focus question for an AF lens on DX camera: I just recently purchased a Nikon AF 35-80 f/4-5.6 macro lens for use on my D3300 DSLR. Camera set to "M" mode, aperture ring on lens locked...

Roughdraft Loc: Maryland

I just recently purchased a Nikon AF 35-80 f/4-5.6 macro lens for use on my D3300 DSLR. Camera set to "M" mode, aperture ring on lens locked at f22. The macro range works well, however when I tried to take pictures of distant objects I was not able to focus the lens. The problem is worse at the longer focal range. My question is, do I have a defective lens or is this how an FX lens works on a DX body?

chase4 Loc: Punta Corona, California

That lens needs a body with a built in autofocus motor to use the AF feature and your camera does not have one. You have to unlock the apperature ring and just use that lens in a manual focus manner and make sure the body is in the manual mode.

Leitz Loc: Solms

chase4 wrote:

That lens needs a body with a built in autofocus motor to use the AF feature and your camera does not have one. You have to unlock the apperature ring and just use that lens in a manual focus manner and make sure the body is in the manual mode.

Are you quite sure that the aperture ring has anything to do with focusing?

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Just a guess here. If the f stop is set at 22 and the focus ring is rotated to macro, the depth of field will be quite deep for close objects but totally out at longer distances.

So in a way, yes, the aperture ring has something to do with focus.

Bottom line, Chase is correct. You have to use that lens in manual focus mode.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Examples. D3100 with AF Nikkor 70-210. Focus ring set to macro.

Aperture set at f/4

Aperture set at f/22

Still at f/22, farther subject.

Leitz Loc: Solms

OddJobber wrote:

Just a guess here. If the f stop is set at 22 and the focus ring is rotated to macro, the depth of field will be quite deep for close objects but totally out at longer distances.

So in a way, yes, the aperture ring has something to do with focus.

Bottom line, Chase is correct. You have to use that lens in manual focus mode.

Of course the aperture has an effect on depth of field, but the ring can be set to f/22 and the aperture set with the camera's command dial. This has no effect on the point of focus. Hence my comment.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

I agree. My point was that possibly with a small aperture he thinks the point of focus has been correctly set when the auto focus didn't work at all. :)

chase4 Loc: Punta Corona, California

I also own this lens. It is an AF D type lens and locking the apperature ring at f/22 just enables the autofocus function to work with a camera that has a built in focusing motor. One can look on the Nikon USA website or Google this issue for more details.
chase

Roughdraft Loc: Maryland

chase4 wrote:

That lens needs a body with a built in autofocus motor to use the AF feature and your camera does not have one. You have to unlock the apperature ring and just use that lens in a manual focus manner and make sure the body is in the manual mode.

Thank you for your reply. When I ordered the lens I understood that it was a manual only focus lens. When the lens is mounted on the camera and the aperture is set to any f stop other than 22 a message appears on the LCD stating that the aperture needs to be locked at minimum, f22, aperture. Once that is done the camera controls the aperture.

The problem I'm having is the manual focus will only focus in close. At 80 mm anything beyond 5 ft is out of focus, and that is after turning the focus ring stop to stop. At the shorter forcal lengths the lens can be focused somewhat.

Roughdraft Loc: Maryland

chase4 wrote:

That lens needs a body with a built in autofocus motor to use the AF feature and your camera does not have one. You have to unlock the apperature ring and just use that lens in a manual focus manner and make sure the body is in the manual mode.

Thank you for your reply. When I ordered the lens I understood that it was a manual only focus lens. When the lens is mounted on the camera and the aperture is set to any f stop other than 22 a message appears on the LCD stating that the aperture needs to be locked at minimum, f22, aperture. Once that is done the camera controls the aperture.

The problem I'm having is the manual focus will only focus in close. At 80 mm anything beyond 5 ft is out of focus, and that is after turning the focus ring stop to stop. At the shorter forcal lengths the lens can be focused somewhat.

Roughdraft Loc: Maryland

OddJobber wrote:

Just a guess here. If the f stop is set at 22 and the focus ring is rotated to macro, the depth of field will be quite deep for close objects but totally out at longer distances.

So in a way, yes, the aperture ring has something to do with focus.

Bottom line, Chase is correct. You have to use that lens in manual focus mode.

Thank you for your reply.

When the lens is mounted the camera requires the lens to be locked at minimum aperture. I can then adjust the aperture in manual mode through the camera settings.

The problem arises when I try to take a picture of a distant object. I can not manually focus the lens at any point between infinity and macro.

The lens seems to function ok for close in shots of say 5 ft or less.

My hope was to use the lens for macro and portrait shots.

Roughdraft Loc: Maryland

OddJobber wrote:

Just a guess here. If the f stop is set at 22 and the focus ring is rotated to macro, the depth of field will be quite deep for close objects but totally out at longer distances.

So in a way, yes, the aperture ring has something to do with focus.

Bottom line, Chase is correct. You have to use that lens in manual focus mode.

Thank you for your reply.

When the lens is mounted the camera requires the lens to be locked at minimum aperture. I can then adjust the aperture in manual mode through the camera settings.

The problem arises when I try to take a picture of a distant object. I can not manually focus the lens at any point between infinity and macro.

The lens seems to function ok for close in shots of say 5 ft or less.

My hope was to use the lens for macro and portrait shots.

Leitz Loc: Solms

OddJobber wrote:

I agree. My point was that possibly with a small aperture he thinks the point of focus has been correctly set when the auto focus didn't work at all. :)

Got it. I was thinking that unless the depth of field button was depressed, he'd be focusing wide open anyway. :) Which is all moot now - from his last statement it sounds like the lens is defective. :)

Leitz Loc: Solms

Roughdraft wrote:

Thank you for your reply.

When the lens is mounted the camera requires the lens to be locked at minimum aperture. I can then adjust the aperture in manual mode through the camera settings.

The problem arises when I try to take a picture of a distant object. I can not manually focus the lens at any point between infinity and macro.

The lens seems to function ok for close in shots of say 5 ft or less.

My hope was to use the lens for macro and portrait shots.

Well, sounds like you're good to go for macro, at least!

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Does the front of the lens move in and out? (e.g., extend when you focus close and retract at farther focus distance) If not probably stripped gears.