7 Best lenses for Nikon D5000 [updated 2024]

The Nikon D5000 is a DX-format camera that many photographers use. Thanks to its interchangeable F-mount lenses with a wide variety of options, ranging from fish eye to telephoto zoom options, this model has become an ideal choice as a first camera.

Our list of the best lenses for Nikon D5000 users will have something perfect for you. Discover budget-friendly options and top-notch professional choices – so no matter your level or price range, there’s a lens that fits your needs!

Read more: How to Choose a Camera Lens That Fits Your Needs.

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Here’s a detailed list of Nikon D5000 lenses sorted by type, including cost range, specifications, and performance ability. Cost ranges are indicated:

• 0 – 500$ – Budget $
• 501 – 900$ – Average $$
• 901+ $ – Expert $$$

The list of lenses:

PORTRAIT lenses
1. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G
2. Sigma 30mm f/1.4 ART DC HSM Lens

ZOOM lenses
3. Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 Contemporary DC Macro OS HSM
4. Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM

TELEPHOTO lens
5. Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED

WIDE-ANGLE lens
6. Tokina AT-X PRO 11-16mm F2.8 DXII Lens

MACRO lens
7. Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED

Portrait lenses

1. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G

Debates continue to rage as photographers strive to find the best lens for portrait photography. The most popular contenders are 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm prime lenses. This Nikon 85mm lens is an option, allowing you to capture vibrant images that exude energy.

Build and handling: The Nikon 85mm f/1.8G is designed well with its heavy-duty plastic exterior and metal lens mount, complete with a rubber seal to keep dust at bay successfully. Although it may appear somewhat bulky, it is still relatively lightweight to transport during these portrait photo shoots.

Performance: Its wide f/1.8 aperture is ideal for low-light conditions, while its shallow depth of field capabilities ensure subject separation from background elements in your images. This lens also includes two focus modes: manual priority AF and manual focus. Fast and quiet wave motor autofocus technology is perfect for creating stunning video projects.

Best for: As mentioned earlier, this lens is ideal for portrait photography but can be a multi-use tool for an experienced photographer. It offers excellent results not just for portraits but also for product shots and different events.

It affords you a fantastic bokeh effect, rich contrast, and a shallow depth of field. If you want to take your portraiture to the next level, then this is worth considering adding to your arsenal.

2. Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Fit Lens

It has a fast HSM autofocus and excellent construction, and its compact size and affordable price point make it stand out from other portrait lenses within its price range.

Build and handling: The Sigma lens exudes professional appeal with its thermally stable composite (TSC) construction and metallic look. Its design is sophisticated, with detailed indicators that are easy to read. The focusing ring glides effortlessly when turned, offering the proper resistance without feeling too tight or loose. The AF/Manual switch can be changed seamlessly between modes in a single glance.

Performance: Sigma’s Hypersonic Motor internal autofocus system performs impressively with a quick and almost silent operation. This lens is configured so that the front element will remain in place when focusing, and manual focus can still be utilized even while autofocus is activated. The corner sharpness of this lens is slightly less than the center sharpness but still acceptable.

Best for: It’s the optimal choice for indoor portrait photography because of its short focal length and vast f/1.4 aperture, which allows for impeccable shots in dimmer conditions. Furthermore, this can be used beyond portraiture to capture remarkable street scenes, breathtaking landscapes, and stunning travel snapshots!

It offers robust construction and exceptional bokeh in low-intensity areas. Despite its lack of weatherproofing, this lens is a wise investment, given its impressive performance at an economical price point.

Zoom lenses

3. Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 Contemporary DC Macro OS HSM

The Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS Lens is a perfect lens for travel, offering an extensive focal length range, fast and precise HSM autofocus, reliable optical stabilization technology, and minimum focusing distance in a sturdy yet affordable package.

Build and handling: Boasting a solid build crafted with quality materials, including a durable brass bayonet mount and glass optics, the lens is surprisingly available at an affordable cost. Moreover, Thermally Stable Composite material ensures stability in varying temperature conditions for reliable performance. Other features include a manual focus ring behind the front element and a 7-blade rounded diaphragm that creates stunning bokeh effects.

Performance: With the multipurpose lens, you can capture stunning shots with sharp focus and low depth of field, even on a DSLR camera sensor’s f/4 setting. Furthermore, it has built-in Vibration Reduction technology that provides up to 3 stops of compensation for shake-free images when activated through the OS switch on the lens barrel!

Best for: This cost-effective option is the perfect lens for your daily needs. With its 17-70mm focal lengths, you can capture wide-angle shots even in dim light and zoom out to snap streetscapes and architectural building details.

It provides unbeatable image quality and macro performance at a budget-friendly rate, and its construction also ensures that this investment will stand the test of time.

4. Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM

This powerful equipment offers far more value than its initial cost implies and will surely exceed your expectations.

Build and handling: The Sigma ART series is a photographer’s choice due to its professional quality and attractive design. Crafted with aluminum alloy, this lens has an elegant look and feel that many admire. Although it weighs 28.6 oz (810 g), it may be considered heavy but not excessive or unbearable.

