Nikon D5000 is a next-generation DSLR camera with an APS-C size sensor included. It has two SD card slots, making it easy to store images and footage simultaneously. The camera’s hybrid autofocus system includes both phase detection and contrast detection for quick focusing in any light.
Shoot continuously at 5 frames per second (fps) with bursts up to 100 JPEGs or 14 lossless compressed RAW photos, or capture motion moments at 1 fps for up to 3840×2160 video recording with Nikon D5000.
This DX lens-type camera also includes built-in WiFi for wirelessly transferring images to your smartphone or tablet, as well as remote shooting capability. Thanks to the sturdy dust- and waterproof coating on the body, the build quality is phenomenal.
A wide range of Nikon lenses is compatible with D5000. Nikon FX-format lenses are also compatible with Nikon D5000.
However, the 35mm end will show a narrower field of view. FX lenses have a larger sensor size and are used in the company’s higher-end DSLRs.
The 18-55mm kit lens offers a standard viewing perspective with a maximum aperture range of f/4.5-5.6. A kit lens’s aperture range and focal length work just fine in perfect lighting modes.
However, if you are looking for a dedicated second lens, find the best Nikon D5000 lenses for landscapes, portraits, telephoto, macro, and video making purposes from our top-6 lenses here.
The 6 Best Compatible Lenses for Nikon D5000 Digital SLR
Best Wide-Angle Lens: Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm
“AF-S 10-24mm captures crisp details and offers a broad perspective (nearly fisheye) up to 109 degrees at 10mm, making it the best NIKKOR lens for wide-angle photography.”
- Ultra Wide-Angle Zoom Lens: Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro
“Tokina is lightweight and inexpensive. At 11mm, it captures swathes of the surroundings with clearer views. The fast f/2.8 aperture assists in capturing the starry constellations with noise-free precision.”
Best All-In-One Lens: Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm
“The lens features a whopping 16.7x zoom and a VR II image stabilization to sustain it. You can shoot anything from macros to super-telephoto with this lens.”
Best Prime Lens for Portraits: Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G Lens
“AF-S FX 50mm features an FX lens mount (D5000 in DX-crop mode). The f/1.4 aperture is among the widest in the NIKKOR F mount range and produces mesmerizing bokeh effects in daylight and noise-free portraiture at night.”
Best Telephoto Lens: Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm
“Looking for the best second lens to buy after you are done with the kit lens? NIKKOR 70-300mm is the one. The lens excels in street photography, indoors, portraits, bird photography, and telephoto range.”
Best Lens for Macros: Nikon AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm
“Nikon manufactures high-end macro lenses, and NIKKOR’s 40mm will vouch for it. A focusing distance of 0.5ft and a fast f/2.8 aperture are all you must need for perfect close-up snapping.”
1. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G Wide-Angle Zoom Lens
Are you looking for an excellent lens to capture wide-angle photos with your Nikon D5000? Look no further than the AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm.
This lens delivers an impressive angle of view, from 109 degrees at 10mm to 61 degrees at 24mm, making it perfect for landscapes, architecture, cityscapes, interiors, and more.
Features
- From a super-wide-angle view at 10mm to group photos and commercial panoramas, AF-S 10-24mm has got you covered. Without a second thought, NIKKOR 10-24mm is one of the best Nikon D5000 lenses for wide-angle photography.
- Nikon 10-24mm is a stalwart lens in super-silent and accurate focusing and subject tracking in real-time. Its silent wave motor ensures quiet and sensitive autofocusing so that you can capture all the action without interruption.
- Be it a wild boar or a sportsman on a home run, Nikon 10-24mm has got everything in its focus. And with its superior element construction, your photos will be out of the gallery right away.
- The aspherical lens elements effectively minimise chromatic aberrations, coma effects, and other distortions for stunningly clear images.
- Plus, the Super-Integrated Coating (SIC) reduces flare and ghosting effects for even greater image clarity. And best of all, this lens is lightweight and ergonomically designed to give you superior control over your photos.
- Whether you're a first-time DSLR user or an experienced enthusiast, the AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm is designed to help you take your best shots with your Nikon D5000.
Pros
- Super-silent and accurate focusing and subject tracking in real-time
- The best Nikon D5000 lens for wide-angle photography
- Lightweight and ergonomically designed
- Superior element construction
Cons
- Not a recommended lens for portrait photography
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2. Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 Ultra Wide-Angle Zoom Lens
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 is an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens that is fully compatible with Nikon D5000 and many other DSLRs, that too with a low price tag. The lens’s focal length is 16–24mm in 35mm format.
