I dropped my camera, with lens attached, and although the body works fine, the lens will not focus. Take the lens off the camera, and look into the back of it (the lens), and there is a round, black, plastic piece, that has broken loose. Any way of fixing/repairing it, without sending it off? I don't mind buying a manual and doing it myself, 'cos I think the cost of professional repair would be as much as a new lens. Thanks

You have not mentioned to which model it is attached, but most Pentax bodies have a switch to change from manual to auto focus - is this in the correct position ? Does the iris close down when you press the shutter button ? Have you cleaned the contacts on the lens and the camera body ? Do other lenses work with the body, and does the lens work on another body ?

You can't do this. You should attach the camera to the telescope, use the telescope focus wheels to focus after switching on Live View on the camera. You can also use the magnification 5x, 10x function.

Sounds like the focus mechanism is broken on that lens. There's a small screw on the back of it where it meets the camera body, the motor in the camera body turns that screw to autofocus. To me it sounds like the screw is turning, but the lens isn't focusing. You said it also doesn't focus in manual mode, so there is probably something inside the lens that needs repair or replacement. Your best option is to take it to a camera repair shop and ask them for an estimate, camera lenses are not the kind of thing you can take apart and fix on your own. Hope that helps.

Remove the lens and clean the contacts on the camera body and the lens where they meet with a cotton swab lightly dampened with rubbing alcohol. Re-attach the lens and make sure the ring (if you have one) is set to "A".

You probably have a problem with the A/M switch on the body-- flipping that switch should extend or contract the autofocus pin that drives the lens. This particular lens doesn't have its own focus motor, so there's no way that it could be focusing on its own without the pin from the body driving it.

Try taking the lens off of the camera and looking at the autofocus pin as you flip the switch from auto to manual focus.

What camera body? This lens doesn't have an internal focusing motor and thus will not autofocus on the D40/D40x/D60/D5000/D3000.

Did the only the lens drop or was the lens attached to the camera body? If the lens was attached to the camera, you need to verify that the problem is in fact the lens and not the camera body. The easiest way to do that is to try a different lens on your camera body or your lens on a different body. If you do not have access to either, I would find a local camera store that sells Nikon equipment. I am sure they will let you put your lens on one of there bodies. In any case, ff the damage is as extensive as it sounds from your brief description, you need to take it to a camera repair man. This is not a do-it-yourself job.

Dropping a camera is no laughing matter.  I assume you have severely damaged the wide angle lens, and the only solution I have it to purchase another one.   Certainly if the front element fell out that is serious and there are probably other things wrong with the lens, and continued use of it could damage the camera body.   Just be more careful and chock it up to experience and buy a new lens. Sorry to hear about your accident.   Good luck.

The D40 will only autofocus with the Nikkor AF-S lens...look for the AF-S in the lens title. For 3rd party lens, only SIGMA with the USM title will autofocus.

To use the T-adaptor...you will need to use the "Manual" mode of the camera.

First try another lens on the body and see if the problem is the lens or the body,if its the body the autofocus mirror could be out of adjustment, if its the lens, it sounds like the lens took an impact and needs a pro repair. you should be able to set body to manual focus and focus lens to infinty.