Nikon D3 & DX lens compatibility
Discussion
As I find myself having to replace almost everything we own after a flood, I’m working my way through the list of stuff that was found floating and it’s the turn of camera bag.
I had a pair of ancient but great to use D90 and a selection of Nikon lenses (18-55, 55-300 and a 80-400 all DX & VR) & a Nikon compact,
I’ve been given a D3 body with a count of about 77k and a 50mm fitted so makes sense to use this as a start point I guess?
Camera for me is odd car/landscape stuff, trips to the zoo & aircraft shots locally so no real heavy use.
As most finances are spoken for with stuff like furniture and kitchens & bathrooms I’m not going to spend more than the £1500 insurance have offered me (and I need a new/used Hadley & a flash as well)
But what about lenses, previous ones were DX ones but I’ve read a few varying reports that they aren’t the best for the D3 and I was wondering if the collective had any better suggestions ?
I had a pair of ancient but great to use D90 and a selection of Nikon lenses (18-55, 55-300 and a 80-400 all DX & VR) & a Nikon compact,
I’ve been given a D3 body with a count of about 77k and a 50mm fitted so makes sense to use this as a start point I guess?
Camera for me is odd car/landscape stuff, trips to the zoo & aircraft shots locally so no real heavy use.
As most finances are spoken for with stuff like furniture and kitchens & bathrooms I’m not going to spend more than the £1500 insurance have offered me (and I need a new/used Hadley & a flash as well)
But what about lenses, previous ones were DX ones but I’ve read a few varying reports that they aren’t the best for the D3 and I was wondering if the collective had any better suggestions ?
Edited by Daveb257 on Monday 8th February 13:57
Interesting problem. I think the first thing to decide is if you want to stay with DX or go to FX.
The D3 is certainly a step up from the D90. 18-55 is a kit lens and there isn't a 55-400... maybe you have a 55-300? If you have a 400m f2.8 that's a serious FX lens so will suit the D3 very well - it seems an odd stable mate for an 18-55.
You can put DX lenses on a D3, it will just use crop mode which reduces the pixel count. The downside of an FX system is the size/cost/weight of the lenses which may or not be a factor for you. If it is, and you're happy with the D90, you could stay with it and buy some faster/higher quality lenses.
The D3 is certainly a step up from the D90. 18-55 is a kit lens and there isn't a 55-400... maybe you have a 55-300? If you have a 400m f2.8 that's a serious FX lens so will suit the D3 very well - it seems an odd stable mate for an 18-55.
You can put DX lenses on a D3, it will just use crop mode which reduces the pixel count. The downside of an FX system is the size/cost/weight of the lenses which may or not be a factor for you. If it is, and you're happy with the D90, you could stay with it and buy some faster/higher quality lenses.
Hi Simpo,
Thanks for reply - yes 55-300 is what I meant to type along with 80-400, odd combinations yes but bought the lot from an insolvency sale long time ago.
Everything is gone so it’s blank sheet of paper time starting with just the D3 and could probably get by with a pair of decent zoom lenses to cover most hobby eventualities
Thanks for reply - yes 55-300 is what I meant to type along with 80-400, odd combinations yes but bought the lot from an insolvency sale long time ago.
Everything is gone so it’s blank sheet of paper time starting with just the D3 and could probably get by with a pair of decent zoom lenses to cover most hobby eventualities
Edited by Daveb257 on Sunday 7th February 22:05
Edited by Daveb257 on Sunday 7th February 22:09
Sorry I missed the bit about you not having the D90!
See how you get on with the D3 with your current lenses. The two DX lenses will limit the quality, not just because they're DX but because they're budget - but you can get to grips with the body and see if you like it. It would be a bit like me going from a Kawai keyboard to a s/h grand piano - overkill but nice to have and looks good, and if it makes you play better that's a bonus
If you find it too hefty then a s/h D300 would leave you room to get better lenses, or whatever other part you feel would be useful - tripod, flash etc. My main DX lens combo is 17-55 f2.8 and Sigma 70-200 f2.8, both available for reasonable money s/h.
See how you get on with the D3 with your current lenses. The two DX lenses will limit the quality, not just because they're DX but because they're budget - but you can get to grips with the body and see if you like it. It would be a bit like me going from a Kawai keyboard to a s/h grand piano - overkill but nice to have and looks good, and if it makes you play better that's a bonus
If you find it too hefty then a s/h D300 would leave you room to get better lenses, or whatever other part you feel would be useful - tripod, flash etc. My main DX lens combo is 17-55 f2.8 and Sigma 70-200 f2.8, both available for reasonable money s/h.
The 80-400mm is FX, Nikon have never made that focal length as DX. (At least not as far as I know).
On that basis I'd sell the D3 (£500 perhaps) and then you've got £2k to spend, from which I would buy a used D750 (£800) a used 24-120 f4 (£500) and a used 18-35 f3.5/4.5 (£400). Leaves a bit of change, or go for the 16-35 f4 (£600)
On that basis I'd sell the D3 (£500 perhaps) and then you've got £2k to spend, from which I would buy a used D750 (£800) a used 24-120 f4 (£500) and a used 18-35 f3.5/4.5 (£400). Leaves a bit of change, or go for the 16-35 f4 (£600)
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