Stuck manual focus on AF-S Nikkor 55-200 zoom

petermac63

New member
I have just acquired a Nikkor AF-S 55-200 f4-5.6G ED DX VR zoom. First thing I noticed was a distinct rattle. I fitted it and it seems to work fine on auto-focus. Apertures all work fine. However, I set it to manual focus, both on the lens switch and the camera body switch and the focussing ring will not budge a bit. Any thoughts. I have a short period to return it or get a partial refund. Got it at a decent price and it looks mint.
Cheers...
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
Welcome aboard, enjoy the ride. We look forward to seeing more posts and samples of your work.

You might also want to consider introducing yourself on New Member Introductions.

Which camera body are you using? Can you try the lens on another camera (how about a friends camera)? I would recommend you send it back!
 

petermac63

New member
Thanks. Sorry, it is on a D7100. I don't know anyone locally with a Nikon DSLR. Although, as it is the manual focus which is the issue, I do not think changing the camera will make a difference?
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
With the lens in your hand and NOT on the camera, does the focus ring turn smoothly, and you can see in the distance window on the lens that the focus distance wheel inside smoothly turns as you turn the focus ring? Or does it only lock up when ON the camera body?

If it is locked up when OFF the body, then something is jammed inside the lens and you should return it. If it turns freely OFF the camera and only locks up ON the camera, then something is wrong with the focus motor engaging/not engaging... Either way, I'd return it.
 

TwistedThrottle

Senior Member
Your lens should work fine in manual focus if you leave the camera switch alone and just switch the lens to manual focus, or just twist the focus ring while in auto thereby achieving manual focus while in auto.
 

petermac63

New member
I relation to past couple of responses, I have tried it off the camera and on it with camera switched off, all set to M, and it just doesn't budge. I did force it a little bit more and it made a ratchety sound.
 

TwistedThrottle

Senior Member
That ratchety sound are the plastic gears grinding against each other. Not good. I take my previous statement back, it probably wont work anymore.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
I wouldn't risk it. That lens isn't a really expensive lens and would probably cost too much to repair. The thing is what if the AF fails after your short return window runs out.
 

BF Hammer

Senior Member
It's a kit lens, they are available used all over the place. Don't keep that lens. Somebody else is trying to recoup a loss on an unsuspecting person for a lens that should just be put in landfill.
 

Danno

Senior Member
Hope you are in the midst of returning this lens. A replacement can be found pretty easily.

Welcome to the forum. I hope you hang around and enjoy this place.
 
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