Nikon D50 Digital Camera Logo
Posted on Oct 28, 2007
Answered by a Fixya Expert

Trustworthy Expert Solutions

At Fixya.com, our trusted experts are meticulously vetted and possess extensive experience in their respective fields. Backed by a community of knowledgeable professionals, our platform ensures that the solutions provided are thoroughly researched and validated.

View Our Top Experts

Nikon D80 auto focus

My Nikon D80 will not auto focus.  I have tried 2 lenses.  I can use the manual but it will not auto focus when I switch to auto.  I checked to make sure everything is clean.  When attempting to focus I get a reading in the view finder r11.  What do I need to do to fix?

  • 7 more comments 
  • D80 Oakland Nov 05, 2007

    I have had the same problem described by Julie intermittently - it seems to occur in conditions where there are a variety of close and distant features on which the camera could focus. Under those conditions, the lens does not lock onto anything and focuses in and out repeatedly without settling on anything. And the shutter release does not work under those conditions. The suggestion of setting the custom settings to AE/AF lock on does not seem to help since it is the default setting which I believe the camera returns to when it is reset. By the way, the "r11" which appears where the remaining shots are shown simply indicates that the buffer has room for 11 more pictures - it is not an error message.

  • Anonymous Nov 14, 2007

    My Nikon D80 is only three weeks old and it recently quit auto-focusing. I have tried changing batteries and re-mounting the lens but the camera will still not focus. I have tried focusing on close subjects as will as distant subjects. Sometimes I can take a picture but it turns out completely blurry.

  • JJ Hammer Jan 31, 2008

    I seem to have a similiar problem, the lens will not autofocus or if it does try to autofocus it goes to 0.38 macro focus automatically. I thought it was a lens problem so I sent the lens off for repair but with the lens back the same problem exists. This results in a regular situation where I press the shutter button and it will not take a picture. or it takes an out of focus picture. It seems to improve a bit if I set the autofocus to AF-C

  • analrey Aug 06, 2008

    I have same problem, I have try all my lenses that I have and my D80 will not focus on any thing at all,is it internal problem??.

  • musik_rose Aug 29, 2008

    I have the same problem. 18-200 VR lens.

    Have tried everything I can think off. Worked before, as usual fiddled with some settings and now it won't autofocus.

    I am too novice!


  • Anonymous Jan 03, 2009

    I have a D80 with a 18-200 VR lens. It will not autofocus.

  • Anonymous Jan 03, 2009

    I have a D80 with an 18-200 VR lens. It will not autofocus.

  • Anonymous Feb 09, 2009

    I am unable to auto focus and I cannot present my white balance.

  • Anonymous Apr 01, 2009

    I have a similar problem as I cant seem to get the camera to autofocus with several lenses. I found that if I goto custom settings menu choose option 2, AF-area mode and set to Single Area. It doesnt seem to work in Auto-area AF mode???

×

11 Answers

ladylaine

Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

Corporal:

An expert that has over 10 points.

Mayor:

An expert whose answer got voted for 2 times.

  • Contributor 1 Answer
  • Posted on Jun 05, 2008
ladylaine
Contributor
Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

Corporal:

An expert that has over 10 points.

Mayor:

An expert whose answer got voted for 2 times.

Joined: Jun 05, 2008
Answers
1
Questions
0
Helped
11636
Points
16

I had the same problem but then I realized the lens was not "in" all the way.  It had not clicked into place when I changed lenses.  This might work for you....it did for me.

Anonymous

Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

Corporal:

An expert that has over 10 points.

Mayor:

An expert whose answer got voted for 2 times.

  • Contributor 2 Answers
  • Posted on Sep 11, 2008
Anonymous
Contributor
Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

Corporal:

An expert that has over 10 points.

Mayor:

An expert whose answer got voted for 2 times.

