Nikon screwdriven focus motor - here to stay?

[danbroad]

Hi folks, this is something quite dear to me;

Unlike our Canon brethren, Nikkor still relies on in-body torque focus motors, especially for its faster/older primes. Many of us own at least one of these lenses, even if it's just the 50mm 1.8.

Slowly, but surely, Nikkor glass is changing to 'G' specification, with no aperture ring and inbuilt AF-S ultrasonic focus motors. We've also seen recent 'entry/enthusiast' cameras - D40 through D60 - which do away with the focus motor altogether.

Eventually, there will come a time where no Nikkor glass relies on in-body focusing. This is a blessing and a curse, IMHO - the aperture ring, even if I never use it, is still a welcome feature, perhaps if I ever find an old film or early digital model as a backup body. But, fast-focusing fast primes and zooms are the future, and the quieter and potentially more reliable focus speed is, no doubt, an advantage.

So, let's say in 2012, the final screw-driven Nikkor lens rolls off the production line. How much longer should we reasonably expect Nikon to provide cameras with a heavy, costly, in-body torque motor? Five years? Ten? Twenty?

It may seem a long way away, but the available lifespan of a lens is easily 25-50 years for good glass. Screw-driven focus is reliable and harwearing; amateurs like myself, considering the 85mm f/1.4, might expect it to 'see us out'. If Nikon finally gives up on 'antiquated tech', then not only does our lens become worthless, it becomes effectively useless. A shame indeed...

 

[joxby]

I suppose it depends on how long cam focus body's last.
A slow transition to AF/S is ok, but AF/S is not essential for every situation, neither is af come to think of it.
Non-af lenses didn't become worthless or useless with the advent of af, the same applies to cam focus af lenses.
As long as they keep the F mount, its something to consider over a period of time, hopefully we won't get dropped in the dog doo doo with a mount change.
*crosses fingers*

 

[danbroad]

Perhaps 'essentially useless' was too strong a term. A good, bright lens like the 85 1.4 would always find a place, even as a manual focus lens.

Maybe even, if the build quality of the imminent 85mm f/1.4G AF-S is subjectively not as high as the outgoing model, we could even see a surge in secondhand prices, in much the same way as the AiS model, which now trades for silly money..

It is a concern, though. I'm of two minds whether to wait it out for the new model, then use the overlap period to decide between the two; I can see the Nano-coating being useful, but the lack of aperture ring being a potential hindrance.

 

[Wail]

Funny to read this thread, I've just decided against going autofocus with my latest lens purchase and got the Voigtlander 58mm f1.4

I am so happy to have gone back to manual focus. Even though Nikon seems to be moving towards AF-S; personally, I see my self getting more and more into manual focus.

A few years ago I was at an F1 event, and I found that manual focus was the best way to get some of the sharpest and most amazing shots. Not to put AF-S down, but if you can master manual focus then I am sure you will love it.

Oh, and the Voigtlander does have an apperture ring .... just as I remember from my younger days. What a pleasure to use

 

[StewartR]

I think it has to go. Try a Nikon 80-400 VR (screw-driven AF) against a Canon 100-400 L IS (USM, same as AF-S), and the Nikon really is a positive embarrassment. No wonder all the lenses you see at air shows and on safari are white.

 

[dougdarter]

I think there will always be a body focus DSLR in Nikons range, and frankly, I think that they would be unwise to do otherwise.

I think that Nikon have a sort of 'pact' with owners of their F mount AF D/AI/AI-S lenses, that will allow these to be used, as long as people want to use them.

There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever, that some of the finest Nikon lenses ever were made in these mounts, and despite in body focus/VR/new lens construction methods, the older lenses will always be highly valued. There is an integrity, both in terms of construction, and materials, as well as optical quality, that I find missing in modern lenses.

Everything you buy today, is built down to a price, and true quality is abrogated at the altar of profit.

When the old professional f2.8 AFD's and early AFS lenses were built, the only people who could afford them were professionals, and very rich amateurs. These photographers demanded the very best, regardless of price, and Nikon supplied the goods, regardless of cost.

With the advent of the DSLR, more and more people have entered the market, and to be brutally frank, have demanded lenses at cheaper and cheaper prices.

Lenses that once would have been lathe cut and hand polished are now made using pressed glass, and machine finishing. Bodies that once would have been built from aluminium and brass, are now being produced in 'engineering' plastic and other synthetics.

These lenses are NOT of the same quality as those made 20 years ago. Optically, they may be as good, but when the internal AF motor dies, so does the lens in most cases.

Nikon keep introducing 'new' models of the same lens, and there are shutterbugs who will change a lens, just because it has a different acronym on the barrel. It's much easier to build a lens, designed on a computer, and built from modern materials, with modern manufacturing methods.

Nikon's old professional glass, albeit slowly, will still be utilised in 50 years time, as the fifty year old lenses are still being used now. I'm sure Nikon know this, and will continue to build body AF cameras. If they stopped, the thousands of photographers out there who still use old lenses, either manual, or AF would simply stop buying new cameras - I know I would.

 

[Richard Peters]

Well seeing as you can use auto focus lenses in manual as well, I don't really see the problem. That said, if there is something a manual only lens can do that an auto lens in manual can't, then that's a different story...

 

[danbroad]

Although I have no problem using these lenses as manual focus, if there was chance that within the next ten years that's what I'd end up doing, then perhaps I'd give consideration to other lenses; the zeiss 85 Planar, or the Nikkor PCE 85mm tilt/shift...