Might be a dumb question, but....

[hankejp]

How do I know what functionality I'll have with my D40 if I buy a new lens? I thought I read somewhere that some functions like auto-focus don't work with D40's on some lenses.

How do I know if it does or doesn't? I'm hoping to get another lens and want to know what to expect.

Hope this makes sense.

Thanks

 

[lockwood81]

Sigma HSM and Nikon AFS lenses will have full functionality....the others like you said will not have autofocus.

Actually I found a list of Nikkor lenses for the D40..

Nikkor Lenses that can Auto Focus on a D40 / D40X

DX
AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED
AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II
AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED
AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED
AF-S DX Zoom 55-200mm f/4-5.6 G ED
AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED
AF-S DX 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED
AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G
AF-S DX 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED


Zoom
AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED (1.7x)*New
AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED (2.9x)*New
AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED
AF-S VR 200-400mm f/4G IF-ED
AF-S VR 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED
AF-S VR 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED
AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED
AF-S 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED
AF-S 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED
AF-S 80-200mm f/2.8 IF-ED


Telephoto
AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8G ED VR*New
AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR*New
AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR*New
AF-S VR 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED
AF-S VR 200mm f/2G IF-ED
AF-S 400mm f/2.8D IF-ED II
AF-S 500mm f/4D IF-ED II
AF-S 300mm f/2.8D IF-ED II
AF-S 600mm f/4D IF-ED II
AF-S 300mm f/4D IF-ED
AF-S 600mm f/4D IF-ED

 

[andrew99]

I believe Nikon AF-I lenses will also autofocus?

I have 2 Sigma HSM lenses, and I can confirm they work perfectly on my D40.

 

[hankejp]

Thanks guys.

Thanks for the list Lockwood. This will help me greatly as I try to build up my arsenal.

Andrew, how are the Sigma lens's? Can you get pretty crisp pictures from them. How's the hardware as well? Have you had any breakdown on you?


Thanks again.

 

[andrew99]

I have the Sigma 10-20mm HSM, which is a super-wide angle zoom. I love shooting with this, it's a lot of fun.

My other Sigma is the 50-150mm f2.8 HSM, it's a fairly heavy brick of a lens, feels very solid, it's very sharp, and I love the constant f2.8 throughout the entire zoom range. I'm very happy with both of these lenses. I've had no problems and the build quality seems good.

Is it worth it to spend 50% more for an equivalent Nikkor? For image quality, definitely not (the Sigma's are very good), but for reliability and resale value, I'm not sure -- ask me in a couple of years!

edit: If you look at my flickr stream, you can see lots of examples of these lenses, I always tag each photo with the lens used. However, I do add sharpening, contrast, saturation, etc, in post.