DX/FX Lens Question and whats best for Travel?

greenx · Dec 21, 2012

Hey all, Im pretty new here. I've been shooting with my D5100 as a starter camera for the past year and been recently thinking upgrading to a full frame until recently got word of an upcoming deployment to A-stan. Instead I have been thinking about holding off on the full frame and maybe picking up a lens or two instead....

Now are FX lens' compatible with DX APSC bodies?

Also any suggestions for a good lens for either portraits/low light photography or landscape photography that will endure a pretty rough travel (Im thinking not the most expensive, I would hate to have a lens break over there)...

Thanks!!

SCraig · Dec 21, 2012

FX lenses are compatible with DX bodies but not necessarily the other way around. Trying to use a DX lens on an FX body will usually result in serious vignetting of the image. Some of my lenses are FX lenses and work just fine on my DX bodies. I don't even own an FX body and don't really see a need for one.

shadowlands · Dec 21, 2012

Just make sure you get an AF-S lens so it will auto-focus with your camera, if that's important to you.

greenx · Dec 22, 2012

Thanks alot for the feedback... Just gotta find a lens or two... I'm thinking something versatile like a 18-105mm

Vautrin · Dec 22, 2012

You'll get sharper images, and better quality from prime lenses.

The problem with this is you'll need to buy several to cover a typical zoom range, and then you'll have to "zoom with your feet"

May not be good for you, you might prefer a zoom that's all together

SCraig · Dec 22, 2012

Vautrin said:
You'll get sharper images, and better quality from prime lenses.

The problem with this is you'll need to buy several to cover a typical zoom range, and then you'll have to "zoom with your feet"

May not be good for you, you might prefer a zoom that's all together

Let's quantify that: You'll get SLIGHTLY sharper images, and SLIGHTLY better quality from prime lenses.

Years ago there was a significant difference between primes and zooms but present day optics and manufacturing techniques have narrowed the gap. While there is a difference between the two it is nowhere near as noticeable today as it was years ago. In my personal opinion the convenience of a zoom lens far outweighs the difference in image quality of a prime lens, enough so that I don't even own any prime lenses for my DSLR cameras even though I still have some for my old 35mm camera.

greenx · Dec 23, 2012

I have looked at a few zooms with nice focal lengths such as a 18-105 or 20-80 Nikkor lenses... Any real thoughts/opinions on particular lenses? I am thinking about a DX because it will save me a little money plus if the afghans steal it I won't be so heart broken but I am still debating... a 10-24 wide would be nice if they weren't 1K+...

Mach0 · Dec 23, 2012

greenx said:
I have looked at a few zooms with nice focal lengths such as a 18-105 or 20-80 Nikkor lenses... Any real thoughts/opinions on particular lenses? I am thinking about a DX because it will save me a little money plus if the afghans steal it I won't be so heart broken but I am still debating... a 10-24 wide would be nice if they weren't 1K+...

Sigma 10-20 or the tokina version.

JDFlood · Dec 25, 2012

Given your circumstances I would recommend. Taking only one lens, the 18 - 200mm. Covers everything, no dust in the body, very sharp lens for its kind. No muss, things to loose. I have one, smaller and lighter than the FX.

greenx · Dec 26, 2012

Thanks guys, much appreciated for everyone's input!!

molested_cow · Dec 26, 2012

Tokina F2.8 11-18mm + Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm VR

greenx · Dec 31, 2012

Ended up giving up the d5100 for a Sony a77 with a Tamron 18-270... Nervous about switching from Nikon but I really wanted to go with a weather resistant body for my travels and a good all around lens. So far it hasnt dissappointed