DX Lenses Still Work at Full Resolution on FX Cameras
If you have one of the newer FX or full frame format cameras, you might be thinking that you have to upgrade your DX size lenses in order to get the full resolution of the FX sensor. Not neccesarily true. I shot the following three photos with FX mode enabled on my D700, using the DX Tokina 12-24 lens.
DX Tokina 12-24 Lens, 12 mm
DX Tokina 12-24 Lens, 18 mm
DX Tokina 12-24 Lens, 24 mm
All three of these photos were made at 12.1 MP, FX mode. Normally, FX cameras have a mode that senses when you are using a DX lens, and crops the sensor to about 5 megapixels, in the center of the FX sensor, which replicates the DX size and prevent the vignette you see in the first photo above. I disabled this and shot as if the lens was FX compatible.
Since DX lenses still meter, autofocus, zoom and generally work perfectly on the D700, there is really only one drawback which is that you can accidentally produce an image like the first one that is zoomed out far enough to capture the edges of the camera hardware. But if you are willing to frame your shot with some care, you still have a “true” FX 18-24mm lens (anything under 18mm vignettes) that works at the full resolution of the FX sensor. To me, this is worth living with rather than upgrading to the expensive (and admittedly awesome) Nikon 14-24. I’d rather shoot this way at 12mp than use “DX mode” and get 5.
Here are some other shots I took recently with the DX lens using this technique while we were checking out the construction of our new house here in northern Virginia. (that’s me below with my lovely wife Teresa)
October 19th, 2008 at 11:37 PM
I can see that the room in the left 2/3rd of the last shot will be your darkroom…. there’s the pit for the developer bath, shelf space for chemicals and papers, etc….. but why on earth would you put a window in a darkroom? You’ll ruin all your shots just taking the card out of the camera in a room like that!
October 23rd, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Har, har.
December 6th, 2008 at 10:25 AM
I don’t think it’s gonna work with all DX lens.
Nikkor 12-24 DX works just like yours. Pictures are good enough without vignette.
But my Nikkor 17-55 DX, all every focal length has black edge around pictures.
February 19th, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Very interesting… I’ll probably get a DXXX camera this year, most likely a D300 or its replacement. I have been scared to invest in the 17-55 DX (vs. the 17-35 FX) because of this issue. I’ll most likely get an FX camera eventually. If what you say is true, it shouldn’t be a problem at closer focal lengths… but if what Paul says is true then that wouldn’t work.
Hm. Guess I’ll just have to test it. Too bad I don’t really have access to a full-frame Nikon.
February 19th, 2009 at 11:19 PM
Yes, it’s true that not all lenses will work without vignette.
June 18th, 2009 at 11:08 PM
I have a Nikon D80 now, but am considering upgrading to a D300 or D700. I have an 18-200mm VR DX lens. Would it work with the D700?
June 19th, 2009 at 3:01 AM
It will, but you may have vignetting or have to use DX mode. I haven’t tested that lens on the D700. I now use the Tamron 28-300 full frame lens as a replacement. However, I think its pretty soft at larger apertures.
March 10th, 2010 at 5:44 PM
Thanks for posting this!