Humble but potential revolution: AF-P

[bjornthun]

Are the AF-P lenses focus by wire or is it the same clutch system as with AF-S lenses? I'm asking after the manual focus ring operation here.

[ArendV]

fly-by-wire (see my earlier link to Thom Hogan's review).

[Akira]

Well, the current two AF-P lenses are entry models.  I believe the future AF-P replacements will retain the mechanical linkage with the focusing unit.

[bjornthun]

Well, the current two AF-P lenses are entry models.  I believe the future AF-P replacements will retain the mechanical linkage with the focusing unit.

I don't know. Does the focus unit have a felix or helicoid? If the focus group moves along a slide there won't be anything to connect a focus ring to mechanically. So it will depend on the internal construction, if it's possible.

[Akira]

With "future replacements", I meant the followers of other existing AF-S lenses.  Sorry to be unclear.

[bjornthun]

With "future replacements", I meant the followers of other existing AF-S lenses.  Sorry to be unclear.

I was asking about the two current AF-P 18-55 and 55-300 lenses. Do they have helixes or helicoids?

Sorry, if didn't make myself clear.

[Akira]

I was asking about the two current AF-P 18-55 and 55-300 lenses. Do they have helixes or helicoids?

Sorry, if didn't make myself clear.

According to Nikon's explanation, these lenses cannot focus manually with the focusing rings when the power on the camera is off or half-press timer switches the camera off.  I don't know exactly about the focusing mechanism, but it is sure that you can manually focus only when the camera is powered on.  The focus ring should work fly-by-wire and should not be connected mechanically with the focusing system, with or without helixes.

[Erik Lund]

It's shown quite clearly if you follow the link to LensRentals how these look like inside.

Many mirorless and 4/3 lenses are designed like this.

The are several way to do it, Leica does it differently on the SL lenses.

[bjornthun]

Thanks, Erik!

[Erik Lund]

It's interesting to see the inside of these new lenses!

Even the new Hasselblad sk medium format lenses are fly by wire also with manual override and no fixed relation between focus ring and optics.