Auto Focus question

[camerafish]

I am looking to purchase my first digital SLR after many point and shoots. Looking at an entry level Canon or Nikon (D3000) but am confused about Auto-Focus.

Seems like the higher end models have more of a true autofocus that will work with any lens but models like the D3000 will only auto focus with certainl lenses.

So my question...first, am I understanding this correctly and will the basic models still have AF with some lenses (assuming not all).

THANKS!

P.S. Just realized I should have posted this in the beginner's forum. Sorry 'bout that.

 

[Leonard Migliore]

I am looking to purchase my first digital SLR after many point and shoots. Looking at an entry level Canon or Nikon (D3000) but am confused about Auto-Focus.

Seems like the higher end models have more of a true autofocus that will work with any lens but models like the D3000 will only auto focus with certainl lenses.

So my question...first, am I understanding this correctly and will the basic models still have AF with some lenses (assuming not all).

Nikon has kept the same lens mount for many years but has added features. One of these was autofocus using a motor in the camera. So there are a lot of Nikon lenses that focus using this method. Later on, they started putting motors in the lenses themselves. This usually worked better because you could size the motor to the lens and it also tended to be quieter. Recently, Nikon stopped putting the motor in the camera in their lower-cost models, figuring that all the new lenses would work with them anyway.

So a D3000 will only work with lenses that have their own focusing motors. Nikon's lenses are marked AF-S if they have a motor; third party lensmakers have their own codes. There are plenty of such lenses but you do have to watch it when you're buying.

Canon changed lens mounts more recently (but still many years ago). All the lenses have their own motors and any lens with the newer mount (EF or EF-S) will work and, if it's an autofocus lens in the first place, will autofocus.

--
Leonard Migliore

 

[Bjorn_L]

I am looking to purchase my first digital SLR after many point and shoots. Looking at an entry level Canon or Nikon (D3000) but am confused about Auto-Focus.

Seems like the higher end models have more of a true autofocus that will work with any lens but models like the D3000 will only auto focus with certainl lenses.

So my question...first, am I understanding this correctly and will the basic models still have AF with some lenses (assuming not all).

THANKS!

P.S. Just realized I should have posted this in the beginner's forum. Sorry 'bout that.

The entry level Nikons do not have an in camera focus motor. But, there are around 90+ lenses which do autofocus on them. Almost all current lenses from Nikon, Tokina, Tamron and Sigma have focus motors so this is not much of an issue unless you have some older lenses you wanted to use.

 

[Ringwraith69]

It's not a matter of some lower end models not having true AF, but as the other replies to your post explain: the lower end Nikon models don't have a focus motor built into the body. That means many of the older Nikon AF lenses will only give you manual focussing.

However, the array of lenses with built in AF motors has reached such a level that you shouldn't let this issue deter you from buying a D3000 or D5000. There's hardly any focal range that isn't covered by the AF-S, HSM, etc. lenses on offer.

--
'We are only immortal for a limited time'

 

[camerafish]

Thanks to all.

On clarification to something Leonard wrote

"So a D3000 will only work with lenses that have their own focusing motors"

Do you mean will only "auto focus"? When you say "will only work" it implies that a non AF lens will not work at all but I don't think this is correct...right?

And THANKS for all of you for not flaming the new guy and his basic question!!!

 

[Guidenet]

Seems like the higher end models have more of a true autofocus that will work with any lens but models like the D3000 will only auto focus with certainl lenses.

The higher end models don't have "true" autofocus. They just support the older way of autofocusing as well as the newer way. The older way was a focusing motor built into the camera with a long screwdriver that fed into the lens to move the elements in the focusing process. It was slow and noisy compared to modern methos.

Later, Nikon put micro motors into their lenses and these don't require the motor in the body with the screwdriver. These are called AFI lenses and autofocus and the entry level Nikons. You won't find this on any new Nikon lenses. Tamron still uses this method.

All new Nikon designs are called AFS and mostly use SWM motors. That is short for Silent Wave Motor. These are sonic ring motors build into the lens. They are usually silent, fast and accurate. Sigma also called this technology HSM for Hypersonic Motor.

Every focal length there is is covered by SWM or HSM or BIM or whatever lenses with motors in them and will autofocus on a D3000 or D5000. There are a few fixed focal length lenses like the 85 f/1.4 that won't. For example, Nikon makes a 60 f/2.8 Macro AF-D macro lens that won't AF on those cameras, but they also make a newer 60 f/2.8 AFS that does and it's a better lens in all ways.

