Nikon DX format - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Nikon DX format is an alternative name used by Nikon

Nikon

, also known as just Nikon, is a multinational corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, specializing in optics and imaging. Its products include cameras, binoculars, microscopes, measurement instruments, and the steppers used in the photolithography steps of semiconductor fabrication, of which...

corporation for APS-C

APS-C

Advanced Photo System type-C is an image sensor format approximately equivalent in size to the Advanced Photo System "classic" size negatives...

image sensor format

Image sensor format

In digital photography, the image sensor format is the shape and size of the image sensor.The image sensor format of a digital camera determines the angle of view of a particular lens when used with a particular camera...

being approximately 24×16 mm. Its dimensions are about 2/3 those of the 35mm film

135 film

The term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for cartridge film wide, specifically for still photography. It quickly grew in popularity, surpassing 120 film by the late 1960s to become the most popular photographic film format...

format (29mm vs 43mm diagonal, approx.). The format was created by Nikon

Nikon

for its digital SLR camera

Digital single-lens reflex camera

Most digital single-lens reflex cameras are digital cameras that use a mechanical mirror system and pentaprism to direct light from the lens to an optical viewfinder on the back of the camera....

s, many of which are equipped with DX-sized sensors. DX format is very similar in size to sensors referred to by other camera manufacturers (Canon, Pentax, and Sony) as APS-C

APS-C

Advanced Photo System type-C is an image sensor format approximately equivalent in size to the Advanced Photo System "classic" size negatives...

, so the terms are sometimes used interchangeably.

Nikon has produced a relatively small variety of lenses for the DX format, most of which are consumer-level zoom lenses. Since 2007, Nikon has announced 4 digital SLRs, the D3

Nikon D3

The Nikon D3 is a 12.1 megapixel professional grade full frame digital single lens reflex camera announced by the Nikon Corporation on 23 August 2007 along with the Nikon D300 DX format camera. The D3, along with the Nikon D3X, was a flagship model in Nikon's line of DSLRs, superseding the D2Hs...

, D3S

Nikon D3S

The Nikon D3S is a 12.1 megapixel professional-grade full frame digital single-lens reflex camera announced by Nikon Corporation on 14 October 2009. The D3S is the fourth camera in Nikon's line to feature a full frame sensor, following the D3, D700 and D3X. It is also Nikon's first full frame...

, D3X

Nikon D3X

The Nikon D3X is a 24.5 megapixel professional-grade full frame digital single-lens reflex camera announced by the Nikon Corporation on 1 December 2008. The D3X is the third camera in Nikon's line to offer a full frame sensor, following the D3 and D700...

, and D700

Nikon D700

The Nikon D700 is a professional grade full-frame digital single-lens reflex camera introduced by the Nikon Corporation in July 2008 and manufactured in Japan. It uses the same 12.1 megapixel "FX" CMOS image sensor as the Nikon D3, and is Nikon's second full-frame digital SLR camera...

, that feature a Nikon FX format sensor that is the size of the 135 film

135 film

format.

Real sensor size

Nikon uses DX format sensors of slightly different sizes, although all of them are classified as APS-C (crop factor

Crop factor

In digital photography, a crop factor is related to the ratio of the dimensions of a camera's imaging area compared to a reference format; most often, this term is applied to digital cameras, relative to 35 mm film format as a reference. In the case of digital cameras, the imaging device would be a...

more than 1.3 and less than 1.7):

