The sport-oriented full-frame camera has indeed changed the world of photography and made a powerful impact on the market. It packed all-new, 20.8 full-frame sensors with an ISO range from 100 to 102,400. D5 also comes with 153-point phase detection, and what got my attention – it can record in 4K.

The new fancy yet robust, magnesium-alloy full-frame beast is a powerful machine whose performances are equally adored by wedding photographers and hardcore landscapes.

Its performance can further be improved by upgrading a lens set. Therefore, I have tested the five best lenses for Nikon D5, which I’m about to share.

Best Prime Lens for Portraits

In terms of primes, my sweet spot would be Nikon Af-S 50mm f/.4G. I had a round of testing in low light conditions, including shooting indoors with ambient yet low artificial light.

It showed great results due to the Super integrated coating made by Nikon. It reduced flare by a few notches and produced superior color consistency.

The lens is excellent in every aspect. Some photographers could object to the size and weight, but I didn’t face any issues. The widespread use of materials is very well utilized, and plastic and metal are fitted nicely in this case.

I’m also very content with the manual focus; it is smooth and fast and provides excellent depth of field and extremely sharp images.

All the photos I got with this lens were sharp, bright, and, overall, nicely exposed. It is also worth mentioning that I managed to focus around two feet, which I think is a good deal for this model.

Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 is the best wide-angle lens I have tested for the D5 camera. I was satisfied with its performance.

The ultra-wide-angle zoom provided me with excellent image quality on the go. Image stabilization is incredible on this lens, and I got ½ second exposure in near fully-dark areas, with well-fitted subjects in the foreground.

And I did it with the camera in my hand, without the tripod! The full-time manual focus works great, and I utilize it quite often, so you can expect to make easy and fast adjustments based on the situation.

However:

This lens is too heavy for my taste, but landscape photographers probably won’t mind it. I tested with a 4K video recording to get an improved field of view, and I wasn’t disappointed with the crispy record.

Since it is a landscape lens, it is meant to be durable, so you will be thrilled to hear that it packs fluorine coating, making it possible to shoot in challenging conditions.

Nikon AF-S 24-120mm f/4G has climbed the list as my top all-around lens for everyday use for a few reasons. I got great images in the full range from a standard focal length of 24 mm to a telephoto of 120 mm, which means this zoom lens can deliver impressive image quality.

It offers sharpness and excellent color correction, even at the wider aperture. I noticed the non-existence of chromatic aberration, and I was happy about it.

This lens also lets its users quickly change between manual and autofocus modes. Regarding image quality, I was surprised by the natural, realistic colors and smooth transitions between subjects and backgrounds.

I took this lens to the theater and did some shooting at f/4. I got superb images with no dark non-usable areas or blown-out parts.

So it makes it an excellent choice for event photography. It is a much more practical choice for everyday use than the 24-70 mm lenses I have used. So, in conclusion, it is an excellent lens for regular use.

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 comes with optical stabilization from the manufacturer, and it is working great so far. Image quality is excellent in the range of high-end Nikon lenses.

To test the sharpness, I zoomed in on some subjects and snapped shots with 200 mm at f/2.8. I proceeded to zoom in, and I was surprised by the number of details and the crystal-clear picture I got. The center of every image is razor-sharp.

However:

I did notice a bit of distortion at 70 mm, but I proceeded to counteract it in post-production. The manual focus ring works great, though it turns in the opposite direction from Nikon’s lenses, so it will take some time for users to get used to it.

I highly recommend this lens for anyone looking for a good and fast lens in terms of an f-stop.

Nikon AF-S 40mm f/2.8G is the lens of my choice for macro photography. It is fair to say it is a lens designed and optimized specifically for Nikon cameras. It has built-in SWM for ultrafast and quiet procedures.

I switched between manual and autofocus modes during the testing and found the manual slightly better and more accurate. 40 mm is an excellent lens for everyday photography, but it also gives rock-solid results in macro usage.

It is not among the fastest lenses on the market, especially considering autofocus, but it is a sharp and versatile lens.

I took numerous shots at f/2.8, and I wasn’t disappointed by the richness of details, natural-rendering colors, and, generally, good exposure. The lens allows its user to get close to the subject of shooting, and the blur effect you get in the background is more than reasonable.

It is one right-quality lens that is compact and doesn’t weigh much. Also, it is affordable, which makes it a suitable choice for a broader range of users.

Getting the Most Out of Your Nikon D5

The Nikon D5 is an incredibly capable camera designed for professionals. Here are some tips to help you maximize its potential when choosing lenses:

• For low light events, choose fast prime lenses like 50mm f/1.4 or 85mm f/1.8 that allow more light in.

• Stabilized telephoto zooms like 70-200mm f/2.8 are ideal for sports and wildlife photography to counter camera shake.

• Wide angle zooms like 16-35mm f/4 with VR give sharp landscapes and minimize blurring.

• For weddings and events, fast mid-range zooms like 24-70mm f/2.8 allow flexibility in low light.

• Macro lenses like 60mm f/2.8 let you capture tiny details in flowers, insects etc up close.

• Standard zooms like 24-120mm f/4 are great walkaround lenses for everyday shooting.

• Get weather-sealed lenses if shooting outdoors frequently in rough conditions.

• Ensure lens has fast, accurate autofocus especially for action shots.

• Invest in pro-level glass with ED, Nano coatings for amazing sharpness and clarity.

Pairing the D5 with lenses that match your photography needs is key to harnessing its capabilities. High-end lenses make a big difference.

Best lenses for Nikon D5 – Conclusion

Nikon D5 is truly a magnificent piece of engineering. It is one of the best full-frame cameras I have encountered and is worth the money you will pay.

The Nikon D5 lenses I have described above work well with the new, powerful Nikon sensor. Suppose you are looking for an effective way to make the D5 even better; pair it with any of the Nikon D5 lenses mentioned.

If you are still unsure what the right lens is for you, comment below. I will do my best to help you make the right decision.

Also, read other guides on our website, such as the Nikon Z6 lenses or the Nikon Z50 lenses guide.

Happy shooting!

More Nikon D Series guides:

• Nikon D3 lenses
  
• Nikon D3S lenses
• Nikon D4 lenses
• Nikon D5 lenses
• Nikon D600 lenses
• Nikon D610 lenses
• Nikon D700 lenses
• Nikon D750 lenses
• Nikon D780 lenses
• Nikon D800 lenses
• Nikon D810 lenses
• Nikon D850 lenses
• Nikon Df lenses