Using DX series lens on Nikon FX camera

Barryboy

Barryboy

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Rob
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Hi... Has anyone got any practical experience of this? I want to get a 28-200 (or thereabouts) 'walking around' lens to use on my D610 and given the limited choice and high cost of the full frame lenses I was wondering if a good used Sigma or Tamron DX series lens could work for me. I figured that even if I was disappointed in it I wouldn't drop too much money if I had to sell the lens on afterwards as they seem to be readily available at around the £100 mark. I'm not a pro or a 'high end' amateur. I only ever print to A4 size so ultimate quality is not my main criteria.

Grateful for any advice from those that actually have experience of this, I am aware of the 1.5x sensor size factor and in truth 300mm at the tele end might on occasion be useful.

Rob
 
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I think you've misunderstood what FX and DX mean bud

A DX camera has a smaller sensor and hence can get away with a smaller lens, so a DX lens won't cover the whole area of an FX sensor

The 'crop' has nothing to do with the lens its all about the sensor

You really need to buy a FX lens I'm afraid

Dave
 
It will work fine you will just be using the sensor at DX size. Most FX cameras put the DX crop lines in the viewfinder automatically so it frames the picture correctly.
 
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I believe he knows this.
Unlike Canon, Nikon full frame (FX) cameras have a "crop/DX mode" so that if you put a DX lens on an FX body (in this case a D610) the camera will then only use the crop-sensor size portion of the sensor that the lens is projecting the image onto. The camera then acts like a 10mpixel crop-sensor body.
 
Alternatively, for round about £100 you could get a used FX 28-105 and set the DX mode if you need more 'reach'.
 
All DX lenses will vignette to a degree when used on FX bodies. You can, as I'm sure you know force the FX thing. Some DX lenses work very well on FX though it does depend on the levels of vignetting you find OK. I've seen it done more often with primes then zooms ( for example the 35 f/1.8 DX) has a great rep on FX. Normally you will find unusable results towards the wide open end of the lens and with a hood was well. Rest depends on what you find OK
 
I personally don't like using my D750 in DX mode as it's difficult to frame in the lines, especially when panning. I'd rather just crop in post, the end result is exactly the same. I personally wouldn't buy a DX lens for an FX body. Apart from the obvious vignetting and loss of MP (DX on the D750 is roughly 10MP) edge and corner sharpness won't be great.
 
The photographer who did my daughter's wedding last year used a D810 with a 55-200 DX lens.

But then the photos were rubbish.

Sell the 610 and get a D7000.

Then buy a couple of good DX lenses secondhand.


You wouldn't drop a Ford engine in a ferrari would you? Even if they fit.
 
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Thanks, everyone... It pretty much sums up what I had feared. I'm actually well set up for lenses in that I have a good Sigma 24-70 f2.8 which is my 'go to' lens and also have an elderly (but very good) Nikkor 35-105 f3.5 (both full frame lenses) but wanted something with a little more reach on the tele end. I do have a Nikkor 70-210 f4 but I'm trying to do away with lens changing and lugging extra kit around. I tend to take a lot of 'people' shots which are essentially grab shots so need to react quickly when I spot something. Ideal solution seems to be a 28-200 but FX series lenses are so much pricier than the equivalent DX lenses. Seems like I'd better start saving my pennies.....

By the way, I realise now that I had the whole 'crop factor' thing back to front.... it's age, I'm afraid!I

Rob
 
Maybe look at selling the 24-70 and buying the 24-120mm, I've been looking at these two lenses and it surprised me how much extra reach 120mm is over 70mm.
 
I've tried a couple of DX lenses on FX and they worked OK at the longer end but vignetted at the wide end. But you could always crop.

Apart from price the drawback to FX 'superzooms' is the weight. If you can manage the weight and the price a 28-300 covers a hell of a range. The Nikon has pretty good IQ too (IMO).
 
Thanks, Snerkler. I've taken a look at our favourite auction site and see that the 240-120 varies wildly in price. Used from £100 up to £500 for new. I might take a punt on a used one and if I like it, sell the 35-105..

Rob
 
Barryboy said:
Thanks, Snerkler. I've taken a look at our favourite auction site and see that the 240-120 varies wildly in price. Used from £100 up to £500 for new. I might take a punt on a used one and if I like it, sell the 35-105..

Rob
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I think those at £100 odd will be the old version and I wouldn't touch that lens tbh. It's the f4 version you want.
 
snerkler said:
I think those at £100 odd will be the old version and I wouldn't touch that lens tbh. It's the f4 version you want.
Click to expand...

You're probably right, Snerks, but the price is a problem at the moment. I'll have to save up some more cash, I think.

Rob
 
Barryboy said:
You're probably right, Snerks, but the price is a problem at the moment. I'll have to save up some more cash, I think.

Rob
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Yep, money's always an issue. Used the 24-120mm F4 will set you back around £400. You can buy new grey for £450.
 
Our of the blue I got a good deal on a used 24-120 f4 VR lens so pulled the trigger on it. Cost more than I had hoped, but what's new about that?? - hardly the fist time I've overspent on kit....... :(

Here's hoping it will be OK. If so I'll sell the Nikkor 35-105 to claw a little cash back.

Rob
 
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