MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Hello fellow Hoggers - I have been considering upgrading my D5200 to either a D7200 or a D750 and I really need your expertise. All 3 of these cameras have roughly 24 megapixels. The D5200 and the D7200 are crop sensor cameras, and the D750 is a full frame camera. I've been doing a lot of research and reading and I have questions regarding the D750 to which I cannot seem to find answers that make sense to me given my current level of knowledge. I trust you to help me out here.

The D750 allows you to shoot in the DX mode. If I were to do this (shoot in the DX mode) it would be to achieve more reach for my wildlife and BIF shots with the intention of cropping and enlarging those images. I would use the DX (24 x 16) 1.5x Image Recording Option for this. I would be using it in FX mode for everything else. My questions are:

1. What would be the effect, if any, on the megapixel count id I were to shoot in the DX mode?
2. What would be the downside/consequences of shooting with an FX camera in DX mode with an FX lens attached?
3. What would the downside/consequences of shooting in DX mode with a DX lens attached.

I am leaning toward the D750 and am trying to figure out if I could use any of my existing Nikon lenses on it in the DX mode. I currently have the kit 18-55, the kit 55-300, an 18-105, and my Tamron 150-600 (which I understand is designed for use on both full frame and crop sensor cameras). I don't want to make an expensive, stupid mistake by purchasing the D750 and expecting to use it in DX mode and get the same image quality as I would with the D7200. On the other hand, I would hate to go ahead with the D7200 and decide a year later that I should have gone with the full frame D750. If I were to go the D750 route, I would probably purchase the 28-300 lens to go with it. (It all depends on the answers to my questions!) That lens (28-300) plus my Tamron 150-600 would be all I need for right now.

The reason I was considering moving up to the D7200 from my D5200 is that the D7200 has some features that my D5200 lacks and that I feel would make my photography "easier" - namely dual SD card slots, custom settings, DoF preview, easier access to important settings (the D5200 are mostly menu driven and it takes a while to get to what I need to change). The D750 got thrown into the mix when I found out you can shoot in DX format with it. I am just thinking that at some time in the not too distant future I will probably want to go FF - so why not now and skip the D7200. My D5200 will be my back-up no matter if I choose the D7200 or the D750 - we are solidly bonded! I have also considered other Nikon models and ruled them out for one reason or another.

More than likely, I have left out some critical piece of information. If so, let me know what, and I'll try to supply it.

Many thanks to all who are willing and brave enough to put in their 2 cents.

"Mike"

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

You don't gain any "reach" in DX Mode. 300mm (or whatever mm) is 300mm in both DX and FX modes. What changes is the angle of view. The difference in angle will make it appear as if a longer lens has been used in DX Mode when the image is presented at the same size as in FX Mode.

Shooting a FX camera in DX mode will result in a loss of MPs
Shooting a FX camera in DX Mode with a FX lens makes no sense to me.
Shooting a FX camera in DX Mode with a DX lens will result in a loss of MPs.

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

One thing to think about is that in DX mode you will only have a 10mp photo. Started with a D3000 and went to a D90, an increase of 2mp but an older model camera. I then went to a D7100 about 2 years ago, and just got a D610. Both the D7100 & the D610 are 24 mp. My suggestion is; If you want a full frame get it. Also get the 28-300 with it. Keep the D5200 for doing the bird & wildlife shots for now and use the D750 and crop from the full frame image in post processing. Hope this helps.

Mac beat me to the punch.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Thanks,
I'm leaning that way right no. I thought from my readings that I would lose mp's shooting in DX on the D750.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Thanks Mac,
I suspected from my readings that I would lose mp's shooting in DX mode on the D750. I was just hoping I was wrong - no such luck.
I realize it's the difference in angle of view and not an actual lengthening of the lens. My wording was not clear.
It seems that it is the loss of mp's when shooting an FX camera in DX mode with an FX lens that makes that option just palin silly. Do I have that right?
I really appreciate the help.

Bill_de Loc: US

If you go to Nikon USA, all the specs as far as image size and dimensions in pixels is spelled out for the various formats and image sizes.

