Manual Focus gone!?!

[randomgrafix]

Hey guys I just got my 300D (bought on this forum - Thnx Andy:grin:) and a used 28-105 USM II.
When I got the lens it worked great in both AF & MF so Saturday I took it to the Zoo. I plopped on a Kenko 2X and got serious forcusing issues.
MF wasn't working and when I tried to switch back to AF that was shot too.:sad:
I removed the lens removed the 2X and tried again... it worked for a few mins :grin: then gone again :mad:.
Even with the 2X off it gave trouble all day. Had to keep taking the lens on and off the body to get it to function again. I cleaned the connectors but maybe not clean enough.
I'm in the Caribbean so sending it to Canon to fix is very costly.
Any clues guys?
Any suggestions what to clean connectors with (if that's the problem)?

[gasrocks]

Yes, do clean the contacts (on the back of the lens) as best you can. Do you have other lenses to try? Borrow one to make sure it is the lnes and not the camera?

[SkipD]

Any suggestions what to clean connectors with (if that's the problem)?Use a lint-free cloth moistened with rubbing alcohol. 91% is better than 70% for this purpose.

There are commercial products that are much better than using rubbing alcohol, but I don't know today's names to tell you. I use a product called Cramolin. The company, Caig Laboratories, is still in business but they have replaced Cramolin with other products that do the same thing (presumably better, though).

[JackProton]

MF wasn't working and when I tried to switch back to AF that was shot too.:sad:

What do you mean when you say manual focusing wasn't working?

[bob-e]

surely you mean auto focus is not working. I can't see how af would work and mf wouldn't

did you set the lens switch to mf and try to turn the focus ring?

[randomgrafix]

surely you mean auto focus is not working. I can't see how af would work and mf wouldn't

did you set the lens switch to mf and try to turn the focus ring?

It's true, MF isn't working. I turn the MF ring and the lens doesn't focus. No matter how close or far I am from the object it isn't focusing.

[Madweasel]

Sounds like a mechanical problem then. Servicing definitely required!

[randomgrafix]

Yes, do clean the contacts (on the back of the lens) as best you can. Do you have other lenses to try? Borrow one to make sure it is the lnes and not the camera?

I have tried other lenses and they work perfectly in both modes.
I'll try recleaning contacts and see. I thought that the 2X added some grit or something to the cams contacts but the other lenses worked great so it must be the lens.

[randomgrafix]

Sounds like a mechanical problem then. Servicing definitely required!
Sigh...I hope not. I'd have to ship it back to the US...:mad:

[malla1962]

How old is the lens?Is the lens worth fixing?

[JackProton]

It's true, MF isn't working. I turn the MF ring and the lens doesn't focus. No matter how close or far I am from the object it isn't focusing.
Have you checked the viewfinder's diopter setting, the little dial near the eyepiece? If that's set improperly, everything will always looks blurry even if the camera lens is in perfect focus.

[René Damkot]

If I read it correctly, it sounds like the body is okay, and the lens isn't...
Is any part of the lens moving when you turn the focus ring?

[liquefied]

It's definitely something mechanically wrong with the lens if the focus ring itself won't work. Send it back.

[randomgrafix]

Have you checked the viewfinder's diopter setting, the little dial near the eyepiece? If that's set improperly, everything will always looks blurry even if the camera lens is in perfect focus.

Yep checked that. Like I said other lenses are working fine on the body.

[randomgrafix]

How old is the lens?Is the lens worth fixing?
I'm thinking it may not be worth fixing. It is a great lens but I got it used.
I may just keep it as a dedicated AF lens.
I'll have to invest in another. Probably the Sigma 70-300 APO.

[randomgrafix]

If I read it correctly, it sounds like the body is okay, and the lens isn't...
Is any part of the lens moving when you turn the focus ring?
The body is fine, but when I turn the focus ring there is no movement in the focus distance window on the lens.
Sometimes it would move a midge but thats it. It moves fast and smooth in AF mode and focuses.

[randomgrafix]

I cleaned out the connector with a lens cloth and rubbing alcohol but the problem still persists. So most likely it is a mechanical problem... sigh I was hoping not but everything else has failed.

[randomgrafix]

If anyone else has any bright ideas...shoot, because sending it back to Canon will be way to costly for me.

[bob-e]

From what you describe and without inspecting it personally, I'd say it is broken. It's a bummer because it looks like it's your only lens. Maybe pick up a nifty-fifty or another lens to play with while yours is gone. Good luck

[randomgrafix]

From what you describe and without inspecting it personally, I'd say it is broken. It's a bummer because it looks like it's your only lens. Maybe pick up a nifty-fifty or another lens to play with while yours is gone. Good luck
Yeah it is my only lens. I'll have to see what I can buy here. Can't afford new. Wanna get that APO SIGMA 70-300 :wink:. Then a Canon 70-200 f4 :lol:.

[bob-e]

Yeah look into buying the nifty-fifty (Canon 50mm f1.8 ). It's only like $70 and you can have alot of fun with it while you wait for your zoom.

[randomgrafix]

Yeah look into buying the nifty-fifty (Canon 50mm f1.8 ). It's only like $70 and you can have alot of fun with it while you wait for your zoom.
Will do. BTW how the heck did u "macro hack" your Canon 35-80?

[cosworth]

I had to acccess Canon service in the Caribbean (TCI). Send it to them any affordable way you can. They won't ship BACK to you though. I used http://www.thelettercarier.com as a drop point for Canon to ship to once repaired, then I called TLC to send it to me for $20. It was my only option and it took a long time. but it worked.

[Wilt]

The body is fine, but when I turn the focus ring there is no movement in the focus distance window on the lens.
Sometimes it would move a midge but thats it. It moves fast and smooth in AF mode and focuses.

The Canon lens allows full time manual focus, so there needs to be a clutch mechnism of some type which permits this coupling to occur between the focus ring and the actual turning of the internal elements that moves the optics to focus. Since the lens still has AF, that internal mechanism is still working in connection to the motor; but it sounds like the clutch is slipping, allowing the focus ring to turn but without any connection to the focus mechanism inside. And since the lens is new, the complaint 'worn out clutch' might be exactly what is ailing the lens (like an old car with manual transmission!)

[randomgrafix]

I had to acccess Canon service in the Caribbean (TCI). Send it to them any affordable way you can. They won't ship BACK to you though. I used http://www.thelettercarier.com as a drop point for Canon to ship to once repaired, then I called TLC to send it to me for $20. It was my only option and it took a long time. but it worked.
Thnx Cosworth, I'll check it out. Sounds like the best solution so far.

[randomgrafix]

The Canon lens allows full time manual focus, so there needs to be a clutch mechnism of some type which permits this coupling to occur between the focus ring and the actual turning of the internal elements that moves the optics to focus. Since the lens still has AF, that internal mechanism is still working in connection to the motor; but it sounds like the clutch is slipping, allowing the focus ring to turn but without any connection to the focus mechanism inside. And since the lens is new, the complaint 'worn out clutch' might be exactly what is ailing the lens (like an old car with manual transmission!)

That sounds pretty much like it, Wilt. I'll see how best I can get it up to Canon.