topic Re: 100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing in EF & RF Lenses

100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing

swanphototx — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 16:54:12 GMT

My macro lens is constantly hunting for a focal point. It has recently started this and no matter if I'm using it for ring shots or portraits, good lighting or bad, it won't focus.

It's never been dropped or damaged. I've had it for almost 5 years.

Re: 100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing

Danny — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 17:04:12 GMT

Hi, swanphototx!

So that the Community can help you better, we will need to know exactly which Canon camera model you're using with your macro lens. That, and any other details you'd like to give will help the Community better understand your issue!

If this is a time-sensitive matter, our US-based technical support team is standing by, ready to help 24/7 via Email at http://bit.ly/ContactCanon or by phone at 1-800-OK-CANON (1-800-652-2666) weekdays between 8 AM and midnight ET (5 AM to 9 PM PT) and Saturdays from 10 AM to 8 PM ET (7 AM to 5 PM PT).

Thanks and have a great day!

Re: 100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing

ScottyP — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 17:08:13 GMT

Could you have bumped the focus limiter switch? The "L" version anyway has one, and it lets you use either the FULL focus range or to limit it to close up .3-.5m or to far away .5 to infinity.

If you didn't bump it accidentally maybe you should start using it on purpose. The macro lens is a slow focuser, and limiting the amount it can hunt is helpful.

Re: 100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing

swanphototx — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 18:22:59 GMT

I shoot with the Canon 5D Mark iii

Re: 100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing

swanphototx — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 18:24:39 GMT

I don't believe so. I don't have the "L" series.

Re: 100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing

ScottyP — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 20:16:21 GMT

Funny how often something simple like bumping something is the issue though. I am constantly bumping my 35mm from AF to MF. Once I had bumped my flash backwards just a tiny bit in the hotshoe so it was still flashing but not in sync with the camera, so I was seeing the shutter in the shots.

Re: 100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing

swanphototx — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 21:24:53 GMT

It's definitely in auto focus. It hunts and hunts, but can never grab focus.

Re: 100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing

Waddizzle — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 21:43:17 GMT

Would we be correct to assume that your other lenses do focus properly, so that we can rule out the camera?

If you manually focus using LiveView, do you get a focus confirmation when press the shutter halfway?

Re: 100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing

swanphototx — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 22:25:53 GMT

I have a 28 that isn't very sharp, but the other lenses don't hunt for focus like this one does. But I suppose I can't rule out the camera being faulty.

Re: 100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing

FamousEdOwen — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 13:00:35 GMT

I have a canon rebel xs with the 18-55mm lense and is doing the same thing. I can manually focus and the red lights show when I push the button half way in. When I have it on auto focus it just keeps going in and out. Sporatically it will find focus and stop but most of the time it goes on for as long as I hold the button in. I have 3 other lenses and these all work fine so i know it is in the lense, not the camera.

I hope it's okay to jump on someone else's post. I didn't see any more replies and was hoping for an anserw since I have yet to find any others with the same problem.

Re: 100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing

RobertTheFat — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 13:14:28 GMT

@FamousEdOwen wrote:
I have a canon rebel xs with the 18-55mm lense and is doing the same thing. I can manually focus and the red lights show when I push the button half way in. When I have it on auto focus it just keeps going in and out. Sporatically it will find focus and stop but most of the time it goes on for as long as I hold the button in. I have 3 other lenses and these all work fine so i know it is in the lense, not the camera.
I hope it's okay to jump on someone else's post. I didn't see any more replies and was hoping for an anserw since I have yet to find any others with the same problem.

Unlike the situation with the OP's macro, this sounds like one of those cases where the autofocus motor got stuck. The usual cause is trying to focus manually while the lens is in AF mode. The cure that often works is to forcibly manhandle it back into position. Obviously this requires a certain degree of finesse, but the procedure has been described several times in the forum. I can't tell you exactly where to look, but I don't doubt that one of the other regulars will be able to help you. (If I'm right about the cause!)

Re: 100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing

Waddizzle — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 14:28:30 GMT

@RobertTheFat wrote:
@FamousEdOwen wrote:
I have a canon rebel xs with the 18-55mm lense and is doing the same thing. I can manually focus and the red lights show when I push the button half way in. When I have it on auto focus it just keeps going in and out. Sporatically it will find focus and stop but most of the time it goes on for as long as I hold the button in. I have 3 other lenses and these all work fine so i know it is in the lense, not the camera.
I hope it's okay to jump on someone else's post. I didn't see any more replies and was hoping for an anserw since I have yet to find any others with the same problem.

Unlike the situation with the OP's macro, this sounds like one of those cases where the autofocus motor got stuck. The usual cause is trying to focus manually while the lens is in AF mode. The cure that often works is to forcibly manhandle it back into position. Obviously this requires a certain degree of finesse, but the procedure has been described several times in the forum. I can't tell you exactly where to look, but I don't doubt that one of the other regulars will be able to help you. (If I'm right about the cause!)

