Do you want to know what are the best Nikon D5600 lenses in 2021?
Then you probably know that there are not enough Nikon lenses for D5600 buying guides.
But luckily for you, I will show you how to choose the best Nikon D5600 lenses for your personal needs.

In this buying guide, you will discover which lenses you should avoid, the drawbacks and benefits of each lens, and what is the best lens overall.
I cover 5 of the essential lens types:
- Macro
- Wide-Angle
- Prime
- All-In-One
- Telephoto
Before diving into the topic immediately and showing you the best Nikon D5600 lenses, I must first say a few details about the camera itself.
Here are the overview and specifications of the Nikon D5600 Camera.
Table of Contents
What makes Nikon D5600 so superior?
Nikon D5600 is an inexpensive DX-format camera intended for families.
It’s a great solution from Nikon for all beginners and photographers who need a good camera without spending too much.
In some cases, it’s very similar to its predecessor Nikon D5500, and we even have a guide about Nikon D5500 lenses.
The body is unchanged, and the specifications are similar.
Nikon fixed some of the predecessors’ flaws, and Nikon D5600 will work flawlessly. It is effortless to use; a small body size means it will fit great even if are a girl with little hands.
Features are fundamental but sufficient for their class. It adds Bluetooth, wifi, and the ability to swipe between photos on the new articulated display.
It also adds many filters which are rather interesting to try out, and use while shooting photos.
The New Nikon D5600 DSLR Camera is packed with a powerful 24.2MP DX-Format CMOS Sensor and the ability to shoot full HD video at 60 frames per second.
EXPEED 4 Image Processor gives it an edge compared to other lenses in the same class performance-wise. Nikon D5600 has its drawbacks, such as the tendency to reset some settings after one photo, such as HDR.
Even when taking that into account, it is one of the best DX-format cameras in the class.
However:
Even tho, Nikon 5600 offers an excellent value and is an expensive camera, you will still need a high-quality lens to go with it if you are looking to extract the highest performance from it.
In this article, we selected a couple of lenses that have considerable value and benefits.
Keep reading to find what are the right Nikon D5600 lenses for you!
Best Prime Lens for Portraits and Modeling
Portrait photography is one of the most popular types since it’s present everywhere in the world.
Prom night, family gatherings, and weddings are only a few examples where portraits are represented. The prime lens is what you need on these occasions.
Distinction from zoom or all-in-one lenses is no ability to zoom in or out.
Since there are fewer parts, Prime lenses are compact and cheaper.
Sharpness is an essential characteristic, and the quality of photos taken with this kind of lens is on the next level.
Devoted photographers need at least one prime in their collection.
This prime lens that fits everyone’s budget is an excellent choice for portraits.
It has a fixed focal length of 50mm and a minimum focus distance of 1.48ft.
Build quality is stable, and the body is compact, fitting naturally in the hands.
Like any other prime, this lens is not zoomable, meaning you will have to move the camera for the perfect shot.
Even though this is an FX lens, it fits both FX and DX formats cameras perfectly.
Quality-wise it is light years ahead of your kit lens.
Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G is sharp prime lens suitable for traveling.
While autofocus doesn’t perform as fast in low-light situations when compared to the more expensive primes, photos taken during nights are still well exceptional.
During the day, autofocus performs without flaws.
One of the best benefits is, besides sharpness, beautiful contrast, and creamy bokeh.
Here’s the thing:
This is a must-have lens for every photographer who is shooting portraits, it’s perfect for beginners or as a gift.
Pros
- Excellent wide-open performance
- Beautiful bokeh for lovely portraits
- Fast focusing speed
- Great sharpness even at the low end
Cons
- Focusing isn’t silent as advertised
- Small amount of barrel distortion
Best Wide-Angle Lens for Landscapes and Urban areas
If you are interested in any type of photography above, a wide-angle lens will come in handy.
The large field of view allows you to contain more of what you see in the picture.
Photos taken with a wide-angle lens have a unique feel to them because of curves toward corners.
Since Nikon D5600 is a DX-format camera, every photo taken with it will act 1.5 times longer.
Nikon and other third-party companies such as sigma have this in mind when designing their glass, so you don’t have to worry too much.
We did test more than a couple of Nikon lenses for the DX-format camera but concluded that one choice from Tokina deserves to be on this list.
A mid-range 11-16mm lens from Tokina is exceptional when it comes to landscape photography.
It’s worth mentioning that you get three years warranty if you are buying it from the USA.
Vignetting is present at 11mm; otherwise, it functions perfectly.
It comes packed with a bunch of features that are not only decorations but are intended for real-life use.
Most notably, being the manual/auto slip ring, which takes some time getting used to but is very useful when shooting.
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX II is an excellent choice from a company called “Tokina.”
Build quality is not on the same level as Nikon lenses, but it still feels comfortable when capturing handheld photos.
One of the drawbacks is flares that are present when shooting the sky during a mid-sunny day or when shooting a moon during nighttime.
On the other hand:
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 is excellent for portraits and portrait photography.