Joined: Sep 11, 2008
Answers
2
Questions
0
Helped
12075
Points
12

Just like ladylaine, above, I had this same problem suddenly today. After fiddling with all the settings and just about assuming I'd have to send it in for service, I found this page, read her suggestion, and turned my lens all the way counterclockwise. Sure enough, a tiny click and now it's working fine. It just had become slightly unseated somehow.

Ad

Anonymous

Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

Mayor:

An expert whose answer got voted for 2 times.

  • Contributor 1 Answer
  • Posted on Jun 19, 2009
Anonymous
Contributor
Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

Mayor:

An expert whose answer got voted for 2 times.

Joined: Mar 18, 2009
Answers
1
Questions
0
Helped
11636
Points
4

I'm getting my Nikon D80 back from repair tomorrow. Same problem with focus again and again. Apparently a flaw with this camera. Works ok with non-motorized, older lenses, but not the standard ones that most often come with the camera. I've had many different Nikons over the last 30 years, but this one is a loser. It has been in repair for various reasons over & over and Nikon is not at all quick about getting parts to the repair place.

Anonymous

Level 2:

An expert who has achieved level 2 by getting 100 points

MVP:

An expert that got 5 achievements.

Governor:

An expert whose answer got voted for 20 times.

Hot-Shot:

An expert who has answered 20 questions.

  • Expert 101 Answers
  • Posted on Mar 10, 2008
Anonymous
Expert
Level 2:

An expert who has achieved level 2 by getting 100 points

MVP:

An expert that got 5 achievements.

Governor:

An expert whose answer got voted for 20 times.

Hot-Shot:

An expert who has answered 20 questions.

Joined: Mar 09, 2008
Answers
101
Questions
0
Helped
114873
Points
225

Try a reset !!
if still the problem remains, then the alignment of the lens is incorrect you will need to give it to service.
i has a issue like this !

hopes works !!

Bcamerarookie

Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

New Friend:

An expert that has 1 follower.

  • Contributor 1 Answer
  • Posted on Dec 09, 2013
Bcamerarookie
Contributor
Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

New Friend:

An expert that has 1 follower.

Joined: Dec 09, 2013
Answers
1
Questions
0
Helped
11636
Points
1

I had a similar problem with my Nikon D60... no autofocus!! tried everything and then I noticed on the lens itself there is a A-M switch. I guess transferring it in and out of the bag the switch was pushed over to M- manual and not on A- auto. Works fine now. I might be a fool, but wanted to post this to save someone else the headache.

Anonymous

Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

New Friend:

An expert that has 1 follower.

  • Contributor 1 Answer
  • Posted on Jan 10, 2010
Anonymous
Contributor
Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

New Friend:

An expert that has 1 follower.

Joined: Jan 10, 2010
Answers
1
Questions
0
Helped
11636
Points
1

I have a similar problem. It sometimes autofocuses correctly, but if it has to move too far, it loses focus and never gets it again OR it doesn't move at all. I can put it into manual focus, but I still see the focus indicator flashing on and off despite focus not changing. This happens with multiple lenses, so it must be the camera. Sigh.

Anonymous

Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

  • Contributor 1 Answer
  • Posted on Oct 26, 2008
Anonymous
Contributor
Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

Joined: Oct 26, 2008
Answers
1
Questions
0
Helped
11636
Points
1

I have that same problem, but then after reading this page and little clic, and everything works fine. Thank you Ladylaine!

A

Anonymous

Mine was the same as Ladylaine.. a little click and all is good

A

Anonymous

The Nikon service people said it was probably a lens motor problem - I sent the lens (not the body) in and it came back fixed under warranty.

A

Anonymous

Hi,
Probably you should change the "AE-L/AF-L" setting under CUSTOM SETTING MENU to "AE/AF Lock"

  • Anonymous Oct 17, 2012

    thank you!!!! of all the stuff here! youre the only one that could narrow it down!!

