Nikon Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
Nikon compact Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for smaller lenses
The next Nikon mirrorless camera/lenses are rumored to have TWO electric AF motors – each driving a separate group of lens elements for faster and more precise autofocusing. I am still not sure about the details, but I was told that this is a new “internal focusing” technology, where TWO groups of lens elements will be moved independently from each other.
Update – Nikon recently filed a patent for dual AF motors (thanks Broxibear):
Additional information on the different Nikon AF types can be found here:
“AF NIKKOR lenses use a mechanical coupling between the lens and the camera body. On several Nikon DSLR camera bodies, the focus motor is in the camera and a series of gears drives the lens’ focusing mechanism, which allows the lens to focus.
AF-S NIKKOR lenses feature Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM). This technology converts “traveling waves” into rotational energy to focus the optics. This enables high-speed autofocusing that’s extremely accurate and super quiet.
AF-P lenses use a “Pulse” motor or “Stepping” autofocus motor and are even quieter and smoother to autofocus than an AF-S lens, making these lenses ideal when shooting video with a DSLR.”
I am not aware of another company that makes lenses with two AF motors – if I am wrong, please post in the comments section. Similar technology (2 AF motors) already exists in selected lenses from Sony, Leica, Fuji and Olympus.
If you have any information on the upcoming Nikon mirrorless camera, you can contact me anonymously here.
