i've been looking at Nikon cameras to buy, and i really want the nikon d5000. that said, it isnt cheap. and neither are the extra lenses you can buy. i was wondering if i bought a used lens for cheaper, would it still do the job? i guess it depends on the condition... any feedback or suggestions would be great :)
also- are nikons compatible with other brands of lenses, or only the ones that nikon sells?
You can get Nikon compatible Sigma and Tamron lenses.
Also, yes you can buy second hand lenses (older ones) for Nikons from time to time, but they most likely won't be fully compatible. The reason for this is that the D5000 doesn't have an auto-focus motor in the camera body, so it relies on there being one in the lens, hence the extra price. However, if you are happy to use manual focus, this shouldn't be a problem. To get full functionality, you need a camera such as the D90, which is more expensive.
Most of my lenses are second-hand. It's a great way to save money and still get a quality lens. As long as you deal with good people on a legit sale site and do your research beforehand so you know the lens works for your camera and stuff there's little to worry about.
I have a Nikon D40 and use two vintage lenses, one is 35mm prime, the other is 200mm. My Dad gave them to me with a Nikon film slr back in the 90's. So I've saved them all this time, and got them out to use with my D40. They fit fine, and I'm really happy with the photos I get with them. However, they are manual focus, which I like better because the auto focus and my kit lens doesn't lock sometimes on skin or skies. You have to use them in full manual mode, none of the other modes on the camera work with the old lenses, so you have to know how to use the manual mode. I just ordered a vintage 50mm off of ebay. You can get used lenses that would work with whatever camera you pick, check out the charts. I think used is a good way to save some money, as long as you are careful and purchase from reputable folks.
I have a D5000 (and love it!) and I've bought a couple of Tamron lenses to use with it. They are about 1/2 - 2/3 the price of the Nikkor lenses and to my incredibly untrained eye are great lenses. I've never bought used, but just wanted to ditto Rachael's suggestion on the 3rd party lenses. Tamron's got some great rebates through mid-April right now too, making them even more affordable. All three that I bought (90mm, 18-270mm, and 10-24mm) have the built in motor for Nikon so they auto-focus on the D5000.
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Also, yes you can buy second hand lenses (older ones) for Nikons from time to time, but they most likely won't be fully compatible. The reason for this is that the D5000 doesn't have an auto-focus motor in the camera body, so it relies on there being one in the lens, hence the extra price. However, if you are happy to use manual focus, this shouldn't be a problem. To get full functionality, you need a camera such as the D90, which is more expensive.
Have a look at this site if you're looking at a particular lens. It's a compatability chart for Nikon lenses so you can see what works with what. http://www.nikonians.org/nikon/slr-lens.html#notes
Should mention, I have a D5000 and love it!
Good luck!!