GeneinChi Loc: Chicago, IL

I keep reading on this forum that when faced with the choice of upgrading camera or lens most suggestions have been go for the glass. Here is my question: Within reason, can high priced glass be too good for a camera and at some point the camera has to be upgraded to get the befits from the glass? Within reason of course. Example, is there glass that is too good to put on a Nikon D5500. Not sure I'm asking this correctly.
Thanks!

ottopj Loc: Annapolis, MD USA

I don't know the answer. Good question.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

You will get wide differing opinions on this ......my opinion is YES - but not necessarily with the D5500.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Not really, but there are GREAT lenses you can put on cameras with smaller sensors than they were designed for. When that's the case, you are not getting the full performance you paid for. The "center of the lens" you are using is *more consistent* than the entire area projected by the lens, but the modulation transfer function performance (resolution) is lower.

Ideally, we would always use full frame lenses on full frame bodies, and APS-C lenses on APS-C bodies, and Micro 4/3 lenses on Micro 4/3 bodies. But many folks buy full frame lenses and mount (or adapt) them onto cameras with smaller sensors, to save costs over what they would spend on 2-3 separate sets of lenses. Their intention, often, is to "someday buy a larger format body."

The performance hit is most noticeable in giant enlargements or with heavy cropping.

You can see examples of this in lens test reports on http://www.dpreview.com . Look at the MTF curves for the same lens used on Full Frame and APS-C.

For the ultimate performance, use a lens designed specifically for the sensor format in use. Some relatively inexpensive APS-C (or DX) lenses are excellent.

In the end, though, only testing your lenses on your body, in a controlled manner, will tell you what combinations work best (or acceptably so).

Bazbo Loc: Lisboa, Portugal

Especially in the digital world, cameras come and go, glass is forever. My first digital camera (Nikon D200) has been long retired. However, I still use Ziess lenses from the old Hassie that are 40 years old.

rmm0605 Loc: Atlanta GA

You asked the question correctly. The D5500 is a fine camera. You can put most any lens on it with good results. The lens makes the image. Your principal question at this point would be whether to buy a camera with a full frame sensor, such as a D810 with 36,000 pixels. So, until you plan to do that, if ever, you can add all the glass you wish to your D5500. You should consider buying FX lenses, so if you ever do move up to FF, your lenses can go with you...

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

As above I would move up to a full frame camera (d750 or d810). I'm using a d7200 at this time and I am very satisfied with the photos I get with this camera and the fact that DX lenses are not only less expensive but lighter than full frame. I use FF lenses on my 7200. i.e. my 150-200mm Sport Sigma and my Sigma 180mm macro lens and 50mm f1.8. If I ever did decide to move up to a FF camera I would at least have those to start with, but I'm more than satisfied with what I'm getting with a cropped camera.

BebuLamar

You're about the only one on the UUH that do agree with me that most lenses designed for the small format have higher resolution than lenses designed for the larger format. Also although when using a lens designed for the larger format you're only using the sweet spot but the sweet spot isn't sweet enough for the smaller format.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

EXACTLY.

I discovered this in a big way when I put a Nikon Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 macro lens on my GH4, using a Fotodiox adapter. The result was somewhat disappointing — slightly soft, much as if I cropped a quarter of a frame out of a slide and enlarged it on a slide duplicator. My Lumix 30mm f/2.8 macro is pin-point sharp, by comparison. Pity; I used that Micro-Nikkor lens for years, for making 35mm slides, and always liked the results!

It doesn't matter WHY this is so... It just matters that you are aware of it, and the potential for wasting your money on lenses that may "someday" be what you need for a dream camera (if you never upsize). If you buy a different format, sell your current kit entirely and buy used, refurb, or new lenses designed for the new sensor format. Then you will get what you pay for.

In the early 2000s, the camera manufacturers took advantage of their ready base of existing customers by converting SLR designs into dSLR designs, and using smaller-than-24x36mm chips in them. They didn't worry about the loss of resolution at first, because the early sensors were incapable of showing full lens resolution at ANY available sensor size. That had changed by the early 2010s.

These days, it is easy to see the difference in a 20x30 print, or an equivalent small area cropped from a larger image.

I have always advocated that lenses be used for the sensors or film they were designed to cover. The engineers designed them a certain way, for reasons that relate to laws of physics and the material properties of the camera bodies.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

I don't think, there is glass too good to put on that camera, but some might not make a lot of sense to buy for that camera. Of course there is glass that surpasses that cameras possible resolution, but hey it comes down to preference, what's in someone's mind and budget. (To me it does not make a lot of sense to buy a small, low res. camera for a few hundred bucks and then shell out $60,000.00.- on a lens, because it can out-resolve most other)!

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

I think your question was ask correctly. As for within a format (4/3rds, APS-C, etc.), is it possible to buy a lense that exceeds the sensors abilities? Yes, it is possible. But even though it is "too good" for your D5500, I would suggest buying it anyway. Your D5500 really is not that old or "bad" from a sensor quality point of view as far as lense resolution is concerned.

But burkphoto and BebuLamar are correct if you are adapting a larger format lense to your D5500. That will short change what your sensor is capable of doing. This is why any Olympus film lense (FF) is usually recommended by Olympus that only the middle apertures, or just a single aperture, will produce an acceptable image on their 4/3rds or micro 4/3rds camera bodies. For some FF zoom lenses, Olympus recommends only a single aperture with a single zoom focal length! That is why I will not use most of my full frame Olympus lenses on my E-M1mrII; it is almost totally counter productive except for a very few lenses.

markjay

A sensor is a sensor.
The camera differentiates the features for the way an image gets to the sensor (ie - aperture, speed, etc).
Therefore, the better the lens, the better the image that is transmitted through it to the sensor.
I dont think there will be much difference in the image itself if you use a high end lens on a high end camera or a mid level camera, assuming all settings are the same and the sensor is the same.
So the answer is - no need to upgrade a camera unless you want features.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Assuming you begin correctly and don't buy 1970s lenses when you're starting out, you should have good lenses. In my case, "good" does not cost $2,500. When I want a certain focal length, I do the research and buy what's right for me. I have all the lenses I need, so the only path to better equipment is getting a better camera. I'm happy with the D750, and I don't see myself getting a D760.

jeryh Loc: Oxfordshire UK

You will find that certain cameras do not have the technology to cater for the best quality of glass- IE Canon L, Zeiss, and Sony. There comes a time when you Have to upgrade the camera to match the glass. Hopethat helps .

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

You've probably seen the Tony Northrup video on this subject.

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