FX lenses on a DX body - pros & cons? I have a Nikon D7000 and was wondering about the pros and cons of getting an FX lens. A few lenses that I am interested in getting don't come in...

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I have a Nikon D7000 and was wondering about the pros and cons of getting an FX lens. A few lenses that I am interested in getting don't come in the DX format. I know they'd work on my camera but not sure about the differences, if any.

bobbygee

gvarner wrote:

I have a Nikon D7000 and was wondering about the pros and cons of getting an FX lens. A few lenses that I am interested in getting don't come in the DX format. I know they'd work on my camera but not sure about the differences, if any.

Hello
Coming from film and knowing that one day I would move up to FF, I upgraded kit lenses from the d3000 I started with and bought FX lenses and moved up to the d7000 because of the built in motor.
I now also own a d3 and I am really glad I bought FX glass for the crop frame cameras. Also, most of the lenses are not the "G" type, but the older "D" lenses, which I can still use on my film cameras. Good luck

Wilsondl3

Most lenses get soft at the edges with the smaller sensor you don't have the edge softness. The only con I can see is they are a bit bigger and weigh more. I have severel film lenses that work great on my D7100 crop frame. - Dave

JPL

gvarner wrote:

I have a Nikon D7000 and was wondering about the pros and cons of getting an FX lens. A few lenses that I am interested in getting don't come in the DX format. I know they'd work on my camera but not sure about the differences, if any.

Pros, you can continue to use them if you upgrade to FX body
Cons, they may be more expensive then DX lenses and more heavy.

glgracephoto Loc: Arlington, WA

gvarner wrote:

I have a Nikon D7000 and was wondering about the pros and cons of getting an FX lens. A few lenses that I am interested in getting don't come in the DX format. I know they'd work on my camera but not sure about the differences, if any.

A very informative video by Tony Northrup which shows both pros and cons:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDbUIfB5YUc

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

gvarner wrote:

I have a Nikon D7000 and was wondering about the pros and cons of getting an FX lens. A few lenses that I am interested in getting don't come in the DX format. I know they'd work on my camera but not sure about the differences, if any.

When I was using a D7000 and knew I would eventually move on to full frame I started getting FX lenses. They all worked fine on my D7000 and when I got my D600 I was all set for lenses.
I get most of my photography from B&H and on the B&H web site, under the specifications tab for each specific lens, it tells you if the FX lens is compatible with a DX camera.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

glgracephoto wrote:

A very informative video by Tony Northrup which shows both pros and cons:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDbUIfB5YUc

I was waiting for someone to post that. It was a real eye-opener, but does it really matter? I've heard that it's only part of the story.

I had always bought DX lenses, but then people began saying that it was better to buy FX for the quality and also for the possibility of going full frame.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

glgracephoto wrote:

A very informative video by Tony Northrup which shows both pros and cons:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDbUIfB5YUc

This has been debunked. It is not based on any facts. But he sure does a nice presentation. I've used FX lenses on DX bodies and they are generally superior, to DX lenses. Many DX lenses do not provide the optical performance of the larger lenses, nor do they have the build quality. Many DX zooms are variable aperture, and to my knowledge, Nikon does not make DX specific macro lenses, PC-E lenses, and prime telephoto lenses at 200mm or beyond. The notion that any of these lenses would not perform as well on DX as they do on FX is ludicrous.

This is a slightly dated list of Nikkor DX lenses:

http://www.bythom.com/nikon-dx-lens-summary.htm

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

This link is Nikon's Lens Simulator sight. You can attach any Nikon lens to any Nikon body.

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/simulator/

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

I shoot sony alphas, so I have the Minolta maxxum line to choose from. the only problem is finding a really wide angle lens.

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

Unlike the OP, you can't use older Minolta manual focus lenses without having to resort to using an adapter since Minolta changed their lens mount when they went to AF... The OP can utilize older manual focus Nikkor & 3rd party Nikon mount lenses without having to use an adapter & he still gets metering in aperture & manual modes. Plus , it gives him a larger selection of lenses to choose from, many of which are a lot less costly... He still has the "crop" factor to deal with though... That said, I utilize my older screw mount , Konica, Minolta, et al manual focus lenses on my mirrorless camera with the appropriate adapters, thus they do still get used...

bull drink water wrote:

I shoot sony alphas, so I have the Minolta maxxum line to choose from. the only problem is finding a really wide angle lens.

jlrivera Loc: Round Lake, Illinois

glgracephoto wrote:

A very informative video by Tony Northrup which shows both pros and cons:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDbUIfB5YUc

:cry: After I saw the video, I'm going to cry. I have Nikon D7100 with Nikon Micro 105mm F\2.8 and Tamron 16-300 F/3.5-6.3. The crop factor for the D7100 is 1.5; so because of the crop, the Nikon 105mm is LIKE having a 157.5mm and the Tamron looks LIKE 24-450mm, that's ok. I didn't know that is the same thing with the aperture, have to apply the 1.5 crop?. So I don't have a F\2.8 is F\4.2? And the Tamron is not F\3.5-6.3 is F\5.25-9.45? That's why I am :cry:

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

jlrivera wrote:

:cry: After I saw the video, I'm going to cry. I have Nikon D7100 with Nikon Micro 105mm F\2.8 and Tamron 16-300 F/3.5-6.3. The crop factor for the D7100 is 1.5; so because of the crop, the Nikon 105mm is LIKE having a 157.5mm and the Tamron looks LIKE 24-450mm, that's ok. I didn't know that is the same thing with the aperture, have to apply the 1.5 crop?. So I don't have a F\2.8 is F\4.2? And the Tamron is not F\3.5-6.3 is F\5.25-9.45? That's why I am :cry:

Stop crying.
The apertures remain the same.

MW

Gene51 wrote:

This has been debunked. It is not based on any fac... (show quote)

Hey! It was on the Internet. It must be true.

jlrivera Loc: Round Lake, Illinois

GoofyNewfie wrote:

Stop crying.
The apertures remain the same.

No more cry
:wink: