Nikon DX format DSLR Camera and Lenses

Just a week ago I purchased a new gadgets to add my gears.

It is AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED (2.1x).

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When my friend saw it he ask me why I bought this lens instead of nikkor DX lens 17-55mm f/2.8 that you can get more zoom, and i said I prepared to used this especially I’m covering an events and DX format lens is only good for Nikon DX format camera. But he said you are using DX format camera, “Am I right” as he continue. Yes I answered but what if I want to upgrade my Camera in to FX format or in a full frame camera then the DX format is no use for me…

Technical Definition of the Nikon DX format DSLR camera and Lenses:

DX Nikkor lenses are designed for the 24 x 16 mm (approx) sensor format used in Nikon ‘D series’ SLR camera range: D2H, D1, D1X, D1H, D100, D200, D300, D40, D60, D80, D70 and D70s and are designed to address the market’s need for wider angle-of-view high-performance optics for digital SLR photography.
The 24 x 16 mm sensor format is known as the Nikon DX Format. DX Nikkor lenses are designed for coverage of this sensor format, implemented consistently in all of Nikon’s Digital SLR cameras to date. The smaller image circle opens up a variety of exciting opportunities in optical design such as ultra wide focal lengths, larger zoom ratios and smaller and lighter constructions, that were previously impossibly expensive or complicated to achieve in the traditional 135 format. Larger sensor sizes produced by other manufacturers have increased data throughput leading to slower workflow and no major improvement in resolution, DX Nikkor lenses offer better performance for D-series users while keeping data workflow fast and efficient.

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As DX Nikkor lenses are designed for the smaller 24 x 16 mm sensor format the lenses actual physical size is smaller. Image 2 shows a DX Nikkor 12-24mm on a D1X (black lens), also how large the same focal length lens would be if it were designed for a 135 format camera (green lens).

The Nikon F mount is a universal lens mount used by all Nikon SLR cameras, this means that both DX Nikkor and 135 Nikkor lenses are physically interchangeable. However the image circle produced by DX Nikkor lens is smaller than that produced by a lens designed for the 135 format as the Nikon DX Format sensor area is smaller than the 135 film area.

The image above shows that light projected through DX Nikkor and 135/full frame lenses produces an image circle to cover the camera format that the lens is designed for.

This diagram shows what happens if a lens designed for the 135 format is used on a DX format sensor camera (D1, D1H, D1X, D100, D200, D300, D70 etc…), the image circle produced by the lens is larger than the sensor area, therefore the field of view is cropped and the image appears magnified. This means that the lens has an apparent focal length magnification of 1.5 times the quoted figure, the actual focal length of the lens has not changed. This combination has proved successful with many photographers enjoying the fact that their 135 lenses magnify the image when used on D-series cameras. It can also be seen that if a DX Nikkor lens is used on the 135/full frame format (35mm film camera) that some vignetting may occur at wider angles when the image circle is not large enough to cover the sensor area.
For this reason Nikon do not recommend use of DX Nikkor lenses on 135/full frame format cameras.

For More information about Nikon DX format Please visit Nikon

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