D40 Lens Compatibility

[teedlepeep]

Can anyone confirm (or deny) that a Sigma 70 - 300mm F4 - 5.6 DG Macro will autofocus on a Nikon D40 ??
Thanks
Sue

[sk66]

It has to be an HSM version.

[Almond.Butterscotch]

it won't autofocus (as it isn't HSM), but if you're getting it for the Macro work, know that the best that lens goes to is 1:2 reproduction, and unless I've missed my mark, that means the image on the sensor will be half the size of the actual object (and most people argue that it isn't macro until you've hit the 1:1 mark).

For reference, according to what I just read on Sigma's page for the lens, the 200-300mm range on the lens goes 1:2.9 to 1:2 for reproduction.

Additionally, from what I've heard from many people, autofocus really isn't all too big a deal in macro photography, as for most lenses, you're close-focussing anyways.

[Dennismc]

Ok another twist, according to BH the model they sell now will af on the d40

B&H# SI70300456N Mfr# 5A9306

So teedlepeep, if the mfr # is the above on that one it will.

[Almond.Butterscotch]

How interesting... I assume this is the lens you were talking about.

Both B&H and the Sigma sites say it has a motor built in and will autofocus electronically, but Sigma didn't give it the HSM designation. Perhaps an error.

But Dennismc is right. According to the specs on each site, it should work on the D40/x/60/3000/5000

[Raoul Isidro]

Have a look at the mount ring of any Nikon AF lens or other name brands, and if there is a small hole on the ring that touches the camera mount, and this hole has a rotating screw head, (the autofocus link), chances are the lens has no AF motor and will not AF on the D40.
Cheers.

[Almond.Butterscotch]

Originally Posted by Raoul Isidro

Have a look at the mount ring of any Nikon AF lens

That's a bit difficult to do if you're buying online.

[LoveDSLR]

There is no need to guess. Just ask teedlepeep to look at the lens mount to see is there a 'slotted rotating coupling' on it.

See Ken Rockwell photo under "AF (Autofocus): 1986" @ Nikkor Lens Technology.

AF Lenses with HSM or build-in motor doesn't have one.

[sk66]

Originally Posted by Almond.Butterscotch

How interesting... I assume this is the lens you were talking about.

Both B&H and the Sigma sites say it has a motor built in and will autofocus electronically, but Sigma didn't give it the HSM designation. Perhaps an error.

But Dennismc is right. According to the specs on each site, it should work on the D40/x/60/3000/5000

Apparently they just added the motor recently...Sigma shows it as "NEW". Originally it did not have the motor. The announcement of adding the motor was made Jan 2008 or so....

[teedlepeep]

Thanks for the responses. I was able to look at the lens and see that it does have the screw thing and therefore will not auto focus on that camera.