Needed: Lens 101 for Canon & Nikon

[dmtx]

I currently shoot a Pentax DSLR. I am considering a move to Canon or Nikon. However, I need a website which provides a clear description of the different lens types & lens quality grades for these cameras. Eg. A Lens 101 for Canon & Nikon!

I know that the Canon EF-S lens is intended for the small sensor (AFS) camera, while the EF lens is for the full-size sensor camera. My confusion, will small sensor bodies will accept a lens intended for a full-size sensor camera? Also, what happens if you try to mount a small sized sensor lens on a full sized sensor camera?

Thank you

 

[dakkon76]

I'm sure it's the same for Nikon, but with Canon - the EF mount which will cover a full frame work on crop sensors, but not the other way around ... you can't mount an EF-S, designed for a crop sensor, to a full-frame camera - it's not designed to cover a larger area than that of a small sensor. The lenses designed for full frames, from my understanding, tend to show less of their flaws on crop sensors - you won't see as much barrel distortion, etc, that you'd normally see on the edges... because those edges don't project onto the smaller sensor.

 

[katerolla]

Canon crop sensor will take both EF-S and EF but the full sensor will only take the EF as for Nikon the crop sensor and full sensor will take both the DX and the FX lenses. To tell you the truth if you have a full sensor body why would you even consider to put a crop sensor lens behind it?? Canon lenses and flashes are cheaper then Nikon and just as good. Canon and Nikon both have the some lense to choose from, so it only comes down to brand preference.

 

[Patrice]

Every Nikkor (Nikon) lens from about 1959 or so will mount on Nikon cameras, regardless if it's dx (crop body) or fx (full frame 135 size). Older manual focus lenses will meter with the pro and prosumer bodies. AF-D lenses will only auto focus with cameras that have a focus motor. Nikon lenses designated as dx, for aps sized sensors, will project a will a smaller image circle than 'FX' lenses thus resulting in vignetting which can be pretty severe. All mountable Nikon lenses will project a full frame image on an APS sized sensor nikon body.

Nikon lenses are not denoted by any special designation with regards to quality, unlike canon with their 'L' lenses. Sometimes a gold ring on the lens will designate a 'pro' level lens, but more often than not price is the determining indicator.

 

[dexterlitonjua]

Canon EF-S lenses will not work with full-frame bodies, i tried it and i failed lol Nikon has a DX-mode on their FX camera so you can mount your DX lenses. The problem is, with the "crop mode" the megapixel will be also greatly reduce which makes your image size very small.(not unless you are using a D3X)

 

[WesternGuy]

I think you have all the info that you probably need, except, I have read that, for Canon cameras, if you try and use an EF-S lens on a full frame camera, you run the risk of damaging the shutter mechanism on the full frame, as some of the EF-S lenses intrude into the "shutter chamber" on full frame cameras. As well, EF-S lenses often have less glass in them than the comparable EF lens, because they do not need to focus the same field of view. For EF lenses and some info on them, check here: Canon EF lens mount - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - also, there is a link within this URL to Canon EF-S lenses. Can't help you with the Nikon lenses, but I am sure that if you Google them you will find all kinds of stuff.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

 

[KmH]

I need a website which provides a clear description of the different lens types & lens quality grades for these cameras.

I don't think such a web site exisits, and you will have to do your own research.

I think you have all the info that you probably need, except, I have read that, for Canon cameras, if you try and use an EF-S lens on a full frame camera, you run the risk of damaging the shutter mechanism on the full frame, as some of the EF-S lenses intrude into the "shutter chamber" on full frame cameras.

EF-S lenses mounted on an EF body, only interferes with movement of the main mirror when it raises, not the shutter mechanism.

 

[jake337]

For nikon

Nikon Lens Serial Nos

Then use copy and paste it to google for all the info you need on each lens.

 

[KmH]

... The problem is, with the "crop mode" the megapixel will be also greatly reduce which makes your image size very small.(not unless you are using a D3X)

Nikon full frame (FX) cameras are set by default to automatically detect that a DX (APS-C, or 'crop' sensor) is mounted.

In that mode the camera only uses the central APS-C size area of the larger FX image sensor. However, that feature can be turned off.

The result is that all of the image circle a particular DX lens projects can be used. Some DX lenses project a large enough image circle to illuminate nearly all of an FX image sensor.

 

[WesternGuy]

EF-S lenses mounted on an EF body, only interferes with movement of the main mirror when it raises, not the shutter mechanism.

Thanks Keith, glad to have that clarified. Still a problem though...

WesternGuy

 

[analog.universe]

EF-S lenses mounted on an EF body, only interferes with movement of the main mirror when it raises, not the shutter mechanism.

From what I understand this is only true of certain EF-S lenses. For instance, I've heard people successfully mounting and shooting a Tokina 11-16 on a 5D. It even gives full sensor coverage at 15 and 16 mm, but begins to vignette when you shoot wider.