Do manual-focus-only lenses usually feel smoother than autofocus lenses in manual focus?
Asked 9/12/2023
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I shoot manually a lot and have noticed a big difference in focus feel between lenses. My Nikon Series E 50mm f/1.8 AIS (manual focus only) has a very smooth, precise focusing ring, while my AF Micro-NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8D feels stiffer and less precise when switched to manual focus. I’ve noticed similar behavior on other autofocus lenses too, including new ones, so it doesn’t seem to be an age or condition issue. Is this normal? Do autofocus lenses generally have a shorter or coarser manual focus feel than lenses designed purely for manual focus?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
2y ago
2 Answers
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Well yes, you've noticed this for yourself and answered your own question.
But the question as to whether AF lenses are "stiffer/clunkier" is quite a bit more variable because different AF lenses use different AF drive mechanisms. For instance, your 60mm AF-D uses screw drive with the AF motor being in the camera body; whereas some lenses use micro drive, pulse (stepper) drive, or various versions of ultrasonic motors located in the lens. Each is likely to have something of a different feel.
Another significant factor is AF "throw"... in order to make AF faster the focus throw is smaller. I.e. the distance the focus ring has to move is much shorter between 2m and infinity on the 60mm AF than it is on the manual focus 50mm. This means the AF gearing is necessarily coarser for a given focal length lens/focus range.
Originally by user70370. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user70370
2y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—this is normal. Many manual-focus-only lenses feel smoother and more precise than autofocus lenses used in manual mode.
A big reason is design priority. Manual-focus lenses are built for hand focusing, so they often have a longer focus throw and finer gearing, which gives that “buttery” feel and makes precise adjustments easier.
Autofocus lenses are optimized to focus quickly, so they often use a shorter focus throw. That means less rotation of the focus ring from near to far focus, which can make manual focusing feel coarser and more sensitive.
The focusing feel also depends on the autofocus drive system. Different AF lens designs—such as screw-drive, micro-motor, stepper, or ultrasonic systems—can all feel different in manual operation.
So in general: yes, AF lenses in manual focus often feel less smooth or less precise than dedicated manual-focus lenses, though the exact feel varies by lens design.
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