Best lens for Nikon D5500 – Prime, Telephoto and Macro
Pro photographers and videographers probably have a good idea of advanced, high-tech cameras like the Nikon D5500. It’s a small, compact, light camera that makes it suitable for all-purpose use, and it uses cutting-edge imaging technology to deliver a strong performance at a relatively reasonable price.
With a touchscreen vari-angle display and 24.2-megapixel photo, if you own this camera, you’ll be able to put your camera skills to good use. The Nikon D5500 also lets you shoot in full HD video, so it’s a boon for videographers, YouTubers, and short-filmmakers. The high-resolution RGB metering sensor allows you to capture precise details in every shot, and the 3.2 inch LCD is a great way to change up angles. So there’s no denying that this is a premium, intuitive DSLR to keep in your kit, but the camera is only as good as the lens you pair with it.
It might be hard to pick the best lens for Nikon D5500 because there are a lot of options out there that can fulfill various functions. So it all depends on what you’re looking for. Keeping in mind what you specifically require from a lens for your Nikon D5500, let’s look at some of the best lenses out there.
REVIEW OF BEST LENS FOR NIKON D5500
Choose your lens type here
BEST prime lens for nikon d5500
1. Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 20mm f/1.8G ED Fixed Lens
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Features
This is a reasonably-priced option. This lens from Nikon is a clear winner and is possibly the best lens for Nikon D5500 at this price range, particularly since it’s built for Nikon DSLRs. It’s great for using this lens in low light specifically because the opening of the aperture up to f/1.8 will largely increase the shutter speed so as to prevent motion blur and camera shake. At this price, it’s very much accessible to student photographers or amateurs who are just starting out and may have a good DSLR but can’t afford to spend a lot of money on extra lenses.
Design
This Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 20mm lens has a similar build like 35mm f/1.8G ED and other Nikkor prime lenses. Also, it looks like the lens construction is quite advanced for this type of budget ultra-wide-angle lens. In total, there are 13 lens elements present, in that two are Extra-low dispersion lens elements that are used on high-end Nikkor lenses to boost contrast and sharpness. The two aspherical lens elements aids in correcting the spherical aberration issues.
Its body is made of hard and textured plastic, making it lightweight and easy to carry around. The metal mount and a rubber gasket on the lens mount make it a good sealing against dust that accumulates in the camera.
Performance
The camera lenses with a focal length below 35 mm are called wide-angle lenses. And that too, if the focal length is below 24mm, it is called an Ultra-wide lens. So this Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 20mm is an ultra-wide angle lens.
If the focal length is below 28 mm, then it means that prime lenses tend to have better image quality in terms of sharpness, but anyway, the zooms offer more flexibility.
The Silent Wave Motor used its ultrasonic waves for fast, accurate, and quiet auto-focusing as nearly as 78 inches from your subject. Setting this lens maximum aperture setting of f/1.8 can produce an excellent blurred background in both photos and videos.
What I liked about this lens:
2. Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED Lens
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FEATURES
If you are looking for the best lens of Nikon D5500 for portraiture, then we can't stop recommending this Nikon AF-S FX 105mm lens. This is one of the must have Nikon lenses for low-light photography. Packed with large glass elements to achieve the focal length and the maximum aperture and autofocus that are perfectly adequate for portraiture. This lens works well with all full frame Nikon DSLRs.
Design
If you had the chance to hold any of the current Nikkor f/1.4 lenses you would know that this short tele prime lens is quite huge and heavy. Looking into the other features, this lens outer barrel is made of high-end plastic and it resists dust and moisture. The focus ring is broad and rubberized and operates smoothly.
Performance
Aforementioned, this lens combines a mid-telephoto focal length and super fast f/1.4 maximum aperture which is ideal for low-light photography and portraiture. Apart from this, this lens includes the electromagnetic aperture system(E) and three extra-low dispersion lens elements that aids in controlling the chromatic aberration, flare and ghosting to boost the overall contrast of the pictures.
What I liked about this lens:
- Can be used for taking close-up shots.
- Good depth of field for a single frame shot.
3. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G Lens
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Another cheap option from Nikon, this was their first aspherical 50mm offering, and it’s still a strong contender which works well with FX, DX, and film cameras. It should pair very well with your Nikon D5500, and it’s the best lens for Nikon D5500 you can get if you’re interested in 50mm lenses, and you’re shopping on a budget.
