As a D5600 owner, you’re probably looking to improve your photography and considering an eventual upgrade to a higher-end camera body. To help you on that path, here are my picks of the best lenses for the Nikon 5600.
You shouldn’t be looking for one lens to do everything, you’ll get a lot better results by choosing lenses that do one particular thing very well instead of the “do-it-all” kit lenses. That’s why my top recommendation for your D5600 is the Nikon ASF DX 35mm f/1.8G lens.
If you’re looking to improve your photos, go for more specialized lenses that are exceptional at one or two things rather than the “do it all” kit lenses.
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Nikon AFS DX 35mm f/1.8G
The 35mm f/1.8 lens is a perfect upgrade from the D5600 kit lens. The wide max aperture will unlock opportunities to use shallow depth of field in your photography and shoot in low light conditions.
I recommend that all my students start with a mid-length prime lens like this 35mm lens. On a crop-sensor camera like the D5600, the effective focal length is 52.5mm.
The wide maximum aperture of f/1.8 also allows you to use a shallow depth of field to create background blur in your portrait photos or to shoot in lower light. This alone actually makes it much more versatile than most kit lenses with a maximum aperture of f/4 or f/5.6.
Pros
- Excellent image quality
- Versatile…can be used for portraits, landscapes, street photography, etc.
- Wide max aperture of f/1.8
Cons
- Fixed focal length can be limiting
I also like the 35mm (52.5mm equivalent) focal length as a first upgrade from the kit lens. It’s a middle-of-the-range focal length and a great one to start learning how to compose an image with more skill.
This lens makes a great companion to the D5600 because it is affordable but still has some pro-level features like the f/1.8 maximum aperture and excellent sharpness at all apertures. This means that while you may be limited by the focal length, you can get very high-quality results in terms of image quality.
Finally, the small size makes this lens a great option for travel or simply just taking it with you on a day out for street photography. It pairs well with the smaller size of a crop-sensor DSLR like the D5600.
But, I am sure many of you are interested in shooting landscapes, so check out this next pick…
Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di II VC HLD O
The focal length of this Tamron lens is perfect for wide-angle scenes like landscapes and cityscapes and the f/3.5 aperture is wider than many other lenses in this price range so you can use it for wide-angle portraiture as well.
When you are choosing the best wide-angle lens for the D5600, keep in mind that it is a crop sensor camera so you need a lens that is wider than the usual wide-angle lens if you want that expansive landscape look. That’s why I recommend the Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5.
10-24mm on a crop sensor camera is going to give you an effective focal length of 15-36mm which is perfect for shooting landscapes and other wide-angle photos.
In addition, this lens boasts excellent image quality, especially for the price point.
Pros
- Perfect wide-angle focal length for D5600 sensor.
- Excellent image quality
- Compact and light design
Cons
- f/3.5-4.5 max aperture limits your ability for shallow depth of field shots
- Not great for shooting portraits
This lens made my overall list of the best wide-angle lenses for Nikon.
Of course, not everyone wants to spend their days in the great outdoors shooting landscapes and many of you would rather photograph people. If that’s the case then this next lens may be perfect for you…
Nikon 50mm f/1.8 G
The 50mm f/1.8 is the lens many photographers start with and is still one of the classic and most useful lenses you can own.
If you want to shoot primarily portraits, you may want to have a slightly longer focal length than the 35mm lens above. In that case, this 50mm lens is perfect. On the D5600, the effective focal length is 75mm.
The added reach will allow you to fill the frame more and step back a few feet while shooting portraits. This gives the appearance of something we call compression. This generally has the effect of making people’s faces look more flattering and also allows you to more easily eliminate background distractions from the frame.
Pros
- Excellent image quality
- Wide max aperture of f/1.8 is great for portraits
- Light and compact design
Cons
- Fixed focal length can be limiting
- 50mm on a crop sensor camera may be too long for landscapes
The 50mm f/1.8 is a simple but vastly underestimated lens. I started my portrait photography business with nothing but a Nikon D5100 and this lens. It has everything you need to grow your photography skills and your creativity.