One nice thing is that the entry level Nikons will allow you to mount and will work in manual mode nearly every lens ever made to fit a Nikon since 1959 without alteration or an adaptor. You might have to manually focus or maually set exposure, but they work just fine. So, you can have fun at garage sales, knowing that if you find some $10 Nikon lens, it will work.

For exposure on those anchient lenses, but guess, look at the picture on the back and adjust. It's easy and fun. You can find some excellent and legendary glass that way. People with the higher end Nikons often have to have the lens altered by grinding auto indexing notches in the mount, but not the entry level models.

Just to show you, I'll list all the lenses that autofocus on a D3000 and D5000

Nikkor:

AF-S DX 10-24mm f/3,5-4,5 ED G New

AF-S DX 12-24mm f/4.0G ED-IF

AF-S 14-24 mm f/2,8G ED

AF-S DX 16-85mm f/3,5 - 5,6G ED VR

AF-S 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF

AF-S DX 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF

AF-S DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G

AF-S VR DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G

AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF

AF-S VR DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6G ED

AF-S DX 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED-IF

AF-S VR DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED

AF-S 24-70 mm f/2,8G ED

AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

AF-S VR 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF

AF-S 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

AF-S 35mm f/1.8G New

AF-S 50 mm f/1,4G

AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED

AF-S VR 55–200mm f/4–5.6G IF-ED

AF-S 60mm f/2.8G Micro

AF-S VR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF

AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G

AF-S 80-200mm f/2.8D ED-IF

AF-S VR 105mm f/2.8G Micro

AF-S VR 200mm f/2.0G ED-IF

AF-S VR 200-400mm f/4.0G ED-IF

AF-I 300mm f/2.8D IF-ED

AF-S 300mm f/2.8D IF-ED

AF-S 300mm f/4.0D ED-IF

AF-S VR 300mm f/2.8 ED-IF

AF-I 400mm f/2.8D IF-ED

AF-S 400mm f/2.8D ED-IF

AF-S VR 400mm f/2,8G ED

AF-I 500mm f/4.0D IF-ED

AF-S 500mm f/4.0D ED-IF

AF-S VR 500mm f/4G ED

AF-I 600mm f/4.0D IF-ED

AF-S 600mm f/4.0D ED-IF

AF-S VR 600mm f/4G ED

Sigma:

4,5mm f/2,8 EX DC HSM

10mm f/2,8 EX DC HSM

10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM

10-20mm f3,5 EX DC HSM New

12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM

14mm f/2.8 EX

17-35mm f/2.8-4.0 EX DG

17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro HSM

18-50mm f/3.5-5.6 DC HSM

18-50mm f2,8-4,5 DC OS HSM New

18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC Macro HSM

18-125mm f/3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM

18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS

18-250mm f3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM New

24-70mm f2,8 EX DG HSM

30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM

50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM

50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM

50-200mm f4-5,6 DC OS HSM New

50-500mm f/4.0-6.3 EX DG

55-200mm f/4-5.6 DC HSM

70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro

70-300mm f/4,0-5,6 DG Macro

70-300mm f/4,0-5,6 DG APO Macro

80-200mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro

80-400mm f/4-5.6 EX OS

100-300mm f/4.0 EX DG

120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG

120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS APO HSM

150mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro

150-500mm f5-6.3 DG OS APO HSM

180mm f/3.5 EX DG Macro

300mm f/2.8 EX DG APO HSM

300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO

500mm f/4.5 EX DG HSM APO

800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO

Tamron:

10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di II LD New

17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II

18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II

18-270mm f/3,5 -6,3 Di II VC LD

28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD

28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC

70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD MACRO

70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro

90mm f/2.8 Di Macro II

Tokina:

12-24 f/4 AT-X 124 PRO DX II New

--
Cheers, Craig

 

[camerafish]

Terrific. You've gotten me off to a great start. I appreciate all the time you have all put into answering my question!

 

[Leonard Migliore]

Thanks to all.

On clarification to something Leonard wrote

"So a D3000 will only work with lenses that have their own focusing motors"

Do you mean will only "auto focus"? When you say "will only work" it implies that a non AF lens will not work at all but I don't think this is correct...right?

Right. A screw-drive lens will connect and meter on a D3000 but it won't autofocus. You can still focus manually.

--
Leonard Migliore