Dx and ff lenses dumb@ss question!

ThelVlenace

ThelVlenace

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Ok...so I know that lenses for crop sensors have dx on them, but if you were o invest in ff lenses (in case you ever wanted to make that move) how do you know that the lens is suitable.

For instance, some lenses don't specify on the model that they are for either...

Just be nice to know :)
 
Fx lenses will work on either
 
In fact I think Nikon's FF cameras have a dx option too so you can also use dx lenses on FF cameras (although I use Canon so maybe not the best to advise)!

Regards
 
Basically if it doesn't have DX written on it it is a FF lens.

Also, aside from primes you can usually tell from the focal length.

For example, classic full frame zoom lenses are 28-70ish and 70-300.

Equivalent DX lenses are the 18-55 and 50-200 which give you the same(ish) field of view on a DX body as the FF lenses do on a FF body.

So, any normal zoom that is 24-28mm at the wide end is for FX and if it's 18mm it's DX. For tele-zooms if it starts at 70mm its for FF, if it starts at 50mm it's for DX.
 
For Nikon manufactured F-mount lenses. If they do not say DX on them, then they're full frame compatible (and therefore DX compatible as well).

There aren't actually that many Nikon DX lenses about. Off the top of my head you have all the kit lenses, i.e. 18-55, 18-70, 18-105 and 18-135. The super zooms, 18-200 and 18-300. The wide angles i.e 10.5mm fisheye, 10-24 and 12-24. The primes, i.e 40mm macro, 85mm macro, and 35mm 1.8. The teles: 55-200 and 55-300. Have I missed any?
 
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Lesson learned! Thanks for the replies! I was aware that you can use ff on crop sensors, I didnt however realise that if it started at 18 it was a dx lens! Excellent. Thanks :)
 
Not always, 18-35 is a classic ultra wide angle range (or at least very wide by modern standards).

However, the clue is that it it only goes to 35. 18-35 isn't particularly useful on a crop body which is why crop lenses are 18-50ish.

edit: too slow :D
 
Nawty said:
Not always, 18-35 is a classic ultra wide angle range (or at least very wide by modern standards).

However, the clue is that it it only goes to 35. 18-35 isn't particularly useful on a crop body which is why crop lenses are 18-50ish.

edit: too slow :D
Click to expand...

Type faster :D
 
Martyn... said:
Not always, the 18-35 is an old full frame lens ;)

Here is a comprehensive list of Nikkor F mount lenses LINK
Click to expand...

Alright, alright "I didnt realise that the 'majority' or 18mm lenses were dx" ...better :p
 
It does get confusing - even though the FX cameras can crop the image if a DX lens is used, the longer DX lenses should give a useable image across a 36x24 cm frame. Some of the longer focal length Pentax DA/DA* lenses marked for APS-C use only give usable images on Pentax film bodies, so the same thing should apply to other makes as well.
 
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