p.1 #1 · Technical Question: Why does Canon lenses autofocus faster than Nikon?
No intention to start a war, nor is it to shame Nikon. I own 2 of the fastest Nikons ever made: the 24-70 and the 70-200 VR2. Both autofocuses very quick, but generally speaking it looks like Canon lenses on average focus faster than their Nikon counterpart.
So if I can compare a few lenses:
Canon 85mm 1.8 is much much faster than Nikon 85mm 1.8G. This one is disappointing for me as there's a good 10year+ difference between the 2 lenses yet Nikon is slower to focus.
When I shot Canon a few years back, the 85 was something I could use for sports due to its quick autofocus. I wouldn't try that with the Nikon. In fact the D versions of the 85mm are noticeably faster than the newer G lenses.
Canon 100mm Macro IS vs Nikon 105 Macro VR. The Canon IS L lens is much faster here as well. Both command similar prices and both are each respective company's flagship Macro lens.
Canon 35mm 1.4 V1 or V2 absolutely destroys the Nikon 35mm 1.4 in focus speed. I still have my old v1 35 1.4L. I was shocked by the underwhelming focus response from Nikon's 1.4 when I rented it for a wedding.
Is it the electronic aperture control on Canon that tips the scales? Nikon's SWM is just not as good as Canon's USM or STM? Just wondering if there's a technical reason why even 20 year old Canon lenses tend to autofocus faster than new Nikon lenses.
p.1 #2 · Technical Question: Why does Canon lenses autofocus faster than Nikon?
They have different optical designs. Older D lenses, certain zoom lenses and most Canon lenses use rear focusing system where relatively light rear group of elements is being moved.
Nikon's more modern lenses such as 85mm 1.4G/1.8G use more complex internal focusing where internal elements are moved. That is slower, but in theory optical performance at different focus distances is better and there are different sorts of trade offs.
I personally find focus speed of modern primes adequate. It is true they are ultra fast at focusing, but I am not sure if this is what prime users really want at the first place. If I was looking for speed, I would get one of these zooms with fast rear focusing such as 24-70/2.8
Canon makes slow focus lenses too. Take look at 85/1.2L for example...
p.1 #3 · Technical Question: Why does Canon lenses autofocus faster than Nikon?
The only real lenses that really matter for fast focus are action lenses, like the telephoto primes and telephoto zooms for sports and wildlife. Nikon lenses are certainly not lacking here.
p.1 #5 · Technical Question: Why does Canon lenses autofocus faster than Nikon?
A 'fast focusing' lens means nothing if the camera's AF acquisition and AF tracking can't hold up with it.
Nikon DSLR's, starting from the 2008 D3 (although from personal experience think that eg the D2X should not be underestimated in that respect either), have an excellent reputation as far as those essential characteristics are concerned.
Of course the widely publicized problems with eg the 1DIII, 1DIV and 7D didn't help Canon's reputation in that respect
p.1 #6 · Technical Question: Why does Canon lenses autofocus faster than Nikon?
I think in lens design, like most things in life, there are trade-offs between motor speed and accuracy. If a motor moves quickly, it's probably going to overshoot and hunt a little, because it doesn't know where it's going up front. the PDAF module is saying "keep going, keep going, keep going, stop there, nope back up a little..." until it hits the optimum location. Meanwhile there is a piece of software which decides when focus is "close enough" and allows the shutter to fire. If I put a greater emphasis on accuracy, it's probably better to drive it a little slower, and to be a little more fussy about what is "close enough". If you want both fast AND accurate you can get both with a heavier motor, but most users don't want a heavy motor, and then parts wear faster so the lens becomes sloppy sooner. To reduce weight and wear, you can use exotic materials, but price goes though the roof.
I don't think it's a case of anyone not knowing how to make something fast, they just make different choices in how they balance speed, accuracy, cost, weight, and durability. Each brand has some fast ones, and some slow ones based on decisions they made, just like Chevy and Ford. Canon has also deprecated mounts a few times, not just FD to EF, and if you use the old gear you have to use stop down metering. With Nikon can still use lenses from the 50's on modern bodies with full functionality because they valued the customers desire for longevity. It's all about choices.
p.1 #7 · Technical Question: Why does Canon lenses autofocus faster than Nikon?
Really? Some of you are apologizing for Nikon....hehehehe.... I think it has to do with the AF system design and the types of parts being used, period. Not because of some inherent optical quality of the Nikon lenses that makes it impossible to design a faster AF system....
p.1 #9 · Technical Question: Why does Canon lenses autofocus faster than Nikon?
What really matters is what bodies are you comparing and if the lenses actually lock on focus, and the image is actually in focus after. Fast, out of focus images are worthless.
p.1 #10 · Technical Question: Why does Canon lenses autofocus faster than Nikon?
Gregg Heckler wrote:
What really matters is what bodies are you comparing and if the lenses actually lock on focus, and the image is actually in focus after. Fast, out of focus images are worthless.
