Your Own "Best DX Lens List"

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daveward

Senior Member
I was looking at the lens categories but I feel this topic belongs here...so...

Many suggestions throughout this forum deal with spending money on better and better lenses, rather than bodies. Let's assume you have your favorite Nikon DX body but find yourself missing all your lenses. Obviously, what you shoot at is a critical aspect, so go ahead and factor that in to this question:

If you were buying new DX lenses today in order of importance, or value to you, which would you buy...and why? Thanks!
 
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Texas

Senior Member
New DX ? I'd definitely re-buy my Tokina 12-28 DX, you can get them new still.

Old DX ? I really like my older FX capable lenses on the DX. I'd re-buy these on the used market (Sigma 24 2.8 Super Wide II, Nik 50 1.8 AFD Nik 70-300VR, Nik 28-105 AFD)
 
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lokatz

Senior Member
I second the Tokina 12-28 and add Sigma's 17-70 2.8-4.0 to the list. It is slightly sharper than Sigma's also-good 17-50 2.8 (which I owned before) and has a longer zoom range, which to me more than compensates the loss in light sensitivity.
 
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singlerosa_RIP

Senior Member
medium zoom - 17-55 2.8 I had the Nikon for several years and it was comparable to my 24-70. Sigma and others make comparable units.
70-200 2.8 - every photographer should have one
tokina UWA - I had the 11-16 many years ago and it was very good on DX (crappy on FX). More focal lengths available today.
100 or 105 macro
Nikon 200-500 f/5.6
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
For wide angle and normal lenses it's not a tough choice for me... I don't really crave to shoot ultrawide so the Sigma Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 OS HSM and the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art would be my starting point. These would be my walk about lenses, good for just about everything I shoot.

Choosing a tele-zoom is more complicated but I'll go with the Sigma Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM if I *have* to choose a true "DX" lens for the sake of argument. It's out of production but copies can still be had and they're worth going after; the newest version is larger and heavier but it's there if you fell compelled to buy NIB. This would be my go-to portrait lens but it's flexible enough for everyday use. The Sigma 50-100mm f/1.8 Art would be a very close second, or the Sigma 135mm f/1.8 Art.

For a really big zoom I'm not sure what I'd do... At least not without breaking into FX lenses; I've been shooting full frame for a long time and I'm a little out of touch with DX glass.
 
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RocketCowboy

Senior Member
I'm with Paul ... I transitioned my lenses over to FX leading up to my move to the D810, but when I added the D500 I started looking for DX lenses that would keep things light weight for when that made sense ... knowing I can still leverage the FX glass when needed.

To that end, I picked up the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 lens as well, for the smaller package than my current 24-70 f/2.8. It's done well, and allows me to pack the D500 pick down smaller for trips where photography may be more of an after thought. I've been on the fence toying over the Sigma telephoto lenses for DX, but just haven't gotten myself to pull the trigger on any of those yet.
 
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daveward

Senior Member
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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Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
daveward said:
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.
Click to expand...
Well, see, that's the thing: FX lenses DO "work great" on DX bodies, often better than DX lenses themselves.
 
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Bikerbrent_RIP

Senior Member
My everyday, goto DX lens package is my Tokina 12-24mm F4 Pro and first generation (made in Japan) Nikon 18-200mm F3.5-5.6. Plus I will pack my Sigma 150-600mm C lens if I think I might need it. Then, as you can see from my lens list, I have several specialty lenses (mostly FX) for when I need the extreme high IQ, macro, or low F stop. About the only thing a feel I am missing from my kit is a little more wide angle, say a 10-20mm or 9-20mm with an IQ to match my Tokina 12-24mm.
 
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lokatz

Senior Member
daveward said:
I'm surprised how the Nikon lenses are notably absent.

Didn't see that coming.
Click to expand...

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?
 
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SHAkers718

Senior Member
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...&sr=8-3&keywords=nikkor+10-24mm+f+3.5-4.5g+ed

https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-16-80m...qid=1511460088&sr=1-3&keywords=nikkor+16-80mm
 
Nero

Nero

Senior Member
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.
 
Woodyg3

Woodyg3

Senior Member
Contributor
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.
 
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Ironwood

Senior Member
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.
 
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singlerosa_RIP

Senior Member
lokatz said:
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?
Click to expand...

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.
 
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lokatz

Senior Member
singlerosa said:
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.
Click to expand...

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." ;)
 
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