What is the difference between a 16-35 lens and a 18-55 kit lens on the wide end?

[sportyaccordy]

Is the difference the fact that a lens like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Nikon-AF-S-NIKKOR-16-35mm-f-4-G-ED-VR-16-35-f4-/260569314408?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item3cab243468

Is usable on an FX format camera, whereas the 18-55 is strictly DX? What kind of shots do people take at 16mm on an FX camera?

 

[Lance B]

Is the difference the fact that a lens like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Nikon-AF-S-NIKKOR-16-35mm-f-4-G-ED-VR-16-35-f4-/260569314408?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item3cab243468

Is usable on an FX format camera, whereas the 18-55 is strictly DX?

Yes, Although, you may eb able to zoom to about 22mm on the 18-55 and there will be no vignetting.

What kind of shots do people take at 16mm on an FX camera?

Extremely wide angle ones, like when you are inside a building and need to get as much in as possible or when you are taking a landscape and you want a dramatic close foreground to a far away background shot.

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Lance B
http://www.pbase.com/lance_b

 

[MRM4350]

On a DX camera the difference on the wide end is about 3mm in focal length. The 16 is equal to 24mm, and the 18 is about 27mm. The 16-35 is designed to cover a 35mm (FX) film frame, and the 18-55 is designed to only cover the APS-C film frame and will not completely cover an FX sensor causing severe vignetting (Nikon prevents this by automatically switching to DX format in the FX cameras).

 

[David Nall]

Is the difference the fact that a lens like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Nikon-AF-S-NIKKOR-16-35mm-f-4-G-ED-VR-16-35-f4-/260569314408?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item3cab243468

Is usable on an FX format camera, whereas the 18-55 is strictly DX? What kind of shots do people take at 16mm on an FX camera?

I use the 16 35VR exclusively on my D700 but think it could be used effectively on a crop sensor camera as well. The main advantage for me is the VRII performance in low light. here is an example shot at f4 24mm ISO 200 1/3rd second hand held. Dave



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Visit my gallery at http://www.poperotzy.smugmug.com

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Nikon has a good little tool for looking at what the field of view will be with a given lens and FL:

http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/lens/simulator/

or:

http://www.isotton.com/misc/lens-angle-calculator/
(Sometime I have to reload this site to get the applet to work right)

Generally 16mm and wider is a specialty on FX. Architecture, Interiors Design or other quite close quarter shots are quite common, especially as mentioned above, on interiors of buildings. But certainly not limited to that set of options.

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Aaron Killen