Is it a big thing not to have a autofocus motor on your dslr?

Is it a big thing not to have a autofocus motor on your dslr?

I've read that Nikon D3100 doesn't have one, is it a big deal?

Added (1). If yes, how big a deal?

There are several reasons for a motor - I don't know who you've been listening too but the 3100 certainly does auto focus.

On any dslr it's really difficult to focus manually through the view finder because you just can't see the subject that clearly so it becomes a very big deal.

NO!

The D3100 has a wide range of lenses equipped with the AF motor, both from Nikon and from third parties.

If you have a collection of lenses that rely on the motor in the camera, it may not be the way to go.

No, because you can get lenses with an autofocus motor, or can just do the manual focusing. The only thing is that lenses might be more expensive.

Depends on what you want to shoot.

There are lenses with a built-in AF motor (AF-S lenses) for pretty much all purposes, except one:
There's no 50mm/1.8 AF-S lens. That's the typical "budget" portrait lens, costing only $150. If you want a specialized portrait lens that autofocuses, you'll have to get the $350 50mm/1.4G AF-S.

If you know that portraits are something that you want to take and you specifically want Nikon and don't care about video, then i'd recommend a D90.It's a bit more expensive than the D3100 but it can use the 50mm/1.8D inclusive autofocus.

@Jim: He didn't say anything about the D3100 having no AF at all, just not a AF motor in the body.

Depends if you are buying more lenses and if they are new or used. It also depends if you want a 50mm f1.8 as there isn't an AF-S one from Nikon.

I didn't buy a D40 exactly because I wanted to use older auto-focus lenses. The whole point of buying Nikon is the range of lenses, if you buy a motor-less Nikon, then you might as well look at Sony who have 25 years worth of Sony, Minolta, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina and CZ etc., auto-focus lenses.

People don't realise that there are more auto-focus lenses available for the Sony mount than there are for the motor-less Nikon D40/D40x/D60/D3000/D3100/D5000/D5100.

Canon don't have this problem either as their EOS system has been around since the 1980's.

You also need to consider that with both Nikon and Canon you will have to buy VR and IS lenses to get image stabilisation. The Sony has built-in sensor stabilisation. ANY lens you put on it is therefore stabilised.

Is all this a big deal to you? Only you can answer that.

Not really as aimost all of the newer lenses have a motor built into the lens. However if you are serious enough it will turn out to be a disadvantage when you buy a lens like the 10.5mm f/2.8