3 replies to this topic

[Bruce Kilpatrick]

 I have just purchased a new Nikkor 18-300 3.5-6.3 lens and I may have a automatic focusing problem with this lens.

 

It works correctly except:

 

1   Set focal length to 300 mm

 

2   Take several pics - still OK

 

3   Still at 300 mm attempt to take a pic with insufficient contrast.   Fails to focus.

 

4  Still at 300 mm point camera to a different view with lots of contrast.

 

5   Then the AF does not work at all.

 

6   Change focal length using barrel on lens to between 70 m and 35 mm.

 

7   Now the lens will focus again. 

 

8   After the AF has locked at 5 - instead of changing the focal length I can move the focus ring on the lens to correct the issue.

 

9   Switching the camera off and then on again does not solve the problem at 5.

 

I have tried other lenses on the camera and they do not exhibit this problem.   In particular I have tried my 70-300 mm 4 to 5.6.

 

I am using a D90.

 

I should be grateful for advice and to learn whether:

 

A   I am expecting too much of this 18-300 3.5-6.3 lens

or

B   The problem is a fault on the lens which could be rectified by Nikon.

 

Thank you in advance.

 

With best regards    Bruce Kilpatrick

 

Bruce.Kilpatrick@Orange.fr
+337  72  32  63  15
Francissé
32350   Barran   FRANCE

 

[Ron]

I'll start by saying that I don't personally own this lens, but I just took a look at the specs on the Nikon site and it looks like a very nice lens. I'm particularly fond of the fact that it features internal focusing because I hate super zooms that grow when you rack them out towards the long end.

 

All that said, I'm going to guess that the problem lies mostly with your camera. Not that anything is broken, but that you're pushing it towards the limit of it's focusing ability when you're using it at 300mm or thereabouts with this particular lens. At that point the camera just gives up trying to focus. The fact that you can reduce the focal length and regain the ability to focus seems to confirm this theory. Your 70-300 is a little faster on the 300mm end which probably accounts for it's ability to work when your new lens fails.

 

Perhaps one of our other forum members, hopefully someone with experience with this lens, will jump in and add (or correct any errors)  with what I've said.

 

--Ron

[Merco_61]

Anything slower than f/5.6 will be pushing a D90 to its limits, and in low contrast over that limit. When the D90 was introduced, the slowest lenses Nikon made were f/5.6. Your 18-300 is a wonderful lens on a D7000 or later body. In fact, it is optically the best superzoom Nikon made for the DX DSLR class of cameras.

I never owned one, either, but I have had lots of participants in my clinics who got amazing results with them.

[g4aaw pete]

Hello Bruce.

I have the same lens & use it on a D3300.
I would agree it struggles to auto focus in low light.

It's been a very useful lens to take on holiday, and on occasions when not wanting to take my D800E out for a walk. The only annoying feature (for me) is lens creap. Pointing the lens vertically at 300mm results in the barrel retracting under it's own weight.