Which Nikon cameras can auto focus using Nikkor lenses such as the Nikkor 50mm F/1.8?

Question

I purchased a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 A and have been using it on my D60. However I want to auto focus but it only supports manual focusing. Unlike my kit lens, an 18-55mm lens which has DX capabilities, this one doesnt.

My question is, is it better to buy a D80 (for example) if it has a built in auto-focus engine that I can use with me 50mm lens, or to go out there and look for a good DX portrait lens? (Both will probably be the same price no?)

Answer 1

Nikon has made 50 mm lenses for nprobably 6 decades so you need to look a deeper. As was said here it does not matter for autofocus if the lens is DX or FX. A DX lens was desigend for an APSc sized sensor. An FX lens for a 35 mm film frame or full sized 35 mm sensor. If you use an FX lens on a DX camera there is a 1.5 crop factor

What you need to look at for autofocus is what is the series of the lens. Only AF-S or AF- I lenses will autofocus on the D60 and D40. AF and AF-D will also autofocus on all other Nikon autofocus cameras  but not the D60 D40 . for digital these would be the D90, D80, D70, D70s, D50, D100, D700, D300, D200, D1 , D2 , and D3

The D80 is a great camera but the technology in the D60 for image processing , active D lighting, monitoring and dust control is all newer than the the D80. And IMHO having to manually focus a lens is no big deal. It takes little effort and is easy to do. You can even get an add in prism if you like the split center ring for quicker focusing.

Answer 2

Any AF Nikon (film or digital) except the D40, D40x, D60 and F3AF will autofocus with the AF(-D) 50mm f/1.8.

Answer 3

It's not the DX which makes it Autofocus, it's the AF-S which means the autofocus motor is in the lens, and not in the body. AF lenses, rely on a body to autofocus them. However, three cameras ( the d60, d40x, and d60 ) don't have autofocus motors in body, they rely on the in lens motors. So you have to manually focus. However, with any film or digital SLR besided those three, you'll be able to AF the 50mm f/1.8

The next camera up which can autofocus the 50mm f/1.8 lens, and AF lenses in general is the Nikon d80, don't get another portrait lens, the 50mm f/1.8 lens is best, here's a link:

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-10-2MP-Digit...