The Best Nikon D50 Lenses

If you know the focal length of lens you are looking for, have a look at the best lenses for the Nikon D50 below.

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  1. Best Zoom Lens - Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR
  2. Best Wide Angle Lens - Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX II
  3. Best Telephoto Lens - Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G
  4. Best First Prime - Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G
  5. Best Macro Lens - Nikon Micro-Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G
  6. Best All in One Lens - Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX VR

A very useful and common zoom lens is the Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G, a kit lens originally sold with the Nikon D50. The 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 is going to be omitted as it is already mounted on the camera.

Wide zooms are included further down the page.

Telephoto zoom lenses are perfect with the Nikon D50 for action, portraits,sports,wildlife, or any distant subject.

Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR Telephoto Zoom Lens
Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G
  • Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for Fast and Quiet Autofocus
  • Vibration Reduction Image Stabilization for Sharp Handheld Shots
  • Covers a Massive Focal Length Coverage
  • Terrific Focal Length for Action Photography with the Nikon D50

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The biggest draw of the Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G is the reach the lens has partnered with image stabilization. It is going to be an excellent choice whenever you find it difficult to move closer to what you want to photograph. Like other zooms, the aperture of f/5.6 at the far end of the focal length range is smaller than the best, better alternatives cost a lot more.

You will not have to break your budget to get this piece of glass. There are many used lenses available for purchase as it was included with the Nikon D3400, D5500, and D5600 cameras.

The considerable zoom range of the lens is constructed of 17 elements in 11 groups. Two of the elements are extra-low dispersion and one is a high refractive index element to ensure sharp images.

It weighs in at 580g (18.7 oz), with dimensions of (Diameter x Length) 3.0 in. (76.5 mm) x 4.8 in. (123 mm). While not small, it can still easily be carried around on the camera or in your bag.

Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR Zoom Lens
Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G
  • Excellent Value When Purchased Used
  • Silent Wave Motor for Accurate Autofocus
  • Outstanding for Wildlife, Sports, Action, & Portraits
  • 2 Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) Lens Elements
  • (VR) Vibration Reduction Image Stabilization

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The Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5. 6G was commonly bundled with the D3100, D3300 And D2300 digital cameras. This is a awesome deal when purchased second-hand.

One in good condition is found for half the cost of a second-hand Nikon 55-300mm.

The only disadvantage of the 55-200mm is the loss of 100mm of reach. It still has VR image stabilization and to help you get sharp images when shooting hand-held.

One benefit of the lens is that carrying it around won’t be a problem. It weighs 335g (11.8 oz) with dimensions of (Diameter x Length) 2.9 in. (73.6 mm) x 3.9 in. (99.5 mm).

Tamron 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Super Zoom Lens
Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6
  • Ultra Silent Drive (USD) Autofocus Motor
  • Extra Low Dispersion (XLD) Glass Element
  • Broad-Band Anti-Reflection (BBAR) Lens Coating
  • 9 Aperture Blades for Beautiful Bokeh
  • Minimal focus distance 59.1"

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The Tamron 70-300mm is a very good option if you want 300mm of reach, but don’t want to pay as much for the 55-300mm from Nikon.

One big negative aspect is the absence of image stabilization. This will make it more challenging to get sharp images hand holding the lens.

Comparable optical image stabilization is integrated in the Tamron as found in the Nikons. All of them have extra-low dispersion elements and anti-reflective lens coatings.

The lens weighs 16.1oz (458g). It has a length of 5.6" and diameter of 3.2".

A wide angle lens is helpful for landscapes, astrophotography, architecture, group photos, real estate photography, and more.

One thing to watch out for is the wide angle causing strong distortion. Portraits can be difficult as body parts such as a nose close to the camera lens will appear distorted.

One advantage of a wide angle is that image stabilization is much less essential. Little movements or vibrations are not as likely to be noticeable in a picture.

Having a fast maximum aperture is useful for astrophotography. {For the most impressive images, you want at least a f/4, if not f/2.8 aperture|To get the best results, you want the maximum aperture to be a minimum of f/4.

Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX II Wide Angle Zoom Lens
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8
  • Perfect pick for night photography
  • Fast f/2.8 Maximum Aperture
  • 77mm Front Filter Threads
  • Focus Clutch Style M/A Selector

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The Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 is fast and sharp. With a large aperture, this lens is an excellent choice for astrophotography.

One key feature of the lens is the focus clutch that controls changing between manual focus and autofocus. To switch focus, the entire focus ring is either pushed forward or pulled back.

The built-in autofocus motor is noisy. This might be a challenge if you require quiet operation when shooting at an event.

In terms of size, the lens is somewhat large. It weighs 550g (1.21 lbs) with dimensions of 4.02 x 4.02 x 4.02 in (L x W x H).

