stabilization and auto focus

[Cashew]

I've been looking at the Nikon d40, d80 and maybe d200 as well as the canon models xt, xti, 30d but am confused about stabilizers and auto focus. To use auto focus I need a stabilizer, either in-body or in the lens, right?

From what I read I think the d40, d80, xt and xti don't have in-body stabilizers so I would always have to buy the more expensive lenses with stabilizers. Is that correct? What about the d200 or the 30d?

Any help explaining this would be much, much appreciated! Especially terminology to look for on the manufacturer's web sites.

Thanks!

[coldrain]

I've been looking at the Nikon d40, d80 and maybe d200 as well as the canon models xt, xti, 30d but am confused about stabilizers and auto focus. To use auto focus I need a stabilizer, either in-body or in the lens, right?

From what I read I think the d40, d80, xt and xti don't have in-body stabilizers so I would always have to buy the more expensive lenses with stabilizers. Is that correct? What about the d200 or the 30d?

Any help explaining this would be much, much appreciated! Especially terminology to look for on the manufacturer's web sites.

Thanks!
Autofocus is just that, the camera/lens being able to move the lens in such a way that the pointed at subject appears sharp in the photo.
All that is needed for that is AF sensors, AF logic/electronics, and a motor.

Image stabilization just is for countering the effects of camera shake. or the inability for the photographer to hold the camera still during exposure time. By moving either the sensor, or a lens element, the blurring of the image is prevented to some extent.

So no, AF and IS have nothing to do with eachother.

In-lens image stabilization is more capable, in-body image stabilization is more affordable.

Nikon and Canon and Panasonic (L1) offer in-lens IS systems, Olympus (E-510), Pentax and Sony offer in-body IS.

[Cashew]

Thanks, great clarification!

Okay, so auto focus is my concern now. Unless I'm mistaken the D40 has the AF sensor on the lenses, making them more expensive. How can I tell which of these cameras has the required three components in-body?

[coldrain]

Thanks, great clarification!

Okay, so auto focus is my concern now. Unless I'm mistaken the D40 has the AF sensor on the lenses, making them more expensive. How can I tell which of these cameras has the required three components in-body?
No.

When Canon went to make auto focus cameras, they chose to put the auto focus motor in the lenses.

Nikon chose to put the auto focus motor in the camera body.

Since then, Nikon has changed the choice. Now they started making lenses with motors in the lens.
So... with Nikon, some lenses have the motor in the lens. Other lenses use the motor that is in the camera body.
Most 3rd party lenses also use the motor that is in the Nikon camera body.

Now, with the D40 Nikon decided not to put that AF motor in the body. this means that all lenses that need to use the AF motor of the body can not auto focus on the D40 or D40X. Which is not so nice.

So you have to choose lenses with the motor in the lens, or you have a choose a different camera than the D40 or D40X.

And for in-body IS, you have the choice between the Sony A100, Olympus E-510, Pentax K100D/Super and K10D.