Lens stopped working on Autofocus.

My Nikon 70-300 stopped working on Autofocus last night. I was shooting at my fish tank and suddenly it wouldn't autofocus anymore. Continually trying to focus i can hear it whirling as it tries.

Any ideas on things i could try? it does work on Manual and other lenses work on the camera.

Worth fixing or buy a new one?? its my walk about lens, its on my camera 5 days a week and i guess 3-4 years old?

Any help appreciated.

Roy

Bummer! You could try cleaning the contacts both on the lens and on the camera. Also, flip all the switches to make sure one isn't stuck in between settings. Which 70-300? FX or DX? AF-S or AF-P? Nikonusa has the FX AF-P in their refurbished section, might be worth checking out if you can't get it fixed. Fingers crossed!

Since you have two cameras, does this lens fail on both cameras? Also, you might give the lens contacts a good cleaning and try again. If the lens fails on both cameras after cleaning the contacts, I would look into a repair estimate and go from there.

i tried cleaning the contact and the switches do move free. Its the ED G lens which i believe is FX.

Same result on both cameras.

Appreciate the replies.

What comes to my mind is the 70-300mm is no macro lens. Try backing away a couple of feet from that fish tank and try again? No focus limit switch on the lens I know of, so maybe not that. I like Brent's idea of testing lens on another DSLR to verify it is the lens itself. If this is an older example 70-300mm that uses the camera body autofocus motor through the screw-drive on the mount, it would be important to isolate that.

going to check what youtube has for answers????

BF Hammer said:

What comes to my mind is the 70-300mm is no macro lens. Try backing away a couple of feet from that fish tank and try again? No focus limit switch on the lens I know of, so maybe not that. I like Brent's idea of testing lens on another DSLR to verify it is the lens itself. If this is an older example 70-300mm that uses the camera body autofocus motor through the screw-drive on the mount, it would be important to isolate that.

Click to expand...

Tried this, same thing.

Marilynne said:

If it's 3-4 years old, shouldn't it still be under warranty?

Click to expand...

This is a good suggestion. Nikon now lists in its warranty that lenses need to be registered online to obtain the full five years for warranty work. Otherwise, supposedly they only offer one year. Check when you purchased it, and if it falls within the 5 year time frame, go online and register it if it hasn't already been done. Then go through their website to request repair. Providing it is covered under warranty, the only cost should be shipping the lens to Nikon. They pay for the return shipping.

Roy1961 said:

My Nikon 70-300 stopped working on Autofocus last night. I was shooting at my fish tank and suddenly it wouldn't autofocus anymore. Continually trying to focus i can hear it whirling as it tries.

Any ideas on things i could try? it does work on Manual and other lenses work on the camera.

Worth fixing or buy a new one?? its my walk about lens, its on my camera 5 days a week and i guess 3-4 years old?

Any help appreciated.

Roy

Click to expand...

Which 70-300 are you talking about? There re several at different price points. If it's the least expensive one that most folks got as part of a kit, it isn't worth the postage to send it to Nikon for repair...

A pic showing the model data on the lens barrel would be best.

Roy1961 said:

i tried cleaning the contact and the switches do move free. Its the ED G lens which i believe is FX.

Same result on both cameras.

Appreciate the replies.

Click to expand...

Hi Roy, there is an 70-300 EF G that is FX, and another couple of EF G lenses that are DX. Regardless, I suspect that unless you can get the repair done on warranty, it will cost about the same to repair as to buy a new one. I'm sure there are plenty of these available used, the only confusion comes in because there are so many versions of 70-300.

@Woodyg3 Thanks, I missed that...

That's still a <$400 lens... and used at this point... When I sent my 28-300mm lens to Nikon for repair, several years ago, out of warranty, to fix a non-working VR, it was $150 to fix it then, plus postage to ship it to them...

Weigh your cost-benefits between repairing that lens and contributing that $400 replacement cost with a newer, better lens today.

Is there a chance it is your camera and not the lens? Have you tried another lens on your camera with the same results? And if you have another camera have you tried your lens on it? If you don't have another camera your local camera shop may let you try the lens on one of their cameras.

As I check the used stock at my local store (The Camera Company) there is a 70-300mm G ED VR which is the FX lens selling for ~ $230. Many examples of that listed at KEH ~ $220 to $305 based on condition.

For reference I had the much older version that used the camera body focus motor and no VR until a year ago when I traded-in and upgraded to a used 70-200mm f/2.8 G VR. I think the trade-in gave me a whole $30, and the lens I was buying around $580. I was never in love with that 70-300mm lens.

thanks for all your replies, already looking at the new FX one.

ordered, now the wait until monday to wednesday.

May you have better luck with your new lens! :cheerful:

Roy1961 said:

ordered, now the wait until monday to wednesday.

Click to expand...

I am quite happy we could help you spend your money. LOL.

I know if my 70-300 stopped working I would not be a happy camper. I hope the new lens is just what you want.

Woodyg3 said:

I am quite happy we could help you spend your money. LOL.

I know if my 70-300 stopped working I would not be a happy camper. I hope the new lens is just what you want.

Click to expand...

its the newer version of what i had, so i cant wait, i will put the old one on the D7000 and play manual shooting sometime.