AF on zoom lens broken.

Kali

Went to use my camera this morning and noticed that the AF on my cheap zoom lens (Tamron 70-300) is a bit messed up. Now it was perfect last night so I'm hoping it's something simple, but now it just whirrs away without the focusing ring actually turning.

Is there anything simple I can do to try to fix this or is it a repair job? Which leads onto my next question, is it worth getting it repaired at all on a lens this cheap (I picked it up for around €100 mark) or shall I just go and buy something a bit better anyway (reading through a few other threads the Sigma APO 300mm is looking a good candidate).

Also is it generally advisable to switch lens back to MF before storing/bagging?

Oriel

Sounds like a repair job to me. Probably better to buy new.

Wez

Defo would need to be taken apart I'd say, and if you're going to try it, make sure you've decided it can be replaced. Once you get a lens open it's a big box of tricks, pretty awkward to work on. That's my oppinion anyway, after having to repair an old prime lens when the aperture ring stopped working. Although I did get it working again, it took alot of time and patience and for some reason it doesn't click into each f-stop, although it's grand to use once you get used to it.

I reckon you'd be better off either just using manual focus (it's not that much effort to turn the ring!) or if you're afraid you won't get it as sharp maybe it's time to get a new one!

And I tend to turn it to MF when storing, because if AF is engaged and can be damaged when left with it still on (could be what happened yours!).

Good luck whatever your decision!

rymus

Kali wrote:

but now it just whirrs away without the focusing ring actually turning.

That doesn't sound good at all... You could find out about repairs but tbh, as Oriel says, it'd probably be cheaper to replace it.

Kali

Wez wrote:

I reckon you'd be better off either just using manual focus (it's not that much effort to turn the ring!) or if you're afraid you won't get it as sharp maybe it's time to get a new one!

And I tend to turn it to MF when storing, because if AF is engaged and can be damaged when left with it still on (could be what happened yours!).

Good luck whatever your decision!

Reckon I'll just leave it as is, don't want to open it up and risk destroying it till I get a new one... only time I use AF is in AI Servo mode and it was pretty slow anyway, so I don't think I'm missing too much, just pretty annoying really.
I've decided on the Sigma APO DG as a small step up in quality anyway... plsu that way I keep the macro capability. Can't justify the Canon 300mm IS just yet

Stephen

I have the Sigma. Its nice but the depth of field when using macro is so razor thin its next to useless
Also its not the fastest to autofocus either, but I'm not complaining about it at the price I paid!

Kali

Stephen wrote:

I have the Sigma. Its nice but the depth of field when using macro is so razor thin its next to useless :

Disappointing, but I found the same with the Tamron, hand-held it's quite hard to use the macro, as any slight movement in body or camera and you've lost that sharpness... I found it much much better with a tripod and remote trigger.

Also its not the fastest to autofocus either, but I'm not complaining about it at the price I paid!

Still it's another ~ £250 for a USM Canon... so as long as it's slightly usable for panning shots I'll be happy.

Stephen

Yeah, it'll be grand with a tripod+remote. I've used it to pan shots of bloody fast moving motorbikes with varying levels of success. see here: http://flickr.com/photos/shanafin/sets/72157601060261808/