If you are into photographing nature, streets, or landscapes, this is the best lens for you.
Pros
- Sharp from 12mm to 16mm
- Effective manual/auto slip ring
- It feels very well built
- Excellent value
Cons
- Slight vignetting at 11mm
- Short focal range compared to others
Best All-in-one Lens for Travelling and Everyday photography
An All-in-one lens is best when you can choose only one lens to carry around with you.
While it won’t have the sharpness of the primes lens or cool-looking curves of Primes, it will do an excellent task at any type of photography.
They have the most extended working margin and are a substitute for every lens, from macro to telephoto.
Photographers who travel a lot but can only carry one or two lenses are the best nominees for the all-in-one type.
Besides risking getting dust in your camera, switching lenses is an exhausting task that takes your precious time.
This is where the all-in-one lens can come in handy, and we got just the right lens for your favorite Nikon D5600 Camera.
As you could probably guess, our first choice for an all-in-one lens is Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G.
This is an extremely versatile lens great for any photo opportunity.
It is DX format and shoots stunning photos from close-up to landscape photography.
Put it this way:
If you need to take only one lens on a desert island, this would be our pick.
It performs well in a low light situation while offering fast and precise autofocus that will do an excellent job in sport or wildlife situations.
It has a huge focal length range, from 18mm to 300mm, while the minimum focus distance goes to 16ft.
Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G delivers good performance even in low light situations.
Since the company that produced this model is Nikon, this 18-300mm lens comes with a bunch of useful features.
The most noticeable of them is VR or Vibration Reduction. VR will help you enormously when taking photos without a tripod.
It also gives a considerable boost in performance and photo quality if you are shooting in darker areas by slowing down your shutter speed without losing the sharpness.
It is one of the best lenses for Nikon D5600 you could get for an everyday opportunity.
Pros
- Extremely small and light weight
- It is very convenient
- Fast autofocus
- Macro focusing even at 200mm
Cons
- Poor vignetting at close to 18mm
- Needs to be locked
Best Telephoto Lens for Wildlife and Action Photography
When it comes to taking a photo or a video from an object that is far away, such as in wildlife photography or sports, your best bet is a telephoto lens.
They are strictly designed with this in mind, so zooming without loss of quality is their strong point.
Because of zoom ability, their bodies are more massive when compared to other lens types.
They are usually bulky and often more expensive than primes.
Keep reading to learn what lens we consider to be the best telephoto lens in 2021 for Nikon D5600.
As far as zoom lenses go, this is one with exceptional abilities.
It has a useable focal length range, from 55mm to 300mm, while the minimum focus distance is 4.6ft.
Zoom is powerful, and you can zoom in 5.5 times.
Like many other lenses from Nikon, it comes with features such as VR ll, Tripod Detection Mode, and SWM.
Nikon Silent Wave Motor makes sure that the lens works quietly without problems.
55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G has a powerful zoom with the great build quality.
Super Integrated Coating helps with performance in low-light situations by minimizing flares and ghosting.
Chromatic aberrations are reduced to a minimum thanks to ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) Glass.
Here is our opinion:
It’s a lens with the best value in its class that produces beautiful photos with crisp details.
Build quality is top-notch. There is a slight loss in sharpness at the higher end of the focal range, but nothing to worry you.
Pros
- Useable Focal Length
- Long zoom and good colors
- Metal mount gives a sturdy feel
- Performs well with proper lighting
Cons
- Mediocre low-light performance
- Loss in Sharpness at 250-300mm
Best Macro Lens for Flowers and Macro Photography
When it comes to Macro or close-up photography, you must own at least one Macro lens.
They have better minimum distance focus meaning you will be able to capture all the details from extremely close.
One of the features is sharpness, which is inviolable with macro lenses.
Don’t forget:
Real macro lenses have a 1:1 ratio, which allows them to take shots from near distances.
We did a few tests, compared photos taken from different options, and decided on which is the best macro lens for the D5600 Camera in 2021.
There is no doubt that Nikon 40mm f/2.8G is the best macro lens for DX-format cameras, such as Nikon D5600.
It’s crazy sharp, offering great performances when it comes to close-up photos.
The minimum focus is only 0.53ft, allowing you to get super close to your object.
Photos produced by this lens, especially with the Nikon d5600, have crisp details and beautiful contrast.
Nikon 40mm f/2.8G is an alternative when it comes to macro photography.
This is an actual macro lens since it has a reproduction ratio of 1:1.
It is an inexpensive lens with exceptional properties that produce sharp images.
Even though this is an actual macro lens, it is versatile enough to be used in other photographic situations.
Our conclusion:
This Nikon lens is the perfect choice for a macro lens if you are into close-up photography.
Pros
- Great manual focus feel
- Macro feature works like a charm
- Lens is lightweight
- f/2.8 is great for general photography
Cons
- Auto-focus performance in low-light
- You must get close to subject for 1:1
Best lenses for Nikon D5600 in 2021?
As you could already assume, there is no single best lens, as each one has its gains and flaws.
One lens that is great at macro photography will probably be worthless in wildlife or action photography.
