Nikon DX lens: After shooting film for years I weaken and am switching to digital. So, now I have a question. I am shooting with a Nikon D5500 and my question has to do with the lens -...

itsbill Loc: Tavares, Florida

After shooting film for years I weaken and am switching to digital. So, now I have a question. I am shooting with a Nikon D5500 and my question has to do with the lens - I understand the 1.5 factor but what I don't know is if the lens is a DX does the factor apply Example 35mm DX compared to non DX 35mm

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The lens is 35mm period. The DX factor (and EF-S for Canon readers) is that the lens passes a smaller circle of light onto the sensor that more closely matches the physically smaller size of the cropped sensor. The lens is still a 35mm focal length.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Personally, I wish manufacturers had never made anything but a full frame camera. It would save a lot of confusion. A 35mm lens is the same focal length regardless of which camera it is used. The difference is the portion of the image circle the sensor uses. Because the crop sensor camera uses a smaller portion of that circle, it appears as if it has a longer focal length. That apparent focal length is approximately 1.5 times the focal length listed on the lens. DX lenses also project a smaller image circle due to the fact that the smaller sensor doesn't need the larger circle.
--Bob

itsbill wrote:

After shooting film for years I weaken and am switching to digital. So, now I have a question. I am shooting with a Nikon D5500 and my question has to do with the lens - I understand the 1.5 factor but what I don't know is if the lens is a DX does the factor apply Example 35mm DX compared to non DX 35mm

shutterbob Loc: Tucson

The focal length of a lens does not change whether you are shooting a dx of fx. A 35mm fx lens on a dx body is going to have the same focal length as a 35mm dx lens. They are both going to give you a field of view of about 52mm equivalent on a fx body.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

shutterbob wrote:

The focal length of a lens does not change whether you are shooting a dx of fx. A 35mm fx lens on a dx body is going to have the same focal length as a 35mm dx lens. They are both going to give you a field of view of about 52mm equivalent on a fx body.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

CHG_CANON wrote:

The lens is 35mm period. The DX factor (and EF-S for Canon readers) is that the lens passes a smaller circle of light onto the sensor that more closely matches the physically smaller size of the cropped sensor. The lens is still a 35mm focal length.

I'll take this a step further. So this DX or in this case Canon EF-s lens for a crop body is 35mm, if you were to use a FX or FF 35mm lens on a FF camera body and take a picture from the same exact place of the same exact subject, yes, the crop body/lens combo will appear to be larger or closer.

But in the scheme of things, this doesn't mean a hill of beans. Numbers are just numbers. You as a photographer have control of how your subject is framed and how to zoom your lens. If you frame it one way with your crop body and you liked the end result, why would you do it any differently if you used a FF body and lens. You'd still frame the shot so that it pleased you.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

itsbill wrote:

After shooting film for years I weaken and am switching to digital. So, now I have a question. I am shooting with a Nikon D5500 and my question has to do with the lens - I understand the 1.5 factor but what I don't know is if the lens is a DX does the factor apply Example 35mm DX compared to non DX 35mm

The "crop factor" can be helpful when comparing to a so-called "Full-Frame" or 35mm field of view, but the focal length does not change.

itsbill Loc: Tavares, Florida

Thanks for the info it clears up an a point I needed clarified.

Leitz Loc: Solms

itsbill wrote:

I understand the 1.5 factor but what I don't know is if the lens is a DX does the factor apply Example 35mm DX compared to non DX 35mm

Yes, the 1.5X factor applies for both DX and FX lenses.

itsbill Loc: Tavares, Florida

One more lens question is there any advantage to using a FX lens on a DX type body

rambler Loc: Masssachusetts

This helps me: If I am looking through the 35mm lens of a "cropped" camera, but I want the look of a full framed camera, I would have to back up a certain number of feet before the "cropped" saw the same view. In other words when I back up the view becomes wider until eventually I will be looking at the same wide view of a full frame camera using a 35mm lens. In reverse, if using a full frame camera with a 35mm lens and you want the same view as a cropped camera with a 35mm lens, you need only to zoom in, or walk closer to your subject. So, a 35mm lens view through the full frame now looks like a 70mm lens view with the cropped camera.

As GoofyNoofie says it is the "field of view" that changes, not the focal distance.

d3200prime

itsbill wrote:

After shooting film for years I weaken and am switching to digital. So, now I have a question. I am shooting with a Nikon D5500 and my question has to do with the lens - I understand the 1.5 factor but what I don't know is if the lens is a DX does the factor apply Example 35mm DX compared to non DX 35mm

Here is a link that will explain your question and everything else concerning DX vs FX: http://mansurovs.com/nikon-dx-vs-fx. Good shooting to you.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

I own a Nikon DX camera. As already mentioned, a 35mm lens is a 35mm lens regardless. I purchased a Nikon DX version 35mm f1.8 not long ago. It is for a DX camera, not a full frame. If you ever decide to go full frame, it is best to get FX lenses. And you could sell your DX gear, and begin a new collection of FX lenses. Or keep both if you wish. Full frame lenses are suited better on crop sensor cameras. DX lenses on full frame cameras are less suited. But will work. Keep in mind that FX lenses are not cheap. My DX 35mm f1.8 only cost me $197. You won't get any FX lens at that price. Unless someone really likes you.

shutterbob Loc: Tucson

[quote=itsbill]One more lens question is there any advantage to using a FX lens on a DX type body[/qu

Really depends on the lens, but generally your shots can be sharper edge to edge if you use a FX lens on a DX body, simply because you will only be using the center of what the lens sees instead of the entire picturs, so to speak. Most lenses lose some sharpness at the edges, but since a DX sensor will not "see" that area, there may be some increase in sharpness, lack of light falloff, etc. Plus most FX lenses have a bit more quality built into them. I use a Nikon 28-300 on my D7500 instead of a 18-300 for that reason. Plus I have the added benefit of being able to use it on my D750.

krl48 Loc: NY, PA now SC

shutterbob wrote:

The focal length of a lens does not change whether you are shooting a dx of fx. A 35mm fx lens on a dx body is going to have the same focal length as a 35mm dx lens. They are both going to give you a field of view of about 52mm equivalent on a fx body.

I think you are mistaken. It is my understanding that the crop factor is only applied on the APS-C sensor camera, therefore, a 35mm lens designed for use on
a full frame camera will provide the field of view of a 35mm lens when used on a full frame camera.