55-200mm lens for D5100 issue.

Pleiones

Pleiones

New member
First let me just apologize if this is not the right location for this type of question.

I recently purchased a used Nikon AF-S 55-200mm lens. I'm excited but I'm having an issue and I'm not sure if it's the lens or my camera. Whenever I try to use the lens it makes this weird chalkboard like noise and refuse to snap the shot. No matter what I do or what adjustments I make, it doesn't snap the photo. However, when I switch the camera to Live View mode, the camera takes the shot. For whatever reason, I cannot take photos with this lens through the viewfinder.

Can anyone give me an idea as to why this is the case? If the lens works fine in Live View mode, then it's clearly not the lens... right? Am I missing something? My body is a D5100. Any help would be TREMENDOUSLY appreciated as I have been searching the internet for answers all day.
 
Ijustwant1

Ijustwant1

Senior Member
Hi and welcome to Nikonites :) I have the D5100 and spent half if yesterday using the 55-200mm in both live view and viewfinder with no problems so to me it sounds like a problem with the lens ! Can you return the lens ?
 
D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
Welcome to the forum

If you fill out your profile we can better answer any questions that you might have.
You can do that at http://nikonites.com/profile.php?do=editprofile

Some useful links
http://support.nikonusa.com/app/ans.../nikon-product-manuals-available-for-download
Nikon | Imaging Products | Digitutor


Thanks

I also shoot the D5100 and have the 55-200. Never had a problem with it. Get your money back and buy another one. You can get a refurbished one with a 1 year warranty for
$119.00

​
Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G DX AF-S ED Zoom-Nikkor Lens - Factory Refurbished includes Full 1 Year Warranty
 
F

FastGlass

Senior Member
Try taking the lense off and remounting it. It's the cheapest quickest try. Sometimes the contacts don't connect with each other.
 
Pleiones

Pleiones

New member
Thank you so much for the replies and welcomes so far! :)

I do believe it is the lens and not the body. I tested my other lens, 18-55mm, and it works both in AF and Manual mode. No issues, no delays, no noise. However, when I switch back to the 55-200mm, it struggles to work. The sound it makes is almost like it needs to be oiled. Like it sounds like the gears are just struggling really hard to work and can't function so it squeaks. When I switch to either Live Mode or Manual, everything is fine. Shoots perfectly and does what I want without an issue. But AF is where it struggles.

I do believe it is the lens and I hate to send it back since I purchased this off ebay. I guess I'm just not eager to have to wait for another week or two for a replacement if this can be fixed with just a simple adjustment. But if this isn't an easily fixed problem, I may just have to go ahead and send it back for a replacement.

I can do one of two things. Keep it and just know that AF is fubar or send it back for the AF feature. I don't really use AF that much anyway, but I can't help but think there may come a point I will need it.
 
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A

aroy

Senior Member
Please send the lens back as its AF motor seems to be faulty.

This is one of the reasons I avoid e-bay and buy from a regular shop, where you can inspect and test the merchandise.
 
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