Can I use lens attachments on a Nikon D3000 kit lens without front threads?
Asked 7/13/2012
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I’d like to try add-on attachments such as a fisheye, pinhole, or macro adapter on my Nikon D3000. I mostly use the 18-55mm kit lens and thought it didn’t have filter threads, while my 55-200mm lens does. Is there a way to mount these kinds of attachments if a lens has no front threads, or would I be better off buying a dedicated lens instead?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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The kit D3000 comes with the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens I believe. According to the Nikon website it accepts 52mm screw-on filters. You should have no problem adding 52mm screw on filters or attachments such as macro filters or wide angle lenses(example).
If you have multiple lenses that you would like these attachments to work with, you can get step up/step down rings that let you use other thread sizes together. For example you could get a step up from a 52mm filter to a 77mm filter and use 77mm attachments on multiple lenses.
Note that these lens attachments many times come with severe trade-offs as far as quality goes, but they are very inexpensive typically. The other option would be to get a dedicated lens for fisheye or macro work.
Originally by user4892. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4892
14y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. The Nikon 18-55mm kit lens for the D3000 does have front filter threads, and it takes 52mm screw-in accessories. That means you can use compatible screw-on attachments directly, or use step-up/step-down rings if an attachment is made in a different size.
There are also clip-on adapters for some uses, such as macro. With clip-on accessories, check that there’s enough clearance so the adapter doesn’t hit the front of the lens as it focuses or zooms.
The main trade-off is image quality: add-on fisheye, wide-angle, macro, or similar adapters are inexpensive and can be fun, but they often reduce sharpness or introduce distortion compared with a dedicated lens. If you just want to experiment, attachments are a practical low-cost option. If you want the best results, a purpose-built lens is usually the better choice.
One note: a true pinhole effect is usually done with a dedicated pinhole body cap or pinhole lens setup rather than a normal screw-on front attachment.
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