Looking for advice or opinions! I'm shooting a Z9 with a Z70-200 2.8S. Is it better in terms of IQ to use this camera n DX mode with a 1.4 teleconverter to get approx. 420mm @ f4 or leave the Z9 in FX mode and get the 100-400 f4.5-5.6????? Thx for any help! Happy Holidays! Chet
Personally, I would shoot in FX mode nearly all the time - unless you have a need for more reach. Then again, I wouldn't use DX on a Z9 (or my Z7ii).
For years I had a crop (DX) D7200 with a Sigma 150-600 lens. Amazing combination and it re-awakened my love of photography. However, when I upgraded to the Z7ii with the same lens several years ago it was like a bunch of doors opened. Then again, it maybe my clumbsy style.
I perfer "environmental" shot of birds and other subjects. The result is more cases than I would like to admit where the composition was not what I would like (tree limb is ugly, I have part of another bird or other subject complicating the composition)....
But wait! I can use half (or fewer) of the 45MP to create a new composition of one bird (bee, or other subject) and I have something I like with many pixels to spare!
Note: I'm just an IT guy playing with a camera when I have a few minutes. I was also humiliated (in a good way) by a guide in Costa Rica with a crop sensor and the same lens.... Good learning experience and I tipped the guy well for the lesson!
I think Bhoward has a point. Given that the Z9 has a sensor density over twice that of any current DX camera, I would think that unless one wanted to go a lot longer than 400mm, you could get away with just using the 200 as is, and cropping in post. Unless you need the smaller file size or faster frame rate of DX mode, I wouldn't bother with it in the camera. I suppose it depends on the eventual use of the images and the printing size, but for normal print sizes, I would think you've got pixels to spare.
Switching your camera to DX-mode doesn't really affect the focal length of your lens, it has the same effect as cropping in post. This means that the 100-400 will be clearly superior, since you have roughly twice the resolution.
Spencer has actually written a nice comparison of those two lenses, it should answer all your questions: https://photographylife.com/comparison/nikon-z-100-400mm-f-4-5-5-6-s-vs-nikon-z-70-200mm-f-2-8-s
Help required with a nagging lens question.
I have read all the articles about lens equivalence of using an APS-C camera but something is still nagging me...
Firstly, I am using a Nikon D500, it is my only, and last, camera.
My understanding is as follows:
Using my aps-c camera with a 50mm DX lens the equivalence is 50 mm
Using my aps-c camera with a 50 mm F lens the equivalence is 75mm
Am I correct?
Andy
Hello Andy,
If your DX is labeled as "50mm equivalent" or something similar, then indeed your DX lens is 50mm effective on the D500. From my experience, that is never the case with Nikon DX lenses (and any other DX lenses I am aware of) - they are always labeled in FX focal lengths. So your 50mm DX lens would still be 75mm equivalent on the D500.
Consider, for example, the AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G. Althought it is a DX lens, on your D500 it will be equivalent to 60mm.
Looking for advice or opinions! I'm shooting a Z9 with a Z70-200 2.8S. Is it better in terms of IQ to use this camera n DX mode with a 1.4 teleconverter to get approx. 420mm @ f4 or leave the Z9 in FX mode and get the 100-400 f4.5-5.6????? Thx for any help! Happy Holidays! Chet
Using TC 1.4 + 70-200 will always give you, at best, the resolution of a 280mm lens. Whether you crop the result to Dx in the camera or crop in post won't change this.
With the 100-400, you will have the benefit of the full resolution of this lens on a 45Mp sensor (and still have the possibility to crop to Dx), so yes it will most probably be far better.
To go further about Dx mode ...
To my sense, cropping in camera to Dx on Z9/Z8 (or most FF mirrorless cameras) only means :
Pros :
- you will see your subject bigger in the viewfinder
- if you shoot, the camera will handle smaller files that use less space on your card and, depending on internal software, hardware and cards, there may be a chance your camera will write them faster too.
- Smaller files will also be faster and easier to handle on your computer, of course.
Cons :
- you have to manage a more difficult framing in the field (i.e. the longer the reach, the faster subjects get out of the frame)... which is also true with longer lenses, of course
- you have less possibilities to crop and compose afterward
- quality for prints or final screen viewings will have more chance to be worse from the start (whether it's for print size or global render)
Personaly, I mostly use crop mode as a magnifier, so I set a button to switch easily between Fx and Dx because I find it usefull in the field. It's really handy if you want to momentarily observe your subject better and I find it easier to manage and better in the viewfinder than the usual magnifier (maybe that's me though). Most of the time, I lose my subject with the magnifier so I'm not easy with it.
Anyway, I find it cool that mirrorless cameras give me this opportunity to see the scene nearer without any disturbing side effect in the viewfinder. And if the cropped scene suits me in the viewfinder, I can shoot it as it is or go back to FF to let me decide for the best crop afterward.
Still, most of my shots are FF (let's say 90%).
And Happy Holidays to you too :D
For best sharpness & full resolution: Use the 100-400mm in FX mode (no TC, full 45.7MP).
For better low-light AF & subject separation: Use the 70-200mm + 1.4x TC in DX mode (~420mm f/4, 19.5MP).
Pick the 100-400mm if light is good and you need max detail. Pick the 70-200+TC if you need f/4 for low light or faster AF.