Thread: How reliable are autofocus lenses?

Hi

I haven't had any problems with auto focus on any of my lenses over the years but then I didn't use it all the time.

When it was getting soft as you say was it all the time both hand held and on a tripod, did you try turning VR off and get the same results.

As you are aware VR should be off when you use a tripod and to be honest I didn't really feel the need to use at at all.

I would got to the nikonians web site and become a member I was for a few years someone may have had the same problem as you.

Like these forums they are all willing to help, but give them all the detail you can like what body lens etc etc etc the more info the better.

I sold all my gear 6 months ago, D200 and all the lenses I thought working with wood has to be a cheaper hobby but boy was I wrong .

Sorry forgot to mention as well, sometimes it can be the contacts between the body and the lens that cause Auto focus to stop working.

It could be because they are dirty or they need to be shimmed? anyway just a thought.


Willy

I think you've got a dud lens.

I haven't heard of any problems with any auto-focus lens from Nikon before.

All mine work a treat.

Chris

Grunt,

I think you're right, and I'm facing not so legendary Nikon customer service with some trepidation!

However, that may be a thing of the past now that Maxwells aren't supposed to be managing!

Willy, I know it's the lens as my others are working well, but I am more curious about the long term reliability. I am not rough with my lenses, but to have had two out of four fail makes me wonder!

Thanks for the Nikonian tip, I hadn't been there!

cheers,

P

Yep its strange maybe just one of those things, The Nikon gear can take a fair bit of abuse.

I had two CF cards fail on two different weekends at the same place taking photos of the same thing at the same time(insert ghost music), I have no idea why they failed but got replaced under warranty.

Sometimes these things just happen .

As for the Nikonians forums, they rock, like these forums they can become a dangerous place, so much knowledge and so little time.

Well I signed up at Nikonians, but need another life to wade through all the stuff.

My lens has been in for a month today, and I've been advised that the "parts are on backorder".

Is this the worst case of warranty- customer service that exists?

It's fair to say I'm a bit peeved. Once it would have been quietly peeved, but now I can share my peeve with the world!

cheers,

P

Sadly Nikon service isn't the best. They took over from Maxwells last year and I still don't think they have the poo together.

If you're looking for more places to waste your time you can try

www.dslrusers.com
www.digitalslr.com.au

Both are Australian DSLR user forums.

Chris

I've been using the ultra-sonic Canon lenses for about 12 years now and the only problem I've had was the result of me dropping a lens over a cliff. Looked fine when I retrieved it, but won't work any longer. Doh! I find both the Canon and Nikon products to be very good and only lean toward the Canon gear because, in my opinion, it is a little bit (actually quite a bit) quieter. And I like to photograph wildlife without spooking it. Sounds like you might have got a bum lens and that could happen to anybody.

I spoke with the repairer yesterday.

Yep the lens was just a dud! It needs a replacement motor, and the parts have been on backorder for a month or so, not due in till 2 September.

The repairers seem like good people, but can't do anything without parts. I know the lense will come back set up properly by hand rather than on a production line and so that's probably a good thing.

But I'd like to be using it so I rang Nikon Australia, and explained that I have a German Car, and if there's a part not in stock the manufacturer can fly one out from Germany in less than a week, why can't a tiny motor just get popped in an envelope?

The response: "why don't you hire a lens for the weekend?"

Great customer service huh?

If the camera wasn't so good, I'd jamb it where their sun don't shine!

Cheers,

P

Midge, you should go buy a 50mm 1.8 prime lens. Only set you back $150 or so. They are so sharp and fast.

You can do zooms with them. All you have to do is step closer to your subject to zoom in and step further back to zoom out.

Grunt,
Thanks.... yep you are absolutely correct, I bought one originally, ($135.00 it was an absolute bargain!) and I use it often. (Actually for two months I've used it exclusively!)

Sometimes I walk around with it as an exercise, because I get soo lazy relying on the zoom for composition! I do miss all that pincushioning though!

Not knowing that the other lens was a dud, I was quite disappointed that the el-cheapo always produced consistent results without VR and all that stuff! The repair guys assure me that won't happen when I get the zoom back!

I am saving for a 105VR micro you see, but the 18-200 is just so.... handy really. I can photograph your tonsils from the other side of the room, and for someone with a thing about tonsils, that's a good thing!

Cheers,

P

You've got tonsil pics? Post them!

Once Margo sells one of her 3 saddles (1 bum, 2 horses, 3 saddles?) I'm going to buy an 18-200 and a good carbon tripod with a ball head.

Well it seems Nikon Aus haven't improved since the Maxwell days.

I got tired of asking through their website, and not receiving a reply, despite their "guarantee" of service. So I've resorted to email, one yesterday, two today. I suppose I'll be spam listed now!

Day two and still no reply. Not bad for a company whose president's address on their website says:

"We firmly believe that the way to surpass our customers’expectations is to act swiftly"..

"Nikon is engaged in businesses that deal with the very foundations of our society and therefore has an obligation to deliver products unfailingly at all times."

I have asked the Australian GM what was meant by that.

In the meantime, NEVER let anyone bag GMC's service ever again!

Cheers,

P