Are FX lenses typically sharper lenses than DX?

9 years 6 months ago #408108 by Nathan D
I'm a DX owner, but plan on buying a FX frame camera some day.  I'm trying to understand the differences between FX and DX lenses.  Are the FX lenses typically sharper because they don't magnify the frame?  You are getting a true, unaltered frame vs DX is magnifying it?  


Photo Comments
,
9 years 6 months ago #408122 by garyrhook
Um, no.  There's no magnifying going on. If anything, the image is compressed to fit in a smaller space.

The DX lens produces an image in a smaller area, designed to fit a smaller sensor; the FX lenses create a larger image. It's really about geometry here.

That said, you can have crappy images in a full-frame format, and wonderful, sharp images in a small-sensor format. For Nikon, the higher-quality lenses are usually i the FX line, but I think they have some very good lenses in DX format (the 35mm f/1.8 comes to mind...)

If you have a choice, and intend to change bodies, buy lenses designed for fullframe. They'll work just fine on your current body.


Photo Comments
,
9 years 6 months ago #408160 by effron
Here's a good read............

www.kirkcarter.com/kirks_7_DX_FX.shtml

Why so serious?
Photo Comments
,
9 years 6 months ago #408213 by NicoIa
Most (maybe all) the lenses are sharper in the center of the frame than in the corner. Therefore if use a full-frame lens on a crop sensor you only select the sharpest part of the image and the lens might look sharper than what it is. The full-frame doesn't lie and doesn't cover optical imperfections like that, but (in general) provides you with better control of the DoF, better low-light performance and less noise.


,
9 years 6 months ago #408216 by Joves
:agree:
Look at Ernesto's link as well.
The only difference is that using an FX lens on a DX camera is that the camera crops the field of view. This gives the appearance of magnifying that some claim. But in reality it is merely that the field of view has been cropped by 1.5 times. So if you use a 35mm FX on a crop body the apparent field of view is actually 52mms. As as stated above this means you have cropped down to the sweetest area of an FX lens, the center.
The DX lenses are optimized so that they present an actual field of view, so a 35 DX has a 35mm field of view. It is a matter of how the lens shows the image circle to the sensor is how it is different. You can use both lens types on either format camera, but in the case of an FX body it goes into DX mode to only look at the DX image circle. Until recently this meant a terrible image quality loss when the for example, D700 would do this due to the loss of MPs. The D700, and the D300 had the same MP count so the D300 images still had more room to crop with, as where the D700 lost IQ to do that.
Also the whole FX magnifying myth was started by the manufacturers marketing departments. It was never reality. It only appears once again as if it is happening because of the smaller field of view.


,
9 years 6 months ago #408380 by No Show
+1

D300| Nikkor 24-70mm 2.8 | Nikkor 70-200mm VR 2.8 | Nikkor 50mm 1.8 | Nikon 2x Teleconverter | Sigma 105mm 2.8 | Tokina 12-24
Photo Comments
,
9 years 6 months ago #408438 by Nathan D
Ahhh benefits of posting a question.  Ask and thou shale get answers!  ;)  thanks  everyone  


Photo Comments
,
9 years 5 months ago #408962 by D Hornick
What does Ken Rockwell say about this?  


Photo Comments
,

817.3K

241K

  • Facebook

    817,251 / Likes

  • Twitter

    241,000 / Followers

  • Google+

    1,620,816 / Followers

Latest Reviews

The Canon EOS R100 is an entry-level mirrorless camera introduced in 2023. But just because it’s an entry-level camera doesn’t mean it’s a bare-bones camera. Find out why in this review!

Apr 22, 2024

Nikon’s retro-looking Nikon Zfc is anything but retro. Under its classic body is a host of features and amenities that make it a worthwhile compact mirrorless camera for 2024.

Apr 15, 2024

The Canon EOS R50 is one of the newest R-system cameras from Canon. Is it worth your money? Find out all the details you need to know in this comprehensive review.

Apr 10, 2024

The Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II is Sony’s flagship mirrorless zoom lens. As such, it’s loaded with features and has a top-shelf build quality that makes it a top pick!

Mar 27, 2024
Get 600+ Pro photo lessons for $1

Forum Top Posters

Latest Articles

Using leading lines in photography helps improve the composition by drawing viewers in and leading their eye from the foreground to the background. Explore some fine examples of this in this guide!

Apr 24, 2024

The Insta360 has one of the best lineups of action cams and 360-degree cameras. With these Insta360 accessories, you can elevate your photography and videography game!

Apr 24, 2024

Creating impactful photos of landscapes depends on many factors, not the least of which is your talent behind the lens. This guide explores other elements required for the best product.

Apr 23, 2024

The Canon EOS R100 is an entry-level mirrorless camera introduced in 2023. But just because it’s an entry-level camera doesn’t mean it’s a bare-bones camera. Find out why in this review!

Apr 22, 2024

Are you ready to upgrade your camera? Before buying new, you might consider the value of purchasing used gear to save money.

Apr 18, 2024

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is a micro four thirds camera released in 2020. It’s an entry-level system along with the OM-D E-M5 Mark III. Use this guide to determine which one is best for you!

Apr 17, 2024

Blue hour photography might not be as well known as golden hour photography, but it is every bit as good a time to create epic images of landscapes. Learn how in this quick tutorial!

Apr 17, 2024

Nikon’s retro-looking Nikon Zfc is anything but retro. Under its classic body is a host of features and amenities that make it a worthwhile compact mirrorless camera for 2024.

Apr 15, 2024