Tokina’s high-performance lens has been designed with Nikon digital SLR cameras with smaller image sensors than full-frame 35mm film. The lens, with its f/2.8 maximum aperture, is well-known for astrophotography.
Features
- Tokina 11-16mm features two aspheric elements, one super-low dispersion glass element, and one low-dispersion glass element. Both are aligned to control chromatic aberration and provide excellent contrast and sharpness to the subject after correction.
- The lens also has a fast, silent internal focusing motor that allows quick focus acquisition when concentrating on long-range subjects. The internal focusing system keeps the lens size compact at 3 inches in length—a great advantage when shooting in tight spaces.
- The lens barrel also features a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 at all focal lengths, so exposure settings are not affected when zooming in or out.
- The aperture ring can be set to "A" for automatic aperture setting or locked in the up position if photographers wish to control the aperture themselves.
- The lens construction and coatings produce minimal flare and ghosting, even when shooting into a vital light source, ensuring rich colour contrast for easy digital post-processing.
- Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AF can be used as a super wide-angle lens or as a standard wide-angle lens, depending on the perception of perspective.
- For a standard wide-angle effect, focus at an appropriate distance and then shoot from a short distance—the close focusing point will be the area in sharpest focus.
Pros
- A constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 at all focal lengths
- The internal focusing system keeps lens size compact
- The fast, silent internal focusing motor
- Affordable
Cons
- The front element does not rotate during focusing, which can cause vignetting with some filters.
- The lens barrel is not weather sealed.
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3. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G All-In-One Zoom Lens
Nikon’s new AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR is a stellar all-in-one telephoto lens that covers everything from wide-angle to super-telephoto.
The lens is perfect for travel and everyday photography when you take one lens instead of multiple lenses or camera bodies.
Features
- The 16.7x zoom range gives the versatility you need to capture virtually any scene with just one lens, from ultra-wide-angle telephoto zoom to group photos at weddings to sports or wildlife images.
- This lens comes equipped with Nikon’s VR II vibration reduction system to help you capture sharper, more transparent images at all lengths and lights.
- When combined with the superb high-resolution capabilities of Nikon DX-format digital SLR cameras like Nikon D5000, this lens will produce sharp images throughout the entire range.
- Also, Nikon’s advanced Silent Wave Motor (SWM) ensures fast, accurate, and quiet autofocusing while allowing you to switch between auto and manual focus seamlessly. After switching to M/A mode, manually turn the focus ring and adjust the focus alongside the AF.
- With the NIKKOR technology, set your aim at the farthest subject and capture it with aptness and perfection. Moreover, Nikon's portrait mode delivers a stunning bokeh effect with soothing background blurs and tack sharp foregrounds.
- 18-300mm also produces HD videos with active AF that perfectly isolates the focused subjects from the surroundings. If you are looking for a professional lens that serves all your second-lens pursuits, 18-300mm is the best all-in-one Nikon product for D5000.
Pros
- VR II vibration reduction helps to produce sharper images with excellent stability.
- 16.7x zoom range covers a wide variety of scenes
- Fast, accurate, and quiet autofocusing
- HD videos with active AF
Cons
- Works in DX-crop mode in FX-type cameras
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4. Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G Prime Portrait Lens
The AF-S NIKKOR 50mm prime lens is an ideal non-zoom lens for general portraiture and low-light photography. The best feature is its express aperture construction.
The fast f/1.4 maximum aperture allows you to capture stunning photos with a shallow depth of field, letting your subject stand out from its background with special bokeh effects.
Features
- The lens is designed with an aspherical element to reduce aberrations, including sagittal coma flare. This optical anomaly occurs when points of light are perceived as star shapes or streaks.
- You can enjoy superior rendering capability even in high-contrast scenes when photoing with Nikon 50mm prime lens. SIC around the lens elements deter various flares and ghosting effects for intense and explicit results anytime and everywhere.
- For close-ups, the minimum focus distance extends up to 0.45m. The AF is quite a treat for professional photographers as it delivers outstanding graphics with super-sharp and more apparent perspectives in all lighting modes.
- The ultrasonic-type SWM AF-motor features a full-time manual override when focusing on fast-moving subjects. SWM converts travelling waves into rotational energy in real-time for snappy photos without blurs on vibrations.
- For DX lens-type cameras, the focal length extends to 75mm for a bit wider viewing perspective when needed.
Pros
- The fast aperture of f/1.4 allows for stunning images with a shallow depth of field.
