10 Best Lenses for Nikon D5600 (2023 Ultimate Guide)

This is a guide covering the best lenses for the Nikon D5600.

The Nikon D5600 is small, easy to use, and fast. It’s over 5 years old now but it’s still a great camera with terrific image quality.

Being such a great camera, there are also a lot of lenses to choose from.

The Nikon D5600 is a mid-range DSLR that offers great results when coupled with the right lens. It has a 24MP sensor, a handy touchscreen functionality that makes it easier to find the right setting, plus an above-average 39-point AF system.

Though some say that it’s still an entry-level DSLR, we believe that it’s a few notches better than your D3500. But to be able to maximize its specs, you’ll need to have the right lens for the right situation.

The lens options can be too overwhelming at times, so we’ve come up with our list of the 10 best lenses for the Nikon D5600. If you choose a lens outside of this list, make sure it is a Nikon F-Mount lens as that is the lens type compatible with the Nikon D5600.

Also, make note that I have listed both FX and DX-format lenses. The Nikon D5600 is a DX camera body which means it is an APS-C crop sensor camera. You can still use an FX lens on a DX camera body but there will be a 1.5x crop factor. For example, if you use a 50mm FX lens then it will really look like a 75mm lens — something to be aware of if you’re new.

In a hurry? Here’s a quick rundown:

• ⭐ Best Overall Lens for the Nikon D5600
  • Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G

• 👩 Best Portrait Photography Lenses for the Nikon D5600
  • Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G
  • YONGNUO YN50mm F1.8N
  • Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G
  • Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G

• 🌄 Best Landscape Photography Lenses for the Nikon D5600
  • Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G

• 🚗 Best Street Photography Lenses for the Nikon D5600
  • Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G
  • Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G

• ⚾ Best Sports Photography Lenses for the Nikon D5600
  • Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G
  • Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G
  • Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED

• 🌹 Best Macro Photography Lens for the Nikon D5600
  • Nikon AF Micro-NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8D

• 💸 Best Budget Lens for the Nikon D5600
  • YONGNUO YN50mm F1.8N

How to Choose the Best Lens for the Nikon D5600?

Focal length: The D5600 has a DX-format sensor, so it is best to use DX lenses with this camera. A wide-angle lens such as the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G is great for landscape and architecture photography, while a telephoto lens such as the Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED is ideal for sports and wildlife photography.

Aperture: A lens with a wide aperture (low f-stop number) is great for low light and shallow depth-of-field photography. For example, the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G is a great choice for portrait and street photography.

Zoom or prime: Zoom lenses, such as the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED, are versatile and allow you to quickly adjust your focal length without having to change lenses. Prime lenses, on the other hand, have a fixed focal length and are generally sharper, and have wider apertures. A prime lens, such as the Nikon AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D is great for portrait photography.

Macro: If you plan to take close-up shots, you’ll need a macro lens. The Nikon AF Micro-NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8D is a great option for macro photography.

10 Best Lenses for Nikon D5600

1. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G

Specifications:

• Lens type: Prime lens
• Maximum aperture: F1.8
• Minimum aperture: F22
• Max Format size: APS-C/DX
• Focal length: 35mm
• Image stabilization: No
• Lens mount: Nikon F (DX)
• Weight: 210g (0.46 lb)
• Diameter: 70mm (2.76″)
• Length: 53mm (2.07″)
• Materials: Plastic barrel, metal mount

A 35mm lens isn’t only handy when it comes to shooting landscapes. It is also a good choice if you plan on taking portraits and group photos.

Some photographers would even consider a 35mm F1.8G Lens as the best portrait lens for the Nikon d5600.

With its wide aperture, it comes in handy for producing beautiful bokeh and blurring the background of your subject.

And unlike the 50mm portrait lens, the Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm F1.8G lens can get the subject’s entire body in the picture. You can even get more background.

This lens is known for having a fast and quiet autofocus thanks to its silent wave motor. It also has good optics that can produce vibrant colors and sharp images.

However, some users complained about the lens having difficulty producing the right exposure when it involves daytime scenarios.

And though it’s a bit off in terms of metering, it is something that you can adjust to.

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2. YONGNUO YN50mm F1.8N

Specifications:

• Focal Length: 50mm
• Maximum Aperture: F1.8
• Minimum Aperture: F22
• Lens Mount: Nikon F
• Lens Format Coverage: Full-Frame
• Minimum Focus Distance: 1.48′ / 45 cm
• Maximum Magnification: 0.15x
• Focus Type: Autofocus
• Image Stabilization: No
• Weight: 7.16oz/203g

There are lots of individuals that aren’t willing to spend thousands of dollars on a lens.

But this shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the best lenses for Nikon D5600. What you can do is try a third-party lens on your D5600.

This 50mm lens makes a great choice for those who are still trying to learn photography but don’t have the money for a Nikon-made 50mm lens.

It has a wide aperture that allows you to work even indoors and in low-light conditions. It’s a good lens that allows photographers to create outstanding bokeh that can highlight the subject.

