Nikkor lenses: AF-S vs AF?

I

insomniac

Messages
172
Edit My Images
No
Hello,

Apologies in advance if this an inane question, but I couldn't find the answer online.

If one has a body that has an autofocus motor, why should one buy AF-S lenses (I'm assuming that AF lenses are cheaper)?

Or is this because the same lens is not manufactured in both AF and AF-S variants?

Thank you.
 
Not sure if this is the answer but if Nikon's AF and AF-S lenses equate to the same meanings as Canon's EF and EF-S lenses then the letters refer to the mount type.

Canon EF lenses can be mounted on cameras with either full frame or APS-C sized sensors but EF-S lenses can only be used on cameras with APS-C sized sensors.

With Nikon's lenses the naming might be completely different so this is only a guess.
 
I take it you refering to AFD and AFS on Nikon system.

AFD lens focus depend on the body with a motor where as the AFS lens have internal focus on motor so entry body can auto focus the lens.

Also AFD have aperture ring so it can be use in other sytem and film.

AF-S lens tend to be more expensive because the internal focus motor, it tend to give faster AF and quiet AF too. Some AFS lens focus same speed as a AFD so it really depend on which lens you comparing to.

Whether you want to buy AFD or AFS it is personal preference on your requirement. With entry body you have no choice but to buy AFS lens, but with higher end body you have to choice to use AFS lens or older AFD. Alot of AFD lens is still damn good and out perform some of the AFS lens.

All personal preference at the end of the day .....
 
Barks said:
Not sure if this is the answer but if Nikon's AF and AF-S lenses equate to the same meanings as Canon's EF and EF-S lenses then the letters refer to the mount type.

Canon EF lenses can be mounted on cameras with either full frame or APS-C sized sensors but EF-S lenses can only be used on cameras with APS-C sized sensors.

With Nikon's lenses the naming might be completely different so this is only a guess.
Click to expand...

This is one of the biggest differences between Canon and Nikon. With the latter all modern lenses have the same mount - the ubiquitous F-mount - and will, therefore, mount to any Nikon DSLR body. The features provided will vary depending on the lens and body.
 
insomniac said:
Hello,

Apologies in advance if this an inane question, but I couldn't find the answer online.

If one has a body that has an autofocus motor, why should one buy AF-S lenses (I'm assuming that AF lenses are cheaper)?

Or is this because the same lens is not manufactured in both AF and AF-S variants?

Thank you.
Click to expand...

This is becomming a bit of a mute question as almost all Nikon lenses over the past 5 years (maybe longer) have been AF-S to make them auto-focus on the "beginner" level bodies.

On the whole - and there are of course exceptions to this generalisation - the AF-S version of a lens is sharper and will AF quicker and quieter than the same (older) non-AF-S lens. Whether these attributes are important to you will determine whether the AF-S version is worth the extra money.
 
Product development, the latest coatings and often revisions of optical formulas with nano crystal coating and more ED elements tend to go into the newer, latest AF-S lenses. There are probably many exceptions but in general this is the case. A lot of AF-D stuff is still excellent, needless to say, and Nikon still sells many of it's AF-D versions alongside the AF-S equivalents.
 
Barks said:
Not sure if this is the answer but if Nikon's AF and AF-S lenses equate to the same meanings as Canon's EF and EF-S lenses then the letters refer to the mount type.

Canon EF lenses can be mounted on cameras with either full frame or APS-C sized sensors but EF-S lenses can only be used on cameras with APS-C sized sensors.

With Nikon's lenses the naming might be completely different so this is only a guess.
Click to expand...

:)..your guess is wrong.
 
AF - Auto focussing. No built in motor and no distance metering for TTL flash.

AF-D - Auto focussing. No built in motor. Will do distance metering for TTL.

AF-S Auto focussing. Built in focussing motor. Will do distance metering for TTL.
 
Barks said:
Not sure if this is the answer but if Nikon's AF and AF-S lenses equate to the same meanings as Canon's EF and EF-S lenses then the letters refer to the mount type.

Canon EF lenses can be mounted on cameras with either full frame or APS-C sized sensors but EF-S lenses can only be used on cameras with APS-C sized sensors.

With Nikon's lenses the naming might be completely different so this is only a guess.
Click to expand...
Your guess is completely, totally, utterly wrong.

With respect, why bother guessing the answer when it just risks confusing or misleading the person who asked the question?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top