AF-P Compatibility: I directed this question to Nikon with regard to my D700. Here is their reply: Your question was answered. Hello Jeffrey, Your support question has been answered by...

frjeff Loc: Mid-Michigan

I directed this question to Nikon with regard to my D700. Here is their reply:

Your question was answered.
Hello Jeffrey,
Your support question has been answered by one of our team members.
Question details:
AF-P lens on old D700 Body
Created: 03/12/2022 by Email | Reference #: 05891033
Response from Jessica W.
Hello Jeffrey,

Thank you for contacting Nikon.
The only AF-P lens that is compatible is the AF-P 70-300 4.5-5.6 E ED VR (Product 20068)
No Firmware Update.
Focus resets if standby timer expires.
No Manual Focus Ring in AF Mode option in Menu.
All other AF-P lenses are not compatible with the D700.
if you have any questions please contact us at 1-800-645-6687.
Responded: 03/14/2022 by Email

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Ok.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The issue for AF-P is the VR, autofocus, and electronic aperture control are controlled by the software inside the camera. For incompatible cameras, the lenses shoot at the maximum aperture only and most cannot focus electronically (AF), nor even manually. It's a firmware update that enables some older cameras to gain this control of AF-P lenses.

To see the ancient D700 enabled for this new lens is interesting. But, given the wealth of AF-S zoom lenses, seeking an new-priced AF-P seems unnecessary.

frjeff Loc: Mid-Michigan

CHG_CANON wrote:

The issue for AF-P is the VR, autofocus, and elect... (show quote)

Exactly, so went with the AF-S 70-300 (Like New @ MPB)

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

CHG_CANON wrote:

The issue for AF-P is the VR, autofocus, and elect... (show quote)

The AF-P lenses, in general, are not "top-tier" lenses. Many of them have plastic lens mounts. There are generally better equivalent-range options available for incompatible cameras. One exception that comes to mind is the 10-20mm AF-P DX lens.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

The AF-P 70-300 4.5-5.6 E ED VR that is usable on the D700 appears to be an FX lens, so that makes sense. Aren't all other AF-P lenses DX format? If so, that would make them even less ideal for an FX camera like the D700.

frjeff Loc: Mid-Michigan

amfoto1 wrote:

The AF-P 70-300 4.5-5.6 E ED VR that is usable on the D700 appears to be an FX lens, so that makes sense. Aren't all other AF-P lenses DX format? If so, that would make them even less ideal for an FX camera like the D700.

I believe you are correct.

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

larryepage wrote:

The AF-P lenses, in general, are not "top-tier" lenses. Many of them have plastic lens mounts. There are generally better equivalent-range options available for incompatible cameras. One exception that comes to mind is the 10-20mm AF-P DX lens.

I have the 10-20 AF-P DX lens - optically it is very good with smooth zoom - but it does have a plastic mount. I don't shoot that wide often so it's not a biggie for me. The AF-P 70-300 FX lens does have a metal mount, and has very good to excellent IQ.

AF-P refers to the type of AF motor used, not necessarily the "quality" of the lens such as the "gold rim" series.

BebuLamar

chrisg-optical wrote:

I have the 10-20 AF-P DX lens - optically it is very good with smooth zoom - but it does have a plastic mount. I don't shoot that wide often so it's not a biggie for me. The AF-P 70-300 FX lens does have a metal mount, and has very good to excellent IQ.

AF-P refers to the type of AF motor used, not necessarily the "quality" of the lens such as the "gold rim" series.

But Nikon use the stepping motor only in their less expensive lenses.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

chrisg-optical wrote:

I have the 10-20 AF-P DX lens - optically it is very good with smooth zoom - but it does have a plastic mount. I don't shoot that wide often so it's not a biggie for me. The AF-P 70-300 FX lens does have a metal mount, and has very good to excellent IQ.

AF-P refers to the type of AF motor used, not necessarily the "quality" of the lens such as the "gold rim" series.

Yes...that's why I called it an exception. It is a very nice, well-performing lens, and seems to be worth well more than its price. I don't have one, but a friend who took his (which was brand new) to a workshop that we both attended loved using it and got very nice results. He was using a D500.

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

BebuLamar wrote:

But Nikon use the stepping motor only in their less expensive lenses.

AF-P is a newer development than AF-S; there were many "cheap" lenses using AF-S "silent wave" motors as well as AF-P. My first "kit" lenses with the D3300 were both AF-S with PLASTIC mounts. So AF-S and AF-P are just two technologies Nikon used for their AF....nothing to do with the quality of the lens or it's construction, or the "cheapness".

This is from Nikon's page on the subject: https://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/a/tips-and-techniques/which-nikkor-lens-type-is-right-for-your-dslr.html

AF-S NIKKOR lenses feature Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM). This technology converts “traveling waves” into rotational energy to focus the optics. This enables high-speed autofocusing that's extremely accurate and super quiet.

AF-P lenses use a “Pulse” motor or “Stepping” autofocus motor and are even quieter and smoother to autofocus than an AF-S lens, making these lenses ideal when shooting video with a DSLR.

AF-P is a newer development which is why older bodies are either not compatible or need a firmware update (had to update my D7200 to use the AF-P lenses of which I have two - a "cheap" lens, and a better not so cheap lens.

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

larryepage wrote:

Yes...that's why I called it an exception. It is a very nice, well-performing lens, and seems to be worth well more than its price. I don't have one, but a friend who took his (which was brand new) to a workshop that we both attended loved using it and got very nice results. He was using a D500.

Also with Z lenses AF-P type AF motor is the rule rather than the exception (although that designation may not be used) - see this >> https://www.zsystemuser.com/z-mount-lenses/nikkor-lenses/about-z-mount-lenses.html

** AF-P appears on fewer lenses because it is a newer design and .....

Nikon probably won't be making too many more F lenses!

BebuLamar

chrisg-optical wrote:

AF-P is a newer development than AF-S; there were ... (show quote)

But Nikon have never used the Pulse motors in their high end lenses.

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

BebuLamar wrote:

But Nikon have never used the Pulse motors in their high end lenses.

Yes, but now they are in the S-line Z lenses. I think there is some tradeoff with AF-P and AF-S depending on the lens application too (video vs. still) . It also may be that since AF-P is newer and most upscale lenses are owned by the photographers with older bodies (D3, etc.) perhaps they wanted to maximize compatibility in that sense. What I am trying to say it's not because AF-P is intended for "cheap" lenses only it's a matter of timing of the technology and to maximize compatibility with older bodies. That's how I see it. Since the Z lenses are intended only for Z bodies, they can liberally use AF-P type technology (stepper motors) in the high end Z lenses without worrying about "backwards compatibility".

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

chrisg-optical wrote:

Yes, but now they are in the S-line Z lenses. I th... (show quote)

Keep in mind that for the F mount lenses it is not the use of a stepper motor that leads to the potential for incompatibility. Rather it is the elimination of physical controls on the lens for various key functions and the resulting requirement that the camera be provided the capability to control these functions. Whether for lack of available firmware or operating memory space or just a product support (obsolescence) choice, some models are not being provided with this capability for the current lens designs. There is nothing requiring that same approach or those same limits in the Z cameras and S lenses.