!#8# Unsure About What Lens to Get for the Nikon D5000? Some Options

!±8± Unsure About What Lens to Get for the Nikon D5000? Some Options

If you've bought (or are planning to buy) the Nikon D5000, you will love the range of features and quality it delivers. It's a great camera and it really impressed me when I first tested it, especially considering that it is supposed to be an amateur's camera.

Is there a lens which best suits the D5000?

You won't get to exploit your camera's capabilities unless you use a proper lens. But it can be hard to figure out which lens is right for you. There are just so many options out there.

Before we look at specific options, a note on DX lenses.

The Nikon D5000's sensor is of the "DX" variety. All this means is that the sensor is smaller than those found in 35 mm film cameras. Why does this matter?

Lenses with "DX" in the their name have been designed and optimised specifically for the smaller, DX sensor.

Traditional lenses (not the DX kind) are designed for a larger, traditional 35mm frame. Even so, you can still use them with the D5000, but since they were built for a larger sensor, you'll get an automatic "crop factor" because the projected image will exceed the sensor size. This means you will effectively be able to zoom in closer, but the price you pay is that you won't benefit from the lens's widest angle. As a rule of thumb, the crop factor is about 1.5, so your non-DX 10-20mm lens will respond like a 15-30mm lens when you use it on the D5000

Which manufacturer?

Nikon's own lenses are called "Nikkor". Unless you're on a tight budget, you should use them. It's true that you'll find less costly Nikon-compatible alternatives made by other manufacturers, but they don't beat the quality you'll get from a Nikkor lens.

To ensure compatibility with the Nikon D5000, look for AF-S and AF-I type lenses. The trick is to make sure that AF-S or AF-I is written in the name of the lens.

Best lens for the Nikon D5000 - My list

When it comes to lenses, there isn't a single answer to the "best lens" question. It depends on what you intend to photograph, so here is a list of options tailored to different kinds of photography

A. Street and travel photography

A good travel- and street photography lens needs to be flexible. Speed is of the essence, since you won't have a lot of time to fiddle with the camera to change lenses, so you're looking for a lens with a nice zoom:

AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR - conventional wisdom says that "kit" lenses sold with the camera body aren't necessarily the best, but this D5000 kit lens is surprisingly decent. And it has automatic image stabilisation or "vibration reduction" (VR in Nikon speak) built in.

AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II - this is a wonderful traveller's lens. It has an incredible zoom range that will eliminate the need for changing lenses when you're doing street photography. As with any zoom lens, the quality when shooting extremely wide or extremely close will never compare to that delivered by a fixed, prime lens, but everything has a price, and in this case it's the price you pay for being able to use just the one lens and carry around very little gear. And you shouldn't underestimate the benefit of having a light, flexile setup when taking street photos: Not only will your back be thankful, but you will also be less noticeable and able to take better candid photos if you're not carrying around a giant bag with loads of lenses and gear.

B. Portraits:

AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G - This is a fast lens that will enable you to take portraits using available light. The wide maximum aperture also provides a nice shallow depth of field.. And you will be amazed by the quality delivered by this prime lens.

C. Landscapes and cityscapes:

AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED - the big advantage here is the wide-angle zoom, allowing you to capture big scenes.

D. Sports & Wildlife:

AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR - use this lens in situations where it is important to get in close without disturbing your subject. the maximum 300mm telephoto zoom, coupled with the anti-blur VR function will help you get tack-sharp images.

These are not the only lenses compatible with the D5000, but I feel they're the most suitable given the physical dimensions and price of the camera. You can always sell your old lenses on e-Bay and upgrade as you invest in more expensive camera bodies. Use what's right, for right now!