Construction-wise, it made use of gold-plated metal contacts that improve both signal conductivity and resistance to corrosion that can damage the lens.

So what’s not to like? For starters, it isn’t going to be on par with your Nikkor prime lenses. The images are a bit soft but tolerable if you’re a hobbyist.

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3. Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G

Specifications:

• Lens type: Prime lens
• Maximum aperture: F1.8
• Minimum aperture: F16
• Max Format size: 35mm FF
• Focal length: 50mm
• Image stabilization: No
• Lens mount: Nikon F (FX)
• Weight: 185g (0.41 lb)
• Diameter: 72mm (2.83″)
• Length: 53mm (2.07″)
• Sealing: No

The best portrait lens for Nikon D5600 is the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm F1.8G lens. It’s a favorite pick by many professional photographers for good reasons.

Compared to other lenses, this focal length can be used for shooting portraits, landscapes, or even when you need to do some macro photography.

It comes in handy even when you are shooting indoors.

What makes the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm F1.8G lens stand out is its ability to produce sharp images across all apertures. It also has a fast and accurate silent wave motor that gives minimal to no lag time when spotting the subject.

The only flaw with this lens is that it doesn’t have a vibration reduction feature.

Though it takes home the title of the best portrait lens for the Nikon D5600, you will need to have steady hands to be able to maximize this lens.

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4. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G

Specifications:

• Lens type: Zoom lens
• Maximum aperture: F3.5 – 5.6
• Minimum aperture: F22 – 38
• Max Format size: APS-C/DX
• Focal length: 18–140mm
• Image stabilization: Yes (VR)
• Lens mount: Nikon F (DX)
• Weight: 490g (1.08 lb)
• Diameter: 78mm (3.07″)
• Length: 97mm (3.82″)
• Zoom method: Rotary

One thing about travelers is that they will need more than just the best landscape lens for Nikon D5600. (Check out the best Nikon lenses for landscape photography)

It is also important to have a good range when shooting travel photos since you might find an object to be a bit too far and you are going to lose the moment if you are going to walk closer to the subject.

There are also instances when shooting up close can be a bit invasive.

That’s where the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED lens comes in handy as the best travel lens. Anyone who is after the best Nikon d5600 lenses should consider this a must-have in their gear bag.

It has an 18mm to 140mm focal length range making it a wide-angle, portrait lens, and macro lens. It even has vibration reduction capability giving you steady shots even when you don’t have a tripod.

With this lens, you can forego other lenses on our list of best lenses for the Nikon D5600 and still be able to get decent shots in different scenarios.

It also has a superior focusing ability with its silent wave motor. It can spot the subject accurately without missing the moment.

And when it comes to its output, it produces vibrant and sharp images.

However, it does come with a few limitations. It might not be a good option in low-light scenarios. Also, it doesn’t produce the bokeh that you expect from lenses with wider apertures.

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5. Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G

Specifications:

• Lens type: Prime lens
• Maximum aperture: F1.8
• Minimum aperture: F16
• Max Format size: 35mm FF
• Focal length: 85mm
• Image stabilization: No
• Lens mount: Nikon F (FX)
• Weight: 350g (0.77 lb)
• Diameter: 80mm (3.15″)
• Length: 73mm (2.87″)
• Sealing: Yes

Our list of best lenses for Nikon D5600 won’t be complete without naming the best macro lens. 85mm might not be the best focal length for a macro lens, but the Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G lens offers more than just macro photography.

It produces sharp images, and great contrast, not to mention it has a wide aperture to produce beautiful bokeh in your shots.

This medium telephoto lens can also work as your portrait lens in case you want to shoot your subjects from afar.

It also has a silent wave motor that has the best accuracy when it comes to spotting the subject. However, the AF is also said to be a bit slow for some users.

Also, check out the full list of the best Nikon macro lenses.

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6. Nikon AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D

Specifications:

• Lens type: Prime lens
• Maximum aperture: F1.8
• Minimum aperture: F22
• Max Format size: 35mm FF
• Focal length: 50mm
• Image stabilization: No
• Lens mount: Nikon F (FX)
• Weight: 155g (0.34 lb)
• Diameter: 64mm (2.5″)
• Length: 39mm (1.54″)
• Materials: metal mount
• Sealing: No

The Nikon AF FX Nikkor 50mm F1.8D lens is a great pick for creating distortion-free images with vibrant colors.

It also comes in with a wide aperture making it a great choice for shooting portraits. The biggest issue with this Nikon lens is that it doesn’t have AF functionality with some DSLRs including the D3000 and the D5000 series DSLRs.

If you rely mostly on the AF to capture subjects, then it’s something that you might want to reconsider.

And even if you have a camera that is compatible with the lens, you will have to deal with the fact that the lens focuses somewhat slower than other Nikkor lenses.

