Originally Posted by
ozdude
They won't "need" AF-S lenses, they can still use manual focus lenses. I use a combination of AF-S and older fully manual lenses. Really depends on what the subject is and what the user wants it for. I wouldn't limit lens choices to auto focus only.
That being said, it's a pretty safe bet that someone who is buying an autofocus DSLR to work with a lens or lenses that they have, expects it to be able to autofocus with those lenses. Intentionally choosing to manually focus (particularly with old AF-D lenses that generally have lousy tactile feedback at their focusing ring) is a pretty acquired skill - I understand it, as I do it myself and I have a pretty good idea what the abilities and limitations are around it - but the overwhelming majority of folks looking to buy a DSLR are simply not looking to do it, and it does them a disservice to not make them aware that they will not have AF capability with old non-AF-S lenses and Nikon's D3x00 and D5x00 series of cameras, or to handwave around it like it's a trivial issue - it's not.