FX Lenses on a DX bddy.

[forty-two]

Hello,

I am looking to purchase a new lens for my D300s and I am considering the merits of investing in FX lenses for the long term. I have a Nikkor 18-200 3.5 - 5.6 as my 'walking about' lens but I am now looking for a smallish prime lens.

The DX offering from Nikon are a 35mm f1.8 or a 85mm f3.5 where as the FX range is much more elaborate.

I have done some research which suggests it is possible, so does anyone have any experience of using an FX lens on a DX body?

Thanks

EDIT *Arse biscuits*. Where did the 'o' go from body in the subject line?

Edited by forty-two on Monday 15th March 22:41

[SamHH]

I don't use Nikon, but I can tell you that it will work absolutely fine. Whether a lens is FX or not needn't be of any concern.

[Simpo Two]

Indeed, an FX lens will work better than intended on a DX body, but you can't really use a DX lens on an FX body because you'll hit vignetting/cropping issues.

The only difference is the size of the image circle they project:
FX = 'normal image circle'
DX = 'small image circle'


NB: Don't forget that if and when you get an FX body, the lens 'reach' that you're used to will suddenly shrink by 1/3 - it's not all a bed of roses!

Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 15th March 23:02

[d1d215]

should be alright (if they're not uber-geeky with technologies). but if you use DX lens on FX sensor the camera automatically crops the sensor to DX size. well - some do that , I can't say it about every DX lens.

[Simpo Two]

d1d215 said:

should be alright (if they're not uber-geeky with technologies). but if you use DX lens on FX sensor the camera automatically crops the sensor to DX size. well - some do that , I can't say it about every DX lens.

D700 and D3 will. However it reduces the image from 12Mp to just 5Mp - quite a drastic crop whether needed or not. Hence I think I'd prefer to turn it off (menu function) and do the crop manually - as the vignetting varies greatly with focal length.

[forty-two]

Happy days. I can use a full frame lens with little or no worry.