Nikkor Lenses
Jan 25, 2015 07:09:20 #
How can you tell if the lenses are auto focus? I have a nikon d3100 with the kit lens 18-55 dx 3.5-5.6. The other lenses I have are a nikon 55-200 dx 4-5.6 and a nikon 50 dx 1.4. I bought some manual lenses but I think I would rather buy more of the auto lenses instead of the manual ones. Any suggestions on a other brand would be great as well. I am in the process of receiving a d7100 body only and would keep the two cameras ready to shoot. I am looking for just one more lens ( 28-300 maybe ).
Jan 25, 2015 07:41:36 #
Make they are AF-S lenses, which means they have a focus motor built-in. If you ever move up to the D7100 or above, they have a motor in the body and both kinds of lenses should work.
Jan 25, 2015 07:44:33 #
MikePhotoFiddler wrote:
How can you tell if the lenses are auto focus? I have a nikon d3100 with the kit lens 18-55 dx 3.5-5.6. The other lenses I have are a nikon 55-200 dx 4-5.6 and a nikon 50 dx 1.4. I bought some manual lenses but I think I would rather buy more of the auto lenses instead of the manual ones. Any suggestions on a other brand would be great as well. I am in the process of receiving a d7100 body only and would keep the two cameras ready to shoot. I am looking for just one more lens ( 28-300 maybe ).
Afs means auto focus.. also newer afs will have SWM which means silent wave motor. Tamron makes a 12-24 (which I have) that is about $500 less than Nikon's 12-24 but it fish-eyes a little at 12mm where the Nikon does not. Also the Nikon is a little sharper. Both are DX lenses meaning that they are designed for cropped cameras like the D7100 rather than full frame. Nikon, Tamron, Olympus, Sigma all make good to great lenses for Nikon.. I am probably leaving someone out. I would probably stay away from Vivitar, Fuji, and some of those.
Jan 25, 2015 07:54:49 #
dcampbell52 wrote:
Afs means auto focus.. also newer afs will have SWM which means silent wave motor
ALL "AF-S" lenses have the SWM system, that's what the "S" designates. Prior to the SWM motor these lenses were designated "AF-I".
Jan 25, 2015 07:57:15 #
MT Shooter wrote:
ALL "AF-S" lenses have the SWM system, that's what the "S" designates. Prior to the SWM motor these lenses were designated "AF-I".
True
Jan 25, 2015 08:06:20 #
The D3100 doesn't have a focusing motor built in so the AF-S lenses are needed. The -S stands for silent wave motor. It's a ring type motor on the lens. The D7100 has a focusing motor built in so the AF-S and the older screw type AF lenses will work. If you look at the lens mount of the D7100 you can see what looks like the tip of a small screwdriver. It engages with a slot on the lens mount of the screw type AF lenses.
Jan 25, 2015 08:24:11 #
MT Shooter wrote:
ALL "AF-S" lenses have the SWM system, that's what the "S" designates. Prior to the SWM motor these lenses were designated "AF-I".
I might be wrong but doesn't the AF-I designation have to do with Auto Indexing that coupled the lens aperture to the camera? The non SWM lenses are just AF instead of AF-S.
Jan 25, 2015 08:27:39 #
CO wrote:
I might be wrong but doesn't the AF-I designation have to do with Auto Indexing that coupled the lens aperture to the camera? The non SWM lenses are just AF instead of AF-S.
No. The "I" in AF-I indicates the lens has an Internal focusing motor. They were the original in-lens focus motors from Nikon and pre-date the AF-S type motor which is the current design.
Jan 25, 2015 08:42:11 #
I just ordered this lens at a good price $349.00 which will work on both of your cameras. Sigma - 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS Macro HSM Standard Zoom Lens. They are on sale everywhere.
Jan 25, 2015 08:43:17 #
MikePhotoFiddler wrote:
How can you tell if the lenses are auto focus? I have a nikon d3100 with the kit lens 18-55 dx 3.5-5.6. The other lenses I have are a nikon 55-200 dx 4-5.6 and a nikon 50 dx 1.4. I bought some manual lenses but I think I would rather buy more of the auto lenses instead of the manual ones. Any suggestions on a other brand would be great as well. I am in the process of receiving a d7100 body only and would keep the two cameras ready to shoot. I am looking for just one more lens ( 28-300 maybe ).
Hello Mike, Most any brand of lens will be marked as an "AF" (auto focus), if it is indeed an auto focus lens. Your Nikon d3100 uses "AF" lenses that have a built in af motor, such as Nikon's AF-S lenses, because your camera body has no auto focus motor built into it (cost savings). Sigma, Tokina and Tamron as well as other lens manufacture all produce AF lenses that will work well with your camera. Just be sure that the lens has a built in af motor. Hope this helps! Welcome to the HOG! :thumbup: Mike J.
Jan 25, 2015 08:45:27 #
CO wrote:
I might be wrong but doesn't the AF-I designation have to do with Auto Indexing that coupled the lens aperture to the camera? The non SWM lenses are just AF instead of AF-S.
Sorry to say you are wrong.
What you are thinking of is AI for Auto Indexing of manual focus lenses. A feature Nikon introduced in the late 1970s.
Jerry
Jan 25, 2015 09:11:44 #
Jan 25, 2015 10:56:15 #
Jan 25, 2015 11:26:38 #
joer wrote:
http://www.graysofwestminster.co.uk/glossary/af_designations.php
Thank You for that link, joer!
Very informative without too much gravy. ;)
Jan 26, 2015 08:09:03 #
joer wrote:
http://www.graysofwestminster.co.uk/glossary/af_designations.php
Thanks, great reading and a good lesson for those of us who use Nikon.
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