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DX / FX Lenses


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3 replies to this topic

#1
Johnb

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Please could you clarify,

 

if a Nikon / Nikkor lens has DX on it, I assume it is designed specifically for a DX camera.

 

If the lens does not have DX on it, can I assume it is designed specifically for FX cameras.

 

Something tells me its going to be more complicated than that lol.  

 

Thanks Guys, and a happy and healthy 2021 to you all. 



#2
Jerry_

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Looking at the following page from Nikon, it seems to confirm that all lenses designed for DX have also a DX in the reference:

https://imaging.niko...p/lens/list.htm

DX designed lenses project a smaller circle of light on the sensor (as they are aimed for smaller sensors) than a lens designed for an FX sensor.

Therefore
- FX lenses can be used with DX sized sensors (the light of circle being larger than the sensor). Using FX lenses on DX sensors have additionally the advantage that vignetting is not caused by the lens, as the projected image is so much larger than the sensor.

- DX lenses can be used with FX sized sensors, however the projected image will only cover part (more or less half) of the sensor. Therefore the resulting picture will only use about 45% of the Megapixels (the ones in the center, included in the area where the image is projected) that the sensor provides.

#3
Merco_61

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DX lenses have a smaller image circle that only covers the DX sensor fully. Non-DX lenses are made to cover the full 24x36 mm of a 35 mm neg or slide, or an FX sensor. Some older lenses vignette on FX, but not on film as they let the light contact the sensor surface at a too low angle that the pixels in the corners can't handle. For current production, DX means optimised for the smaller sensor and no such designation means that it works on FX.



#4
Johnb

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Thanks guys, that has clarified it.