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/dslr-cameras/d750.html#tab-ProductDetail-ProductTabs-TechSpecs

Now, unless you are dead set on FX and more pixels, I would take a look at the soon to be released D500. It will have a lot of the features of the D5 in a DX body. On real nice feature for birds and other wildlife will be shooting 10 frames per second. The specs for that are also at NikonUSA.

--

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

the d750 is an excellent camera and well worth upgrading too. it would not be advised to use the dx mode as you will lose most of your megapixals down to about 10. you do not have a large assortment of lenses to upgrade (the tamron 150-600 lens is fx), and you may be able to trade the dx lenses in on fx lenses, if not maybe you could keep them and use the d5200 as a backup camera. any fx lenses you purchase will work well with the dx format camera.
with the d750 you will gain iso tolerance and photo quality. cropping the photos in the dx camera is no different than cropping the photos in post processing. it just appears larger in a cropped sensor camera.
that said, if you would like to stay with a dx body, the d7100 or the d7200 are both great camera also. the d7200 will give you a larger buffer if you shoot action, otherwise the d7100 may be purchased cheaply if you buy used or refurbished from Nikon, b&h photo, adorama, or ebay, all reputable dealers that sell used equipment. if you decide to purchase another cropped sensor camera, just keep in mind when you buy lenses, you purchase only full frame lenses, as you greatest expense will be in lenses, not camera bodies, and if you ever decide to upgrade again to a full frame body, you will not need to reinvest in lenses.
if you do decide to purchase the d7100 or d7200, then upgrade later to the d750, the controls are very similar and you will not have the need to relearn you camera to gain full control.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Thanks Bill,
I did take a look at the D500 specs and decided against it for several reasons.
Thanks for the link to the D750 on Nikon's site. Actually, I did read that over and completely forgot about the fact that it provided the pixels for the various FX and DX modes! Sorry about that.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

The DX mode on the D750 is not intended to give you more reach - that is an illusion. It is intended to allow you to continue to use the DX lenses that you already own. Using an FX lens when in DX mode will give you a slightly superior image since you will be using only the centre portion of the lens. The D750 can be set to automatically switch to DX mode when you attach a DX lens. The D750 is an excellent FX camera but I wouldn't recommend it as a DX camera.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Thank you. I'm really sorting through this and am getting some good info and more to think about.
Love your avatar, BTW. We are heading back to Alaska in June and we have puffin viewing on our list.

ptcanon3ti Loc: NJ

Hi Karen! :-)

I've never used my D750 in DX mode. But as others have mentioned if you do you will be around 10 MP on your image.

All of my bird shots are crops from full frame images. The resolution on the D750 is pretty good and gives you a lot of room to crop. Of course I begin with 600mm as my base from which I work.

If you want...you can go to my flickr page (link in my sig) and surf to my "Sigma 150-600" album. ALL of the shots in that album are from the D750 and almost all of them are cropped images.

Hope that helps.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Thanks so much, Paul. I just took a look and focused (pun intended - sorry, I'm just pooped and my brain is fried from this!) on your shots of the birds I shoot, too. I also shoot at 600mm and crop from there. Based on your shots and what I like to shoot, Of course, it helped a lot that I knew where you shot a lot of those images!

I think the D750 is the right choice for me. And I will not shoot in DX mode given all that I now know!

ptcanon3ti Loc: NJ

Its a very satisfying camera to use. I think in going to look into the new D500 after the bugs get worked out on it in a year or so. But the D750 is a phenomenal all around camera and surely a keeper.

CO

There's one thing to consider when trying to get the most depth of field for landscape photos. A cropped sensor camera will give you more depth of field than a full frame camera when using lenses that result in the same field of view. A 24mm lens on a cropped sensor camera will give you the same field of view but more depth of field than a 35mm lens on the full frame camera when using the same aperture. For most lenses f/8 is the sharpest aperture. You would have to stop down the full frame camera to about f/12 to get the same depth of field.

jm76237

Mike,
I recently purchased the D750 after using a D5200 for a couple years. Operationally the cameras are very different and take a little getting use to. You have so much more control with the 750. I travel in Europe on business regularly and always take an extra day to site see and shoots some pics. I got back from Venice last Sunday and the difference in the quality of the printed pics was amazing! I printed my best 2 shots on an 8.5 X 11 size than the clarity was so much better! Go with the 750, you'll never regret it!