Camera Labs

Fact: Nikon lenses with AF-S do auto-focus on the D40(x) and Nikon AF-lenses don't auto-focus on the D40(x)!
Fact: Sigma lenses with HSM don't rely on the camera-body driving the lens focus and thus also work on the Nikon D40(x).
BUT: Is this also true for all Sigma AF lenses? Do they bring their own focus motor?
I couldn't find a hint in the Sigma brochure

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Thomas,

From what I understand, when it comes to Sigma lenses with Nikon mount, only the HSM lenses have in-lens focus motor - with two exceptions: the 80-400mm F4.5-5.6 EX DG OS and the new 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS which are not HSM but do have in-lens focus motor (and thus will autofocus on the D40(x)). Sigma just added 2 new lenses with HSM especially for D40(x) owners: 18-50mm F3.5-5.6 DC HSM and 55-200mm F4-5.6 DC HSM. Not sure how they will compare in terms of price and IQ with Nikon's...

Sigma's own list of lenses that will autofocus on the D40(x) is here: http://www.sigma-photo.com/news/news.asp?nID=3324.

For other mounts, non-HSM Sigmas may have in-lens focus motor - this seems to be the case with the Canon mount lenses, since Canon DSLRs do not have in-camera focus motors.

Darrin

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Nikon D40 | Nikkor 18-55 VR | Nikkor 55-200 VR | Voigtländer Ultron 40mm SL-II | Nikon Speedlight SB-400

Thanks for the reply, Darrin!
So this really is quite confusing with some Sigma lenses, although there are quite a lot of HSM lenses. But not in the much sought after 18-200 or 18-135mm range! And the two lenses that you mentioned are not yet available in the European market...

Much easier to detect with Nikon lenses: AF-S = ok for D40(x), AF = not ok for D40(x).
Nikon is doing quite a bit to keep third party lenses out

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

See also the latest news: http://www.cameralabs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=920

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses