larryepage Loc: North Texas area

In the past, I have been pretty vocally critical of this lens. My statements were based on an honest trial and appraisal when I considered buying one a few years ago. Recently, however, I became the owner of one of these as part of the purchase of a package of several items. I have found the behavior of my lens to be different in several ways from the one that I previously tried out. My belief now is that it is a decent lens...better than my initial assessment, but still short of being a really nice lens, despite the Gold Ring designation awarded by Nikon.

Anyway...I have a question for owners and users of this lens. My copy occasionally fails to try to focus at shorter focal lengths. It's not that it can't see to achieve focus...it's that the process doesn't start at all...as if the lens is set to Manual Focus (but it's not...and neither is the camera). Sometimes continuing to try will eventually make it start, sometimes zooming to a longer focal length will do so. This behavior usually occurs at focal lengths of 28mm or less, but has occurred at focal lengths up to 50mm. It has also been observed on three different D500s, including one that is just back from Nikon with a Major Overhaul. The other symptom us that at 16mm, proper focus is achieved at an indicated distance of Infinity or greater (which is something I was accustomed to seeing on my Nikkor 18-200mm DX zoom.

My next step is, of course, to contact NikonUSA and possibly send the lens for repair, if such support is still available. My last checkpoint before doing this, though, is to ask here whether others have noticed similar bad behavior.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Try cleaning the lens' contacts with a Q tip dampened with alcohol. Finger oils can coat these contacts and causevthen not to fully function at times, often intermittently.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Thanks for the hint. I actually exercised the Manual/Auto switch on the lens a number of times. That seems to have made a big improvement...the lens now at least tries to focus every time instead of just sitting silently.

Still looking into the compressed focus throw situation at the short focal length end. I figured it would be easier to get a understandable answer from a user than from Customer Support.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

The 16-80 f2.8-4 DX, VR lens was the only lens photographers of a cruise I took a few years ago used. All the images I saw were made with flash and all of them looked excellent.
It has to be a very good lens.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Thanks, but that isn't the question. I'm trying to determine whether mine is functioning as intended or whether it needs repair beyond what I've been able to do.

rangel28

I would give Nikon Customer Service a call, but I'm not sure if it's worth repairing, because of cost, or just buying used. I have that lens and have never experienced any of the issues you are describing and I have had no problems focusing with this lens at any focal length.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Thanks for your reply. Your information is what I was looking for. I got the lens for an attractive price, so have some room to pay for repair if needed. It is intended as a gift, so it needs to function properly, hence the questions

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Thanks again to those who provided useful information. I have created a service case and will have this lens on the way to the Signal Hill repair center either tomorrow or Wednesday. It should come back as essentially a new lens, since it is cosmetically near-perfect.