Mixing Digital & Analogue Nikon Bodies - Thoughts please

Red.5ive.Oh · 5 Mar 2013 at 20:23

Background

I have a short term requirement (2 to 3 months) to have a both film and digital DX crop Nikon SLR bodies in my gadget bag.

Reason:

I want to compare my current digital IR mono set up with a similar analogue IR set up (take same the shot on both set ups)

Why now?

1. IR film is still on the market (not my favourite Kodak HIE – shame)
2. Film bodies appear to have almost no value typically F55/F65 = £30
3. Clearly there should be a difference – I just want to decide for myself which method gives a more pleasing result for a given scene.
4. The results might make a thread here if anybody is interested

Limitations:

I realise that my DX crop lenses will not throw an image to cover the whole 35mm film frame but for this exercise if I compare a DX cropped image on both systems I’ll get the same FOV and very similar image.

Question:

Given that my current lens collection is mostly ‘G’ (no aperture ring) which / will any of the late film bodies’ work with my current lenses and are there any bodies I should avoid / look out for?

(If the analogue solution isn't noticeably better, then film body goes back on flea bay when initial film purchase is finished)

Ksanti · 5 Mar 2013 at 20:27

You'll have to use one of the newer ones, I'm afraid I can't go into detail on which bodies specifically but anything with electronic aperture control will work.

Also Dx lenses might surprise you - for example Nikon's 18-55 actually works with pretty much no vignetting from around 22mm and out on full frame.

K.C. Leblanc · 5 Mar 2013 at 21:32

Everybodie's favourite photographical know it all has a fairly detailed article on the ins and outs of Nikon lens compatibility.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm

Red.5ive.Oh · 5 Mar 2013 at 23:05

Thanks K.C. Leblanc
Some how missed that section of that site while trawling the net over the last few days. I've now got some useful pointers and I can start searching flea bay in anger.

At The Gates · 6 Mar 2013 at 13:08

I have a Nikon DX and a Nikon 35mm SLR. All new lenses will work on pretty much all Nikon 'newish' film bodies.

However DX lenses will not cover the whole of the film frame and you'll get vignetting. Two other problems i have noticed:

1) I am not convinced the camera meters properly with a DX lens - highlights seem to get blown out all the times.
2) You will lose image quality (sharpness mainly) - comparing wet prints of a cropped shot using a DX lens its not as sharp as the same shot with my full frame lenses at comparable focal lengths and apertures.

You can however just use any non DX lens (new AF-S lenses for example) on both bodies fine. You don't need the aperture ring on most new F bodies. If i was you i'd buy a cheap 50mm or 35mm AF-S that works on both, or get a body with the kit lens. My F80 came with the 28-80mm and i got the camera and body for 50 quid.

I have an F80 and a D40. For IR, you CANNOT use all Nikon film bodies, including the F65 and F55 they have an IR film counter which will fog the film. So avoid the Nikon F80, F75, F65 and F55. F90 should be ok and is really cheap these days. Also VR only works on the F100 and F80 i believe.

Here are a few examples:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=14455308@N02&q=Tamron 17-55 DX lens on a full frame SLR