Nikon AF-S vs AF-D lenses?

Ok, I gotta ask… What lenses are better overall? I know AF-D lenses are cheaper, but I hear AF-S image quality is superb. What about performance/speed (I know this varies by aperture, but in comparison to each other)? Auto focus?

If I invest a little more money for the AF-S lens, will I love it or regret it?

sorry, Canon fans, this is a Nikon question so please don't go on and on trolling about how Nikon is inferior to Canon. (besides I'm well aware of how great some of canon's lenses are too!)

There are consumer grade and pro grade lenses in both types. Buying one over the other does not automatically mean you got the better lens.

AF-D lenses are autofocus, with or without a manual aperture ring. They require a focus motor in the body of the camera to operate in AF mode. The D designation means the lens provides focus distance information to the camera, mostly for flash exposure determination. Those that do not have a focus ring are also designated as G lenses.

AF-S lenses have the focus motor built into the lens, and do not have an aperture ring. Focusing tends to be faster than the body-motor lenses, and much quieter.

As for quality, you get what you pay for, regardless of the AF-S designation.

When Nikon stopped putting a focusing motor in their entry-level DSLR cameras - D40, D40x, D60, D3000, D3100, D5000, D5100 - they introduced the more expensive AF-S lenses with a focusing motor in the lens body. They also eliminated the aperture ring on the AF-S lenses.

Apparently there were enough consumer complaints about the cost disparity between the AF 50mm f1.8 prime lens that wouldn't focus on the aforementioned entry-level bodies and the AF-S 50mm f1.4 that would auto focus on them that Nikon introduced the AF-S 50mm f1.8. This lens is about $90.00 more than the old AF 50mm f1.8 but still considerably less than the AF-S 50mm f1.4 version.

I rather doubt you'll see any real difference in performance between the AF and AF-S lenses since Nikon has always been known for the quality of their optics.