Performance: The Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Lens stands above the competition for Nikon D5000 owners due to its impressive f/1.8 aperture, allowing users to capture images with a shallow depth of field and beautiful bokeh effects. Furthermore, this lens is fast and whisper quiet in operation thanks to its hypersonic motor – making it an ideal choice for photography professionals and those looking for quality results on a budget.

Best for: With wide-angle capabilities and a large aperture, it’s ideal for every type of indoor event – from weddings to product shoots. It also performs excellently outdoors in any light condition. Whether you’re shooting street scenes or portraits of friends, this lens will deliver stunning results with vivid skies and low-light clarity.

It provides great adaptability and performance regardless of diverse circumstances or surroundings, consistently producing top-notch results without breaking your bank account.

Telephoto lens

5. Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED

This affordable telephoto lens represents an ideal solution for budget-conscious photographers, providing substantial savings without compromising performance or image quality.

Build and handling: Outfitted with the same construction as many other consumer-level options, the landscape lens is remarkable and mundane. Its weight of only 14.7 oz (415 g) makes handheld shots easy to take and get clear images. Furthermore, its sleek yet simple design looks quite nice.

Performance: Featuring an f/4.5 aperture, it’s not ideal for low-light shooting, but it does feature Vibration Reduction image stabilization to make capturing objects easier. However, to reduce image noise and take full advantage of its features, a tripod is also highly recommended so that shutter speeds can be lowered accordingly.

Best for: It performs flawlessly when photographing wildlife or scenery and is lightweight enough to bring on trips without requiring a tripod. In this case, capturing those one-in-a-lifetime birds or other fleeting moments won’t be missed due to the time spent setting up the tripod.

This investment offers exceptional value for its cost, enabling the exploration of new focal lengths and dimensions that will significantly enrich your portfolio.

Wide-angle lens

6. Tokina AT-X PRO 11-16mm F2.8 DXII Lens

This Tokina lens is worth considering if you want the utmost clarity and speed in low-light photography. Equipped with an ultra wide-angle f/2.8 aperture zoom that ensures crisp imagery across all distances, this versatile lens has garnered widespread acclaim among photographers.

Build and handling: The Tokina lens features robust plastic housing and an ergonomic rubberized ring to provide optimal grip. It contains nine shutter blades in the aperture for exquisite, velvety bokeh-style backgrounds. Moreover, it has two Super Low Dispersion glass elements and two aspheric elements that improve contrast and clarity and reduce chromatic aberration. Additionally, advanced multi-layer coatings minimize reflection off surfaces for maximum optical performance.

Performance: The autofocus system offers refined and silent operation with its internal motor that lets you shoot crisp images with minimal deterioration around the edges. When shooting in intense natural light, there will likely be some faint chromatic aberration or fringing near the corners of your pictures. However, this can quickly be corrected during post-processing!

Best for: With its wide-angle view, this lens is perfect for those areas with limited space, such as real estate and indoor events. The possibilities are endless – you can use it to capture stunning landscapes or group photos so that nobody gets left out of the frame. Also, because of its large aperture and wide-angle capabilities, you can take beautiful night sky shots too.

Featuring an impressively fast aperture that remains constant throughout its focal length range, as well as excellent optical performance, this lens will not disappoint.

Macro lens

7. Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED Lens

Macro photographers everywhere will be delighted by this lens’ size and ability to create life-sized photographs with DSLR sensors. Furthermore, the f/2.8 aperture plus optical stabilization system allows you to capture amazing pictures even in low lighting conditions.

Build and handling: This macro lens is an engineering marvel, boasting dimensions of 4.6 x 3.3 inches (116 x 83 mm) and clocking in at a weighty 27.9 ounces (790 grams). Its sleek black composite material provides an ergonomic grip to its manual focus ring and toggle switches for quick settings, switching between autofocus or manual mode. The optical stabilization system and on/off ability make this high-end tool even more user-friendly.

Performance: The lens is designed with SWM Technology for fast and quiet autofocus, making it easy to switch between manual and automatic modes. Moreover, its IF system ensures the front element stays stationary, making your circular polarizing filters easier to access. Its advanced VRII mechanism also allows you to take sharp images even at shutter speeds four stops lower than regular.

Best for: Its 105mm focal length lets you take photos from a suitable distance and prevent any shade from the lens. So you will be sure that your image won’t be ruined thanks to these advantages.

If you are an avid macro photography enthusiast and own the Nikon D5000, this Nikkor lens is for you. Its optical stabilization feature ensures your pictures will be clear and crisp at 1:1 magnification.

Conclusion

Determining the best lenses for the Nikon D5000 all boils down to what kind of photography you plan on doing. Weighing the benefits and drawbacks of each lens is a must before committing – there isn’t one ideal solution that works for everybody. Hopefully, you have found your answers and are ready to acquire new gear to boost your skills.

Read more: Best Nikon DX lenses.

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