I am sure the OP isn't a newbie. I am sure his Canon 85mm was fast and was nailing the focus. Otherwise, there are no reasons why the OP is claiming the Nikon is slow and praising the Canon as fast. Look, I won't praise a lens for having fast AF if I wasn't nailing the shots!!!!!
p.1 #11 · Technical Question: Why does Canon lenses autofocus faster than Nikon?
TooManyShots wrote:
I am sure the OP isn't a newbie. I am sure his Canon 85mm was fast and was nailing the focus. Otherwise, there are no reasons why the OP is claiming the Nikon is slow and praising the Canon as fast. Look, I won't praise a lens for having fast AF if I wasn't nailing the shots!!!!!
Yea, I just got the Nikon 85 a few days ago from B&H. One thing I really love about Nikons is I've never had to fine tune the lenses. Focus is right on. The optical qualities of the Nikon 85 is better than the Canon. It has almost no coma or fringing. The canon is notorious for it. But, that autofocus speed difference is noticeable.
In my Canon days, I've always used the 85 on my crop cameras for sports. It gave me a nice 135 lens with fast autofocus. Then throw it back on the 5D2 for portraits. The Nikon takes beautiful portraits but is too slow for sports. It takes the lens out of the game for other applications.
p.1 #12 · Technical Question: Why does Canon lenses autofocus faster than Nikon?
Then try out the 85/1.8 D...it is noticeably faster than the G iteration.....I've had both...but will not mention what you lose with that older design. Both are very good lenses though
p.1 #13 · Technical Question: Why does Canon lenses autofocus faster than Nikon?
how much faster is the af motor; can someone please provide quantifiable data??
i believed there are too much obsessions on the fine details in lieu of the overall system. robustness, reliability, accuracy, and rendering of a lens should carry just as much if not more weighs than just speed. 😊
p.1 #15 · Technical Question: Why does Canon lenses autofocus faster than Nikon?
RSHPhotography wrote:
Yea, I just got the Nikon 85 a few days ago from B&H. One thing I really love about Nikons is I've never had to fine tune the lenses. Focus is right on. The optical qualities of the Nikon 85 is better than the Canon. It has almost no coma or fringing. The canon is notorious for it. But, that autofocus speed difference is noticeable.
In my Canon days, I've always used the 85 on my crop cameras for sports. It gave me a nice 135 lens with fast autofocus. Then throw it back on the 5D2 for portraits. The Nikon takes beautiful portraits but is too slow for sports. It takes the lens out of the game for other applications.
Thanks for point it out because I have been shopping around for a 85mm for my D7000, for sports photography. It seems the AF D version, which came out more than a decade ago, is better for this purpose...oddly.
p.1 #16 · Technical Question: Why does Canon lenses autofocus faster than Nikon?
tntcorp wrote:
btw, can anyone elaborate how much faster or provide reading materials which have quantifiable test data?
for example, are we talking faster as in 14 to 12 fps or 10 to 5 fps?
Is not fps we are talking about. Is the speed in which the lens can lock on focus while the subjects are moving. You don't need to shoot charts and walls for this. If the actions are unfolding but your lens just can't lock onto the focus of the subjects, yeah, your lens AF is SLOW, period.
p.1 #17 · Technical Question: Why does Canon lenses autofocus faster than Nikon?
I would say the Canon is twice as fast. But the Nikon is a better overall lens. My gripe is with the fact that the Canon is an older design and has faster focusing than the new Google lens. Heck even the older 85D lenses were faster.
And this is not just for 85mm, but other lenses as mentioned above
p.1 #18 · Technical Question: Why does Canon lenses autofocus faster than Nikon?
Maybe it is a question of using the right tools for the job. 85mm was designed for portraits, not sports. So, in lens design, Nikon put more emphasis on those qualities critical to portrait photography? We know they can make a fast focusing prime lens - they didn't try to in the case of the 85mm. Same goes for the other lenses you cite, 35mm and 105 macro, these were not built for action. Compare the 70-200s, the 300s, and the 400s.
p.1 #19 · Technical Question: Why does Canon lenses autofocus faster than Nikon?
RSHPhotography wrote:
Heck even the older 85D lenses were faster.
Would you be happier if they compromised on lens design and use a simpler design with less groups that allows for simpler and faster rear focusing for the 85mm G series?
I personally believe that the trade-off is well chosen for 85/1.8G. It is much better lens overall than 85/1.8D and sells for a great price. I owned both and strongly prefer the new one.
p.1 #20 · Technical Question: Why does Canon lenses autofocus faster than Nikon?
The autofocus with the same lenses was much faster with the D3 than the D300. I see the same now with the D750 being much faster to autofocus than the D810.
Fastest focusing lenses with Nikon will be the AF-S when used on a pro level camera. I shot with Canon pro lenses and cameras and the Canon zooms were less than satisfactory as were the wide angle primes when it came to autofocus accuracy.
The Canon 1d Mark III and IV cameras would however autofocus more readily in low light than the D3 cameras that replaced them. It was worth the loss of low light AF to get a pro build full frame high ISO camera and the Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 and 24-70mm f2.8 lenses that were vastly superior to my Canon 16-35mm f2.8 II and 24-70mm f2.8 L lenses in every respect.
