Question for nikon users (no it's not an anti-canon thread)

L

Lukeeee1990

Messages
821
Name
Luke
Edit My Images
Yes
If i have for example a D90 that has AF built in - can I buy AF-D lens's and still have AF?

As i've been buying AF-S lens's all the while and am thinking I might not need to?

If so, then why are the likes of the 70-200 vrII not made in an AF-D version for those of us using bodies with AF built in

Thanks

Luke
 
AF-D lenses will AF on your D90.

The reason you may still want AF-S (i.e motor built into lens) is for speed of AF and that they're practically silent.
 
Yes, you will get AF on AF-D lenses.

Re: your other question: why would they produce two models when one will work for everyone? I doubt the motor takes up much weight/cost (the optics do that). More models means more cost to Nikon.

Also, I think lens motors are often faster and quieter than the body motor.

Also, AF-S lenses allow you to grab the focus ring and manually focus without having to switch to MF. Not sure if AF-D allows that.
 
Yes - any AF lens will AF on D90 (and D300, D700 etc...). So the £100 50mm will AF on D90 but not on say a D3100.

AFS lenses tend to be newer in design, and tend to have slightly better performance, but we are talking under lab conditions - in the real world not sure if there is much in it.

No point in making an AFD varient as well as an AFS one, other than the fact you can use it on an older camera.
 
The main reason to have AFS over AFD is that they tend to be quicker and quieter when focussing (not always true) and they tend to have manual focus override (again, not always true).
 
And re: the cost of having the AF-S in the lens...if you look at the 50mm 1.8 there's 33% more cost to the customer to have the AF-S motor in the lens..so on the price of the top end G lens's that works out quite alot - however whether it would work out like that I don't know
 
Lukeeee1990 said:
......so, then why are the likes of the 70-200 vrII not made in an AF-D version for those of us using bodies with AF built in....
Click to expand...

Basically, the 70-200 (and subsequently the VR2 version) are, in a sense, the evolution of the 80-200mm f/2.8, which in it's most popular form was an AF-D, and then an AF-S. You can still get the 80-200mm AF-D on import but many users have moved to the 70-200 VR1 these days because they've dropped in price on the used market - £920-950 is a general price, although yu still get those closer to a grand.
 
Last edited:
Lukeeee1990 said:
And re: the cost of having the AF-S in the lens...if you look at the 50mm 1.8 there's 33% more cost to the customer to have the AF-S motor in the lens..so on the price of the top end G lens's that works out quite alot - however whether it would work out like that I don't know
Click to expand...

Well, in the case of the 50mm f/1.8 lenses, the new AFS is a completely different design (unlike some 'upgrades'). Both are cracking lenses though.
 
interesting about the price of the 70-200 2.8 mk1 - interesting to see if the 24-70 ever drops in price as dramatically - i still cannot believe for that money you don't get VR! :@
 
Lukeeee1990 said:
interesting about the price of the 70-200 2.8 mk1 - interesting to see if the 24-70 ever drops in price as dramatically - i still cannot believe for that money you don't get VR! :@
Click to expand...

VR on a 24-70mm?...... probably not essential to be fair on focal lengths that short :)
 
so what older lenses will fit my D3100 and which ones will autofocus on it and which won't ? Am i right in thinking the AF ones will fit but not autofocus and the AF-S will both fit and autofocus ?
 
*gold* said:
so what older lenses will fit my D3100 and which ones will autofocus on it and which won't ? Am i right in thinking the AF ones will fit but not autofocus and the AF-S will both fit and autofocus ?
Click to expand...

Yes, you're basically correct. As a general rule, any Nikon AF-S lens will fit and give you auto focus. Anything else will fit but not Autofocus and some of them will also not meter.

Where it gets slightly confusing is the third party lenses. I don't know about Tamron or Tokina but any Sigma with HSM fitted will auto focus on your body.
 
gad-westy said:
Yes, you're basically correct. As a general rule, any Nikon AF-S lens will fit and give you auto focus. Anything else will fit but not Autofocus and some of them will also not meter.

Where it gets slightly confusing is the third party lenses. I don't know about Tamron or Tokina but any Sigma with HSM fitted will auto focus on your body.
Click to expand...

:eek: Ok, thank you
Cliff
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top