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Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6 G on D3000?
- Thread starter ssindo
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- nikon d3000
It will certainly mount on the D3000. Nikon hasn't changed their lens mount in like 50 years.
That being said, if you are talking about the AF 70-300 (as opposed to the AF-S 70-300) then the lens will not have autofocus capabilities on the D3000/D3100/D5100 level cameras. You would have to focus it manually. You would need a D7000 level camera or higher for autofocus.
Your D3000 needs lenses with built-in focus motors in order to autofocus. Nikon lenses with these motors are designated AF-S. Sigma and Tamron also sell motorized lenses that will AF with your D3000 so there are plenty of lenses to choose from.
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Patco
Guest
Being a "newer camera" is not the determining factor for AF compatibility, but rather if the camera has a focus motor. For example, it will be fully compatible with the D7000, which is newer than the D40, on which it will not AF.
The AF 70-300mm G will not AF on the D40, D40x, D60, D3000, D3100, D5000 or D5100, but is fully functional with all other DSLR bodies, past & current, and one would assume the yet to be announced D800 & D400.
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Patco
A photograph is more than a bunch of pixels
eddyshoots
Senior Member
Quick primer: The cameras without focus motors (D40, D60, D3000, D3100, D5000, D5100) require the focus motor to be in the lens. With Nikkor lenses you must have AFS or AFI lenses to retain autofocus capabilities. Even the older AF and AFD lenses will still provide metering in these cameras. You should bookmark the following type of compatibility chart for future reference. With third party lens makers....I don't even know what to tell you...it's confusing.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm
http://www.nikonians.org/nikon/slr-lens.html
Do yourself a favor and buy one of the cameras that is fully compatible with all of Nikon's lenses (or at least as many as possible). Cameras like the D3000 that do not have a built in focus motor are incompatible with the millions of used lenses that are out there plus they are incompatible with about 25% of the new lenses still offered by Nikon. Additionally, there is a host of third party lenses that need the in body focus motor. Perhaps I should have written not fully compatible rather than incompatible but I think you get the point. I feel it's not a good idea to just eliminate millions of possible lenses from consideration right at the beginning....what if you find a great AF lens at a garage sale next summer? What if it's a lens you couldn't justify buying new but the old widow is giving away for a song? Point is you just don't know. You should be trying to maximize your compatibility.
Granted, this problem grows less important every year as Nikon replaces the old designs one or two lenses per year. It's still going to take Nikon several years to replace all of their new AF lenses with AFS lenses. Get one with a focus motor....if you can't afford a fully compatible camera with Nikon then sell the 70-300 and buy into Canon (which doesn't have any of these stupid compatibility issues today).
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eddyshoots
I disagree that you have to get a Nikon with a built-in focus motor. I might have agreed 2 or 3 years ago but not today. Now there are plenty of lenses from Nikon, Sigma, and Tamron from fisheyes to 500mm that will AF on a D3100 or D5100. You can even find plenty of used lenses that will autofocus on them.
eddyshoots
Senior Member
Sure you don't have to get one with a motor. It's true for all the reasons you state. But why buy a camera that can use some of the lenses out there....both used and new...when you can buy a camera that can use all of the lenses out there...both used and new? What if the OP decides that he wants to buy one of the DC lenses because he falls in love with portraiture? Tough sh*t I guess? The DC lenses (which have no AFS equivalent) aren't the only things out there that won't AF without a motor. Try to find a super wide, constant F2.8 lens that autofocuses on one of theses cameras.
Additionally, those on a budget will quickly find that the newer AFS lenses are often much more expensive than the older design AFD lenses. Buying a new 50mm 1.8 AFD lens rather than the new AFS version will save $109 ($110 vs $219 at Amazon). Buying an 85 1.4 AFD lens rather than the new 85 AFS version will save between $469 and $669 depending on warranty ($1039 vs $1699 at BH). Buying the older 80-200 2.8 AFD lens rather than the newest 70-200 2.8 AFS lens will save about $1200 ($1089 vs $2396). That's nearly $2000 in savings in just three lenses. Are the newer designs better than the older lenses?....yes. But not by any huge degree, and the difference in price might mean the difference between having or not having.
Some might never be affected by the lack of focus motor. The slower aperture zooms are completely covered by AFS but others might eventually run into problems. It is difficult to predict the future buying habits of a poster asking for lens or camera advice. I think it prudent to advise that they strive for as much compatibility as possible. To dismiss possible lens compatibility problems outright is at best, shortsighted, and at worst, misleading.