Camera	Sensor width (mm)	Sensor height (mm)	Horizontal pixels	Vertical pixels	Mega pixels
Nikon D1 Nikon D1 The Nikon D1 is a digital single-lens reflex camera introduced on June 15, 1999. It featured a 2.7 megapixel image sensor, 4.5 frames per second continuous shooting, and accepted the full range of Nikon F-mount lenses...	23.7	15.5	2,012	1,324	2.7
Nikon D1H	23.7	15.5	2,012	1,324	2.7
Nikon D1X	23.7	15.5	3,008	1,960	5.9
Nikon D2H Nikon D2H The Nikon D2H is a professional-grade digital single-lens reflex camera introduced by Nikon Corporation on July 22, 2003. It uses Nikon's own JFET-LBCAST sensor with a 4.1 megapixel resolution, and is optimised for sports and action shooting that require a high frame rate. In 2005, the D2H was...	23.7	15.5	2,464	1,632	4.2
Nikon D2Hs	23.7	15.5	2,464	1,632	4.2
Nikon D2X Nikon D2X The Nikon D2X is a 12.4 megapixel professional digital single-lens reflex camera that Nikon Corporation announced on September 16, 2004. The D2X was the high resolution flagship in Nikon's DSLR line until June 2006 when it was supplanted by the D2Xs and later on by two new flagship cameras: the...	23.7	15.7	4,288	2,848	12.3
Nikon D2Xs	23.7	15.7	4,288	2,848	12.3
Nikon D40 Nikon D40 The D40 is a now-discontinued Nikon F-mount entry-level digital SLR, announced November 16, 2006. Compared to its predecessor, the D50, the D40 had several features removed, a few added, and a lower price: US$499.95 ESP as of November 2009 with the 18–55 mm G-II kit lens, positioning it as an...	23.7	15.5	3,008	2,000	6.0
Nikon D40x	23.7	15.6	3,872	2,592	10.1
Nikon D50 Nikon D50 The D50 is a 6.1 megapixel entry-level digital single-lens reflex camera, sold from June 2005 till November 2006 by Nikon. It was Nikon's first DSLR aimed at the consumer market, and sold for $899 USD. It uses the Nikon F mount...	23.7	15.5	3,008	2,000	6.0
Nikon D60 Nikon D60 The Nikon D60 is a 10.2 megapixel Nikon F-mount digital single-lens reflex camera announced in January 2008. The D60 succeeds the entry-level Nikon D40x...	23.6	15.8	3,872	2,592	10.1
Nikon D70 Nikon D70 The Nikon D70 is a digital single-lens reflex camera, introduced at the 2004 PMA Annual Convention and Trade Show, as Nikon's first affordable consumer-level digital SLR, and a competitor to the Canon EOS 300D. It was often sold in a "kit-package" with the Nikon 18-70mm AF-S lens...	23.7	15.5	3,008	2,000	6.0
Nikon D70s	23.7	15.5	3,008	2,000	6.0
Nikon D80 Nikon D80 The Nikon D80 is a digital single-lens reflex camera model announced by Nikon on August 9th, 2006. The camera shipped the first week of September to US retailers. Considered by many to be an amalgam of design elements of the entry-level D50 and high-end D200 cameras, it occupied the same price...	23.6	15.8	3,872	2,592	10.1
Nikon D90 Nikon D90 The Nikon D90 is a 12.3 megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera model announced by Nikon on August 27, 2008. It is a prosumer model that replaces the Nikon D80, fitting between the company's entry-level and professional DSLR models. Nikon gives the D90's Estimated Selling Price in the U.S...	23.6	15.8	4,288	2,848	12.3
Nikon D100 Nikon D100 The Nikon D100 is a discontinued 6-megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera designed for professionals and advanced hobbyists. It was introduced on February 21, 2002 at the PMA Annual Convention and Trade Show as a direct competitor to the Canon EOS D60...	23.7	15.5	3,008	2,000	6.1
Nikon D200 Nikon D200 The Nikon D200 is a 10.2 megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera that falls between entry-level/midrange DSLR cameras such as the Nikon D40, Nikon D40x, and D80 and high-end models such as the Nikon D2Hs and D2Xs. It was released by the Nikon Corporation in November 2005...	23.6	15.8	3,872	2,592	10.1
Nikon D300 Nikon D300 The Nikon D300 is a 12.3-megapixel professional DX format digital single-lens reflex camera that Nikon Corporation announced on 23 August 2007 along with the Nikon D3 FX format camera. It replaced the D200 as Nikon's DX format flagship DSLR...	23.6	15.8	4,288	2,848	12.3
Nikon D300S Nikon D300S The Nikon D300S is a 12.3 megapixel DX format digital single-lens reflex camera announced by Nikon on 30 July 2009. It replaces the D300 as Nikon's DX format flagship DSLR adding HD video recording...	23.6	15.8	4,288	2,848	12.3
Nikon D3000 Nikon D3000 The Nikon D3000 is a 10.2 megapixel DX format DSLR Nikon F-mount camera announced by Nikon on 30 July 2009. It replaces the D40 as Nikon's entry level DSLR. It features a 3.0-inch 230,000-dot resolution LCD monitor, CCD sensor with ISO 100–1600 and 3D tracking Multi-CAM1000 11-point AF system...	23.6	15.8	3,872	2,592	10.1
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100 The Nikon D3100 is a 14.2 megapixel DX format DSLR Nikon F-mount camera announced by Nikon on August 19, 2010. It replaces the D3000 as Nikon's entry level DSLR. It introduces Nikon's new EXPEED 2 image processor and is the first Nikon DSLR featuring full high definition video recording with full...	23.1	15.4	4,608	3,072	14.2
Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000 The D5000 is a 12.3 megapixel DX format DSLR Nikon F-mount camera, announced by Nikon on 14 April 2009, and rumored to have been discontinued in November 2010. Although it is listed as discontinued on the Nikon Japan website, it is still available in other regions as of April 2011. The D5000 has...	23.6	15.8	4,288	2,848	12.3
Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100 The Nikon D5100 is a 16.2 megapixel DX format DSLR F-mount camera announced by Nikon on April 5, 2011. It features the same 16.2-megapixel CMOS sensor as the D7000 with 14-bit resolution, while delivering Full HD 1080p video mode with up to 30fps...	23.6	15.6	4,928	3,264	16.2
Nikon D7000 Nikon D7000 The Nikon D7000 is a 16.2 megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera model announced by Nikon on September 15, 2010. It is a new class of camera placed between the professional D300S and the 'midrange' D90...	23.6	15.6	4,928	3,264	16.2

