Nikon 85mm 1.8G autofocus question
May 25, 2015 11:43:13 #
Yesterday I was shooting with my Nikon 85mm 1.8G lens on my d7100 body and all was normal. Then, for no apparent reason, autofocus simply stopped working. I took the lens off and checked autofocus with my Nikon 50mm 1.8d (a lens with no focus motor) and on my 35mm 1.8G DX lens (a lens with a focus motor). Both worked fine, so I eliminated the camera as a problem. I then cleaned the lens contact points on the lens with a clean cloth, reinstalled the lens, and it worked fine. At this point, I don't know if it is an intermittent focus motor issue with the motor in the lens, or if it was nothing more than something interfering with the contact points between the camera and the lens, or if it was something else. My concern is that I did not change lenses before this started. Autofocus was fine, then it was not. My question is whether anyone else has experienced a similar problem, and if so, was it and how was it corrected?
May 25, 2015 11:45:09 #
Nukepr wrote:
Yesterday I was shooting with my Nikon 85mm 1.8G l... (show quote)
You didn't bump the AF/MF switch on the lens did you?
May 25, 2015 11:46:28 #
Leitz
Loc: Solms
Nukepr wrote:
Yesterday I was shooting with my Nikon 85mm 1.8G l... (show quote)
Hard to say for sure in your case, but it is always important to keep the contacts clean. Let's hope it continues to function properly now.
May 25, 2015 11:50:09 #
I checked the AF/M switch to make sure it was correctly positioned and also checked the AF/M switch on the camera body. Both were in correct position. This is part of what made it so baffling
May 25, 2015 12:00:32 #
Leitz
Loc: Solms
Nukepr wrote:
I checked the AF/M switch to make sure it was correctly positioned and also checked the AF/M switch on the camera body. Both were in correct position. This is part of what made it so baffling
If it proves to be an intermittent issue with the motor, about the only solution would be to take it in for repair.
May 25, 2015 12:01:37 #
I will be following your post with interest. Ironically, just yesterday I decided to give my Nikon 85 1.8G a good test and try to figure out why I was never pleased with the results. I have had the lens for 2 yrs. but usually put it back in the bag as my other lenses were sharper. Well I did not make any headway yesterday as again everything from that lens was soft focus. Not bad but not great like I keep reading about this lens. Anyway, I am wondering if it needs calibration by Nikon. I know the G version is manufactured in China. Maybe there are some bad copies in terms of autofocus.
May 25, 2015 12:04:22 #
Could be that the lens was knocked ever so slightly off of alignment that the pins/contacts were not properly aligned thus causing the issue.
May 25, 2015 12:09:07 #
Screamin Scott wrote:
Could be that the lens was knocked ever so slightly off of alignment that the pins/contacts were not properly aligned thus causing the issue.
That's something I hadn't considered though I am generally careful and don't recall hitting anything. If that turns out to be the case, then my cleaning the contacts had nothing to do with the change....it was just reinserting the lens. Interesting thought. I am anxious to hear the experience of others.
May 25, 2015 12:11:01 #
jaysnave wrote:
I will be following your post with interest. Iron... (show quote)
That's possible, but usually my copy is razor sharp, living up to the billing it gets in reviews. I have only had it about three months, so it is relatively new, but anything is possible.
May 25, 2015 12:17:49 #
If it happens again, try jiggling the lens first before removing & remounting. That will pinpoint the issue if it is indeed the issue.
Nukepr wrote:
That's something I hadn't considered though I am generally careful and don't recall hitting anything. If that turns out to be the case, then my cleaning the contacts had nothing to do with the change....it was just reinserting the lens. Interesting thought. I am anxious to hear the experience of others.
May 26, 2015 11:07:29 #
romanticf16
Loc: Commerce Twp, MI
jaysnave wrote:
I will be following your post with interest. Iron... (show quote)
What body? Most of the semi and pro bodies(above the 3000 and 5000 series) allow for lens calibration in camera.
May 26, 2015 11:34:34 #
Leitz
Loc: Solms
jaysnave wrote:
I will be following your post with interest. Iron... (show quote)
When the autofocus locks onto a subject, that subject should be sharp in the viewfinder and the focus confirmation lit up. If this is not the case, the lens needs calibrating.
May 26, 2015 15:58:55 #
I had the same thing. i found out after so many years I did not know how to put the lens on. After you put the lens on take you finger off the button you push in to put the lens on . Then very carefully turn the lens back just a pinch. You will feel a little click. Now the lens is seated in the camera . Works for me hope it will work for you . I also use Nikon. Bob
May 26, 2015 16:34:16 #
romanticf16 wrote:
What body? Most of the semi and pro bodies(above the 3000 and 5000 series) allow for lens calibration in camera.
D600, It has a lens to camera calibration function. I have not attempted it yet. I have read two or three different methods on-line and they are all different.
May 28, 2015 01:06:41 #
dickwilber
Loc: Indiana (currently)
I have had a similar problem on occasion with a Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 on various bodies. I suspect that the lens mount has a minor alignment problem, but cleaning the contacts quickly took care of it. At the time I was shooting sports and that lens saw hundreds of thousands of actuations with only rare problems.
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