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eddyshoots
eddyshoots
Senior Member
What is the good argument for pulling this motor? Cost? Weight? Both reasons are unlikely as Nikon and other manufacturers have managed to produce light weight, inexpensive cameras with focus motors for years. Truly, the only argument I can think of is that if forces the next generation of photographer to buy AFS lenses exclusively. Nikon makes more money selling new lenses than it does having people use old lenses. They are purposefully obsoleting an entire generation of lenses just to increase sales.
The only reason there is a focus motor in the D7000 is that Nikon knows there would be a mass exodus to Canon by advanced enthusiasts and professionals if they tried that crap with the advanced cameras. Only the entry level market will tolerate this kind of shenanigan.
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eddyshoots
Obsoleting lenses is a two edged sword. A major reason people stay with a system is their investment in lenses. If you obsolete their lenses you increase the chance of them changing to a different system. I used Canons for 29 years. When they obsoleted my FL lenses I bit the bullet and bought FD lenses, but when I went to autofocus and Canon obsoleted my FD lenses I switched to Nikon. Many people who have a lot of money invested in lenses are reluctant to take the financial loss that switching brands involves.
You don't need to be an accountant or an engineer to know that removing the motor does save money and allows a smaller camera. A D5100 or D3100 with a focus motor would cost more and be bigger. Neither of us knows Nikon's cost structure relative to Canon's, but Nikon felt the need to remove the motor in order to be cost competitive.
You don't need to be an accountant or an engineer to know that removing the motor does save money and allows a smaller camera. A D5100 or D3100 with a focus motor would cost more and be bigger. Neither of us knows Nikon's cost structure relative to Canon's, but Nikon felt the need to remove the motor in order to be cost competitive.
eddyshoots
Senior Member
That's precisely why I suggested that they haven't removed the motor from the advanced models. Nikon would do this if they thought they could get away with it. They are doing the same thing that Canon did but much more slowly.
Have you ever dismantled a camera to look at the autofocus mechanism? It truly looks like a dollar store item. Sure, in absolute terms the camera must be bigger and more expensive. But really, it's a tiny and inexpensive item. A small and simple mechanism that has been in Cameras for decades. The smallest and cheapest Nikons have all had focus motors on board. The Nikon D50 was both small and inexpensive. Pentax produces cameras with focus motors that are both smaller and less expensive.
Nikon felt there was an opportunity to squeeze more revenue from the sheep they sell cameras and lenses to. If you choose to believe this removal of compatibility was in your best interests then do so. I am not so easily fooled.
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eddyshoots
Eddy, you think that removing the motor was a scam to rip off their customers, and I think it was a cost saving move. Maybe I'm naive or maybe you're too cynical. I do agree with you though that even as a cost saving move, removing the motor was a bad idea. However as a business move, it seemed to work out.
As I said, I think that it was more of a problem a couple of years ago. I have both a D90 and a D3100. I no longer have any lenses that do not AF on the D3100. In Nikon's defense, they aim the motorless cameras at a segment of the market that would probably be limited to the kit lenses. Still, I think it was a bad decision. I just don't think that it was some kind of a plot to rip off their customers. Even good relatively honest businesses make bad decisions.
Correction: my 10.5mm FF FE does not AF on the D3100, but the DOF is so great that I zone focus.
As I said, I think that it was more of a problem a couple of years ago. I have both a D90 and a D3100. I no longer have any lenses that do not AF on the D3100. In Nikon's defense, they aim the motorless cameras at a segment of the market that would probably be limited to the kit lenses. Still, I think it was a bad decision. I just don't think that it was some kind of a plot to rip off their customers. Even good relatively honest businesses make bad decisions.
Correction: my 10.5mm FF FE does not AF on the D3100, but the DOF is so great that I zone focus.
GlennW
Senior Member
http://www.dpreview.com/products/nikon/lenses/nikon_70-300_4-5p6g
Is this your lens? It may be a 12year old model that has been replaced by a newer AF-S VR 70-300 lens.
GlennW
Senior Member
http://www.adorama.com/NK55200VRR.html?utm_term=Other&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=Other&utm_source=rflAID0218
For s D3000, D3100, D5100 what you need is this.
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Patco
Guest
The AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G has not been replaced.
It is still being sold, and listed as a current model on the Nikon USA site:
http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/Product/Camera-Lenses/1928/AF-Zoom-NIKKOR-70-300mm-f%252F4-5.6G.html
The lens that has been replaced is the "Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6D ED".
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Patco
A photograph is more than a bunch of pixels
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