DX on FF body...Any FF owner can advice ?

[redwine]

Hi,

Need some advice on FF body, before i further increase my DX arsenal. :bsmilie:

If you mount a DX lens on a FX body,
is it correct that the user can choose to operate the camera/sensor in either DX or FX mode (not considering vignetting) ?

If you mount a DX len and use the camera under DX mode,
Will the AF Focus points (specifically the far left & far right AF points in landscape) be nearer to the edge of the picture (on a relative basis) ?

Thanks

 

[Irvine]

Hi,

Need some advice on FF body, before i further increase my DX arsenal. :bsmilie:

If you mount a DX lens on a FX body,
is it correct that the user can choose to operate the camera/sensor in either DX or FX mode (not considering vignetting) ?

If you mount a DX len and use the camera under DX mode,
Will the AF Focus points (specifically the far left & far right AF points in landscape) be nearer to the edge of the picture (on a relative basis) ?

Thanks

1) yes

2) DX crop mode in the viewfinder

 

[sf_kang]

hi redwine, to help you make up your mind between dx or fx, here are some main issues you need to decide on:

1) dx lenses with dx bodies = smaller size of body and lenses, lighter overall weight-wise, generally less expensive; more convenient to travel with (due to smaller size and lighter weight); downside = generally lower image quality than fx body+fx lenses.

2) fx lenses with fx bodies = better image quality (generally speaking), better low light performance; downside = bigger and heavies equipment, more costly to buy.

using fx lenses on dx bodies is over-kill but you get the sweet spot on the lens on the dx sensor.

having a fx body and mounting dx lenses defeats the purpose of getting a fx body - doesn't make sense.

SO, IF YOU THINK YOU EVENTUALLY WILL MOVE INTO FX BODIES, THEN IT'S BEST YOU SLOWLY INVEST IN GETTING FX LENSES AND NOT BUY MORE DX LENSES.

i have been using nikons for over 30 years from the 35mm film days (equivalent to FX). hence, all my lenses were already FX ready. so i used them earlier on dx bodies like the D200, D300. finally when the D3 and D700 (fx bodies) become available, I just sold the D300 and bought the D3 and D700, and all my previous 'fx' lenses could be used without any problems.

that's the beauty of nikon's backward compatibility policy where the pro and semi-pro bodies are always able to use the newest as well as the older lenses.

So, make a choice - go DX or go FX - don't sit on the fence or you'll always be struggling with the same dx/fx question.

DECIDE, BUILD UP YOUR SYSTEM, AND SPEND TIME GOING OUT AND DOING SOME SHOOTING instead of getting caught between DX/FX/DX/FX.....

Fred

 

[redwine]

Thanks Irvine & Fred,

I just completed my 'poor man' trinity lens set recently,
and they are all DX apart from my prime.

I am evaluating how my current arsenal will fit into FX,
if i decided to go that route.

1 challenge i am facing for portraiture is that the AF points are all cramp into the center of the frame, which does not optimize framing,
and the "focus & shift" method is a no-no for narrow DOF.

I am thinking with DX lens on FX body,
it will resolve the AF point issue.

 

[Irvine]

Thanks Irvine & Fred,

I just completed my 'poor man' trinity lens set recently,
and they are all DX apart from my prime.

I am evaluating how my current arsenal will fit into FX,
if i decided to go that route.

1 challenge i am facing for portraiture is that the AF points are all cramp into the center of the frame, which does not optimize framing,
and the "focus & shift" method is a no-no for narrow DOF.

I am thinking with DX lens on FX body,
it will resolve the AF point issue.

like wad bro sf_kang said, having a fx body and mounting dx lenses defeats the purpose of getting a fx body

why not look at d300s instead since AF points is the only issue to framing portraits? u wuld be getting the full resolution of 12.3MP compared to the cropped resolution u get on FX cameras, which is around 5MP since all current FX cameras have 12.3 MP on FX.

 

[baggiolee]

Thanks Irvine & Fred,

I just completed my 'poor man' trinity lens set recently,
and they are all DX apart from my prime.

I am evaluating how my current arsenal will fit into FX,
if i decided to go that route.

1 challenge i am facing for portraiture is that the AF points are all cramp into the center of the frame, which does not optimize framing,
and the "focus & shift" method is a no-no for narrow DOF.

I am thinking with DX lens on FX body,
it will resolve the AF point issue.

Seriusly speaking, no point spending $3k+ on a FX body if you don't have a FX lens. Getting a $2-3k FX lens and use it on a DX body is 100 times better..or at least for the time being, then slowly save up and get the FX body. your DX setup can either keep as backup or sell away. or maybe u don't really need to go FX if u don't have enough budget. FX setup is a few times more expensive than DX's. for me, i've already sold all my DX lens and preparing to go FX step by step by buying FX lenses 1st.

anyway, I don't think anyone here would support your current decision.

 

[kentwong81]

Actually if you manage to buy a new DX camera D7000 @ $1700, the FX camera D700 is only $850 away from the D7000 if you buy it in Malaysia. If your lenses are all FX lenses, $850 is actually not too much to complete your setup to full FX: FX lenses + FX body.

 

[Xyse247]

If you have good glass, the only different from full frame and crop is mainly only high iso performance and the reduced depth of field.

 

[brapodam]

So far the only DX lens that I've seen that works well on FX (in FX mode) is the 35mm f1.8 DX. For the DX zooms, you are only able to use the longer end of the zoom range otherwise you will get serious vignetting.

@Xyse247
Dynamic range is also generally better on FX than DX, with the exception of the Fuji S5 Pro, which has around the same and in fact slightly better dynamic range than the Nikon D700.

 

[redwine]

Hi,

Regards to the AF points,
(correct me if i am wrong)

even though the 52 AF points are way more than 11 AF point numerically,
but they are still cramp together in the center portion of the frame,
and not equally spread out.
As such, the far left & far right points are still not near to the edge.


On a side note, long term wise,
Notice that lens prices (esp high-end) is trending upwards,
whereas body prices are getting more and more affordable in the digital era.

Anyone foresee this trend reversing ?


Rgds

 

[Irvine]

Hi,

Regards to the AF points,
(correct me if i am wrong)

even though the 52 AF points are way more than 11 AF point numerically,
but they are still cramp together in the center portion of the frame,
and not equally spread out.
As such, the far left & far right points are still not near to the edge.


On a side note, long term wise,
Notice that lens prices (esp high-end) is trending upwards,
whereas body prices are getting more and more affordable in the digital era.

Anyone foresee this trend reversing ?


Rgds

d300s's very own 51 AF points r already pretty spread out across the frame.

 

[bruggink]

Good glass can work on any body (DX or FX) while good body requires good glass to deliver its full potential and capibilties.

 

[kentwong81]

Good glass also needs good body to deliver its full potential and capabilities. Good glass perform differently in bodies with different sensor size and functions.

Good glass can work on any body (DX or FX) while good body requires good glass to deliver its full potential and capibilties.

 

[MacroMarlin]

........

On a side note, long term wise,
Notice that lens prices (esp high-end) is trending upwards,
whereas body prices are getting more and more affordable in the digital era.

Anyone foresee this trend reversing ?


Rgds

Whichever price that goes up is definitely not benefitial to consumers. Glasses can have all kind of new technology that claims to improve it (of course, there are bound to be some BS cases), in order for a cam to shoot up in price significantly, will probably be a camera with a whole new set of advance sensor, totally out of those CCD, CMOS, or the Megapix race!