What does Sony DT mean on a lens, and how is it different from other Sony lenses?
Asked 8/1/2010
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Some Sony lenses are labeled DT while others are not. What does DT stand for, and what practical difference does it make when choosing a lens? Can DT lenses be used on full-frame or 35mm film cameras, or are they only for APS-C bodies?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
16y ago
2 Answers
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DT (Digital Technology - source) means that the lens is designed to work with a cropped sensor camera. It should not be used with a full frame sensor or 35mm film. If you use it with a full frame sensor then some of the image would be black, particularly towards the corners, as the light projected by the lens would not cover the sensor.
Having a smaller area to project light on to means that lenses can be smaller, lighter and are generally cheaper. However if you later upgraded your DSLR body to one with a full frame sensor you would have to replace the lens.
Similar questions:
- What is the difference between EF and EF-S lenses? (Canon)
- DX or FX lenses ? (Nikon)
Originally by user130. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user130
16y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Sony DT lenses are designed for APS-C crop-sensor cameras. “DT” refers to a lens with a smaller image circle that covers the APS-C sensor area, not the larger full-frame/35mm frame.
Because they only need to cover a smaller sensor, DT lenses can often be made smaller, lighter, and less expensive than comparable full-frame lenses.
The trade-off is compatibility: on a full-frame or 35mm film camera, a DT lens may not cover the whole frame, so you can get strong dark corners or black edges. Some zooms may cover more of the frame at certain focal lengths, but that is not something to rely on.
So in practice:
- DT = APS-C / crop-sensor Sony lens
- Non-DT Sony lenses are generally intended to cover full frame
- DT lenses are fine on APS-C bodies, but are a poor choice if you plan to move to full frame later
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