billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I am reassured with the safety of our country with folks like you around. That's rhetorical too.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Most any "true" macro lens will deliver. In order for a lens to AF on your camera, it needs to have a focus motor in the body. That said, once you get past about half life-size, the benefits of AF & VR diminish and you are better off focusing manually & turning off VR. The key thing to note is to get the focal length that works for you. 55-60mm lenses are good for close-ups of flowers & maybe larger insects plus copy work. At 1:1 however, you are right on top of your subject and lighting can be a problem as well as scaring off insects if that is what you want to shoot. Longer focal length lenses like 150-200mm allow you more working distance but at the expense of extra weight & bulk among other considerations. For most shooters, the 90-105mm range is the best compromise. I use an older manual focus for most all of my macro shooting (it's my niche) but I have no issues shooting with it with the camera I use. I have other lenses more suited toward portraiture thus it's primarily for macro shooting. I own 8 macro lenses from 55 to 180mm in both MF & AF iterations, so I have experience with other focal lengths and brands. What was said before about resale value holds true with the OEM brands commanding the most money. as far as optical quality, they are all good as technique tops gear brands. As for extension tubes, they can deliver, but are more limiting than a true macro lens.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

It's listed as a variant spelling in several dictionaries...

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Micro Nikkors are excellent... but so are Tamron's macro lenses.

- Tamron 90mm with VC (image stabilization), higher performance USD focus drive and internal focusing costs $650.

- Tamron 90mm without those features costs $500.

- Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 VR costs $900.

All the above are full frame capable (FX) lenses. Since you are using an APS-C/crop sensor camera (DX), you might also want to consider

- Tamron 60mm f/2.0... Crop only but smaller, lighter, a full stop larger aperture that makes it better than most macro lenses to also serve as a portrait lens, internal focusing... $525.

- Micro-Nikkor AF-S 60mm f/2.8G is the most similar from Nikon, 1-stop slower, FX design, possibly a little faster AF-S focusing, $600.

- Micro-Nikkor AF 60mm f/2.8D will not be able to autofocus on on your D5000-series camera. It will work, but manual focus only... $520.

- Micro-Nikkor AF-S 85mm f/3.5G VR (DX)... slightly longer focal length, VR, crop only, AF-S focus drive, but max f/3.5... $525.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

off the subject a little?

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Standard practice on this site.

ELNikkor

Nikon AF-D Lenses are good, but will not autofocus on the D5200

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

BTW, there is no "best" lens.....That is a very subjective query...

Sinewsworn Loc: Port Orchard, WA

Just received mine. Sharp, clear lens. $382.00 delivered, refurbished from Nikon.

Highly recommend this lens for micro/macro work on a DX body.

ltcarizona

I have been in Photography for over 40 years and I can tell you what I have learned about lenses, both Canon, Nikon, et., and then third party such as Tamron, Sigma, and Tokina. Everyone has their favorite lens manufacturer. That doesn't mean it is right for you. The most important things I have leaned are: 1. With the computer age we are in optic development has brought up third party optics/lenses to equal quality of Canon, etc., with the exception of some of the very expensive $2,000 of the top of line Canon, Nikon, etc., lenses. And then again there is not much difference depending on the particular lens. So I am one who does his research. This is all over the internet and it is for the most part easy to understand. Also whenever possible go to a camera shop and try some on your camera. It can be a great lens but it is either too heavy or clumsy on your camera. One wants to avoid these things when possible. You want photography to be fun unless of course you are a professional photographer. Hope this helps.

walkurie Loc: East Stroudsburg, PA

I have the Tokina 90mm f2.8 and purchased it used. It is a great macro and works well with my D5300. It is the previous model F004.
Regards
Walkurie

walkurie Loc: East Stroudsburg, PA

Sorry its a Tamron 90mm f2.8 F004.
Walkurie

RonM12 Loc: Washington State

Tokina 100mm f 2.8 AT X PRO D. Read the reviews and decide for yourself. I have this lens and it is impressive. The fact that new it is under $400.00 is icing on the cake.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Per Tokina's website...Not if the OP wants to retain AF...
"Autofocus with this lens is not supported with Nikon DSLRs that do not have a focus motor in the camera body."

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

I have the Tamron 90mm/2.8 SP lens - I can tell you it is a great macro/portrait lens (tack sharp and great contrast) and it is also an FF/FX lens so if you upgrade to FF you can use this lens also. It was reviewed in a photo mag this summer along with Nikon, Sigma, Tokina class lenses and top rated. My 2nd choice was going to be the Tokina 100/2.8 but is a bit old school design - however, it seems well made too and about half the price. One key difference though is the Tokina requires an in body AF motor which the D5200 lacks ( I have the 7200 which has a built in AF motor) - of course you can always manual focus.