We have already published a patent that Nikon working on 18-135mm APS-C Mirrorless lens with Silent AF Motor. Now, we have one more patent that clearly says Nikon is working more to improve the AF noise generated by the lenses by limiting the AF speed of the AF motor.
Nikon APS-C Mirrorless to have Silent Mode and Normal AF Mode
Don’t get confused with DSLRs in camera silent mode, for example I have used Nikon D850 DSLR silent mode in which camera uses the electronic shutter to capture images and same in the case of Nikon new Z6 and Z7 Mirrorless camera, if you select silent mode in nikon Z7 camera the shutter slap noise will be reduce while using electronic shutter, however in LED light lights some banding issues may appear while using silent shutter.
The new patent reveals silent AF Mode, in Silent AF mode camera will limit the AF speed to minimize the noise of the AF motor.
The silent AF lenses coming for Nikon APS-C Mirrorless camera and very soon the tech will be also implemented in FF Mirrorless camera.
Nikon Initial Details
2018-08-06 – Application filed by Nikon
2019-04-01 – Application status is Pending
Nikon Silent AF Patent More Details
(Description of the silent mode)
Lens control unit of the present embodiment, the control of the lens driving unit performs based on the two kinds of control modes (normal control mode, the silent control mode). If the lens control unit is the normal control mode is set, the lens control unit 203 controls the lens driving unit 212 without limiting the driving speed of the focusing lens. On the other hand, if the lens control unit silent control mode is set, the lens control unit drives the speed of the focusing lens controls the lens driving unit so as not to exceed a predetermined maximum drive speed. More specifically, in the control of the lens drive unit monitors the driving speed of the focusing lens detected by the lens speed detector, the detected driving speed is not exceeded the maximum driving speed of the .
See More Nikon Mirrorless Patent – Working on More Advance Display Units For DSLR and Mirrorless Camera
Nikon DX Mirrorless Rumors – Nikon DX Mirorless Before June 2019 [Rumor]
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I was part of Nikon community for almost 50 years, starting with Nikkormat FTN, finishing with D7000.
About 7 years ago I went to Fujifilm and bought X-E2, as it performed as well as D7000 with body about 0.45 kg compared to about 0.75kg for Nikon.
APS-C model, to be a success, needs to be technically advanced of course, but must be compact and light too.
IMHO, Nikon’s APS-C body must be within 0.5kg in order to win me back and I’d love to come back since I still have more Nikkors than Fujinons.
Of course, new APS-C Nikon must be able to accommodate most older Nikkors F lenses, preferably even screw driven AF lenses, let alone AF-S ED-G lenses. It needs IBIS and it needs an excellent AF.
But it must be light and compact as well.
Upcoming Nikon APS-C Mirrorless camera don’t butil-in AF Motors. But, the DX Lens adapters will have.
“Upcoming Nikon APS-C Mirrorless camera don’t butil-in AF Motors. But, the DX Lens adapters will have.”
I hope so.
When I checked Z6 and Z7 adaptor for older F mount lenses, screw driven AF lenses are not covered (no motor in adapter) and one has to manually focus.