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Nikon DX lens vs. VR lens
Hi everyone,
I have to buy a Nikon D60 and sell my Nikon 70s which is working with 18-55mm DX.
The question is, is there a big difference between DX and VR lens?
In this case its worth to sell the DX lens or is good to keep it for the new D60?
VR lens is coming regularly with D60.
I'm gonna use the new D60 in low light conditions and I need to know if VR lens is really helpful in this situation or I can use DX without no problems.
Anyway I have a steady hand.
Thanks
I have to buy a Nikon D60 and sell my Nikon 70s which is working with 18-55mm DX.
The question is, is there a big difference between DX and VR lens?
In this case its worth to sell the DX lens or is good to keep it for the new D60?
VR lens is coming regularly with D60.
I'm gonna use the new D60 in low light conditions and I need to know if VR lens is really helpful in this situation or I can use DX without no problems.
Anyway I have a steady hand.
Thanks
0
Comments
DX is Nikon-speak for the crop 1.5x format camera specific lenses. It implies a reduced image circle to cover the smaller imagers used in Nikon DX cameras.
VR is Nikon-speak for "Vibration Reduction" and is an in-lens design to reduce types of camera shake.
The two terms can be, and are, used at the same time in particular lenses.
While the VR technology can help somewhat in reducing shakiness during longer exposures, it does not replace physical supports (like tripods, etc.) nor does it replace large aperture lenses.
The ideal low-light lens would have both a large aperture and shake reduction.
While DX lenses are designed to be used on the Nikon crop cameras, I think both the D3 and the D700 have the ability to use them in a "DX/crop" mode. FX lenses, those designed for full-frame Nikon cameras including 35mm film cameras, can be used on both DX and FX cameras.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
For the beginning I want to thanks to you for the large introduction.
I know some things about photography and my concerns are about if the VR lens is real good in low light situations. In my case if it makes the difference or is the same, with DX.
A friend of mine was token some pictures in Las Vegas during night time (I know That in Las Vegas are no more nights...) with Nikon D60 +18-55mm VR and although there was no tripod the pictures was very very good, of course on a higher ISO.
Is there anybody using VR lenses? It really reduce the shakes? It worth to buy one?
Thanks!
Help Desk Solution
DX lenses ONLY work on DX format cameras, or the D3 and D700 in "crop mode" Basically, they only cover the DX sensor size, which is smaller than than an FX sensor. So don't worry about DX or non DX, UNLESS you plan on getting a D3 or D700 in the next year or two. Then you might want to stay away from DX lenses as they'll be less useful on the FX frame cameras coming to market (which for Nikon are over $3,000 at this time.)
VR is something completely different. DX and non-DX lenses can have vibration reduction. I've got a Sigma 18-200 which has Vibration reduction and it only works on DX cameras (such as the D60) I also have a Nikon 70-200 VR lens that works on both DX and FX (full frame, such as the D3 or D700)
If you do a search you can find many reviews about VR and what it does for people. Canon calls it IS (image stabilization) Sigma calls it OS (optical stabilization) and Nikon calls it VR (vibration reduction.) Its all basically the same thing.
Does it work? Yes. You can hand hold a slower shutter speeds with less blur. I've hand held at dusk where fixed objects are very sharp yet people are tremendously blured. That would be more difficult without VR. Its hard tto say exactly how well it works. VR can only do so much so if you are standing on a jack hammer, then you may see little improvement.
Note how the food cart is very sharp, but the people are all blurred. VR only works on things that are not moving.
One thing that VR won't do is freeze action. If you hope to see moving dancers frozen in space, it won't help. VR only helps to reduce your movement, not the subjects movement.
You might want to go onto Nikon's website and look up all of the codes you'll find on lenses and what they mean. Every maker adds their own codes too and you'll be easily confused as you see HSM AFS USM APO DC VR DG OS IS DX , etc) on this lens or that lense. It helps to know exactly what each lens does.
VR technology will definitely "help" with camera shake, but it does not cure camera shake.
The Nikkor 18-55mm, f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR is an upgrade over the similar lens without the VR. It appears to produce better images at larger apertures.
A tripod is definitely a better technology than VR in reducing camera shake when used correctly.
DX has no impact on VR.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
First of all I really apreciate your replays.
I got today a good answer, a practical answer for my concerns:
" normally if you can shoot at 1/30th of a second, you would probably be able to shoot at 1/8th of a second, maybe 1/4th with VR."
Thanks all!
Help Desk Solution
I once shot a pretty sharp shot at 1 second exposure.
EDIT: Ok, I just looked at the OP again and realized that you have a 70s, not a D70s, which is what I thought you wrote originally. So most of what I wrote is pointless, although if you didn't know about the autofocus deal with the D60 I guess it's still something to think about. You might want to consider the D80 or even a used D70 or D50 for the greater lens compatibility.
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