victor virtucio , Apr 25, 2007; 01:38 p.m.
Here's the question:
Will I get better AF speed from a 70-300mm ED lens mounted on a D200 than
mounted on a D80?
In other words, will a better AF camera make a mediocre AF lens focus faster?
This isn't an exercise in academics. I have a 300mm f/4 ED and the 70-300
f4/5.6 ED. Another photographer and I are shooting a baseball tourney and I
want to lend him my 70-300mm since his longest lens is just the 80-200mm 2.8.
He's got a D80 and I have the D200. If he can get better results using my D200
with the 70-300, that's what we'll do. But if it's all equal, I might as well
keep my D200.
Thanks for any actual anecdotes that might shed light on this.
Anthony Bez , Apr 25, 2007; 01:50 p.m.
"What determines AF speed -- camera body or lens?"
Both but the biggest difference is between slow and fast lenses.
Juanjo Viagran 
, Apr 25, 2007; 01:51 p.m.
I don't know about D200 and D80 BUT:
I have a D2H and a D70 and the AF speed of the D2H is considerable faster than the D70 using the same lens.
No sure about "mediocre AF lenses" tho. :/
Erik Loza , Apr 25, 2007; 01:54 p.m.
Shun Cheung 
, Apr 25, 2007; 01:54 p.m.
AF speeds depends on both the body and the lens.
In your particular case, I would suggest you experiment and determine whether it makes a difference or not for yourself.
Bruce Rubenstein , Apr 25, 2007; 03:49 p.m.
It's a combination of things, but in this case there will be no difference in speed. The AF sensor module, processor and AF motor are the same.
If you want to see that lens move fast, throw it off a high building.
Carl Becker , Apr 25, 2007; 05:04 p.m.
I asked a similiar question a few weeks back. D80 vs D200 for fast focus. I am using a Nikkor 180 AF-D. In the D70 through D200 class I think the bodies are about equal. I bought a 2nd hand 70-210 f5.6 and it focus's much faster than the 180. I could have purchased and D2H and improved focus speed also. The D2H will move a slow focusing lens faster. A fast focus lens 80-200 f2.8 will focus fast on the lower bodies.
Carl
Adam Maas , Apr 26, 2007; 10:24 a.m.
There are a number of factors. With AF-S lenses (Motor in lens) it's the AF unit in the body and the lens itself which determine focusing speed. With screw-driver AF lenses the main determinant is the power of the AF motor which drives AF, to a lesser extent the lens speed and gearing (the latter can make a surprising amount of difference and is one reason why many AF-D lenses focus faster than other-wise identical non-D lenses)).
The D200 will outperform the D80 with screwdriver lenses due to having a more powerful drive motor, but AF-S lenses will focus at the same speed (since they share an AF sensor).
