D70 with Nikkor 28-105mm?

[Paul in OKC]

I have a Nikon D70 and I am using the Nikkor DX 18-70mm lens that came with the camera. I also have a Nikkor 28-105mm lens that I had attached to my N80 film camera. Is it a good idea to mount the 28-105 lens on the D70? What will I sacrifice? I usually had good luck with the 28-105 lens. It is an autofocus lens, but not a DX lens. Does this make any important differance? I am going to the Smoky Mountains to shoot landscapes. Which lens would be best for that purpose. Why do most digital cameras come with such a wide-angle lens? I am confused about this. I don't like to change lenses. I really don't want to shoot 25 pictures with each lens, then compare the results. Am I being lazy? Is this what I should do? Any thoughts or comments out there?

[Franglais]

I have a Nikon D70 and I am using the Nikkor DX 18-70mm lens that came with the camera. I also have a Nikkor 28-105mm lens that I had attached to my N80 film camera. Is it a good idea to mount the 28-105 lens on the D70? What will I sacrifice? I usually had good luck with the 28-105 lens. It is an autofocus lens, but not a DX lens. Does this make any important differance? I am going to the Smoky Mountains to shoot landscapes. Which lens would be best for that purpose. Why do most digital cameras come with such a wide-angle lens? I am confused about this. I don't like to change lenses. I really don't want to shoot 25 pictures with each lens, then compare the results. Am I being lazy? Is this what I should do? Any thoughts or comments out there?

You are confusing two separate things

1. The focal length of the lens (28-105), which is an absolute value associated with a given lens
2. The view that you get (wide-angle, normal, telephoto..) when you put the lens on a given camera.

The view that you get is determined by the size of the film frame/sensor that you use to collect the image. On the F80 the film frame is 24x36mm. On the D70 the sensor size is only about 16x24mm - the image is the same but you're only using the center part of the frame. The view becomes more telephoto.

The "DX" name means that the lens is optimised for digital and that it's only guaranteed to cover the smaller sensor size, not a 24x36 film frame.

If you put your 28-105 on the D70 then you won't get the same view as on the F80. It will give the equivalent of a 42-158mm (I multiplied the real focal length by a conversion factor of 1.5 to give the focal length equivalent). You've lost the wide-angle end and you've gained a bit on the telephoto end but this does not look like a very useful combination.

Now put your 18-70 on the D70 and apply the conversion factor and you see that it is the equivalent of a 27-105mm. Nikon have just given you the exact equivalent of the 28-105 on your F80.

If you put the 18-70 on the F80 - it will fit - and it will give you a super wide-angle view - but you'll find the edges of the image are dark.

Personally I would forget the 28-105 on the D70 and stick to the 18-70. I don't like changing lenses on digital SLR's because of the risk of getting dust of the sensor.

Charles

[Paul in OKC]

You are confusing two separate things

1. The focal length of the lens (28-105), which is an absolute value associated with a given lens
2. The view that you get (wide-angle, normal, telephoto..) when you put the lens on a given camera.

The view that you get is determined by the size of the film frame/sensor that you use to collect the image. On the F80 the film frame is 24x36mm. On the D70 the sensor size is only about 16x24mm - the image is the same but you're only using the center part of the frame. The view becomes more telephoto.

The "DX" name means that the lens is optimised for digital and that it's only guaranteed to cover the smaller sensor size, not a 24x36 film frame.

If you put your 28-105 on the D70 then you won't get the same view as on the F80. It will give the equivalent of a 42-158mm (I multiplied the real focal length by a conversion factor of 1.5 to give the focal length equivalent). You've lost the wide-angle end and you've gained a bit on the telephoto end but this does not look like a very useful combination.

Now put your 18-70 on the D70 and apply the conversion factor and you see that it is the equivalent of a 27-105mm. Nikon have just given you the exact equivalent of the 28-105 on your F80.

If you put the 18-70 on the F80 - it will fit - and it will give you a super wide-angle view - but you'll find the edges of the image are dark.

Personally I would forget the 28-105 on the D70 and stick to the 18-70. I don't like changing lenses on digital SLR's because of the risk of getting dust of the sensor.

Charles

********** Thanks so much for taking the time to give such a complete answer. I am going to print this off and keep it in my photo notebook. I appreciate it very much.************

[another view]

The only thing I could add to Charles great reply above is that the 28-105 in macro mode would be useful on the D70. At 105mm, you'll have that 158mm equivalent and the ability to focus a couple of inches from your subject.

Beyond that for what you're talking about, the 28-105 probably wouldn't be too useful on digital. Nothing wrong with it, you just lose the wide end. The difference between 70 and 105 (or the equivalent 105 to 158) really isn't enough of an advantage to make it worthwhile either, IMO.