I have a Nikon AF-S 55-200mm 1:4-56ED. Focuses fine, lens goes in and out fine...except...it doesn't retract completely flush with the barrel of the lens. Is this a big problem?

Model 1919.

probably you have problem with the focus motor, i ever have same problem and need to replaced the focus motor.

there must be a problem with the lens ring which are fitted inside, occasionally it gets worn out because of improper handling . alignments may have caused you the problem. but once again you need a professional help because you wont get any elements or parts easily except from the company.this lens could also may have jammed due to any reasons, may be a foreign body or so and because the af is OK you are still getting a sharp image up to actual 45 mm which you think to be 55mm. If i were you then I would have inverted the lens and tapped gently and then check it once again or best goto Nikon service centers .

Some lenses do have zoom creep.

That lens has a coupling on the lens mount which you'll see rotating when you alter the focus ring and look at the back of the lens. it does not have an in-built focus motor and so will only autofocus with Nikon bodies which incorporate a mechanical AF coupling on the lens mounting flage.

You can change this in the menu while in shooting mode. This is from page 48 of the manual:

Choose how the camera focuses.

A (auto) M d (Shooting menu) M I Autofocus mode

A Single AF (default setting)

The camera focuses when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway.

B Full-time AF

The camera focuses continuously until the shutter-release button is pressed down

halfway. Use with moving subjects. The sound of lens drive movement will be heard

while the camera focuses.

The Nikon D3000 does not have a focusing motor built-in, relying on the lens to have a motor. The Tamron AF 55-200mm does not have the necessary motor; it only auto-focuses with Nikon cameras that have the motor in the camera body.

For Nikon lenses, you need lenses designated AF-S. For Tamron, you need lenses designated USD and/or BIM.

That probably wasn't the answer you wanted to see, but there it is.

Hi,
Sorry to hear about your lens. If you are able to autofocus and take pictures with any other lens, then it means that your problem lies with the kit lens. If you can take picture in manual mode, but not in autofocus mode, then the AF motor in the lens in not functioning. I had the same thing happen to my 50mm 1.4 lens.
Depending on your location, there are Nikon repair centers in Melville, NY and Torrance, CA.
Hope this helps,
Andrew

Which camera are you using? If the body has AF/MF switch, put that also to MF.If this fails to help, take out the lens and try to change it to MF.

You are correct, there is a setting. Press Monitor, then Menu to get to the menu; go to the thitd menu option (looks like a pencil), select option 4 (AF Activation) and set it to ON (Shutter/AF ON). This will solve your problem.