This test shows focal length comparison on a 1.5 crop factor camera (all Nikon DX cameras) from 12mm to 500mm. All images were taken on Nikon D300 with ISO 200, f/10. The focal lengths are not 100% accurate because of different lens sizes and mounts (when short lenses such as the 50mm f/1.4 were used, the camera was mounted on the tripod, while zoom lenses had to be mounted via lens collars). The tripod was never moved (just slightly re-adjusted to focus on the top-left portion of the blue ornament). The 420 and 500mm shots are a little soft because of slight vibration and use of a teleconverter.
The shots were taken indoors because it was too cold outside :)
About Nasim Mansurov
Very useful, thank you! I was deciding between the Nikon 135mm f/2 and the 180mm f/2.8 for my D300, bearing in mind that I’ll be buying a D3 when finances allow it. I’ll go with the faster aperture lens and attach it to the (DX sensor-sized) D300 when I want a really cropped closeup. So many of the other sites which compare focal lengths do so with fancy flash graphics which prevent me making a proper comparison.
Kirby, you are most welcome! I have heard a lot of good things about the 135mm f/2, so I think you made the right choice.
Hi Sir,
(I hope this message will still be read..since this article is a bit old :) )
i currently have the nikorr 35mm 1.8 lens which i love but i want another lens which i can use for landscape (wide) and be able to zoom (maybe for events where zoom reach is important..for ex the – you are not allowed to go any closer thing).. but i cannot decide which lens to buy.. since budget is a bit constraint for now (e.g. 18-200mm).. i’m just thinking between the 18-105mm and the 55-200mm.. i can’t decide if i should sacrifice the 18-55 (for the 55-200) or the 105-200 (for the 18-105)… need your advice between the two or any other lens (for ex. 3rd party lenses)..
TIA
Robert, if your primary focus is landscapes, go for the Nikon 18-105mm. If you are shooting wildlife, then go for the 70-300mm VR instead or get the new 55-300mm…
I know a 18mm FX lens on a DX body will get an equivalent angle as a 18*1.5 mm on FX body. How about a DX lens on a DX body? Will a 18mm DX lens on a DX body still get an equivalent angle as a 18*1.5 on Fx body?
Qihong, I have written about this recently in my “Equivalent Focal Length” article – the focal length is an attribute of a lens, so to get a similar field of view, you multiply the focal length with 1.5 on DX bodies. 18mm is 18mm on FX.