DX lens on Nikon D 610: I was about to buy a Nikon D 610 (up from a D300) when it dawned on me that the my favorite walk around lens, Nikon 18-300 DX might not be compatible with a...

Corsica fox

I was about to buy a Nikon D 610 (up from a D300) when it dawned on me that the my favorite walk around lens, Nikon 18-300 DX might not be compatible with a full frame sensor. Could use some dialog on that. Thanks.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

It is compatible, not compliant.

Meaning the camera will crop to DX instead of giving you the full FX format.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

In my humble opinion, you are not gaining very much. The 610 will not function in full FX mode when that lens is attached. If you are ok with buying new glass with your new format camera then you have no problem. If, on the other hand, buying a new camera and new glass is a daunting proposition, you might want to think about waiting. I have a D7000, but I bought FX glass every time I bought a new lens. (exceptions are my 11-16 Tokina and my 35mm. The 35 is not that big a deal because it is not a very expensive lens. The Tokina is a lens I don't want to have to replace. I do understand your desire to go to FX. Hope this helps. Let us know what you decided to do.

JPL

You can use the lens on a D610, that is no problem, but you will not get the full 24 mpx pics. Instead the camera will use DX mode (which is a setting to use crop sensor lenses) which gives you about 10,5 mpx pictures, a little less than the D300.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Corsica fox wrote:

I was about to buy a Nikon D 610 (up from a D300) when it dawned on me that the my favorite walk around lens, Nikon 18-300 DX might not be compatible with a full frame sensor. Could use some dialog on that. Thanks.

It will give you cleaner images and better edge performance but at $2K hardly worth it unless you up grade lenses.

A better option might be the D7100.

Corsica fox

Thanks very much all. You've crystalized well what was roaming around my head. Soon as I sent it I thought, dummy, the D7100 will preserve the lens. Sets my plans back a bit but certainly on a better path either way, 7100 or FX lens. Thanks again.

dtparker Loc: Small Town, NC

Get the FX lens. That 18-300 is not the sharpest Nikon in even the DX stble of lenses. Just did a similar move myself, but with an 18-200, which I traded in when I bought the D610.

Dave

Corsica fox wrote:

Thanks very much all. You've crystalized well what was roaming around my head. Soon as I sent it I thought, dummy, the D7100 will preserve the lens. Sets my plans back a bit but certainly on a better path either way, 7100 or FX lens. Thanks again.

Bugfan Loc: Toronto, Canada

Why are you considering a full frame sensor? If you're looking for image quality sooner or later you'll have to bite the bullet and go for FX glass. So whether you do this now or later, you're still going to have to do it.

As mentioned already, your favourite lens will work but in a cropped mode. If you like that lens, consider an FX 28-300. That's not quite the same range at the long end but is exactly the same at the wide end. That way you have your walk around lens and an FX sensor. Later you can acquire new glass that enhances your capabilities.

Alternately, the idea to go for a D7100 instead is good too but at the same time recognize that all your doing is putting off the inevitable. But on the positive side you'd have an exceptional camera to which you can later add more FX glass so that when you do go full frame you'll have the glass you need too.

Corsica fox

Thanks. I'm leaning to the 610 and going to FX lens one way or the other. You're right, full frame is the right way. I'm nearly 80 so it's time. Maybe non Nikon lens will work and trade/sell the 18-300. Thanks to everyone.

Stage Light Loc: Northeast

You can use a DX lens on the DX 610. The lens will not cover the entire sensor. You have a choice of selecting a DX crop or full frame crop. The full frame uses the entire sensor which enables you to get the most area out of your lens; of course you will have empty corners due to vignetting. The DX crop does exactly that; it gives you a nice rectangular DX crop and throws the rest away; it saves a smaller file giving you room for more images.

Stage Light Loc: Northeast

That would be D 610, sorry.

mikeysaling Loc: essex uk

As per stage light above I use my D600 with some DX lenses and have set the shooting menu image area to auto off
❚❚ Auto DX Crop
Choose whether to automatically select a DX crop when a DX
lens is attached.
Image Area
Option Description
On
Camera automatically selects DX crop when DX lens is
attached. If another lens is attached, the crop selected for
Choose image area will be used.
Off Crop selected for Choose image area is used.
Should have similar instructions in your manual .
Some DX lenses the corners are dark (crop in PP) but others are fine - My Tokina 11-16 for example works great at the 16mm end with hardly any corner loss.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Corsica fox wrote:

I was about to buy a Nikon D 610 (up from a D300) when it dawned on me that the my favorite walk around lens, Nikon 18-300 DX might not be compatible with a full frame sensor. Could use some dialog on that. Thanks.

When I switched to a D610, I got the 28-300mm. Very nice lens. Take a look at the Nikon Lens Simulator.
http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/simulator/

Corsica fox

Thanks. I have a much better understanding of what a DX lens does on full frame sensor than I did. As indicated above I think I'll go full frame and get FX lenses even if they're not Nikon. Your help is much appreciated.

Corsica fox

Nice tip about the Nikon simulator. Thanks. At my age these things are amazing maybe even a little overwhelming.