Can a Nikon AF-S or AF-P lens with a failed focus motor still autofocus on a body with an internal AF motor?
Asked 9/17/2012
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I have a Nikon 70-300mm AF-S lens whose autofocus and VR stopped working. Service said repair would cost more than replacing the lens. Since older Nikon AF lenses can autofocus using the camera body's built-in screw-drive motor on bodies like the D7000, I'm wondering whether an AF-S (or AF-P) lens with a failed internal AF motor can fall back to the camera body's motor. If not, why doesn't it autofocus in manual focus mode with the camera body set to AF?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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If you are asking why AF-S lens with broken motor does not auto-focus on body with built-in motor then the answer is simple. AF-S lenses are not designed to be driven by in body motor - they simply lack screw necessary for that. They are always focused by internal motor on any Nikon body.
So unfortunately your lens may be used only with manual focus...
Originally by user2922. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user2922
13y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
No. Nikon AF-S and AF-P lenses cannot use the camera body’s internal screw-drive autofocus motor, even if the body has one.
AF-S lenses use an internal Silent Wave Motor, and AF-P lenses use an internal stepper/pulse motor. They are designed to focus only with those built-in motors. Unlike older screw-drive AF lenses, they do not have the mechanical screw-drive coupling needed for the camera body to turn the focus mechanism.
So if the AF motor system in an AF-S or AF-P lens fails, the lens will not autofocus on any Nikon body. The body’s AF motor cannot drive it.
That also explains why switching the lens to manual focus doesn’t help: manual focus mode simply disengages autofocus so you can turn the focus ring yourself; it does not enable any alternate drive from the camera body.
In short, a broken AF-S/AF-P lens can still be used manually if the focus ring works, but it cannot be made to autofocus via the camera’s internal motor.
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