Last Updated on March 23, 2021
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Are you searching for the best lens for your Nikon D5500?
In this article you will find the top performing lenses for all types of photography at the best prices.
As one of the most popular entry level DSLR cameras, the Nikon D5500 is loved by photographers around the world. It offers solid performance out of the box with it’s 24.2mp crop sensor and adjustable LCD screen. It is lightweight and great for many photography styles.
To truly get the most out of your D5500 you will need to invest in a lens that performs great and is designed for the type of photography you will be shooting. Below you will find the top rated lenses for all styles of photography making it quick and easy for you to start getting the best image quality possible with your D5500.
Check out the quick list below for links to customer reviews and prices for the top lens picks or read on for the full review
Best Lens For Nikon D5500
Top All Around and All In One Lenses
These lenses offer a wide focal length range that is the ideal lens for the photographer looking for a model able to handle close ups to subjects at decent distances.
Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR II
- Weight: 560g
- Max Aperture: f/3.5
- 35mm Equivalent: 27-300mm
This is an awesome all in one lens for the Nikon D5500. It offers an exceptional build quality and comes equipped with vibration reduction technology. This allows you to capture incredibly clear images when shooting in hand for the best image quality possible in this lens’s range. The 18-200mm range is ideal for sports and outdoor photography and is very popular with landscape photographers.
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Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
- Weight: 550g
- Max Aperture: f/3.5
- 35mm Equivalent: 27-450mm
This lens will allow your D5500 to cover a lot of focal length range and it is one of the most versatile lenses on the Nikon DX line. It is incredibly popular with wildlife photographers and offers excellent image quality throughout it’s focal length. It provides vibration reduction tech for super clear and crisp images. This lens also is a great choice for portrait, real estate interiors, landscape and sports photography.
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Top Budget All Around Lenses
Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Macro OS
- Weight: 470g
- Max Aperture: f/3.5
- 35mm Equivalent: 27-375mm
This is my pick for the best budget all in one lens for the Nikon D5500. It offers solid image quality with a good focal length range with a very affordable price tag. The autofocus works well and it offers image stabilization tech. Closeups are where the image quality is best but the longer range shots will still be decent. This is a solid performing cheap all around lens option.
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Top Prime Lens
A prime lens is ideal for portrait photography with it’s fixed focal length.
Nikon 35mm f/1.8 DX
- Weight: 200g
- Max Aperture: f/1.8
- 35mm Equivalent: 52.8mm
If you are a portrait photographer then this is the best prime lens for your Nikon D5500. This DX lens works great in low light making it also a great option for concerts, night photography and anytime you shoot in poor lighting conditions. The image quality for this Nikon 35mm lens is outstanding. This lens offers optimal performance for wedding and hobbyists as well all at a very low price.
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Nikon 50mm f/1.8 DX II
- Weight: 185g
- Max Aperture: f/1.8
- 35mm Equivalent: 75mm
This lens offers equal performance to the 35mm lens but with the extended focal length perfect for creating a bokeh effect in portrait photography. This lens is awesome at providing a shallow depth of field and incredible image quality. It is another great low light performer while offering fast and accurate autofocus performance. This lens is very popular with portrait and wedding photographers.
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Top Wide Angle Lens
Wide angle lenses offer a short focal length while offering a wide angle of view on your scene. These lenses are ideal for landscape, nature and real estate photography.
Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5
- Weight: 460g
- Max Aperture: f/3.5
- 35mm Equivalent: 15-36mm
This impressive zoom lens covers a range from ultra wide to normal field of view while maintaining excellent image quality. This 10-24mm lens provides sharp images with realistic color contrast. It is ideal for real estate, landscape and architectural photography. Keep in mind that when shooting wide you will get some image distortion but that is hard to avoid in this lens line. It also functions great in low light situations making this an excellent overall performer.
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Best Budget Wide Angle Lens
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 PRO DX II
- Weight: 544g
- Max Aperture: f/2.8
- 35mm Equivalent: 16.5-24mm
If the Nikon 10-24mm lens is over your budget then this Tokina is the best low cost alternative for your D5500. While not as robust as the Nikon this lens offers solid performance ideal for shooting events, weddings, and parties. You will get more distortion than you would with the lens above but this lens does offer good image quality for the price.
