A Nikon question: I speak Canon, so don't know much about Nikon models. A friend of mine in Ecuador has a Nikon 3100 and is looking for an 18-200 zoom (used, probably). Is that a full...

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I speak Canon, so don't know much about Nikon models. A friend of mine in Ecuador has a Nikon 3100 and is looking for an 18-200 zoom (used, probably). Is that a full frame or cropped camera? Does Nikon have a separate line of lenses for cropped cameras? If so, what is their designation? Don't want to get him a lens he cannot use! THANKS!

RickL Loc: Vail, Az

The D3100 is a cropped camera and will take FX or Ex lenses. The extra lenses are cheaper and designed for cropped cameras.
I have a D7000 and use both.

twowindsbear

Nikonusa.com should have all the answers you need.

That's my WAG

RickL Loc: Vail, Az

That should be Ex not Ex

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

RickL wrote:

That should be Ex not Ex

?

RickL Loc: Vail, Az

My spell correct is messing my note up. Cropped camera s will take Dx or Fx lenses. While FX are more expensive they are better quality. I use both and am satisfied with the results

titco62

no thats cropped camera use len you can go to KEH used camera lenses

rdubreuil Loc: Dummer, NH USA

Nikon's designation for crop sensor format/lenses is DX, FX is full frame. The 3100 is a crop sensor body link to Nikonusa Specifications:

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product-archive/dslr-cameras/d3100.html#tab-ProductDetail-ProductTabs-TechSpecs

Your friend can use either FX or DX lenses. FX lenses will have the 1.5 crop factor applied so a 50mm prime plus crop behaves like a 75mm lens on a full frame camera would. The DX line of lenses are specifically designed to take the crop into consideration so a 30mm prime would act more like a 30mm prime on a full frame camera would. DX lenses can also be used on full frame bodies the draw back to that though is they target a full frame sensor as though it was an APS-C crop sensor resulting in heavy vignette around an image. Hope this helps you in making your choice for your friend. Happy shooting...

d3200prime

The Nikon D3100 is a cropped frame camera. Nikon has a line of lenses specially designed to work with their cropped frame cameras. These lenses are designated as such by DX on the lens itself. However, most FX, or full framed Nikon lenses will work on Nikons cropped frame cameras. You just need to read carefully as autofocus will NOT function on some lens not specifically designated for use with Nikons cropped frame cameras. Here is a link that should be of great assistance: http://lenshero.com/lenses/nikon-d3100-lens. Happy shooting.

LarryFB Loc: Depends where our RV is parked

AzPicLady wrote:

I speak Canon, so don't know much about Nikon models. A friend of mine in Ecuador has a Nikon 3100 and is looking for an 18-200 zoom (used, probably). Is that a full frame or cropped camera? Does Nikon have a separate line of lenses for cropped cameras? If so, what is their designation? Don't want to get him a lens he cannot use! THANKS!

The Nikon 3100 is a crop sensor camera, in Nikon speak, that is a DX format camera. The camera will use DX lenses as well as FX lenses. The FX lenses are full frame lenses, the DX lenses are cropped sensor lenses.

You should be able to mount almost any Nikon lens on the D3100; however, depending on the lens, some of the features may not work, like Auto Focus, light meter, auto setting of the aperture, etc. It would be best to check out compatibility with Nikon for the older lenses. All of those letters actually mean something.

monzi Loc: Mesa, Arizona

I always search Craig's List first for all my camera equipment needs. As long as you know what to look for in a used piece of equipment, you can save a lot of money and you would be surprised how much unused equipment is out there...

This might help also: https://www.nikonimgsupport.com/ni/NI_article?articleNo=000003297&configured=1&lang=en_US

BebuLamar

With Nikon besides FX and DX they have a lot of things to consider for compatibility. In fact the D3100 can take either FX or DX lenses that doesn't matter much. However, The D3100 won't autofocus with lenses that don't have a built in motor.

brent46 Loc: Grand Island, NY

Before choosing a lens remember the 3100 has no focus motor and won't auto focus with many of the fx lenses.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

rdubreuil wrote:

FX lenses will have the 1.5 crop factor applied s... (show quote)

Ok, here is the truth (not alternative truth):
A 35mm DX lens and a 35mm FX lens gets you the same field of view on a crop sensor camera. This goes for comparing any DX or FX lens of the same focal length. No difference.
There is no "compensation" of the DX lens because it is made for a crop sensor. The focal length of a lens is measured the same way regardless of sensor size.
If you really need to know the "full-frame equivalent", you apply that crop factor to any lens you put on the crop sensor camera.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

AzPicLady wrote:

I speak Canon, so don't know much about Nikon models. A friend of mine in Ecuador has a Nikon 3100 and is looking for an 18-200 zoom (used, probably). Is that a full frame or cropped camera? Does Nikon have a separate line of lenses for cropped cameras? If so, what is their designation? Don't want to get him a lens he cannot use! THANKS!

I'm not sure all of the Nikon speakers here are fluent in Nikon. DX and FX I understand, but Ex? Common but not format designations are AI, SA, ED, AL, IF, SDM, VR. Or we have a joker or Canon discrimination.

To answer your question as most said, DX is for Cropped Factor, FX is for Full Factor. DX & FX lenses may be used on DX cameras; only FX on FX. Yes, many older Nikon film lenses may be used with Nikon DSLRs, but check for specifics and restriction.

For comparison the similar current "terms" for Pentax are DA and FA, and D FA to complicate things a bit. Only the lens are so marked though. The old K, M, A, F designation were for Pentax film lenses.