Can I use an FX Nikon 50mm f/1.8G lens on a DX Nikon D3200?
Asked 10/20/2013
5 views
2 answers
0
I have a Nikon D3200, which uses a DX-format sensor, and I’m considering the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G. Since this lens is labeled FX, I’m confused about how it works on a DX camera body. Will it mount and autofocus properly, and what does using an FX lens on a DX sensor mean in practice?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
11
It's quite simple:
A lens projects what is called an "image circle" onto the sensor. A DX-only lens is designed to project an image circle just big enough to cover that sensor. An FX lens is designed to project an image circle big enough to cover a FX frame.
Therefore an FX lens will work on a DX sensor properly.
(But it will have an effective "crop factor" of 1.5x as you are only using the inner section of the image circle, effectively "zooming" the lens in 1.5x. That said, on a DX body the crop factor applies to all lenses, both DX and FX.)
Originally by user9999. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user9999
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. An FX lens like the Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8G will work on a DX Nikon D3200.
A lens projects an image circle onto the sensor. DX lenses project a smaller image circle sized for DX sensors, while FX lenses project a larger image circle that covers a full-frame sensor. Because the FX image circle is larger, a DX sensor can use the center portion of it without any problem.
On your D3200, the lens will mount and should autofocus properly because the AF-S 50mm f/1.8G has a built-in focus motor, which is important since some older Nikon lenses rely on the camera body for autofocus.
In practice, the main difference is the DX crop factor: your camera only captures the center of the lens’s image, giving a field of view similar to a 75mm lens on full frame (50mm × 1.5). This crop effect applies on DX bodies whether the lens is DX or FX.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI12y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Can I use the Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8G on a Nikon D5500 DX camera?
Will a 35mm DX lens on Nikon DX give the same view as a 50mm FX lens?
What are the real differences between Nikon’s 35mm f/1.8 DX and FX primes on a DX camera?
Why does a 50mm lens on my Nikon DX not look more zoomed than 50mm on my Sony APS-C?
Will the Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8G autofocus on a Nikon D3100?