Lenses

Lenses for Nikon DX format

10.5 mm 2.8G ED AF DX Fisheye
35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX NIKKOR
AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G
The Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm 1.8G is a lens manufactured by Nikon for use on Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras. It provides an angle of view on a DX format camera similar to that of a normal lens on a 35mm film format camera.- Introduction :...
40 mm 2.8G DX Micro-Nikkor
10–24 mm 3.5-4.5G ED-IF AF-S DX
12–24 mm 4G ED-IF AF-S DX
AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED
The AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm 4G is a lens manufactured by Nikon for use on Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras. It provides an angle of view on a DX format camera similar to that of an 18-35mm lens on a 135 film format camera.- Introduction :...
17–55 mm 2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX
18–55mm 3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX
Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S Zoom-Nikkor
The 18-55mm 3.5-5.6G AF-S Zoom-Nikkor lens is a midrange zoom lens manufactured by Nikon for use on Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras. Often included as a kit lens on entry-level DSLRs, it also can be purchased separately from the camera body. Nikon first introduced the lens in 2005 and has...
18–55mm 3.5-5.6G ED AF-S II DX
Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S Zoom-Nikkor
The 18-55mm 3.5-5.6G AF-S Zoom-Nikkor lens is a midrange zoom lens manufactured by Nikon for use on Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras. Often included as a kit lens on entry-level DSLRs, it also can be purchased separately from the camera body. Nikon first introduced the lens in 2005 and has...
18-70 mm 3.5-4.5G ED-IF AF-S DX
Nikon 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor
The AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm 3.5-4.5G ED-IF is an F-mount zoom lens manufactured and sold by Nikon. Designed exclusively for use on Nikon DX format cameras, this lens covers from wide-angle to medium-telephoto range....
18–135 mm 3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX
55-200 mm 4-5.6G ED AF-S DX
Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G AF-S Zoom-Nikkor
The 55-200mm AF-S lens is a medium telephoto zoom lens manufactured by Nikon for use on Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras. It comes in two variants:* 55-200mm 4-5.6G ED AF-S DX, released in 2005...

