We have received several questions about the best lens for Nikon d5500 portrait photography. It’s our goal to help any of our readers who own the d5500 but don’t have time to waste researching all the lenses they might need but will use it as a portrait lens in the near future.
We will be focusing on some high-quality, yet budget-friendly lenses that can help you improve your portrait photography performance with your D5500 since it is an entry-level camera.
You don’t need to worry. We will discuss the best Lenses for the Nikon d3100. Whether you’re looking for a versatile all-in-one lens or a specialized prime lens, we’ll help you find the right one for your needs.
Therefore, we would like to point out that both of these lenses perform very well in terms of their price points and have proved to be very popular within the community because of their quality.
Top 8 Best Lenses for Nikon D5500
- Nikon 50mm f/1.8G – Our Choice
- Nikon 40mm f/2.8G – Budget
- Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G – Portable
- Sigma 20mm F1.4 Art – For professionals
- Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 – Excellent stabilization system
- Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E – Compact super telephoto zoom
- Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3 – For shooting wildlife
- Nikon 50mm f/1.8D – Multi-layer coating
Here are our picks for the best lenses for this model. Among them will be professional and more affordable models, devices for taking nature or portrait shots, and everything else you will need. You want to make sure that whatever you pick in this list has a good balance between price and performance.
1. Nikon 50mm f/1.8G
Features:
- Mount: F
- Diaphragm blades: 7
- Autofocus: yes
- Min focus distance:45 cm
- Max magnification: 0.15x
- Filter thread: 58mm
- Dimensions (WxL): 2.1 x 52.4 mm
- Weight: 185 g
Nikon D5500 and many other cameras, including film cameras, can benefit from this model’s many features. Beginners and frequent travelers will love its lightweight and affordability.
Further, it has great optics, providing a bright and clear image across the entire frame even when it is shooting at its maximum aperture. Chromatic aberration was eliminated and the bokeh was pleasant thanks to the manufacturers. There are, of course, some drawbacks that come with low prices, including the absence of a traditional aperture ring.
In addition to the lack of a DoF scale, photographers who use zone-focusing techniques would be better off with an older camera. This is definitely a great piece of optics if that is not a concern for you.
Pros
- Detail-oriented
- Aperture of swiftness
- Cost-effective
Cons
- An aperture ring or vibration reduction is not present
2. Nikon 40mm f/2.8G
Features:
- Mount: F
- Diaphragm blades: 7
- Autofocus: yes
- Min focus distance: 16.3 cm
- Max magnification: 1x
- Filter thread: 52mm
- Dimensions (WxL): 68.5 x 64.5 mm
- Weight:235 g
In addition, the manufacturer optimizes this lens to show the best results with the Nikon D5500. Aspherical lenses perform better with this one due to their dust and moisture resistance and enhanced ED glass.
With its fast and efficient SWM, this model is practically noiseless. When switching between the two focusing modes frequently, the M/A mode is useful.
Pros:
- Photos with clarity
- Magnification 1:1
- Switch for limiting focus
- Body size is small
Cons:
- Stabilizer absent
- Full-frame not available
3. Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G
Features:
- F-mount
- There are nine blades on the diaphragm
- Yes, autofocus is available
- Distance to focus: 50 cm
- Magnification: 0.32x
- Thread size: 77mm
- 83 x 114.5 mm (WxL)
- 800 grams in weight
It would be a great option for those who require a powerful zoom lens. As you work in the telephoto end, the lens maintains an f/5.6 aperture, which allows you to take sharp photos. 3.5 stops of stabilization are provided by the brand’s stabilizing mechanism.
When taking handheld photos or videos, this makes a huge difference. A camera lens that is designed for outdoor use allows you to take close-up shots of objects that aren’t captured by a regular lens.
Nevertheless, that has a disadvantage, distortion, which is hard to get rid of. Consider either ignoring it or learning a few simple Lightroom tricks before choosing this model.
Pros:
- Images that are sharp
- Zoom ratio of 10.7x
- Infrared stabilization system
- Dimensions of the portable
Cons
- Disturbance perceptible
- Maximum aperture: soft edges
4. Sigma 20mm F1.4 Art
Features:
- EF mount
- The diaphragm consists of nine blades
- Yes, autofocus is available
- Focus distance minimum: 27.69 cm
- Magnification maximum: 0.14
- Thread size of filter: mm
- 9.5 x 129.8 mm (WxL)
- 950 grams in weight
An unusually wide aperture for this type of optic makes this Nikon D5500 wide-angle lens rare. In addition to capturing lots of light, it allows for close focus, which helps you get a very detailed image.
A great achievement of the manufacturer is the lack of barrel distortion. There is a slight dimmer effect at the edges of the frame, but it is very difficult to correct with a lens, but very easy to correct in an image editing program.
Although the lens is quite bulky, it offers superior performance and image quality that cannot be matched by other lenses.
