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Which would focus faster?
Apr 29, 2014 07:25:56   #
wingnut1956 Loc: chicago
 
I'm ordering a Nikon d7100 today from B&H.From reading older forum postings, my understanding is if I use an af-s lens, it will use the lens motor to focus. With just an AF lens, it need to use the camera motor. So, what I'm wondering is (assuming I understood that right), is one better than the other? Until I read that, I just assumed since the d7100 has it's own focus motor it would use that exclusively. I do realize the AF lenses are a little less costly which is a plus.

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Apr 29, 2014 08:00:23   #
romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI
 
The AF-S lenses focus faster, the trade off is they are larger and heavier. It really depends on what you want to do. For landscapes, general photography and normal portraiture the AF lenses are fine. For fast moving sports, birds in flight, photographing dancers without flash, etc the AF-S lenses would be a better choice. All G lenses are also AF-S by design, FYI. The AF and D lenses often do not have the latest lens coatings, and may be an older generation optical design. Given that, many of them are still stellar performers. You have to read the tests and reviews on each lens you are interested in to get an idea if it'll meet your needs. Another consideration is in zooms- Pro lenses have one fixed wide opening like f2.8 across the entire zoom range; lesser lenses the lens opening changes like from f3.5 to 5.6 as you zoom from wide to telephoto.

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Apr 29, 2014 14:05:33   #
amehta Loc: Boston
 
wingnut1956 wrote:
I'm ordering a Nikon d7100 today from B&H.From reading older forum postings, my understanding is if I use an af-s lens, it will use the lens motor to focus. With just an AF lens, it need to use the camera motor. So, what I'm wondering is (assuming I understood that right), is one better than the other? Until I read that, I just assumed since the d7100 has it's own focus motor it would use that exclusively. I do realize the AF lenses are a little less costly which is a plus.

AF-S lenses generally focus faster, each motor is optimized for that particular lens.

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Apr 29, 2014 14:08:19   #
amehta Loc: Boston
 
romanticf16 wrote:
All G lenses are also AF-S by design, FYI.

Almost all G lenses are AF-S lenses, and there is no design requirement there, it is a timing thing. One example: AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G.

AF-S is about the silent-wave motor for autofocus. The "G" is about removing the aperture ring for exposure. These are entirely unrelated lens functions.

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Apr 30, 2014 22:27:37   #
Kuzano
 
wingnut1956 wrote:
I'm ordering a Nikon d7100 today from B&H.From reading older forum postings, my understanding is if I use an af-s lens, it will use the lens motor to focus. With just an AF lens, it need to use the camera motor. So, what I'm wondering is (assuming I understood that right), is one better than the other? Until I read that, I just assumed since the d7100 has it's own focus motor it would use that exclusively. I do realize the AF lenses are a little less costly which is a plus.


Any Olympus built in the last five years.

:thumbup:

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