- Superior rendering capability in high-contrast scenes
- Aspherical element reduces aberrations and flare
- Best prime lens for low light conditions
- USM AF-motor is fast and accurate
Cons
- The lens is non-zoomable
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5. Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G Telephoto Lens
Nikon DX NIKKOR 70-300mm offers a super-telephoto range for beginners and professional photography. The lens is compact and lightweight for a zoom apparatus and delivers the equivalent of 105–450 mm in 35mm format.
When captured from Nikon 70-300mm, the views offer exceptional versatility and outstanding image quality at all lengths and lighting conditions.
Features
- The lens also features an exclusive Nikon Inc. Vibration Reduction (VR) technology, which conveniently reduces the effects of camera shake, makes it easier to shoot handheld at longer focal lengths.
- The optical design includes one extra-low dispersion element and three aspherical elements to control chromatic aberrations, contributing to exceptional image sharpness, clarity, and contrast.
- The Vibration Reduction (VR) function enables the practical equivalent of shooting at shutter speeds approximately 4 stops* faster than usual while maintaining overall stability and comfort in one’s hands.
- The lens focuses quickly and quietly due to its stepping motor and offers smooth manual focusing, ideal for video recording.
- As if all this was not enough, the lens includes an electromagnetic aperture mechanism for constant exposure during continuous shooting of high-speed burst shots, making it easier to track fast-moving subjects in action.
Pros
- Outstanding image quality at all lengths and lights
- Multi-stop Vibration Reduction technology
- The lens offers a wide telephoto range
- Smooth manual focus for videos
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- Not-so-fast aperture as in prime lenses
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6. Nikon AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G Macro Lens
The AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm macro lens allows you to capture the tiny details of life, from the delicate veins in a butterfly’s wings to the intricate pattern on a seashell.
This lightweight and compact lens have an extremely close minimum focusing distance of 0.5 ft. The micro-NIKKOR lens has been designed with Nikon DX digital SLR cameras (APS-C size sensors).
Features
- The Silent Wave Motor (SWM) ensures fast, precision autofocus while an aspherical element minimises the need for a lens hood, thus helping to preserve the lens’ compact size.
- The 7-blade aperture diaphragm makes it possible to create a natural-looking background blur. Experience the beauty of nature as you have never seen it before with this new macro lens from Nikon.
- The macro lens has a maximum reproduction rate of 1.0x and close-range correction for macro photography. The lens provides an angle of view of 38 degrees 50ft, which is an excellent feature regarding stunning close-ups and portraiture.
- Nikon 40mm lens also encompasses dust and waterproof rubber sealing lens mount that makes it resistant to water spray from any direction.
- In addition, the M/A focus mode switch allows you to rapidly move from autofocus to manual with a minimum time lag. The M/A focus also ensures that the photos stay sharp and crispy from corner to corner.
Pros
- 7 blade aperture diaphragm for fantastic macro shots
- The lens offers a maximum reproduction rate of 1.0x
- Dust and waterproof rubber sealing lens mount
- 0.5 ft minimum focusing distance
- Light and compact
Cons
- Limited service, i.e. for close-ups and portraits
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Conclusion
If you’re looking for a DSLR camera perfect for wildlife, night, and astrophotography photography or sports, Nikon D5000 should be your choice.
The camera has an in-camera photo retouching mode with over 19 auto exposure modes to ensure the best possible picture quality.
It also includes a wide ISO setting, making it easier to take pictures under challenging lighting conditions. Be it night or during daytime sporting events where light can vary quickly from very bright spots to darker shadows.
Nikon D5000 offers 5 fps continuous shooting speed and 1/4000 maximum shutter speed, allowing you to capture excellent shots even if movement is involved.
To take advantage of your DX camera to the fullest, you will need a powerful second lens. Be it portrait photography, night-time photos, astrophotography, or wildlife captures, and a well-researched second lens purchase would deliver excellent results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nikon D5000 lenses are compatible with Nikon DX lenses. FX Lenses, however, are compatible with Nikon D5000 in DX-crop mode.
Yes, D5000 is compatible with a range of telephoto and super-telephoto lens types such as Nikon 70-300mm and Nikon DX 18-300mm.
Nikon D5000 includes in-camera photo retouching mode, around 19 auto-exposure modes, a bright flashlight, and a broad ISO setting for a perfect night photography experience.
Yes, Nikon D5000 is powered by the EXPEED 2 image-processing engine, which enhances colouring to reproduce vivid astrophotographs when used with appropriate Astro-lens.
Yes, Nikon D5000 comes equipped with a continuous shooting speed of 5 fps and a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000, perfect for sports photography.