do canons AF faster than nikons?

[BlahBlahYouToo]

for reference, my d5100 is my first DSLR.
i played with a friends sony a850? and AF seemed to be about the same speed.

never tested a canon until this past week and played with a t2i. with the kit 18-55, AF seemed to be noticeably faster.
i tested it side by side with the display d5100 so i wasn't going off memory.

 

[alfa147x]

Did the canon lens have usm?

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

does the kit t2i 18-55 have usm?

 

[ElFenix]

does the kit t2i 18-55 have usm?

no

 

[iGas]

Canon EF lenses are much quicker than Nikkor AF lenses, because Canon incorporated the focusing motor in the lens while Nikon relied on the camera body (large heavy Nikkor AF lenses was very slow). The introduction of USM motor on Canon lenses in the 80s took business away from Nikon, because some USM lenses were more than twice as fast as Nikkor AF lenses. It forced Nikon to scraped their bullshit PR game (more than a decade of denials) and incorporated focusing motor into their Nikkor AF-S & SWM lenses.

Today, both USM and SWM focusing lenses are pretty much even in speed, but there is a price premium of SWM lenses compare to USM lenses (as much as 2X or more in price premium over that of USM on certain pro lenses). However, I think Nikkor have a slight edge over Canon for some of their camera bodies, because it incorporates more focus points (the new Canon 1D X will take the lead on the focus point number game).

 

[JohnnyRebel]

for reference, my d5100 is my first DSLR.
i played with a friends sony a850? and AF seemed to be about the same speed.

never tested a canon until this past week and played with a t2i. with the kit 18-55, AF seemed to be noticeably faster.
i tested it side by side with the display d5100 so i wasn't going off memory.

Generally, yes Canon autofocus is faster w/ more misses.

JR

 

[foghorn67]

Even the non USM 18-55 is pretty dang quick.
It was probably a race between the kit lenses rather than the bodies on this one.

 

[iGas]

Generally, yes Canon autofocus is faster w/ more misses.

JR

Tell that to the sport photographers during the 90s and early/mid 2000s. In any given sporting event there would be 9 pros that use Canon and 1 that use Nikkor.

 

[tdawg]

Canon EF lenses are much quicker than Nikkor AF lenses, because Canon incorporated the focusing motor in the lens while Nikon relied on the camera body (large heavy Nikkor AF lenses was very slow). The introduction of USM motor on Canon lenses in the 80s took business away from Nikon, because some USM lenses were more than twice as fast as Nikkor AF lenses. It forced Nikon to scraped their bullshit PR game (more than a decade of denials) and incorporated focusing motor into their Nikkor AF-S & SWM lenses.

Today, both USM and SWM focusing lenses are pretty much even in speed, but there is a price premium of SWM lenses compare to USM lenses (as much as 2X or more in price premium over that of USM on certain pro lenses). However, I think Nikkor have a slight edge over Canon for some of their camera bodies, because it incorporates more focus points (the new Canon 1D X will take the lead on the focus point number game).

What?

Yes, Canon USM lenses are faster to focus than Nikon non-SWF/AF-S lenses. USM and SWM/AF-S are probably the same, or show no noticeable difference. No idea what you're saying about the price premium, since USM and SWM don't compete directly with eachother; each mfg's lenses exist in a separate ecosystem, but for a given focal length (say 70-200 f/2.8), the prices are comparable. Can't even imagine where the 2x price difference came from.

 

[gar655]

IME (long time Canon user who 1 year ago switched to Nikon), most newer Canon bodies have a slightly faster initial focus acquisition. Then depending on the body the Nikon may have slightly better or at least more consistent tracking.

 

[iGas]

What?

Yes, Canon USM lenses are faster to focus than Nikon non-SWF/AF-S lenses. USM and SWM/AF-S are probably the same, or show no noticeable difference. No idea what you're saying about the price premium, since USM and SWM don't compete directly with eachother; each mfg's lenses exist in a separate ecosystem, but for a given focal length (say 70-200 f/2.8), the prices are comparable. Can't even imagine where the 2x price difference came from.

I stand corrected, unlike the past the current crop of SWM lenses are now price comparable to Canon equivalent.

And, I have to agree with gar655 that the current Nikon is better at tracking than Canon counter part.

 

[JohnnyRebel]

Tell that to the sport photographers during the 90s and early/mid 2000s. In any given sporting event there would be 9 pros that use Canon and 1 that use Nikkor.

How do you get from what I said about current models to the 90's and early to mid 2000's? Evel Knievel couldn't make that leap!

JR

 

[RobDickinson]

IME (long time Canon user who 1 year ago switched to Nikon), most newer Canon bodies have a slightly faster initial focus acquisition. Then depending on the body the Nikon may have slightly better or at least more consistent tracking.

Havnt used the top line (1d4/D3) stuff but from my experience I'd average it up to the above. Changed a bit with the 7D but in general canon can lock on quicker (single shot) nikon tend to track better - if given a similar lens.

So much depends on the lens design too, the new 70-200's are rear focus designs, this allows quicker focusing (lighter elements) BUT this introduces other issues (focus breathing).

BTW D5100 doesnt have a body motor so it will need either a micro motor lens or swm/AF-S.