Be mindful when you go to order the lens. Tokina also makes versions that use a different lens mount like the Canon EF or Sony A mounts. Check to make sure the lens you purchase is compatible with Nikon cameras.

Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM ELD SLD Aspherical Wideangle Zoom Lens
Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5
  • Hyper-Sonic Motor (HSM)
  • Ultra-wide angle lens
  • Internal Focus and Very Good Build Quality
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Built with Aspherical Elements that Reduce Distortion

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The Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 falls into the same price range as the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8. It has a larger zoom range, but a slightly smaller maximum aperture.

At 10mm the lens is going to produce an exaggerated distorted perspective. You’re likely going to see distortion, which you can reduce through post-processing.

4 aspherical elements have been utilised to help reduce distortion and aberrations. In total there are 13 lens elements in 10 groups to ensure the best image quality possible.

All that glass doesn’t make the lens too heavy, coming in at a weight of 520g (18.3 oz). Dimensions are diameter of 3.4" (87.3mm) and length of 3.5" (88.2mm).

Be careful if you are looking to purchase this lens. Sigma also made copies of the lens for other DSLR camera mounts including, Canon EF, Sony A, and Pentax K mounts. Make sure the one you buy uses the Nikon F lens mount.

The 55-300mm & 55-200mm lenses listed in the zoom section are also the lenses to look for first if you need a telephoto lens.

This section is going to take a look at telephoto prime lenses for sports, action, wildlife, and portrait photography. There is no shortage of these lenses available for the Nikon F-mount.

However, telephoto prime lenses tend to be expensive because the amount of optics that need to be utilised. The weight of the lens and ergonomics when mounted on a camera body need to be taken into account. The right lens the one that is easy to handle and use so you can capture memorable pictures.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G Prime Telephoto Portrait Lens
Nikon 85mm f/1.8G
  • Best Lens for Portraits
  • Internal Focus (IF)
  • Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
  • Superb Color Reproduction

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The Nikon 85mm f/1.8G is one of the best Nikon lenses for professional photographers. It is a fast lens that delivers excellent images and pleasing bokeh.

The 85mm 1.8G is a full frame lens. You’ll notice two differences when comparing it against a DX lens.

First, full frame lenses are usually more expensive than DX lenses. They have larger lens elements, which translates to additional cost.

Second, the lens is larger than many DX lenses. While not a huge issue, if you plan to carry it around with another lens, you’ll definitely need a bag.

Nikon AF-S FX Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G Standard Prime Lens
Nikon 50mm f/1.8G
  • Great Lens with a Fast Aperture
  • Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
  • Small and Lightweight
  • Excellent Pick for Low Light Photography

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Taking the crop factor focal length multiplier into account, this lens could be thought of as a short telephoto lens. It is an affordable fast prime that can be utilized for portraits and indoor photography.

The FX 50mm f/1.8G provides more reach than the DX 35mm f/1.8G, while still having a comparable price.

There aren’t huge differences between the lenses. With the 50mm, you’ll get a bit more reach and blurring the background will be much easier.

It weighs 185g (6.6 oz) and has dimensions of (Diameter x Length) 2.83" x 2.01".

Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G Standard Prime Focal Length Lens
Nikon 35mm f/1.8G
  • Very Accurate Autofocus Performance
  • Takes Very good Pictures in Difficult Lighting Situations
  • Excellent Nikon D50 lens for street photography
  • High Build Quality
  • Best option for an all around lens

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The Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G is the best first prime lens to get for the Nikon D50.

A maximum aperture of f/1.8, means you’ll be able to isolate your subjects and create beautiful bokeh. Indoors the lens is fast enough to where you will not need to use flash.

With a 35mm equivalent field of view of 52.5mm, you’ll have a “standard” field of view. Your photos will have a perspective that is similar to what is seen by human eyes.

Weighing just 200g (7oz), there’s never a reason not to have the lens with you. With dimensions of (Diameter x Length) 2.8 in. (70 mm) x 2.1 in. (52.5 mm), you can easily keep it in a coat pocket or bag.

Macro photography starts with a reproduction ratio of 1:1. That 1:1 ratio can also be referred to as life size or 1X magnification.

Those terms all mean that the subject being photographed is the same size as the camera’s sensor. Popular subjects are insects, coins, flowers, copy work and academic subjects.

There are other ways to achieve macro magnification, such as extensions tubes. Personally, I find that a macro lens easier to use and gives better results. That’s because a macro lens has a large minimum focus distance.

As a quick note, Nikon branded their macros as Micro-Nikkor lenses. This is a constant source of confusion as micro and macro have opposite meanings.

Nikon Micro-Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G Macro Lens
Nikon Micro-Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G
  • Close-Range Correction System (CRC)
  • Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
  • Maximum Reproduction Ratio of 1X
  • Well Built with a Rubber Sealing Mount Protects Against Dust and Moisture
  • Excellent option for Close Ups

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The Nikon Micro-Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G is the best pick for getting started with macro and close-up photography with the Nikon D50.

