Nikon has the same full-time auto/manual behavior on all its pricey ring-motor lenses ("silent wave motor" - SWM - in Nikon lingo), including the D70's 18-70mm kit lens. From what I've read, the two new low-price zooms (18-55 and 55-200) have the fancy ring motors but apparently do not have the nifty auto/manual behavior. You have to explicitly switch from auto to manual mode by flipping a switch. I guess it's a cost-cutting thing.