Question for FX shooters: What IQ degradation occurs if I'm out to the end of my zoom (300mm), want more reach, and switch to DX format to get it? Same question with 35mm prime. As I...

Pilot 6 Loc: Eugene, OR

What IQ degradation occurs if I'm out to the end of my zoom (300mm), want more reach, and switch to DX format to get it? Same question with 35mm prime. As I understand it, effective 450mm in the first instance, and about 53mm in the second. Do any of you ever do this?
Bob

amehta Loc: Boston

Pilot 6 wrote:

What IQ degradation occurs if I'm out to the end of my zoom (300mm), want more reach, and switch to DX format to get it? Same question with 35mm prime. As I understand it, effective 450mm in the first instance, and about 53mm in the second. Do any of you ever do this?
Bob

There is no reason to switch to DX format. It is easy enough to crop in an editor if the shot benefits from it. You can decide what you think of the image quality, crop one of your images by 1.5x and compare with the original, with both at the same display size.

Photosmoke

Pilot 6 wrote:

What IQ degradation occurs if I'm out to the end of my zoom (300mm), want more reach, and switch to DX format to get it? Same question with 35mm prime. As I understand it, effective 450mm in the first instance, and about 53mm in the second. Do any of you ever do this?
Bob

I am not sure I understand your question, I have a full frame Nikon, upgraded from DX I had a high dollar DX lens & sold it shortly after I bought it because I was not happy with the reduced res.

Dan L Loc: Wisconsin

Are you saying your shooting with FX lens and camera sensor? and switching to DX in menu setting while still using an FX lens?
Lens degradation at longest max focus point with zoom / telephoto? I recently reset my submenu under "set picture control" menu - chose my color processor, submenu - sharpen and adjusted to the softer side of the adjustment. The 300mm was at max focus with favorable lighting, faster shutter speed over 125 and good results, plus will need to do more testing.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Pilot 6 wrote:

What IQ degradation occurs if I'm out to the end of my zoom (300mm), want more reach, and switch to DX format to get it? Same question with 35mm prime. As I understand it, effective 450mm in the first instance, and about 53mm in the second. Do any of you ever do this?
Bob

Pilot, yes, if everything is equal in the cameras, then yes the crop will get you closer with the same lens using natve resolution.
Nature shooters do it all the time. Keep in mind that nature can be action shooting which requires speed.
The problem with FF cameras is that they are slow cameras and not ideal for nature unless you go to the very high-end pro cameras.
So it comes down to how much you can spend.
The best crop-cameras are ideal for nature without spending a lot of money, and the least expensive FF cameras a poorly suited for nature.
It's a balancing act for sure. Good luck with it. ;-)
SS

houdel Loc: Chase, Michigan USA

Switching to DX format when using a FX lens on a FF body will not gain you anything. All that DX mode on a FF body does is mask the pixels that would be ineffective were you using a DX lens on a FF body. The effective focal length of the lens is the same in DX or FX mode. As mentioned, you can do the same thing by cropping in post processing.

Dan L Loc: Wisconsin

What type FX cameras are you comparing?

SharpShooter wrote:

Pilot, yes, if everything is equal in the cameras,... (show quote)

Erik_H Loc: Denham Springs, Louisiana

Pilot 6 wrote:

What IQ degradation occurs if I'm out to the end of my zoom (300mm), want more reach, and switch to DX format to get it? Same question with 35mm prime. As I understand it, effective 450mm in the first instance, and about 53mm in the second. Do any of you ever do this?
Bob

Actually, you are going to lose resolution because if you are using a 36.3mp FX camera in DX mode, you're only getting 15.3mp resolution. So it stands to reason that your IQ will suffer.

Pilot 6 Loc: Eugene, OR

Many thanks to all responders. My camera is a D610 rated at 24 MPs. I understand that resolution will be lost--I doubt that I can see the degradation at the size of my prints--8 1/2 X 11, but I'll test it as suggested. My original question has to do with shooting, composing, trying (usually in vain) to frame a fine picture. PP is to remedy my shortcomings as a photographer.
Bob

amehta Loc: Boston

Pilot 6 wrote:

Many thanks to all responders. My camera is a D610 rated at 24 MPs. I understand that resolution will be lost--I doubt that I can see the degradation at the size of my prints--8 1/2 X 11, but I'll test it as suggested. My original question has to do with shooting, composing, trying (usually in vain) to frame a fine picture. PP is to remedy my shortcomings as a photographer.
Bob

For an 8x12" print you would like 2400x3600 pixels (300ppi, 9mp), though 1600x2400 (200ppi, 4mp) would still work. With the D610, a 2x crop gets you right in the middle, 2000x3000 pixels (250ppi, 6mp).

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Dan L wrote:

What type FX cameras are you comparing?

Dan, you are right, I re-read the op's question again. If he is merely talking about using the same camera and switching modes, then nothing can possibly stay equal, so no there is no advantage. I thought he was talking about using a FF camera and using the same lens, used a DX camera.
SS

moonhawk Loc: Land of Enchantment

I think with FF cameras in DX mode--(I don't do this personally) you get a higher frame rate.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

Pilot 6 wrote:

What IQ degradation occurs if I'm out to the end of my zoom (300mm), want more reach, and switch to DX format to get it? Same question with 35mm prime. As I understand it, effective 450mm in the first instance, and about 53mm in the second. Do any of you ever do this?
Bob

Switching from FX to DX has no magnification properties. It simply affects the angle of view. However, on my D610, it also drops resolution from 24mp to 10.5mp. I see this as a detriment, in any regard.

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

Pilot 6 wrote:

What IQ degradation occurs if I'm out to the end of my zoom (300mm), want more reach, and switch to DX format to get it? Same question with 35mm prime. As I understand it, effective 450mm in the first instance, and about 53mm in the second. Do any of you ever do this?
Bob

Why bother to switch to DX, you can just crop from the FX image, it's the same! Unless you are using a DX lens on the FX body.

RichieC Loc: Adirondacks

Switching from FX to DX mode in effect pre-crops the image, the center will remain the same, but you loose periphery image area all around the center... but you get precisely the same center.

You can set the camera to preview what is lost, the darker grey area around the edge will be what you will not get.