nikon AF 35-105mm 3.5-4.5 D does not automatic focus?

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nickyk

New member
Hi, I'm new to this forum, thanks for having me...
I've just upgraded from a Canon 6D to a Nikon D750. I bought a used older Nikon AF 35-105mm 3.5-4.5 D lens that I am pretty darn sure should be automatically focusing, but how? I have the body of the D750 powered on, and switched to auto focus (the switch is low down, to the left of the lens). I have the aperture ring on the lens at f22 and locked (with the sliding aperture ring lock). What am I missing? Thanks!
 
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Bikerbrent

Senior Member
Welcome aboard. Enjoy the ride.

Is the D750 new or used?

Can you try another AF lens on the camera to rule out a camera issue?

Can you try your 35-105 lens on another body to make sure the AF on the lens is functional.
 
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Ironwood

Senior Member
Remove the lens from the camera and turn the focus ring on the lens by hand. While looking at the mounting end of the lens, the little screw-drive should spin while you are looking at it.
I have a D lens in front of me now and just tried it, I can hear it whir, and the screw-drive spins like crazy.
 
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pforsell

Senior Member
nickyk said:
Hi, I'm new to this forum, thanks for having me...
I've just upgraded from a Canon 6D to a Nikon D750. I bought a used older Nikon AF 35-105mm 3.5-4.5 D lens that I am pretty darn sure should be automatically focusing, but how? I have the body of the D750 powered on, and switched to auto focus (the switch is low down, to the left of the lens). I have the aperture ring on the lens at f22 and locked (with the sliding aperture ring lock). What am I missing? Thanks!
Click to expand...

Many shooters prefer the so-called back-button-focusing where the shutter button does not activate autofocus at all. If the camera is not new, it is possible that the previous owner has moved the autofocus function to some other button instead of the shutter button. This is often the AF-ON button in the back of the camera, but some bodies doesn't have the AF-ON button, in which case the autofocus function could have been relocated by the user to somewhere else.

The fastest way to set all settings to factory default is to do a two-button reset. Hold the two buttons with the small green dot pressed down a few seconds (ISO button in the back, exposure correction on top, IIRC) and let the camera reset itself. Now the autofocus should activate by half-pressing the shutter button. If nothing happens, you need to determine whether it is the camera or the lens that has the problem.
 
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nickyk

New member
Thank you both. Yes, with the lens off, spinning the focus ring spins the screw at the back of the camera perfectly. Switching back and forth from Manual Focus to Auto Focus, on the body, also shows the driver head extending out, and retracting back into the lens mount. So that all looks good. Thanks! But I don't have another lens to try. Turning the power on and depressing the shutter release half way, without a lens, does't engage the focus mechanism. Is there another way to test without another lens or body? And it is a used camera body, supposedly with very little wear. It looks like a 10, but I don't know anything about it, of course. I tried a free shutter count download program that had worked with my EOS, but it's not working with this one. Maybe broken body, but any more ideas? Thanks you guys!!
 
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nickyk

New member
Still no joy. I've also done what you suggested prorsell. Held the two for two second and a little green light above the live view switch illuminated, I'm assuming it's telling me it's now back to default settings. This camera does have and AE-L/AF-L button.
 
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nickyk

New member
oh wait, my mistake for a second. It is now focusing with the back button. Still not the shutter release. Odd, as I thought I reset it. I'll fool with it. This is definite progress.
 
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nickyk

New member
ok, so I made a momentary mistake, and it is focusing ! with the back button only. Now what's up with the shutter release? I thought I put it back to default. We're getting somewhere here. Thanks!
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
nickyk said:
how's bbff shooting vertically? Seemed a bit odd, initially.
Click to expand...
To get back to Shutter-button actuated focus dive into the camera menus and return the AE-L/AF-L button to it's normal function:

Menu button
Custom Settings
(f) "Controls" section
(f4) Assign AE-AF-L Button, Press -> AE/AF Lock
OK

That should return focus-activation to the shutter button.
....
 
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Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
Back Button Focus is a great tool for so many photographers and is something I think everyone should try at least once. Below are a few sites that talk about the how and why of Back Button Focus.

Benefits of Using the AF-ON Button for Autofocus by Nikon USA


BACK BUTTON FOCUSING – EASIER THAN YOU THINK! by Improve Photography


Here is a good YouTube video that goes over the why and how of Back Button Focusing.

You can do a search of the forum on "Back Button Focus" or BBF and see the many threads that have been created on this subject.

Try it, You will like it.






 
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nickt

Senior Member
nickyk said:
OK. It's working. Thank's everyone! Now it's totally back to defaults.
Cheers. N
Click to expand...
The two button reset doesn't do EVERYTHING. I accidentally did the two button reset on my d7200 the other day and it did not wipe my bbf, so I got looking at the manual to see exactly what might have gotten changed. Two button reset sets only the settings listed ii the chart in your owner's manual back to default, not the whole camera. If you want the camera more clean, go to each menu group and look for reset... shooting menu, movie menu, custom menu, user settings. Some of those might overlap with the 2 button reset, not sure.
 
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