As far as modern macro lenses go, the lens is relatively inexpensive. It also has a high-quality autofocus motor and uses current optics.

This means the lens can also be utilised for general photography. That’s not the case with older macros, as their image quality only becomes sharp after the aperture has been stopped down.

The lens weighs 235g (8.3 oz) with dimensions (diameter x length) of 2.7 in. (68.5 mm) x 2.5 in. (64.5 mm).

Nikon AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 85mm f/3.5G ED VR Telephoto Macro Lens
Nikon Micro-Nikkor 85mm f/3.5G
  • Super Integrated Coating (SIC) to reduce Chromatic Aberration
  • Maximum Reproduction Ratio of 1X
  • Built with Internal Focus (IF)
  • VR - Vibration Reduction Image Stabilization

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The major benefit of the 85mm macro lens over the 40mm is a longer working distance. That’s the distance from the front of the lens to the subject.

At 1X magnification, the front of the lens is going to be close to the subject. If you are trying to photograph an insect, this may cause them to try to get away.

Another issue could be properly lighting a subject. Depending on your light source it could be very difficult to get it setup without the lens blocking it.

The downside is that a little more working distance adds to the cost of the lens.

While not the primary purpose of the lens, it can be used for portraits, but the f/3.5 maximum aperture might not create the best background bokeh.

  • Overall Image Quality
  • Price to Performance
  • Focal Length Range

Having a high-quality lens is even more beneficial for image quality than a pricey camera. Lenses don’t wear out, you will be able to keep your lenses if you ever decide to upgrade your Nikon D50.

That doesn’t mean that price is not a factor. It does not seem sensible to advise using high priced lenses, even if they are the best quality.

All the most commonly employed focal lengths have been reviewed.

Niche or professional lenses such as perspective control, macro, mirror, and fisheye lenses haven’t been covered. They are high priced enough to warrant a camera upgrade.

The Nikon D50 was released in 2005. It should be come as no surprise that there are many Nikon D50 upgrade options available. One of the nice things is that you can still use the same lenses with a current camera, the majority with seamless compatibility.

Having access to different focal lengths, a fast prime, or a brand new lens will do more for you than a new camera. However, it is next to impossible to overlook the high resolution available from a recent APS-C camera body as well as fast continuous shooting speed and more white balance options.

The price of a second-hand Nikon D50 replacement is a fraction of the cost when the camera was brand new. That same drop in price also applies to recent camera models.

An upgrade that is perfect for the needs you have is likely much less expensive than you think if you’re ready to sell your D50 camera after you have an upgrade.

  • Wide Angle - Captures a large angle of view of a scene. These have a short focal length.
  • Standard - Has a field of view that looks "natural" when viewed by people. Any focal length between 35mm to 50mm.
  • Telephoto - Lenses with a narrow field of view, very helpful for subjects that are far away or small. Wildlife photos are a popular use for this type of focal length.
  • Macro - Has the ability to take images close up to a subject at a 1:1 magnification ratio of subject to sensor size.
  • Fisheye - Ultra wide-angle lenses that produce distorted circular images.
  • Zoom - The focal length spans a range. The zoom range coverage will vary, but Nikon is always trying to make lenses with larger zoom ranges.
  • Prime - Lenses with a fixed focal length. Usually, they have larger apertures than zoom lenses. Larger apertures are better for low light condition and creating blurry backgrounds with a telephoto lens. Better ones will have razor sharp image clarity.

The D50 camera uses Nikon F-mount lenses. Nikon has been employing the F-mount since 1959. There are several variants of the lens mount as it has been improved over time to support digital SLR cameras.

Initial lenses with autofocus relied on a focus motor built into camera bodies. The Nikon D50 is one of the only entry level digital SLR cameras to have the focus motor built-in. As a result, autofocus will work with early autofocus lenses.

The Nikon D50 does not have a meter coupling ridge or EE servo coupling post. Light metering won’t work correctly for manual lenses without electrical contacts. AF lenses with physical aperture rings will likely need to be stopped down to their smallest aperture.

The Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX VR was originally sold with the Nikon D50. This was most commonly included with second-hand D50’s for sale on eBay or Amazon.

It is one of the dx nikkor lenses that have been included together with cameras over the years. These make up the right lens selection for a large percentage of the anticipated needs of a Nikon D50 owner.

In tough low light conditions using fill flash from the camera will help. Compatible lighting equipment like Nikon’s creative lighting system would be beneficial if you can find second hand flashes that are affordable.

If you don’t have this lens, it is an excellent first selection for the camera. The focal length, inclusion of image stabilization, and performance is good, especially taking into account the affordable price of a used copy. The one undesirable aspect is the f/5.6 aperture at the long end.