FX DX CROP D700

[MJD]

I have read that in DX mode the quality of the image goes down by about half - my question is - (sounds like a no brainer but)  For the lenses I have that aren’t FX, is it better to shoot in FX mode and try to recover that light loss and vignetting and crop after processing? i figure higher range of data in the photo is better than allowing for the crop. 

[Brian]

The difference between Crop and Full Frame on a D700 is that you cut the amount of pixels that the sensor uses. You go from 12.1MP to 5MP. Here is a run on sentence:

Crop mode changes the "Angle of View" which produces a magnifying effect, thereby changing the overall look of a photo, which can make you stand in a different spot than you normally would, which changes the Depth of Field. This Angle of View change is why you can "f/2.8 all the things" on a DX body, but you will find that the f/2.8 on a crop body is more like f/4 on a full frame body. The shallow DoF is much more noticeable on a FX body.

Clear as mud?

On a D700, if you use a DX lens on it, the camera would automatically flip to using 5MP. That's not enough for today's world. I wouldn't use Crop (DX) Mode or DX lenses on a FX body like a D700. You will only be working with the center-most portion of the sensor, and take a IQ hit.

So you have a D700, what lenses do you have?

[MJD]

Not a very impressive or compatible set; I’ll have to look for sure but 18-140dx 1.35 35mm DX afs 50 mm mentioned before. 50mm film lens and a 80-200 waiting in queue a la repair shop. The bill is a pretty one.. $440 but comparable to a used lens on eBay at least mine coming back to me will be verified working good condition. Had my first lens ever come back not worth repairing. Also a wide angle ds sigma 17-70. they’re okay. I’m comfortable with my 35mm, again my understanding is it’s more like a 50mm because of its specs. 
 

I read your list and keep referring to it from time to time. Dropped a lot of money on getting all this up and going - if I’m really going to get serious I know (and have always known) a well stocked fast optimal kit of lenses would be preemo, but we all know about that rabbit hole. Anyway my next big purchase will be the 85mm on the list. 

 

 

[Brian]

Oh, I know about dropping A LOT of money on this sh*t. Trust me. That's why I'm so hell bent on telling people to save up and get the good stuff. I'm a firm believer in the "Buy it Right - Buy it Once..." Philosophy. You'll want to avoid the 18-140DX and the 35mm 1.8DX lens on the D700. Trust me. Use your 50mm and 80-200 as they are full frame lenses. If you are looking for a zoom, you should look into the Nikon 24-70 f/2.8G lens or even the 24-120 f/4 VR lens. For something wider, for not much money the Nikon 18-35 is affordable, and if you are going to be at f/8 or f/5.6 anyway, then getting a lens like a 14-24 f/2.8 might be a bit much.

Honestly? You could do quite nicely with a Nikon 35mm f/2.0 D, a 50mm f/1.8D lens and the 85mm f/1.8G. Combine that with a 80-200, you will have the bulk of your focal range taken care of.

[MJD]

Yes! Well I forgot to mention that a lot of my lens stock came from my d80! Haven’t invested much in a long time. Now in my early 30s always had an interest was semi professional with some nice resume points but kind of fell out 5 years ago after my first was born. I have two boys now, the other is 3. They run circles around me, nice to delve back into the craft and taking the right financial steps and educational steps. I miss my 80-200 should save to have that fixed first, bulky but handy. 

[Brian]

Honestly? I'd save for a newer 70-200 f/2.8G VR II lens instead of trying to fix the 80-200. Better yet, the 70-200 f/2.8E. That lens is Tack Sharp and is better in every way that its predecessors. There are two things I don't like about that lens, one is the price-tag the other is the stupid zoom ring is out front instead of being closer to the camera.