D3000 compatability with Tamron 500 lens

I have a Nikon D3000 and was given a Tamron 500 lens which was supposed to be
and says on the box & instructions for the lens that it will work with the Nikon's
auto focus but it doesn't. or...I can not figure out how to make it do so.
can you help?

I am not an expert but it may be that it is compatible with those having an autofocus motor in the camera. For your camera and mine, it has have the autofocus motor in the lens..

You should be able to Focu that manually!!??

Pat in NH

Could you be a little more specific on what lens it is?

"works" is a nebulous term... It works in the sense that it focuses and meters... The D3000 doesn't have a "focus motor" in the camera body. And there probably isn't one in the lens... That's not to say it doesn't work. It simply doesn't auto-focus.. but will manually focus...

As has been said, the D300 will only auto focus with lens that have the focus motor in the lens. For Tarmon lenses, I believe the lens name will have "Di" in it. If it does not, then it will not AF with the D3000.

Unless jeanie really meant ' D300 ' since she's in the D300 section ?