Problem with AF on 50mm f1.8 and 300D?

My new lens seems to have a problem with focussing when it's attached
to my 300D (AKA Digital Rebel). No such problems when it's attached to
my 33V (a film body).

On the 300D it's hit and miss whether it focuses... most of the time
it clunks from end to end (passing right through the exact point of
sharp focus) and the "no focus" indicator blinks. If I release and
half press the shutter it will hunt again. Sometimes it finds the
correct focus point, but most of the time it just clunks and whirs for
a couple of seconds.

Is this a known prob with the 50mm 1.8? I think it's a grey import
(purchased from centre.net.au with a USA/Canada warranty - I'm in
Australia) so I don't know if there is some sort of incompatibility
between the AU 300D and the US/CA lens.

The 300D has no problems with the 18-55mm kit lens and a Sigma
12-24mm, focus is fast and accurate on both of those.

Thanks for any help!

Mine works OK.

On 30 Jun 2004 06:23:31 -0700, (Rowan Crowe)
wrote:

My new lens seems to have a problem with focussing when it's attached
to my 300D (AKA Digital Rebel). No such problems when it's attached to
my 33V (a film body).

On the 300D it's hit and miss whether it focuses... most of the time
it clunks from end to end (passing right through the exact point of
sharp focus) and the "no focus" indicator blinks. If I release and
half press the shutter it will hunt again. Sometimes it finds the
correct focus point, but most of the time it just clunks and whirs for
a couple of seconds.

Is this a known prob with the 50mm 1.8? I think it's a grey import
(purchased from centre.net.au with a USA/Canada warranty - I'm in
Australia) so I don't know if there is some sort of incompatibility
between the AU 300D and the US/CA lens.

The 300D has no problems with the 18-55mm kit lens and a Sigma
12-24mm, focus is fast and accurate on both of those.

Thanks for any help!

Ditto

"DJ" wrote in message
...
Mine works OK.

On 30 Jun 2004 06:23:31 -0700, (Rowan Crowe)
wrote:

My new lens seems to have a problem with focussing when it's attached
to my 300D (AKA Digital Rebel). No such problems when it's attached to
my 33V (a film body).

The 300D has no problems with the 18-55mm kit lens and a Sigma
12-24mm, focus is fast and accurate on both of those.

Thanks for any help!

(Rowan Crowe) wrote in message . com...
My new lens seems to have a problem with focussing when it's attached
to my 300D (AKA Digital Rebel). No such problems when it's attached to
my 33V (a film body).

On the 300D it's hit and miss whether it focuses... most of the time
it clunks from end to end (passing right through the exact point of
sharp focus) and the "no focus" indicator blinks. If I release and
[...]

It seems to be better behaved now, perhaps the contacts were a little
dirty, or it may have been the lighting. I was initially testing it
under a standard incandescent light but I figured that a 1.8 lens
would have no trouble with this level of light. The only time it does
the "out-clunk-in-clunk" thing now is if I point it at something with
no contrast, such as a wall... which is obviously going to cause
problems with the AF system.

BTW the outward clunk is quite sudden, is this normal? It's like the
motor drives until it hits a physical limit, rather than sensing it's
about to hit and stopping just short of it.

Take it back, it's a dud!
I too had a 50mm 1.8 that was stuffed. Although the AF worked perfect
the thing would'nt focus at all, AF or M focus, took it back to the
camera exchange and they did what they do best.....they exchanged it
Now I got me a 50mm 1.8 that behaves like it should.

Vic


Rowan Crowe wrote:

(Rowan Crowe) wrote in message . com...

My new lens seems to have a problem with focussing when it's attached
to my 300D (AKA Digital Rebel). No such problems when it's attached to
my 33V (a film body).

On the 300D it's hit and miss whether it focuses... most of the time
it clunks from end to end (passing right through the exact point of
sharp focus) and the "no focus" indicator blinks. If I release and
SNIP

Take it back, it's a dud!
I too had a 50mm 1.8 that was stuffed. Although the AF worked perfect
the thing would'nt focus at all, AF or M focus, took it back to the
camera exchange and they did what they do best.....they exchanged it
Now I got me a 50mm 1.8 that behaves like it should.

Vic


Rowan Crowe wrote:

(Rowan Crowe) wrote in message . com...

My new lens seems to have a problem with focussing when it's attached
to my 300D (AKA Digital Rebel). No such problems when it's attached to
my 33V (a film body).

On the 300D it's hit and miss whether it focuses... most of the time
it clunks from end to end (passing right through the exact point of
sharp focus) and the "no focus" indicator blinks. If I release and
SNIP

In article , Rowan
Crowe wrote:

Too late - a few days after I got it I was taking a night shot on a
slope, and a gust of wind toppled the (lightweight) tripod. The camera
fell forward and landed lens first. Luckily it was soft sandy soil.
The lens body has a few scratches on the front but apart from that it
survived just fine. So did the camera, thankfully... not a scratch in
sight.

Sounds like a pretty crappy tripod if the wind can knock it over.

In article , Rowan
Crowe wrote:

Too late - a few days after I got it I was taking a night shot on a
slope, and a gust of wind toppled the (lightweight) tripod. The camera
fell forward and landed lens first. Luckily it was soft sandy soil.
The lens body has a few scratches on the front but apart from that it
survived just fine. So did the camera, thankfully... not a scratch in
sight.

Sounds like a pretty crappy tripod if the wind can knock it over.

"Randall Ainsworth" wrote in message
...
In article , Rowan
Crowe wrote:

Too late - a few days after I got it I was taking a night shot on a
slope, and a gust of wind toppled the (lightweight) tripod. The camera
fell forward and landed lens first. Luckily it was soft sandy soil.
The lens body has a few scratches on the front but apart from that it
survived just fine. So did the camera, thankfully... not a scratch in
sight.

Sounds like a pretty crappy tripod if the wind can knock it over.

yeah, but I'm sure it was portable..... the joys of buying a tripod! Sturdy
yet light

kosh

"Randall Ainsworth" wrote in message
...
In article , Rowan
Crowe wrote:

Too late - a few days after I got it I was taking a night shot on a
slope, and a gust of wind toppled the (lightweight) tripod. The camera
fell forward and landed lens first. Luckily it was soft sandy soil.
The lens body has a few scratches on the front but apart from that it
survived just fine. So did the camera, thankfully... not a scratch in
sight.

Sounds like a pretty crappy tripod if the wind can knock it over.

yeah, but I'm sure it was portable..... the joys of buying a tripod! Sturdy
yet light

kosh