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Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM
- Weight: 470g
- Max Aperture: f/4
- 35mm Equivalent: 16-32.5mm
This Sigma lens is a solid budget priced performer. It will let you capture sharp images with soft edges. It is a popular choice for concert photographers, landscape and real estate photography. You will not find a lower priced option that offers this level of performance.
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Top Macro Lens
If you are looking to do close up photography of nature or everyday objects then you need a macro lens.
Nikon 40mm f/2.8 DX Micro
- Weight: 235g
- Max Aperture: f/2.8
- 35mm Equivalent: 60mm
If you are looking to begin shooting macro photography this lens is the best you can invest in for the Nikon D5500. You will capture breathtaking detail in your closeup shots and it is great for shooting nature, insects, food flowers and people. This lens performs exceptionally well in low light too. It is very popular with portait photographers as well.
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Nikon 85mm f/3.5 VR
- Weight: 355g
- Max Aperture: f/2.8
- 35mm Equivalent: 157.5mm
This is another awesome macro lens that produces amazing closeup images. This Nikon 85mm lens offers fast and accurate autofocus that allows this lens to capture moving subjects. The image quality is superb and you get clear sharp images with vibrant and realistic color contrast. This lens is well worth the investment if you want to get great macro photography images.
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Top Telephoto Lenses
These lenses offer a long focal length making them capable of capturing closeups of subjects that are at a long distance from you. These lenses are ideal for sports and wildlife photography.
Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6 VR
- Weight: 300g
- Max Aperture: f/4
- 35mm Equivalent: 82-300mm
This updated model of the wildly popular 55-200mm VR I lens is an amazing telephoto lens that pairs perfectly with the Nikon D5500. This lens offers a focal length range from standard to telephoto meaning it is a versatile lens as well. The vibration reduction technology ensures clear images even when whooting without a tripod. It is lightweight and very popular with traveling photographers.
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Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR
- Weight: 580g
- Max Aperture: f/4.5
- 35mm Equivalent: 82-450mm
This is another amazing performing Nikon telephoto lens. When shooting with this lens you get impressive image quality throughout the long zoom range with the addition of a fast and accurate autofocus system. This lens is very versatile and is popular with many photography styles. It offers consistent performance and a high build quality at a reasonable price.
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Top Nikon D5500 Kit Lens
Kit lenses are of lower quality and what you received when you got your camera. They are ideal for the beginner and budget conscious photographer.
Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR II
- Weight: 195g
- Max Aperture: f/3.5
- 35mm Equivalent: 27-82.5mm
Not all kit lenses are as bad as you’ve heard. While it’s true they are not going to offer you top of the line performance, you can still get solid performing kit lenses and this 18-55mm lens is one of those. It is very popular with travelers and makes a great vacation or road trip lens for your D5500. It offer vibration reduction technology and a silent wave motor that offers solid autofocusing performance. You will get some image distortion but if you want a low cost all purpose lens this is a great choice.
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Frequently Asked Questions for Nikon D5500 Lenses
What Lenses Do I Need for My Nikon D5500?
When starting out with your Nikon D5500 you should get an all around lens like the Nkon 18-140mm. You will also want a prime lens like the Nikon 35mm or 55mm. If you photograph outside or sports you will need a telephoto lens like the Nikon 55-300mm.
What D5500 Lens Is Good for Video?
There are a number of lenses that work great for capturing video with your Nikon D5500 but a good overall video lens is the Nikon 18-55mm lens.
Can I Use a Nikon D5300 Lens on a D5500 Camera?
Yes. Both the Nikon D5300 and the Nikon D5500 are DX cameras. They both use the same AS-F autofocus lenses.
What Is The Cheapest Prime Lens For The Nikon D5500?
There are a number of options available but the cheapest lens worth investing in is the Nikon AF FX Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D. The cheapest with low performance is currently the Yongnuo YN EF 50mm f/1.8 AF.
Conclusion
Your Nikon D5500 is capable of capturing amazing images and is a great camera for many types of photography. The best way to ensure you get the best images you can is by getting a top rated lens ideal for your particular style of photography. Depending on your budget, you can get great performing lenses and any of my recommended lenses will serve you well.
For more photography tips and guides check out these articles