Auto Forcus problem on my lens

[badboy1984]

I haven't use my DSLR and lens for awhile now (around 6-9month). Yesterday I decided to take the camera and 2 of my lens to shoot. The body was Nikon D300 and the lens are, Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VRI and Nikon 28-70 f2.8. The 70-200 f2.8 works fine in terms of focus, it is fast, accurate and happy trigger. But when I put the 28-70 f2.8 on, it does not focus at all, i heard the focus motor but it does not focus. So i pop it on manual focus and it works fine. I start rotating the focus ring backward and forward couple of times and the auto focus works again, was wondering is it because I haven't use the lens for a long time and the focus motor were kinda stiff?

 

[Nod]

What can happen is that the drive spigot of the body fails to engage with the screw head on the lens and just spins without achieving the connection. A quick twist of the focus ring should (and sounds like did!) allow the two parts to mesh.

Hope that puts your mind at ease that there's no problem.

 

[jpw]

What can happen is that the drive spigot of the body fails to engage with the screw head on the lens and just spins without achieving the connection. A quick twist of the focus ring should (and sounds like did!) allow the two parts to mesh.

Hope that puts your mind at ease that there's no problem.

The 28-70 has an internal focus motor so it won't be that. It could be the signs of impending AF motor failure, this lens had the 1st generation AF-S motor and it seems they give up the ghost eventually, a quick google of 'Nikon 28-70 motor' should bring up some details.

 

[badboy1984]

So basically I just have to use it till it die and pay a expensive repair or buy the newer version which is the 24-70 f2.8 which will be even expensive but will last me long time?

 

[Nikon_Nick]

You could always take it to an approved Nikon repair centre and get a diagnosis/quote for repair... Then you'd know

 

[Nod]

Oops! Sorry, I thought the 28-70 was an older model so likely to be a screw driven lens, especially since I've had the same "problem" on a screw driven lens on a film body some years ago. I'd be tempted to see if the repair was expensive and if so, to use the lens until it gave up completely then replace with a newer 24-70. Unless it's a tool of your trade, in which case a breakdown could be a royal PITA!

 

[badboy1984]

I don't do professional stuff for living so I could do without it personally but I'm start getting demand to do the odd jobs their and then, the lens will come in handy. I observe it for a few days to see how it behave. Maybe I have use it for awhile do the focus motor is kinda stiff, just need to rotate the focus manually a few time before it work again.