You might have issues with autofocus in older or very new AF cameras, but otherwise, this lens should work like a charm. The aspherical lens element will reduce coma and other lens aberrations and manage any distortions as you shoot, and it also has Nikon’s multi-coating. Additional features include a good color rendition and a seven-bladed diaphragm.
When shooting on this, you can anticipate a shallow depth-of-field, which makes it great for portraiture and maybe even a spot of wildlife photography or birding. You also get really solid, soft bokeh with this lens, and although there is a little barrel distortion, it’s largely not noticeable.
As you can expect at this price point, this lens has a plastic build, but it’s pretty sturdy, so it should last you a long time. Considering it’ll cost you under $200, that’s a good investment. Make sure you snap it up!
What I liked about this lens:
- Can be used for taking close-up shots.
- Good depth of field for a single frame shot.
BEST macro LENS FOR nikon d5500
4. Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED Lens
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Features
Another best option for Nikon fans is a medium telephoto microlens that can take your portrait photography or your landscape shots focusing on a specific subject to the next level. This lens boasts that this is the world's first macro lens that features both a Silent wave motor and a vibration reduction which helps in close-up and macro photography.
Design
A huge bonus for this lens is that it's portable, and larger tele lenses often give you great quality at the cost of having to lug around a heavy piece of kit. Well, this lens can easily go with you wherever you like, and you won't be bothered by the weight at all. This is primarily for entry-level DLSRs, but it would be a good buy if you're new to photography or if you're on the hunt for a moderately priced tele.
Performance
The lens includes an ED element to cut down on chromatic aberrations, and another bonus is the availability of VR to provide a stabilizing force. At this price, that's a generous add-on that should definitely make it worth the buy. It comes with Nikon's multi-coating and has a nine-bladed diaphragm for great bokeh results. You will not have to deal with any major distortion issues, and color and contrast show up well. Adding to this, this lens can capture its low-light situation brilliantly with its fast f/2.8 aperture.
The cherry on top is the solid VR system, which makes it easy to shoot on the handheld. AF speed is pretty fast as well. Manual focus isn't as good, but it's serviceable. This lens relies on electronic focusing, so it won't be compatible with older Nikon DSLRs, but you shouldn't have any issues when you're shooting on your Nikon D5500.
What I liked about this lens:
BEST wide angle LENSES FOR Nikon d5500
5. TAMRON 10-24MM F/3.5-4.5 DI-II VC HLD WIDE ANGLE ZOOM
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Feature
If you are in search of an ultra-wide angle zoom lens that is the best fit for D5500, then look no further. The Tamron 10-24mm is one of the finest ultra wide angle zoom lenses from Tamron. When compared to its previous model, this one gives improved optical performance.
Design
When compared to its predecessor, this lens is quite compact. So this 10-24mm lens measures 3.2 by 3.3 inches and just weighs 15.5 ounces and supports 77mm front filters. It has a tough polycarbonate build with rubberized focus and zoom rings. The zoom-ring present here seals the lens mount from dust and moisture from entering.
Performance
This Tamron lens is pretty sharp considering its focal length range and price. Its center performance is good when you shoot wide open. Every wide angle lens is equipped with an edge softness feature which helps capture a picture clearly when shot wide open. Its unique Vibration compensation technology makes it handheld and ease the wide-angle shooting. Also, this lens is proved to work brilliantly in low-light environments like evening and indoors.
The High/low torque modulated drive AF system enables stable and precise focusing. Not only that the full time manual focus override allows you to make fine adjustments and the need to switch from AF to MF mode.
All these features make the TAMRON 10-24MM lens the best choice of third-party lens for Nikon cameras!!
What I liked about this lens:
BEST standard lens FOR nikon d5500
6. TAMRON 24-70MM F/2.8 G2 DI VC USD G2 ZOOM LENS
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Feature
Hunting for a high-speed zoom lens for your D5500, then this new model A032 is the one that is designed to deliver high pixel density and delivers best image quality. This lens is one the pricer side because it has some elite quality glass materials that offers you with greater optical transmittance. This type of lens is best for backlit photography and outdoor photography.
Design
This camera lens comes with a sophisticated design that can deliver superior performance and excellent image quality. It has eBAND coating which is an advanced technology that provides impressive anti reflection properties and reduces ghosting and flare.
