D3100 Body - Suitable for High-End Lenses?

Teamfour

Senior Member
I really like my D3100 body despite its lack of bells and whistles. I want to pick up a better lens, but but is there a limit to the ROI of a good lens with the D3100?
 

FastGlass

Senior Member
Fact is if using an FX lens on a DX body you would be using the best part of the lens compared to FX which uses the whole thing. The center of the elements are usually sharper than the edges.
 

aroy

Senior Member
The d3100 sensor is pretty old, but there is nothing wrong with it. It may have less MP and high ISO may be inferior to the current crop, but any good lense will give excellent results.

In my opinion, what you should be considering is what sort of lenses are you interested in.
. If you shoot in good light or with a good flash, then you really have no need for high-end lenses. They cost more because of better build, faster AF and higher resolution and can be used in lower light. The the IQ with D3100 will good.
. If they are specialist lenses - macro or TS lenses and you are satisfied with the MP of D3100, then as long as you have good light the IQ does not suffer.
. If you want better lenses for faster AF and good low light performance, then you need to upgrade your body to either D7xxx or D6xx series. If you want large MP then D8xx is what you need.

In isolation a high end lense by it self does not need a better body. It is the type of shooting that may need a better body-better lense combination
 

Teamfour

Senior Member
Thanks for all the replies! I should have mentioned earlier that I shoot 90% landscapes. I am particularly fond of long exposure type images. So speed of AF is not of primary concern. Right now it looks like a better lens on the D3100 may be appropriate. Although I will say that I am not having any real issues with the kit lens I am using.
 

aroy

Senior Member
Thanks for all the replies! I should have mentioned earlier that I shoot 90% landscapes. I am particularly fond of long exposure type images. So speed of AF is not of primary concern. Right now it looks like a better lens on the D3100 may be appropriate. Although I will say that I am not having any real issues with the kit lens I am using.
Sorry this was duplicated
 
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aroy

Senior Member
Thanks for all the replies! I should have mentioned earlier that I shoot 90% landscapes. I am particularly fond of long exposure type images. So speed of AF is not of primary concern. Right now it looks like a better lens on the D3100 may be appropriate. Although I will say that I am not having any real issues with the kit lens I am using.
In that case you will definitely profit by going full frame
. Lower noise
. Wider FOV
. Mirror Up provision
. In case of newer crop of bodies higher resolution
. Use of older AI/AIS wide lenses of slower speed - F3 to F4, which are more linear compared to faster lenses
 

Rick M

Senior Member
The Nikon 16-85 would be a great upgrade to the kit and a great fit for the D3100 if the 2.8's and f4's are out of the price range.
 
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