When you attach a DX lens there is the option to have the camera automatically select DX mode or you can manually override and choose any of the above modes
nikt wrote:
Yes, if you override the 'automatic dx' funtcion, you can use the FX mode with the full 12MPs.
Expect, from most DX lenses, 7 of those megapixels will be black.
They may not be black, as many DX lens can cover the full FX frame, at least at some focal lengths in their range. Even the cheap 18-55mm for example works fine in terms of covering the FX frame at the 24mm setting
Problem is though that while it does cover it, the resulting image simply is not very good in the corners, and in most cases is not really even usable.
Only real exception I've seen in the 35mm f1.8 DX which does have some vingetting in the corners, getting quite bad as you focus towards infinity, but the overall image quality of whats projected is pretty high.
I actually use that DX lens as my full frame 35mm lens in fact, but as I said, its certainly the exception and not the norm
flatspin2 wrote:
thanks for the response but how do you come up 7 black mp
FX = 12MP approx, DX=5MP approx. difference is 7MP.
Not sure you get 10MP in 4:5 mode with a DX lens. In general, the image circle a DX lens doesn't cover the entire sensor. So, placing the camera in 4:5 mode will give you 10MP with a FX lens, but something less with a DX lens. In the case of DX zoom lenses, it is possible that at the longer focal lengths of a particular zoom, the image circle does cover enough of the sensor for a 10MP 4:5 image.
Only real exception I've seen in the 35mm f1.8 DX which does have some vingetting in the corners, getting quite bad as you focus towards infinity, but the overall image quality of whats projected is pretty high.
Another notable exception is the 17-55mm f/2.8 AFS from 24-55mm at near focusing distances. It's quite good on my AF film bodies!
flatspin2 wrote:
so with a DX lens on a D3 set at 4:5 that DX lens will be shooting at 10mp that works for me anyone have photos to show wow that would be nice
Remember that this will be a compromise. It will get you by until you build up your collection of FX glass, but ultimately the D3 deserves lenses such as the 24-70 etc. Your images will be 10MP but as others have noted the pixels outside the DX frame will be darker, and possibly not very sharp depending on the lens.