×

Anonymous

Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

  • Contributor 1 Answer
  • Posted on Sep 19, 2009
Anonymous
Contributor
Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

Joined: Sep 19, 2009
Answers
1
Questions
0
Helped
11636
Points
1

My Nikon D 80 doesn't take pictures when I zoom the lens...IS kind of not being able to focus, though the AF motor seems to work...and it appears that F- - on the top display...sometimes, i go manual and zoom and then switch to S or A...to take pictures with the lenses zoomed...

Add Your Answer

×

Uploading: 0%

my-video-file.mp4

Complete. Click "Add" to insert your video. Add

×

Loading...
Loading...

Related Questions:

0helpful
1answer

Will an auto focus Vivitar Series 1 100-400mm work on a nikon d80

Vivitar Series 1 lenses were available with a variety of lens mounts for different camera makes. If the lens has a Nikon mount then it will work on a Nikon D80. If it has some other mount then it will not fit.
1helpful
1answer

D80 auto focus broken

AF lenses normally have a subtle grinding noise when used. Make sure your AF switch is turned on. If this still does not work, you may wanna consider bringing it in for repair
0helpful
2answers

My D80 will not auto focus with any of my 3 Nikkor lenses. It will fire on auto focus when you manually focus while in that auto focus mode.

Press the AF button on the top of the camera (to the right of the window) to select an AF mode & make sure the M/A (Manual / Auto focus) switch on the lens set to "A"

More info below:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d80/af-settings.htm
1helpful
1answer

Will not auto-focus in any mode

May need more detail, but D80 has a somewhat hidden switch on the body that takes it out of AF mode and into Manual. It's marked "AF" and "M". It's right under the lens release button, and sometimes gets switched by accident when changing lenses. Sorry if this is too basic, but without more detail it's hard to troubleshoot this.
0helpful
3answers

Nikon Lenses

They will fit but will work only in manual mode
1helpful
1answer

Auto focus at full zoom not responding Nikon D80 with 18-200mm VR

Hi - I own this lens and it manually focuses at all focal lengths (hard to see at 18mm unless your subject is extremly close). You may need to get the lens checked. BTW - Mine was set as follows when I checked for you:
  • D80 was "on"
  • M/A
  • VR = Off
  • Normal (not Active)
Hope this helps!
0helpful
2answers

I have the Nikon 18-200 lense and it will not autofocus on my D80. I tried other lenses on the camera and they auto focused, so I presumed it was the camera. I sent it for repair, received it after being...

Try you 18-200 lens on another Nikon DSLR. If it still does not Autofocus. It is the lens. Sometimes the electrical contact points of the lens are not making correct contact with the camera. ok?
2helpful
1answer

Quantaray lense

Yes, the Quantaray Autofocus lens will focus automatically on the D80.
1helpful
4answers

Nikon D80

EXPLANATION.
1. The problem with 18-135 lens is because it make from plastic. Main problem from plastic is it can be reshaped after a few usage. When the shape ran out, the contact point will be defective. When the contact point didnt really touched, the processor cant send signal to lens to do autofocus (the lens focus using the lens motor, not the body). When u set to manual focus, the body doesnt need to instruct the lens to focus.
2. You are focusing something that is to near than the focal point.

SOLUTION.
1.Try cleaning the contact point on the lens. Then mount it back until the F showing up (F= aperture). This solution depend on your luck too. if the gap between to contact is so far, then it might happen back. Usually when u need it badly. haha
2. try to get more distance from your subject. Just keep press the shutter until the camera focus.

CONCLUSION
1.But new lens with metal mounting. It will last and durable.
2.Buy macro lens to close up. normal lens wont focus at short focal point!!~
Not finding what you are looking for?

11,646 views

Ask a Question

Usually answered in minutes!

Top Nikon Cameras Experts

ZJ Limited
ZJ Limited

Level 3 Expert

17989 Answers

Brad Brown

Level 3 Expert

19187 Answers

Grand Canyon Tech
Grand Canyon Tech

Level 3 Expert

3867 Answers

Are you a Nikon Camera Expert? Answer questions, earn points and help others

Answer questions

Manuals & User Guides

Loading...