EF 70-200 2.8 IS USM: does not focus

[NancyEv]

Recently, I am unable to focus my lens using the focus ring (stuck on infinity-when I turn the ring, nothing happens (R7 camera).  When I try to use center point focus, the camera cannot focus on things closer than infinity.  Sometimes Eye-detect works, but most of the time it doesn’t.  Also, when I shoot in eye-detect mode, the first picture is sometimes good, but subsequent images lose focus.  Thoughts?

[deebatman316]

Do you hear the AF motor running all the time.

[NancyEv]

Will do today...I agree that some of the behavior may be user error (or lens error compounded by user error), but I've been using this lens forever and the lack of being able to focus manually seems outside of the realm of an error on my part.

[NancyEv]

Yes, whether in MF or AF, and with or without IS on.

[deebatman316]

Remove the lens from the camera then turn the focus ring. The AF motor should not be active when the camera is off.

[NancyEv]

When I turn the focus ring when the lens is off the camera, nothing happens in the focus window.

[deebatman316]

Even if you turn it both ways? Do you feel any resistance when turning it. The focus ring should turn indefinitely. You'll feel resistance at the end of the focus through. But it will keep turning.

[NancyEv]

Slight resistance when turning either way and no change in resistance even when turning the ring 3-5x around.

[deebatman316]

There should be a part where it turns smoothly without resistance. Until you get to the end of the focus throw. The focus ring will turn 360 degrees. But there is a clutch underneath the focus ring. It sounds as if your lens is broken.