In-Camera Focus Motor

[Anteaus]

Does anyone here have any experience with older lens that use the built in camera motor? I'm curious about focus speed and if the noise is comparable to lenses with build in silent motors. I'm looking at some older lenses to use on my FX body.

I appreciate any feedback.

 

[fralexandr]

in-camera focus motors usually use slot/screw drive. The autofocus from a screw drive will make noise when focusing and will either be slightly slower or noticeably slower depending on the weight/throw of the lens

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUrmm02ffoc&feature=player_detailpage#t=304
sample of autofocus noise

I use a pentax and all of my lenses use screw/slot drive autofocus, since the newer silent motor lenses are expensive, and I haven't gotten around to buying any of them.

whirrrrrrrr thk

 

[blastingcap]

What he said, but I gave up on backwards compatibility, give me the silence and slightly faster speed and more-modern optical design. Computer-assisted lensmaking is a big step up from what they used to use in the screw-drive days.

 

[iGas]

I started out with Canon back in the films day, and was disappointed when Canon changed the mount to EF from the old FD manual focus that was not backward compatible.

However, I stayed with Canon instead of going with Nikon, and bought new EF lenses while owning several EOS bodies film bodies over the years along with old manual focus bodies and 5 FD lenses, because of the superior USM focusing mechanism that wasn't available in Nikon mount.

Optics hasn't improve much in the last 25 years, but the focus mechanism and IS/VR has improved so much that it make your life easier, and greatly help with getting the shots that you may have missed with the old manual focus lenses, or the sluggish screw drive AF.

 

[Syborg1211]

I had the Tokina 11-16 (older version with no af motor), and that screw-drive focus definitely has a distinct sound to it which is louder and seemingly slower than any lenses with it built in. That Tokina with no motor was the best option for a ultra-wide on DX though. If you're looking at a specific lens that has no afs counterpart, then go ahead and get it you shouldn't really regret it. If there's a newer version with the motor, then I say you might as well get it. Or try out the one without the motor. That screw drive sound could be offputting to people.

 

[AViking]

The worst is when you take video. Even if you don't think it sounds that bad it sounds atrocious on the video. Definitely consider silent lenses or an off camera microphone.

 

[iGas]

The worst is when you take video. Even if you don't think it sounds that bad it sounds atrocious on the video. Definitely consider silent lenses or an off camera microphone.

Video is a reason that manual focus still prevalent. A cheap focus puller would do wonder for video & macro work.

http://www.amazon.com/Trudeau-Silicone-Opener-Random-Colors/dp/B003FPEA0I/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1389636869&sr=8-3&keywords=focus+puller

 

[Berliner]

Compared to traditional motors in lenses (like my Tamron 90mm II) they are not much louder if not equal.

Compared to silent wave focus screw driven focus is loud.