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7. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G

Specifications:

• Lens type: Zoom lens
• Maximum aperture: F3.5 – 4.5
• Minimum aperture: F22 – 29
• Max Format size: APS-C/DX
• Focal length: 10–24mm
• Image stabilization: No
• Lens mount: Nikon F (DX)
• Weight: 460g (1.01 lb)
• Diameter: 83mm (3.25″)
• Length: 87mm (3.43″)
• Materials: Plastic barrel, metal mount

If you will look at the wide-angle lenses that we’ve featured, there are instances when you might feel limited by the fixed focal length lenses.

That’s why we pick the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED Zoom Lens as one of the best lenses for Nikon D5600 especially when it comes to shooting landscapes. You get a wider perspective than your 35mm prime lens.

You can even consider it the best landscape for the Nikon D5600 given the number of lenses that you can eliminate in your bag just by having this wide-angle zoom lens.

It also comes with a silent wave motor that makes it easy to focus on the subject. And when you are using this lens, you can guarantee sharp results across all apertures.

It is also a favorite among videographers as it can focus without making noise.

The downside to this lens is that the sharpness isn’t exactly uniform across all the focal lengths. Users complained about having softer results at 18mm above.

If you are going to spend a good amount on a wide-angle lens, you’d expect sharp results regardless of the aperture and the focal length.

But then, you can consider it as a matter of personal preference.

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8. Nikon AF Micro-NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8D

Specifications:

• Lens type: Prime lens
• Maximum aperture: F2.8
• Minimum aperture: F32
• Max Format size: 35mm FF
• Focal length: 60mm
• Image stabilization: No
• Lens mount: Nikon F (FX)
• Weight: 440g (0.97 lb)
• Diameter: 70mm (2.76″)
• Length: 75mm (2.93″)
• Materials: metal mount

Some photographers prefer something that’s in between a 50mm prime lens and an 85mm macro lens. For this situation, you might consider getting the AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm F2.8D Lens.

It’s a unique pick that sometimes fits the preference of photographers who want something that can shoot portraits from a longer distance than a 50mm prime lens.

It takes superior-quality shots with sharp images and vibrant colors.

It is also one of the best lenses for the Nikon D5600 as far as budget is concerned. You can buy this lens and get something that can come in handy whether in taking portraits or shooting small details on products in a studio setting.

And as a lightweight lens, it is a handy option if you don’t want to be carrying a heavy gear bag.

However, some complained that it’s not exactly the most durable lens out there. Preferably, you only want to have it when shooting studio photos rather than outdoor shots.

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9. Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G

Specifications:

• Lens type: Zoom lens
• Maximum aperture: F3.5 – 5.6
• Minimum aperture: F22 – 38
• Max Format size: APS-C/DX
• Focal length: 18–135mm
• Image stabilization: No
• Lens mount: Nikon F (DX)
• Weight: 385g (0.85 lb)
• Diameter: 74mm (2.89″)
• Length: 87mm (3.41″)
• Materials: Plastic barrel, plastic mount

Many consider having an all-in-one lens in their gear bag as the most practical move whenever they are trying to shoot in a studio or perhaps walking around when they travel.

Some of the best lenses for Nikon D5600 have limited focal lengths wherein users are forced to switch lenses in some situations.

The Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom Lens can be a great option for those who don’t want to bother switching lenses. It comes in as a wide-angle lens, portrait lens, and even a telephoto lens.

It comes in with great optics providing users with superb shots across the entire focal lengths and aperture of the lens.

It also has a fast and accurate motor for its AF system making it a great lens whether you are shooting sports, weddings, or simply admiring landscapes.

One of the things that you will notice with this lens though is that it comes with noticeable pincushion distortion when you use the wide-angle focal length.

If you tend to shoot a lot of landscape photos, it is difficult to correct many images with this problem.

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

Specifications:

• Lens type: Zoom lens
• Maximum aperture: F4.5 – 6.3
• Minimum aperture: F32
• Max Format size: APS-C/DX
• Focal length: 70–300mm
• Image stabilization: No
• Lens mount: Nikon F (DX)
• Weight: 400g (0.88 lb)
• Diameter: 72mm (2.83″)
• Length: 125mm (4.92″)
• Sealing: No

If your job requires shooting subjects from a greater distance, you need a lens that’s stable and easy to use. The Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G ED Lens makes a great candidate for these scenarios.

However, the biggest downside is that it doesn’t have a stabilizer making it difficult to use if you just rely on your hands.

You will need to have a tripod to have decent shots with this lens. Come to think of it, that’s what you pay for.

As far as the quality of the images is concerned, it brings vibrant colors and sharp images making it a practical choice for people who are working with a small budget.

Plus, the autofocus system works well.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Concluding Remarks

Hope you enjoyed this guide on the best lenses for the Nikon D5600.

Ever considered using a Nikon D5600 as your go-to gear? Keep in mind that you need the right lens to maximize what this DSLR can bring to the table.

Choosing the right one can be confusing especially for someone new to photography.

With these lenses we’ve featured, you will have an easier time comparing lenses that can work for you.

Also, check out the full list of the best Nikon lenses.

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