Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I came across this information about AF Nikkor lenses.
It seems that Nikon did have a lens (2) with built in motors at the beginning. Does anyone know why this was dropped for the primitive slow screwdriver system?
The 2 lenses were the 80mm and 200mm.

Both of the AF lenses are also capable of operating with other Nikon SLR manually. Despite the entire F3AF project was generally regarded as not a successful one commercially, but with the help of a extremely positive lens review published by a popular photographic magazine, it has helped the two lenses established a fine reputation among other top performing Nikkor optic. One interesting technical aspect of these two AF lenses is, both of the lenses have a micro-motors incorporating inside the lens where they draw power from the camera body to autofocus.

Sound familiar ? Yeap. That is how exactly how the much hyped AF-i and AF-S Nikkor lenses and even the Canon's EF lenses work in theory ! Sometimes, I can never understand how decision was made in board room but the rest are history. So, the two AF Nikkor lenses faced many incompatibilities with the subsequent Nikon SLR models that streaming out from design board and production line over the years that followed.

The AF 200mm f/3.5 ED-IF lens is quite heavy and long, weighing 868g and measures 157mm in length (80mm x 149mm x 157mm). It has a narrower angle of view at 12° and a filter attachment size of 62mm. Two pieces of ED (extra-low dispersion) glass elements are used on the first and second element in a 8 elements in 6 group optical construction which also features an IF (internal focus) design for smoother AF operation; It can only close focus to 2m and stopped down to f/32 for extra depth of field control. The lens also incorporated with a "dust" filter which is not part of its optical design but rather, provides penetration of dust and moisture.

NOTE:- The two AF-Nikkor lenses draws power as well as other information such as data phase detection from the camera body to perform autofocusing and have an entirely different configurations with the current modern AF lenses and thus, it cannot be used with other Nikon AF SLR camera models but the lenses have better compatibility with other manual focus Nikon bodies.

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BebuLamar

In fact they draw power from the viewfinder. The viewfinder has a battery chamber that takes 2 AAA batteries. The 2 button cells on the bottom power the camera shutter timing circuit and meter.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

There can be various reasons a seemingly practical design is inexplicably dropped from production - prone to malfunction or proven difficult to repair, for example. To retain customer confidence and loyalty, it is often advantageous for a company to not publicly disclose the reasons behind an abrupt discontinuation of a given product, particularly if unreliability of the product is the factor.

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

Nikon actually made more than two 80-200 lenses. The last in the series of 80-200 was produced with a motor. AFS model. The lens was a good lens, but shortly after release Nikon came out with its 70-200 vr (1) lens. It was an immediate success and shortly after stopped producing the 80-200 afs. However they kept producing the lens just prior to the 80-200afs. They had too many problems with the motor on the afs model. I was told now that you can't even get the motor replaced since parts are out of inventory. The earlier model is still being sold. It is a work horse and as sharp as the 70-200 vr2. I still have it and get as good if not better shots from it as my wife with the 70-200 vr2 she uses. For the listed reasons, I haven't move up to a newer mid range lens. Hope this helps some.

Leitz Loc: Solms

They can be used with the F501/N2020.

forjava Loc: Half Moon Bay, CA

Really useful, hard-to-find info. Thanks, as I have a number of the 80-200 variants.

Leitz Loc: Solms

80-200? This thread concerns the AF Nikkor IF 80mm f/2.8 and AF Nikkor 200mm f/3.5 IF-ED, both for the F3AF camera.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Thanks for the update.
I enjoy reading camera histories, (even Nikon) because there are so many variants and stops and goes in this industry. I also enjoy the Butkus camera manual web site to look at all the interesting manuals.
http://www.butkus.org/chinon/index.html

O2Ra

I have this 80-200 afs lens . It is a phenomenally sharp lens great color rendition also. It's prone to flares but I can live with that because it's such a nice lens. My af motor is going out and I've checked into getting it fixed. It's about $530 and Nikon has plenty of replacement motors. They are supposed to be better made than the original. I'm going to have it fixed soon but keep needing it and not sending it in. I love the lens, love love love. The OP was talking about something different though.

BebuLamar

I think these 2 lenses can be used on most Nikon cameras is that right?

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Correct. They will function as any manual focus AIS lens.