This might be the one.

http://community.usa.canon.com/t5/Lenses/Autofocus-not-working-18-55mm-lens/td-p/138114

Re: 100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing

ebiggs1 — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 23:57:48 GMT

I guess the "second" OP can try that. It won't help! I don't think it will work or is the problem but, hey, it's free to try. I never heard of the ef 100mm f2.8 macro suffering from that problem. Of course that doesn't mean anything. Does it? Better option is to call Canon Service.

Remeber, the lens never knows when it is in focus, the camera does!

Re: 100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing

RobertTheFat — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 15:37:56 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
I guess the OP can try that. It won't help! I don't think it will work or is the problem but, hey, it's free to try. I never heard of the ef 100mm f2.8 macro suffering from that problem. Of course that doesn't mean anything. Does it? ...

In this case, no. But remember: we've deviated from the title of the thread. This latest inquiry is regarding an 18-55mm kit lens.

Re: 100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing

jrhoffman75 — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 19:15:03 GMT

Also clean the lens contacts carefully with a microfiber cloth.

Re: 100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing

Waddizzle — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 19:36:58 GMT

@RobertTheFat wrote:
@ebiggs1 wrote:
I guess the OP can try that. It won't help! I don't think it will work or is the problem but, hey, it's free to try. I never heard of the ef 100mm f2.8 macro suffering from that problem. Of course that doesn't mean anything. Does it? ...
In this case, no. But remember: we've deviated from the title of the thread. This latest inquiry is regarding an 18-55mm kit lens.

This thread is a textbook example of why people with people should always start a new thread for their new problem, most especially if it is the same problem [which in this case is not] as the original thread. It makes it easier to search the forum for solutions, and then Actually find the answer. Who wants to read a thread with 112 replies, and most don't apply?

Re: 100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing

RobertTheFat — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 22:40:38 GMT

@Waddizzle wrote:
@RobertTheFat wrote:
@ebiggs1 wrote:
I guess the OP can try that. It won't help! I don't think it will work or is the problem but, hey, it's free to try. I never heard of the ef 100mm f2.8 macro suffering from that problem. Of course that doesn't mean anything. Does it? ...
In this case, no. But remember: we've deviated from the title of the thread. This latest inquiry is regarding an 18-55mm kit lens.
This thread is a textbook example of why people with people should always start a new thread for their new problem, most especially if it is the same problem [which in this case is not] as the original thread. It makes it easier to search the forum for solutions, and then Actually find the answer. Who wants to read a thread with 112 replies, and most don't apply?

Add to it that it had been four months since the original topic petered out and that the current inquirer used the same icon as the last contributor to the old topic. It's easy to see why Ernie got confused.

But the old topic and the new topic did share the same symptom (AF not working). So I can see why the current inquirer thought he was continuing the same topic.

Re: 100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing

ebiggs1 — Sun, 24 Jul 2016 00:00:35 GMT

"... clean the lens contacts carefully ..."

The only good thing about cleaning the contacts is, it is 'mostly' free, so it is worth a try. It rarely to never helps or works.

Re: 100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing

Waddizzle — Sun, 24 Jul 2016 15:32:15 GMT

@RobertTheFat wrote:
@Waddizzle wrote:
@RobertTheFat wrote:
@ebiggs1 wrote:
I guess the OP can try that. It won't help! I don't think it will work or is the problem but, hey, it's free to try. I never heard of the ef 100mm f2.8 macro suffering from that problem. Of course that doesn't mean anything. Does it? ...
In this case, no. But remember: we've deviated from the title of the thread. This latest inquiry is regarding an 18-55mm kit lens.
This thread is a textbook example of why people with people should always start a new thread for their new problem, most especially if it is the same problem [which in this case is not] as the original thread. It makes it easier to search the forum for solutions, and then Actually find the answer. Who wants to read a thread with 112 replies, and most don't apply?

Add to it that it had been four months since the original topic petered out and that the current inquirer used the same icon as the last contributor to the old topic. It's easy to see why Ernie got confused.

But the old topic and the new topic did share the same symptom (AF not working). So I can see why the current inquirer thought he was continuing the same topic.

You're also overlooking the biggest problem with hitchihiking onto an existing thread. The OP who started the thread is quite likely getting a host of email notices related someone else's problem, and not their own.

Re: 100mm 2.8 Macro Not focusing

RobertTheFat — Sun, 24 Jul 2016 16:30:38 GMT

@Waddizzle wrote:

You're also overlooking the biggest problem with hitchihiking onto an existing thread. The OP who started the thread is quite likely getting a host of email notices related someone else's problem, and not their own.

I doubt that. My experience is that posting in this forum doesn't generate email traffic for the poster. A poster's email address isn't even made readily available.