Nikon 80-200 2.8 and D7100: Hi again; Ok so my D5000 will NOT auto focus the 80-200 AF lens and every one has said that it will work on a D7100. My friend brought his D7100 over and we...

trainguy Loc: Suttons Bay, MI

Hi again; Ok so my D5000 will NOT auto focus the 80-200 AF lens and every one has said that it will work on a D7100. My friend brought his D7100 over and we can't seem to get it to auto focus with this AF lens either. What am I doing wrong or won't it work auto focus just manual focus? There is a M manual and A autofocus ring on it that we have set to A.

Help

Thanks

dave

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

trainguy wrote:

Hi again; Ok so my D5000 will NOT auto focus the 80-200 AF lens and every one has said that it will work on a D7100. My friend brought his D7100 over and we can't seem to get it to auto focus with this AF lens either. What am I doing wrong or won't it work auto focus just manual focus? There is a M manual and A autofocus ring on it that we have set to A.

It's pretty hard to imagine what is wrong. Will it take a picture? Does the lens click when tapping the shutter release button? Is the camera in AF mode?

If you put the A/M ring on the lens to M, can you manually focus and see the focus indicator lights in the viewfinder work?

Also, make sure you are trying to focus on something that isn't too close. The 80-200mm sometimes has a problem with AF near minimum focus distance.

Probably the first thing to do is use a qtip with isopropyl alcohol and clean all the contacts on the lens and on the camera. I used an 80-200mm for several years and remember having to do that on a number of occasions.

wilikioti Loc: Deep South, USA

Apaflo wrote:

It's pretty hard to imagine what is wrong. Will i... (show quote)

Should be an auto/manual setting on the lens and the camera. Both should be set to auto.

trainguy Loc: Suttons Bay, MI

Both camera and lens are on auto; new lens so contacts are clean; I see the indicator lights in the view finder when on manual. ? bad lens? Takes goos pics on manual just can't get it to auto focus???

Dave

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

trainguy wrote:

Both camera and lens are on auto; new lens so contacts are clean; I see the indicator lights in the view finder when on manual. ? bad lens? Takes goos pics on manual just can't get it to auto focus???

Dave

It can't be a "new" lens! (They discontinued that lens in 2003.) Clean all of the contacts. That is the single most likely problem.

Also, do the indicator lights change as you focus?

trainguy Loc: Suttons Bay, MI

Just cleaned contacts and yes the lights change when used with manual focus. Everthing works well with the AF-S 18-200 3.5 lens; this is a ED AF 18-200 2.8

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Apaflo wrote:

It can't be a "new" lens! (They discontinued that lens in 2003.) Clean all of the contacts. That is the single most likely problem.

Also, do the indicator lights change as you focus?

Actually, it CAN be a new lens. Nikon still manufactures this fine instrument today in limited production quantities, Nikon Product #1986 selling for $1224.95. (The AF-S model was discontinued for the 70-200mm F2.8 VR lens)
http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Product/Camera-Lenses/AF-Zoom-Nikkor-80-200mm-f%252F2.8D-ED.html

USA model currently on back-order status:
http://www.adorama.com/NK80200AFNU.html?utm_term=Other&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=Other&utm_source=cj_1796839&cvosrc=affiliate.cj.1796839

Gray market readily available right now:
http://www.adorama.com/NK80200AFN.html

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

trainguy wrote:

Hi again; Ok so my D5000 will NOT auto focus the 80-200 AF lens and every one has said that it will work on a D7100. My friend brought his D7100 over and we can't seem to get it to auto focus with this AF lens either. What am I doing wrong or won't it work auto focus just manual focus? There is a M manual and A autofocus ring on it that we have set to A.

Help

Thanks

dave

Try cycling the A-M ring back and forth between the settings a couple of times. Mine used to hang up in M occasionally, but it was about 20 years old when I sold it off.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

MT Shooter wrote:

Actually, it CAN be a new lens.

