55-250mm randomly stops focusing.

Sometimes when I'm using the lens, it would just stop focusing, but the focus light in the viewfinder will still turn on. My lens contacts are clean, I'm using it in bright and dry conditions, and away from MFD. The subject I'm trying to focus on also would not be in focus when this happens. But to fix it, all I have to do is turn off my camera, turn the focus ring a bit, turn my camera back on, and it'll be working again. I cannot reproduce the problem at will though. It just happens whenever. I was just wondering if anyone has this problem, or if it's a sign of a dying AF motor or something. The lens should still be under warranty, so maybe I should send it in? I hear Canon just gives you one that's just been fixed anyway instead of taking the time to fix yours and send it back.

If you gently shake the lens do you hear any rattling?
I have heard of screws or such coming loose and interfering with lens operations.

5x5 photography wrote in post #13100131
If you gently shake the lens do you hear any rattling?
I have heard of screws or such coming loose and interfering with lens operations.

I do hear a small click, although I'm not sure if that's just zoom barrel hitting the side of the lens. Or maybe the IS mechanism (if that makes any sound when shaken). I seem to get a different click whenever I hold the lens a little differently and shake it. x.x

There should be no noise in a lens when gently shaken.
I suspect something has come loose, should be an inexpensive repair. I believe I would stop using it and send it in for repair.

when you turn the focus ring a little bit, are you switching it into MF, and then turning it...and then turning it back to AF to get it to work

DreDaze wrote in post #13100364
when you turn the focus ring a little bit, are you switching it into MF, and then turning it...and then turning it back to AF to get it to work

I'm actually not. I did do that first because I realize that it's not good for my AF motor to turn it while it's on AF mode without FTMF, but it didn't work. So I turned it back to AF and gave it a SLIGHT turn and it started focusing again.

5x5 photography wrote in post #13100328
There should be no noise in a lens when gently shaken.
I suspect something has come loose, should be an inexpensive repair. I believe I would stop using it and send it in for repair.

I'm should be still under warranty (I have to check), so if this is really the case, I think I'll just send it in under warranty.

edmyloo, I also have this issue with my 55-250mm lens. I find it will mess up when I try doing rather far shots with a lot of distance between me and my center of the picture. This for some reason messes up the lens and makes it act goofey. I have found that if I point the camera at say the ground, the lens will then be able to reset itself, focus on the ground and then when I bring it back up, it will be able to focus on the far off object and work just fine. Might be something to try.

Thermomonkey wrote in post #13104876
edmyloo, I also have this issue with my 55-250mm lens. I find it will mess up when I try doing rather far shots with a lot of distance between me and my center of the picture. This for some reason messes up the lens and makes it act goofey. I have found that if I point the camera at say the ground, the lens will then be able to reset itself, focus on the ground and then when I bring it back up, it will be able to focus on the far off object and work just fine. Might be something to try.

I'll keep that in mind. Like, I said, I can't reproduce the problem, so I'll just have to wait for it to happen.