Your Own "Best DX Lens List"

Yes, I was thinking to keep the list DX only...unless I suppose an FX lens also works great as DX. My purpose is to create a list of the best lenses to use with a DX Nikon. If that opens the field to FX lenses so be it.

I'm surprised how the Nikon lenses are notably absent.

Didn't see that coming.

Great replies! Thanks.

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› See More: Your Own "Best DX Lens List"

Originally Posted by daveward

I'm surprised how the Nikon lenses are notably absent.

Didn't see that coming.

Dave, Nikon makes many great lenses. The "Holy Trinity" (12-24, 24-70, 70-200) and the 200-500, just to pick a few examples from a much larger selection, are fantastic and deliver outstanding results on FX AND DX. However, the company generally did not go to great lengths to make great dedicated DX lenses, which is probably why so see quite a few third party lenses mentioned.

Not every FX lens does all that well on DX, so you'll want to do specific research, but many do, and that's a good thing: after all, what's wrong with more choices?

I'm very happy with the Nikkor 10-24mm - I feel my shots are very clear and have a great DOF for landscapes. Have also been completely satisfied with the Nikkor 16-80 f/2.8 - I did experience a bit of distortion on the wide end when I first got it but I have a preset on import into Lightroom that fixes it so I don't even notice it anymore. I've owned (and sold) several Nikon and 3rd-party lenses and these two I would not part with unless I decide to sell both the D500 and the D5500.

The 10-24mm is currently $100 off.

https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-NIKKOR-...+f+3.5-4.5g+ed

https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-16-80mm...nikkor+16-80mm

I haven't used many DX lenses (haven't used a lot of lenses in general) but if I had to pick one I'd say my handy 18-105mm. Good IQ, convenient focal range, it's a decent overall lens and for a low price.

The only DX lens that I use is my Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8.It's sharp and fast, and was a great deal used. I only have DX cameras, but the lenses I want and use are mostly FX.

I have got four "DX" lenses, the Nikon 35 f1.8 G, Nikon 16-85, Tokina 11-16 f2.8, and the Sigma 50-150 f2.8 OS.
All are good, but Tokina is very good, and the Sigma 50-150 is exceptional.

Originally Posted by lokatz

Dave, Nikon makes many great lenses. The "Holy Trinity" (12-24, 24-70, 70-200) and the 200-500, just to pick a few examples from a much larger selection, are fantastic and deliver outstanding results on FX AND DX. However, the company generally did not go to great lengths to make great dedicated DX lenses, which is probably why so see quite a few third party lenses mentioned.

Not every FX lens does all that well on DX, so you'll want to do specific research, but many do, and that's a good thing: after all, what's wrong with more choices?

I owned the Nikon 17-55 2.8 DX lens for a few years and found it to be as good on DX as my 24-70 is on FF.

Originally Posted by singlerosa

I owned the Nikon 17-55 2.8 DX lens for a few years and found it to be as good on DX as my 24-70 is on FF.

Jim, You must have had a particularly great copy. I also had a 17-55 DX for a while and thought it ok but certainly not stellar, plus I saw a number of reviews that gave Sigma's competitive products, in particular the 17-70, significantly higher credit for IQ.

In fact, in my favorite photo magazine's lab testing (Germany's ColorFoto; you may have seen me raving about it before), they earned 52.5 points (Nikon 17-55 DX) respectively 65 points (Sigma 17-70). The ONLY Nikon DX zoom lenses ever to receive an above-average overall score in those tests, which are scarce since test averages are calculated across zooms and primes, are the new AF-P 70-300 DX (64 points) and the also-fairly-recent 55-200 DX VR II (68 points; I own that one and am happy with it). (All tested on D7100.)

Maybe I should have added "Nikon seems intent on catching up on DX."