My mistake, it was the AF-S model that ended production in 2003.

The current AF-D model only began production in 2006, and does in fact continue.

The point is still that cleaning the contacts is the first thing to try.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Apaflo wrote:

My mistake, it was the AF-S model that ended production in 2003.

The current AF-D model only began production in 2006, and does in fact continue.

The point is still that cleaning the contacts is the first thing to try.

In 2006 the serial numbers changed to 7 digits from the original 6 digits. I bought mine (current 2 ring model) in January of 1997, SN 700103. But I sold it 2 years ago to get the 70-200mm OS HSM model from Sigma for the much faster AF it offered.
Prior to 1997 the 80-200mm F2.8D was a one ring, push-pull model that was discontinued in favor of the two-ring lens.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

MT Shooter wrote:

In 2006 the serial numbers changed to 7 digits from the original 6 digits. I bought mine (current 2 ring model) in January of 1997, SN 700103. But I sold it 2 years ago to get the 70-200mm OS HSM model from Sigma for the much faster AF it offered.
Prior to 1997 the 80-200mm F2.8D was a one ring, push-pull model that was discontinued in favor of the two-ring lens.

Boy, you got one of the first in '97!

 Model                     Dates                     Serial Numbers
----------------------    --------------------     -----------------------
AF 80-200mm f/2.8 ED      Nov 1987 to Sep 1992        200,001 to   387,964
AF 80-200mm f/2.8 D ED    Sep 1992 to 1997            400,001 to   563,085
AF 80-200mm f/2.8 D ED    Jan 1997 to 2005            700,001 to   929,410
AF 80-200mm f/2.8 D ED    2006                      1,000,001 to 1,075,111

All before January 1997 are the one ring push pull, all with serial numbers above 700,000 made are two ring.

The AF-S model was made from Dec 1998 until 2003 with serial numbers from 200,001 to 261,492.

All of this information (and a vast amount more) is available at

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/lenses.html

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Apaflo wrote:

Boy, you got one of the first in '97! code br Mo... (show quote)

I was on the waiting list from November 1996 when it was first announced. I knew I got one of the very first ones delivered. If it would have focused fast enough for the D800E I would still have it today. It was pretty much fast enough for the F5, but I don't shoot that body much anymore and it will use my AF-S type lenses quite well anyway. Its the infallible durability of this workhorse lens that influences Nikon to keep manufacturing it for those who want the non-IS lens.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Apaflo wrote:

It can't be a "new" lens! (They discontinued that lens in 2003.) Clean all of the contacts. That is the single most likely problem.

Also, do the indicator lights change as you focus?

nevermind - you corrected yourself.

DEBJENROB Loc: DELRAY BEACH FL

Apaflo wrote:

It can't be a "new" lens! (They discontinued that lens in 2003.) Clean all of the contacts. That is the single most likely problem.

Also, do the indicator lights change as you focus?

B & H still sells that lens ... new ...$1149. ....

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

trainguy wrote:

Hi again; Ok so my D5000 will NOT auto focus the 80-200 AF lens and every one has said that it will work on a D7100. My friend brought his D7100 over and we can't seem to get it to auto focus with this AF lens either. What am I doing wrong or won't it work auto focus just manual focus? There is a M manual and A autofocus ring on it that we have set to A.

Help

Thanks

dave

Dave, it sounds like something is broken if the contacts on the camera and lens are clean. Do you have another AF-D lens you can test to rule out a camera malfunction? Do you have another camera body with a focus drive to rule out a lens malfunction?

The two ring 80-200 AF-D has one weakness. The small ring used to switch the lens from AF to MF is prone to fracturing and separating just to the left, (counterclockwise looking from the rear of the lens) of the metal button that locks the ring in place. In fact the fracture occurs right adjacent to the screw. You might check for that as well, though unless it has broken you are unlikely to experience a problem with it.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/32791169

https://www.flickr.com/groups/340549@N21/discuss/72157625563931252/