Performance
This A032 model tamron lens uses high quality glass material that offers high optical transmittance in order to ensure superior color reproduction and greater sharpness. Totally, there are 17 glass elements in 12 groups where 2 XR glass elements present here repel optical aberrations and 3 LD ie low dispersion elements to reduce the axial chromatic aberration that usually occur with telephoto. and 3 glass molded aspherical elements and 1 hybrid aspherical lens element reduces distortions. So we can say this lens gives you unseen levels of accurate color reproduction and amazing performance.
What I liked about this lens:
BEST TELEPHOTO LENS FOR NIKON D5500
7. Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor Zoom Lens
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Features
Moving on to more expensive options, this is probably the best lens for Nikon D5500 if you need a telephoto lens. Of course, it's not cheap, but lenses can run in the thousands or ten thousand, so if you are a professional looking for the best lens of D5500, then Nikon 70-200mm lens is going to amaze you for sure.
This telephoto zoom lens is suitable for Nikon digital SLR cameras and has some advanced features worth every penny you spend. Now let's take a look at the design and performance of this lens.
Design
The lens has a metal barrel that is cool to touch, and the gasket around the lens mount protects the lens and the camera. The control switches included in this camera are focus mode toggle, focus limiter, and a switch to turn the vibration reduction on or off, and it can easily switch between normal and active VR. The zoom located in the middle of the lens is covered by textured rubber, and the manual focus ring is present ahead of it, which is also covered by textured rubber. Overall, the lens has a largely plastic body but plenty of inner metal components, so it's going to last you a long time, provided you handle it with care.
Performance
This lens features 7 ED glass elements which will help reduce chromatic aberrations, and the 9-blade diaphragm ensures that this lens will do the job with minimum noise and disruption. VR gives you the privilege of handheld shooting at four shutter speeds, which works wonders for reducing camera shake. Shooting in low light also becomes much easier.
What I liked about this lens:
Buying Guide For Best Lens for D5500
Zoom Lenses vs Prime Lenses
For D5500, you can use both prime and zoom lenses. Both these lenses have their pros and cons. Zoom lenses can cover a range of focal lengths, and thus it is more versatile. So you can use all in one Nikon lenses like Nikon 18-300mm and get all focal lengths covered. Also, it is versatile, easy to use and comes with Vibration reduction technology and focus more accurately.
Meanwhile, prime lenses have fixed focal length, but they are comparatively faster, have less distortion and are cheaper and lighter.
Since D5500 has an in-built automatic distortion correction mode, you can take advantage of this mode using a zoom lens. If you are a professional, considering a zoom lens for your D5500 is always a good choice. If you are shooting in low light, then prime lenses are essential, but again, Nikon zoom lenses compete with prime lenses. So concluding, we recommend you start with the zoom lens and down the road if you want to experiment or capture only using desired focal lengths, then go for a prime lens.
Third-party lenses
It is a known fact that Nikon manufactures one of the finest lenses on Earth. However, you can consider buying third party lenses. Manufactures like Tamron, Tokina and Sigma offer third party lenses that are compatible with the D5500 camera. Though these lenses are much cheaper than the Nikon lenses, they have some demerits like slow autofocus and softness. But in terms of price, if you are on a budget, you can consider buying these third-party lenses.
Compatibility
Nikon D5500 is a DX camera meaning it uses an APS-C sensor. But, the interesting fact is that it supports both FX and DX lenses. However, while using an FX lens on this camera, make sure you take the crop factor of 1.5x to find the equivalent full-frame length.
CONCLUSION
Depending on what and how you’re shooting, you can pick out the best lens for Nikon D5500 (for you!) on this list. While the camera itself is a top performer, the lens plays a huge part in the results you’re getting. So make sure you choose carefully if you’re opting for some of the more expensive options on this list. But all of the items listed here have been well-received by professionals, so they should serve you well. Even the budget options last for a long time when handled carefully. There’s not a single weak link here, so get shopping!
FAQ
1. Will AF S lens work on D5500?
Yes, the AF S lens is compatible with the D5500. If you are looking for a lens to capture the best bokeh shots, landscapes, and portraits, this lens, combined with a D5500 camera, can give you the expected results.
2.What lens mount is the Nikon D5500?
Nikon D5500 supports Nikon F mount with AF contacts, and currently, there are more than 300 native lenses available for this mount.
3. How old is a Nikon D5500?
Nikon D5500 was introduced on January 5, 2015. It is the successor of D5300, and it is claimed to be the first Nikon DSLR to feature a touchscreen. Not only that, the Nikon D5500 has many improvements over its predecessor.
