focus problem

[ecp1977]

Today I was using my Nikon D60 and Nikon 55-200 mm lens when it stopped focusing past 105 mm. I would half press the button and I could hear noise like it was trying to focus but when looking at my subject the lens didn't even try to focus. I was shooting in priority mode, switched to all different modes and still no autoficus. I switched to manual focus for a few minutes and when I went back to AF in shutter priority and it worked fine. Anyone have an idea what happened. Is it most likely the lense or the camera? Thanks.

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by ecp1977

Today I was using my Nikon D60 and Nikon 55-200 mm lens when it stopped focusing past 105 mm. I would half press the button and I could hear noise like it was trying to focus but when looking at my subject the lens didn't even try to focus. I was shooting in priority mode, switched to all different modes and still no autoficus. I switched to manual focus for a few minutes and when I went back to AF in shutter priority and it worked fine. Anyone have an idea what happened. Is it most likely the lense or the camera? Thanks.

Could be dirty contacts. Clean them and keep an eye on it.

[ecp1977]

dirty contacts? is that where the lens contacts the body? Sorry but I am new to photogrpahy.

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by ecp1977

dirty contacts? is that where the lens contacts the body? Sorry but I am new to photogrpahy.

Yep. The little "dots." A pencil eraser is a good way to clean them.

[Mike367]

Sometimes my hand will hit either the switch on the lens or the camera. It doesn't have to move all the way to M, just out of AF.

[Cathrine]

Or you could be too close to the subject you're trying to focus on..

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by Cathrine

Or you could be too close to the subject you're trying to focus on..

Not likely. In that case, the lens would still "hunt" / attempt to focus. From the description, this isn't what happened.

[ecp1977]

Correct Jim. It didn't hunt for the subject. Plus I was standing on the beach trying photograph people surfing at least 100 feet away. I meant to put that in the original post. Thanks for everyone's input.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

Not likely. In that case, the lens would still "hunt" / attempt to focus. From the description, this isn't what happened.

Not necessarily. My 70-300 will just flat-out refuse to move if things are too close sometimes.

[Jim Bryant]

I carry around a pencil with an eraser to clean the lens contacts. Works good and last a long time.