topic Re: Camera won't focus in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Camera won't focus

Parselmouth — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 16:36:43 GMT

I bought my first DSLR camera just a couple of weeks ago, it's a Canon EOS 1200D. Yesterday I was fiddling around with some of the settings to see what they did, and now the camera won't focus at all.

The lens is the standard 18 - 55mm lens that came with it, and it won't focus at at either on manual or auto focus mode. It's a bright sunny day with no low light issues, so that's not the problem. It just won't focus at all. I have tried resetting it but that hasn't helped.

Any suggestions as to what I might have done, what might have gone wrong, what I could do to fix it would be very welcome. Bear in mind that I know very little about DSLRs at this stage. Many thanks.

Re: Camera won't focus

kvbarkley — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 16:53:01 GMT

So in manual mode when you turn the focus ring on the lens, it does not focus? You might have the 18-55 mm lens focus problem, look for that lens in the lens forum.

Re: Camera won't focus

Waddizzle — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 17:20:31 GMT

Does "it won't focus" mean that the lens doesn't try to move, or that it never locks onto a focus point?

Camera not focusing can be caused by any one of a number of reasons, none of which are related to hardware failure.

1. Not enough light for the AF system to operate.

2. Too close to a subject for the AF to focus.

3. There isn't enough contrast at the selected AF point for the AF system to operate.

4. The lens AF/MF switch is set to MF.

The auto focusing motors could also be jammed, which is a common problem with your lens. Most users of the lens are new to DSLRs and frequently turn the focus ring, instead of the zoom ring, when the lens is in AF mode. The lens lacks manual override of auto-focus, so turning the ring can jam the AF motors inside the lens. The lenses reportedly rattle when shaken when this happens.

Re: Camera won't focus

TTMartin — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 17:51:01 GMT

@Parselmouth wrote:
I bought my first DSLR camera just a couple of weeks ago, it's a Canon EOS 1200D. Yesterday I was fiddling around with some of the settings to see what they did, and now the camera won't focus at all.

The lens is the standard 18 - 55mm lens that came with it, and it won't focus at at either on manual or auto focus mode. It's a bright sunny day with no low light issues, so that's not the problem. It just won't focus at all. I have tried resetting it but that hasn't helped.

Any suggestions as to what I might have done, what might have gone wrong, what I could do to fix it would be very welcome. Bear in mind that I know very little about DSLRs at this stage. Many thanks.

Set the camera to 'Green Square' Automatic mode. And go outside during the day and try and take a picture of something about 10 feet away.

If the camera works you have messed up something in the settings and you need to clear the cameras settings.

Set the camera to P mode and in the menu

Clear the camera settings

and

Clear all Custom Functions

Check your manual for the exact location of these settings on your model camera.

Re: Camera won't focus

cicopo — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 18:49:19 GMT

AND make sure the switch ON THE LENS is in AF.

Re: Camera won't focus

Waddizzle — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 19:21:38 GMT

@cicopo wrote:
AND make sure the switch ON THE LENS is in AF.

Just as a test. Set lens AF/MF switch to MF, and see if the focus ring turns freely and silently, throughout its' range.

It is possible that you may have set up Back Button Focus, too. That must be manually disabled.

Re: Camera won't focus

ebiggs1 — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 07:31:27 GMT

"AND make sure the switch ON THE LENS is in AF."

This is the problem! Manual in the camera is different than manual on the lens.

Re: Camera won't focus

kvbarkley — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 13:22:26 GMT

Where is there a manual focus setting in the camera?

Re: Camera won't focus

Waddizzle — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 13:45:06 GMT

@kvbarkley wrote:
Where is there a manual focus setting in the camera?

"The lens is the standard 18 - 55mm lens that came with it, and it won't focus at at either on manual or auto focus mode."

I am fairly certain that the OP fully understands the significance of the AF/MF lens switch.

Re: Camera won't focus

RobertTheFat — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 15:39:55 GMT

Waddizzle wrote:

kvbarkley wrote:
Where is there a manual focus setting in the camera?
"The lens is the standard 18 - 55mm lens that came with it, and it won't focus at at either on manual or auto focus mode."

I am fairly certain that the OP fully understands the significance of the AF/MF lens switch.

Probably. But he wouldn't be the only OP who didn't. I remember one that didn't know the difference between manual focus and manual exposure.

Re: Camera won't focus

Waddizzle — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 19:47:22 GMT

@RobertTheFat wrote:
@Waddizzle wrote:
@kvbarkley wrote:
Where is there a manual focus setting in the camera?
"The lens is the standard 18 - 55mm lens that came with it, and it won't focus at at either on manual or auto focus mode."

I am fairly certain that the OP fully understands the significance of the AF/MF lens switch.
Probably. But he wouldn't be the only OP who didn't. I remember one that didn't know the difference between manual focus and manual exposure.

He knows enough about lenses to recognize that the 18-55mm is the standard kit lens.

Re: Camera won't focus

Dianemarie1028 — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 16:11:39 GMT

I had ghe same problem......I had it set to MF mode and switched it back to AF mode and now it focuses.

Re: Camera won't focus

Evidence0702 — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 06:06:34 GMT

Brilliant thanks alot, this was useful.

Re: Camera won't focus

Rabicka — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 23:28:48 GMT

I just did this same thing and I was freaking out because I have a shoot to do tomorrow so I hope my info helps. I need everything broken down to me so I hope you don't mind the step by step instructions.

Go to the menu button on the top left side

Go to the Function setting tab and click on it

Go to the 4th tab and click on Custom Functions (C.Fn)

Tab over with your AF button to get to # 12

#12C.FnIV: Operation/Others Shutter/AE lock button

Choose the first option 0

0:AF/AE lock

Once you click on it it will unlock your autofocus.

Good luck

Reba 😃

Re: Camera won't focus

chaoticgabby — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 20:47:29 GMT

Sadly these didnt help. Neither my AF nor MF is working. By not working, I mean when I use the screen, I can see that the lens wont focus at all. I have gotten it to a point where it will take pictures at a very specific lighting and angle. But im shooting in good lighting & everything. I also checked my AF settings & AE settings and everything in C.Fn is set to 0. I dont know why it wont focus. The lens is clean. I never had this problem with my T6i and I just bought this brand new T4i. Not sure how to fix this problem at all.

Re: Camera won't focus

cicopo — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 22:52:51 GMT

You say you're MF isn't working. That is something you do by twisting a ring on the lens & if it doesn't have any effect then my guess is a damaged lens component inside the lens. You should see changes to the focus as you twist the ring from 1 end of it's travel to the other. At some point in between the end stops if should focus on your target.

Re: Camera won't focus

kvbarkley — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 23:24:34 GMT

Which lens?