Manual focus question: I have a Nikon D7500 with Tamron 18-400 and Tokina 11-20 lenses. I almost always shoot in autofocus mode (both camera and lens set to AF). My question is for the...

jim1954 Loc: Minnesota

I have a Nikon D7500 with Tamron 18-400 and Tokina 11-20 lenses. I almost always shoot in autofocus mode (both camera and lens set to AF). My question is for the occasional times I want to use manual focus. Can I just set my lens to Manual Focus and leave my camera on AF (which is a faster change) or do I need to change both the camera and lens to MF (which is slower and more cumbersome). Just want to make sure I don’t do something that could damage my camera or lens.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

jim1954 wrote:

I have a Nikon D7500 with Tamron 18-400 and Tokina 11-20 lenses. I almost always shoot in autofocus mode (both camera and lens set to AF). My question is for the occasional times I want to use manual focus. Can I just set my lens to Manual Focus and leave my camera on AF (which is a faster change) or do I need to change both the camera and lens to MF (which is slower and more cumbersome). Just want to make sure I don’t do something that could damage my camera or lens.

Follow the advice given in your user’s manuals.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

jim1954 wrote:

I have a Nikon D7500 with Tamron 18-400 and Tokina 11-20 lenses. I almost always shoot in autofocus mode (both camera and lens set to AF). My question is for the occasional times I want to use manual focus. Can I just set my lens to Manual Focus and leave my camera on AF (which is a faster change) or do I need to change both the camera and lens to MF (which is slower and more cumbersome). Just want to make sure I don’t do something that could damage my camera or lens.

Both have to be set to AF for auto-focus, if either one is set to MF it will only manual focus. You could have easily found this out for yourself by switching one or the other to MF to see what would happen.

jim1954 Loc: Minnesota

Thanks for your reply. I did play around with it and noticed it seemed to work. I was just concerned that doing so could damage my equipment and thought I would ask. I apologize if this was too basic of a question for this forum.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

jim1954 wrote:

I have a Nikon D7500 with Tamron 18-400 and Tokina 11-20 lenses. I almost always shoot in autofocus mode (both camera and lens set to AF). My question is for the occasional times I want to use manual focus. Can I just set my lens to Manual Focus and leave my camera on AF (which is a faster change) or do I need to change both the camera and lens to MF (which is slower and more cumbersome). Just want to make sure I don’t do something that could damage my camera or lens.

Switch your lens only. That lens has no mechanical AF interlink so the AF in the camera is automatically turned of due to compression of the AF drive screw by the lens which has no slot for the drive to couple with. Also, trying to manually focus some AF lenses with focus motors inside the lens COULD cause damage to that lens' focus motor if the lens does not offer manual focus over-ride.

therwol Loc: USA

MT Shooter wrote:

Switch your lens only. That lens has no mechanical AF interlink so the AF in the camera is automatically turned of due to compression of the AF drive screw by the lens which has no slot for the drive to couple with. Also, trying to manually focus some AF lenses with focus motors inside the lens COULD cause damage to that lens' focus motor if the lens does not offer manual focus over-ride.

This lens doesn't have a a coupling, so your advice is good. If you happen to ever use a lens that couples to the motor in the camera, turn it off on the camera too or you may damage something by forcing the motor and mechanism to turn from the outside.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

therwol wrote:

This lens doesn't have a a coupling, so your advice is good. If you happen to ever use a lens that couples to the motor in the camera, turn it off on the camera too or you may damage something by forcing the motor and mechanism to turn from the outside.

In theory, yes.
In reality no lens has both focusing systems. Either it has a focus motor in the lens and has no coupling slot, OR it has no focus motor in the lens and it HAS a coupling slot. These type of coupled mechanical AF lenses also do NOT have an AF on/off switch on the lens and that is why the AF control lever on the camera body has to be used to turn off autofocus.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

MT Shooter wrote:

In theory, yes.
In reality no lens has both focusing systems. Either it has a focus motor in the lens and has no coupling slot, OR it has no focus motor in the lens and it HAS a coupling slot. These type of coupled mechanical AF lenses also do NOT have an AF on/off switch on the lens and that is why the AF control lever on the camera body has to be used to turn off autofocus.

What about all of the AF-D lenses from Nikon - like the still in production 80-200 F2.8 AF-D?. It is an AF lens, has no motor, AND it has an AF on/off switch. When using it in MF, you have to switch both the camera and the lens. With the AF/MF switch set to AF on the lens the focus ring on the lens is prevented from moving.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

jim1954 wrote:

I have a Nikon D7500 with Tamron 18-400 and Tokina 11-20 lenses. I almost always shoot in autofocus mode (both camera and lens set to AF). My question is for the occasional times I want to use manual focus. Can I just set my lens to Manual Focus and leave my camera on AF (which is a faster change) or do I need to change both the camera and lens to MF (which is slower and more cumbersome). Just want to make sure I don’t do something that could damage my camera or lens.

One or the other, either or both. I've read that it's a good idea to leave the lens on Auto and switch the camera on and off Autofocus. That way, the lens is always ready to go, and you just have to set the switch on the camera. That switch is always in the same location, but it can be in different locations on different lenses.

lbjed Loc: New York

Check your manual. It should be under the chapter "Focus". If using AFD lenses you need to switch both lens and camera to manual focus. Nikon states or damage could result. Not necessary with AFS lenses. Both my D750 and D7200 manuals state this.

jim1954 wrote:

I have a Nikon D7500 with Tamron 18-400 and Tokina 11-20 lenses. I almost always shoot in autofocus mode (both camera and lens set to AF). My question is for the occasional times I want to use manual focus. Can I just set my lens to Manual Focus and leave my camera on AF (which is a faster change) or do I need to change both the camera and lens to MF (which is slower and more cumbersome). Just want to make sure I don’t do something that could damage my camera or lens.

wetreed

For the Tamron 18-400 all you have to do is change the AF/MF button on the lens.

leftj Loc: Texas

Mac wrote:

Both have to be set to AF for auto-focus, if either one is set to MF it will only manual focus. You could have easily found this out for yourself by switching one or the other to MF to see what would happen.

Yes but they wern't sure if that would damage something. No such thing as a dumb question.

leftj Loc: Texas

jim1954 wrote:

Thanks for your reply. I did play around with it and noticed it seemed to work. I was just concerned that doing so could damage my equipment and thought I would ask. I apologize if this was too basic of a question for this forum.

Don't worry about the trolls.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Nikon never designated any lens “AFD” or “AF-D.”

therwol Loc: USA

RWR wrote:

Nikon never designated any lens “AFD” or “AF-D.”

These are acronyms and everyone, or almost everyone knows what they mean. Imagine if someone posted a topic such as, "What do you think of the 50mm f/1.4 Autofocus Nikkor with Distance information?" This is actually ambiguous because it describes the G lens as well. When someone writes AF D or AF-D, they are referring to a specific series of lenses made at a specific time. Look at how Ken Rockwell prefaces his page on this particular lens. (Don't say it's another Ken Rockwell thing. Everyone uses this designation.) https://kenrockwell.com/nikon/5014af.htm