wish I bought the kit in the first place that included both lens lol
 
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