Pros:
- Sharpness of the overall image
- Distortion that is almost invisible
- Distance between focus points is small
- Multi-system compatibility
Cons
Big and bulky
An edge-to-edge dimness
Filters do not have connectors
5. Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3
Featurs:
- F-mount
- The dialphragm blades number nine
- Yes, autofocus is available
- Distance to focus: 2.7 meters
- Magnification maximum: 0.2
- Thread size: 95 mm
- 105.66 x 257.81mm (WxL)
- 1.95 kg in weight
The longest zoom available on this optical device makes it a great choice. The camera is equipped with VC and USD to enable you to take detailed shots of distant or moving objects.
By including eBAND Coating on its lenses, the brand delivers clear, vibrant images without ghosting or glare. As you zoom, the edges become dim, something you can’t really eliminate with a lens.
In spite of this, it performs flawlessly in the middle of the range. In addition, it is rugged and can withstand any weather conditions while being relatively light in weight. A stabilizing image system is also included, so you can hardly question its quality.
Pros:
- Astonishing sharpness
- A great stabilizer
- AF Swift
- Locking mechanism for zooming
Cons
- An edge that is blurred at either extreme
- Problems with autofocus
6. Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E
Features:
- F-mount
- The diaphragm consists of nine blades
- Yes, autofocus is available
- 2.2 m is the minimum focus distance
- The maximum magnification is 0.22x
- Thread size: 95 mm
- Inches (WxL): 108 x 267.5
- 5 pounds, 7 ounces
In addition to this model, the next option is also a telephoto lens that would compete with it for the title of the best lens for Nikon D5500. There is a great Vibration Reduction system on this camera, which can reduce vibrations by half a stop and counteract the somewhat narrow aperture. Pro sports photographers may not find this to be satisfactory.
Thanks to the lens’s ED glass, you can shoot in bright sunlight with ease. Furthermore, the camera is equipped with a super-fast and practically noiseless motor, and the autofocus can also be overridden manually. Even when teleconverters are added to the camera, it will sync seamlessly with the Electromagnetic diaphragm.
Pros:
- A long-range telephoto lens
- Maximum aperture of f/5.6
- Stabilization of the optics
Cons:
- Comparatively poor zoom
- At 200mm, the edge softens
- Older D-SLRs won’t work
7. Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3
Features:
- The mount is EF
- 9 diaphragm blades
- Yes, autofocus is available
- Focus distance: 2.8 meters
- 0.2x maximum magnification
- Thread size: 95mm
- Approximately 10.2 x 4.1 x 4.1 inches in dimensions
- It weighs 4.3 pounds
With all these incredible features, you would expect this model to be much more expensive. Up to the farthest reaches of the range, it maintains an astonishing level of sharpness. As telephoto settings are reached, it begins to show some blurriness and color fringing at the edges.
Pincushion distortion is also evident, but such defects are inevitable. In consideration of all the factors, including a portable design and the ability to take amazing pictures, they can certainly be overlooked.
Pros:
- Reach of the longest telephoto lens
- Sharpness that can’t be beat
- The lens hood is included as well as the tripod collar
- There is a slight chromatic aberration
Cons:
- Distortion of the pincushion is visible
8. Nikon 50mm f/1.8D
Features:
- F-mount
- 7 blades on the diaphragm
- Yes, autofocus is available
- 45cm is the minimum focus distance
- Magnification maximum: 0.15x
- 52mm filter thread
- A size of 63.5 x 39 mm (WxL)
- 155 grams
This Nikon D5500 prime lens is a great option for portraiture if you’re looking for one. A shallow depth-of-field is made possible by the fast aperture, which brings the subject forward naturally. With the special enhancing coating, even more, light can be collected, and flares are also prevented.
The Aspherical Element also corrects the aberrations, allowing you to crank the diaphragm wide open. Focusing is fast and silent with the motor’s speed. Amazing images are produced by this model all the time, which is its best feature.
Pros:
- The clarity of the shots is mesmerizing
- Small and lightweight
- Coating with multiple layers
- Performance worthy of praise
Cons:
- Focusing by hand
- There are only a few cameras that can be paired
What is the best lens for Nikon D5500?
Lens Types
The acquisition of optics should be based on your artistic goals, of course. Decide whether a standard camera will be enough or whether a telephoto camera will be more appropriate based on the angle and zoom of the lens.
Length of focus
Optical center distance refers to how far the lens’ optical center is from the camera’s matrix, which can move as a result of focus adjustment. Cameras will create wider frames if this number is low, and zooming will be more effective if it is high.
Photographers who want a wide angle of view for landscapes or similar subjects will prefer lenses with 14-35mm focal lengths. When photographing wildlife, for example, photographers should use lenses between 50 and 100mm.
Optical aperture
Apertures allow light to enter optical systems. Light is indicated by a higher number, while darkness is indicated by a smaller number.
By doing so, the lens is less expensive. General-use lenses typically have apertures between f/2.4 and f/3.2, which are convenient. To maintain image quality, for example, a telephoto lens would need a larger aperture.
CONCLUSION:
We have discussed all the lenses today in this article, so let’s wrap it up.
Have you guys used these lenses before? How do you feel about them?
What is the best lens for Nikon D5500?
Could you recommend a lens I didn’t mention that you love?
Let me know what you think and what you have to say in the comments section below.