Vibration reduction (VR) lenses in DX format

16–85 mm 3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX
18–55 mm 3.5-5.6G AF-S VR DX
Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S Zoom-Nikkor
The 18-55mm 3.5-5.6G AF-S Zoom-Nikkor lens is a midrange zoom lens manufactured by Nikon for use on Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras. Often included as a kit lens on entry-level DSLRs, it also can be purchased separately from the camera body. Nikon first introduced the lens in 2005 and has...
18-105mm 3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR DX
18-200 mm 3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR DX
18-200 mm F 3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR DX
The Nikon AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm 3.5-5.6G IF-ED is a stabilised "superzoom" lens manufactured by Nikon for use on Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras. It provides a single lens 'walk-around' solution for wide angle through to telephoto shots, as well as close up...
18-200 mm 3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR II DX
18-200 mm F 3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR DX
The Nikon AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm 3.5-5.6G IF-ED is a stabilised "superzoom" lens manufactured by Nikon for use on Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras. It provides a single lens 'walk-around' solution for wide angle through to telephoto shots, as well as close up...
55-200 mm 4-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX
Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G AF-S Zoom-Nikkor
The 55-200mm AF-S lens is a medium telephoto zoom lens manufactured by Nikon for use on Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras. It comes in two variants:* 55-200mm 4-5.6G ED AF-S DX, released in 2005...
55-300 mm 4-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX
85mm 3.5 micro ED AF-S VR DX

Implications

The 1/3 smaller diagonal size of the DX format amounts to a 1/3 narrower angle of view

Angle of view

In photography, angle of view describes the angular extent of a given scene that is imaged by a camera. It is used interchangeably with the more general term field of view....

than would be achieved with the 135 film format, using a lens of the same focal length. Strictly in angle-of-view terms, the effect is equivalent to increasing focal length by 50% on a 135 film camera, and so is often described as a 1.5× focal length multiplier

Crop factor

.

This effect can be advantageous for telephoto

Telephoto lens

In photography and cinematography, a telephoto lens is a specific type of a long-focus lens in which the physical length of the lens is shorter than the focal length. This is achieved by incorporating a special lens group known as a telephoto group that extends the light path to create a long-focus...

and macro photography

Macro photography

Macrophotography is close-up photography, usually of very small subjects. Classically a macrophotograph is one in which the size of the subject on the negative is greater than life size. However in modern use it refers to a finished photograph of a subject at greater than life size...

as it produces a tighter crop without the need to increase actual focal length. However it becomes disadvantageous for wide angle photography as a wide angle lens for 135 film effectively becomes a normal lens

Normal lens

In photography and cinematography a normal lens, also called a standard lens, is a lens that reproduces perspective that generally looks "natural" to a human observer under normal viewing conditions, as compared with lenses with longer or shorter focal lengths which produce an expanded or...

for the DX format (e.g. 28mm × 1.5 = 42mm 135 film equiv.). This has led to the increased development of the DX format-specific lenses for the Nikon F-mount

Nikon F-mount

The Nikon F-mount is a type of interchangeable lens mount developed by Nikon for its 35 mm SLR cameras. The F-mount was first introduced on the Nikon F camera in 1959, and features a three lug bayonet mount with a 44 mm throat and a flange to focal plane distance of 46.5 mm...

. Since these lenses do not need to cover the 135 film area, they are smaller and lighter than their 135 format counterparts of equal angle-of-view. The production of DX-specific lenses has also enabled the production of affordable wide angle lenses for the format (e.g., 12mm), whereas costly ultra-wide angle lenses from the 135 format were formerly required.

When DX format lenses are used on 135 format (35mm film or FX format) cameras, vignetting

Vignetting

In photography and optics, vignetting is a reduction of an image's brightness or saturation at the periphery compared to the image center. The word vignette, from the same root as vine, originally referred to a decorative border in a book. Later, the word came to be used for a photographic...

often occurs, as the image circle

Image circle

The image circle, or circle of illumination, of a lens is the circular area in the image plane formed by the cone of light transmitted by the lens . Within this circle is the smaller circle for which image definition is acceptable, the circle of good definition ; however, some authors make no...

does not cover the entire area of the 135 format.

Real sensor size

Lenses

Lenses for Nikon DX format

Vibration reduction (VR) lenses in DX format

Implications

See also