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Where's the 'Motor'?

servo motors autofocus

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2 replies to this topic

#1
Buck_Jackson

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I'm getting back into photography after a long lapse. My experience is with manual SLRs, a manual Yashica twin lens reflex over and under, and a Canon AE1 (all in the in the 1970s and '80s). I read some reviews, and one fellow said he moved up to the Nikon D7000 series because the auto focus motor was in the camera not the lenses, stating that: using cheaper Nikon cameras, with the motor in the lens, he had worn out too many expensive lenses. This makes no sense to me, as the lower priced Nikons, like the D5000 series, use the same lenses the D7200 and 7500 use. Also the stabilizing 'motor' in the lenses is a different type of thing, not a battery operated 'motor' per se'. How does autofocus work on a D7200 or D7500 and on a D5600? Does an autofocus lens have an actual 'motor' that a photographer can wear out?

#2
Adam

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The statement is a bit misleading, but it sounds like your friend was simply implying that older screwdrive lenses are less prone to failure than lenses with built-in motors.

 

Given that new lenses come with a 5-year warranty, though, I personally don't think there's a reason to avoid lenses with built-in AF motors.

 

To learn about the technology itself, check out this article.  There are numerous types of motors (AF-D, AF-S, AF-P) which go by different names depending on the manufacturer:

 

The 5 Lens Autofocus Drive Types Explained - Articles and Tips | PentaxForums.com



#3
Merco_61

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There are lots of reasons to prefer the D7xxx series over the D3xxx and D5xxx.

The prosumer cameras are less menu-driven with more buttons that can be used without lowering the camera from the shooting position.

The finder in the D7xxx is a pentaprism, not a pentamirror. This gives less light-loss than in the cheaper models, making it easier to use in low light.

The in-body AF motor makes the old AF and AF-D usable on the D7xxx, unlike the D3xxx and D5xxx that need AF-i, AF-S or AF-P lenses for the AF to work. The D7xxx uses the in-lens motor with the more modern lenses, just like the cheaper bodies.

D7000, D7100 and D7200 are fully backwards-compatible all the way to Ai lenses from 1977 onwards, and earlier lenses still if they have been converted to Ai specifications. This backwards-compatibility has been dropped in the D7500.

 

The D500 and the FX bodies are all fully Ai compatible.