Nikon autofocus compatibility explained

Compatibility is one of the great strengths of the Nikon system, but autofocus is one area where there are limitations to how bodies and lenses work together.

Nikon's first autofocus camera was the rare F3AF, an autofocus version of the renowned F3 professional camera body. The F3AF only worked with two special lenses which focus motors inside them.

The first mainstream Nikon AF camera, the F-501 (below, known as N2020 in the US) of 1986 introduced a different approach: the focus motor was in the camera body instead of in the lens.

AF lenses generally did not have focus motors built in, with the exception of the AF-I professional telephoto lenses of the 1990s. These needed more power to move heavy lumps of glass, so focus motors were built into the lenses.

In the late 1990s a new generation of AF-S lenses was fitted with SWM ultrasonic motors. Then in 2006 Nikon introduced the entry-level D40 body which had no focus motor of its own, so could only focus with the AF-S lenses.

Since then, lower-end Nikon AF bodies have not been fitted with focus motors and are restricted to using AF-S and the more recent AF-P lenses, while higher-end bodies do have focus motors and can work with any AF lens.

For autofocus to work, either the camera or the lens must have a focus motor. If both have, AF will work fine (the camera will use the lens motor). If neither the camera body nor the lens has a focus motor, AF will not work.

Does my Nikon body have a focus motor?

Lens focus drive on a Nikon D800E

Remove the lens from the camera and look at the mount on the camera body. If you see a drive mechanism that looks like the tip of a screwdriver poking out of the mount at about the 7 o'clock position the body has a focus motor. If your camera does not have this, it does not have a focus motor.

Does my Nikon-fit lens have a focus motor?

Lens focus drive on an AF Nikkor 20mm f/2.8

Remove the lens from the camera and look at the mount on the lens. With the lens upright (as though fitted to the camera) look for a small drive mechanism like the head of a slotted screw in the lens mount at the 5 o'clock position (arrowed above). If this is present, the lens focus is driven from the camera body and the lens has no focus motor. If there is no slotted drive (below), the lens has its own focus motor.

No lens focus drive on an AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8

Recommendations

If you have a Nikon body without a focus motor (D40, D40x, D60, D3xxx, D5xxx) you need a lens with one. For all other AF Nikons (apart from that rare F3AF) any Nikon-fit AF lens will work.

If you're choosing a Nikon AF camera body, go for one with a focus motor if possible because this gives you a much wider range of used lenses to choose from – and no chance of picking a lens that just won't work with your camera body.