For this reason, we tested many different Nikon D5600 lenses to find which of them are great for various tasks in a specific type of photography.
Depending on your style of photography, it hinges on your needs for different lenses.
From landscapes and action photography to portraits and everyday snapshots, we tested and found lenses with the most benefits and the best price-value ratio.
When owning a Nikon camera, you will most likely get a lens from the same company.
This is most likely the case but doesn’t forget about other third-party manufacturers such as Tamron, Tokina, and Sigma.
They occasionally offer better performance for similar money, especially when it comes to budget Nikon D5600 lenses.
What is best Lens for Nikon D5600 Camera?
Like we said before:
There is no perfect lens, and you need to take all the factors into account.
One lens may be perfect for one type of photography while it will work terribly in others.
In case you want to read a lens buying guide for a specific camera, check out other guides on our blogs, such as Nikon D5200 lenses or Nikon D5000 lenses.
That’s why we offered at least one choice for each type of photography, from macro to sports events, from landscapes to street photography.
If you are still not sure you can visit good sites such as imaging resources to get more information.
Another thing you can do is contact us.
We are happy to answer all your questions and provide you with even more details when it comes to choosing the best lens for Nikon D5600 or other cameras.
Disclaimer: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”
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I do storm photography. Granted, I’m not a photographer and barely know the function of my D5600, but I’m slowly learning it. Due to time constraints in close proximity to these events, I do not necessarily have a lot of time to monkey with settings, but I do have an eye for getting my shots. I recently picked up the Sigma 24-70mm 1 : 2.8 DG for my camera and it does an exquisite job handling the tasks. That being said, I’m in search of the best wide-angle lens that will do the best job when trying to capture specific skyscapes. Any suggestion on what I should obtain to handle this task?
Hey Corey,
Honestly, I think a 24-70mm lens would be enough for most people, and anything past this point will give you diminishing returns. Since you are not a professional photographer, I think it is much better for you to invest that money into some training and learning how to improve your photography. After all, you can buy a 10 thousand dollar lens but if you don’t know how to adjust the settings you will probably get worse photos than a professional with their phone or a much cheaper lens.
With that being said, Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G can capture some amazing photos of skyscapes.
I have a D5600 and I use it to take product photography. I use the Amazon light box to do this. The kit zoom lens that came with the camera is ok but when i use the 35mm 1:1.8 G Afs lens the image is so much sharper. The problem is that I cannot use the 35mm for the light box as it is too close when I take Arial shots. Can you recommend which would be the best zoom lens to achieve better quality instead of the 18-55mm Avp 1:3 .5-5.6G fox vr
What do you think about Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8D? I think this lens would work great for product photography, if that is all you are looking to do with a lens. Another good choice would be Nikon 16-35mm f/4G.
Hi Edward,
what do you think about the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD (or even G2) for the Nikon 5600?
What are you planning to use it for mostly?
Great post, really found all of this info relevant. Thanks a lot!
Thank you!
Hey Edward,
Ur articles are priceless and most definitely helpful. I just ordered a D5600 & look forward to playing with it. I gotta couple of lenses but
that 18-300 looks like a ‘gotta have’ lens! Thanks much for all ur professional advice/recommendations.
Thanks, Jim, I really appreciate it!
Not sure why people complain you need longer articles, go read a book or something then lool
Articles are great, keep them coming edward!
Haha thanks Jim! 🙂
Thanks, amazing informations! Bookmarked it for later
Glad you liked it! 🙂
Which lens do you recommend to take photos of the moon and star for the Nikon D5600?
Nikon’s 200-500mm f/5.6E VR is great option. Also, Tamron and Sigma offer zoom lenses in the 150-600mm range, allowing you to get some of the amazing moon images. Also, you get more bang for your buck when you go with third-party manufacturer, so if you are looking to not break a bank, I would recommend Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3.
I just ordered Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G on Amazon because I heard good things about it but now I am sure this is the best choice for my needs.. Hopefully everything works out fgood!
Good luck! I am sure you will love it!
Thanks, your blog is really good, I just wish tutorials were longer but hey! What can you do 🙂
Thanks for the feedback!
Would you agree that Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G is worth the price difference when compared to Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G?
It depends what is the price difference in your area and what are you looking for in a lens. But Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G is a premium product, and it is personally one of my favorite cameras.
tnx ed nice one! :))
🙂
One of the best guides as far as the quality lenses for D5600 GOES 🙂
Thanks a lot!
What macro lens you recommend for Nikon D5500? Not for Nikon D5600 but for eariler version as that is the one I have right now plz help
We have an entire guide for that specific camera: https://lensespro.org/best-lenses-for-nikon-d5500/
Hope that helps!
good read thanks edward
Thanks for the feedback!
Great article! Thanks it helped me out a lot
You are welcome Lorene. 🙂
Is Nikon 40mm f/2.8G worth the price tag?
I would say that you need to make the decision yourself as I don’t know your budget, needs etc. But it is certainly one of the best macro lens in its price tag range, so I would say go for it!