When it's focusing, the front element should turn in and out several times as
the camera searches for optimum focus -- if the front element stops moving, but
the AF motor still spins, I'd suspect stripped gears between the AF motor and
front group.
If the front lens turns back and forth, but the image in the finder _never_ gets
sharp, you might have damage to the floating lens groups inside -- the frame may
be broken and they may not be travelling to the proper place as the lens is
zoomed. At wide angle they may rest near enough to their normal location to
allow the camera to set focus.
Lastly, if the AF motor doesn't turn the front group at all, the front group may
be jammed (you'll hear the motor _trying_ to turn) or the circuit connecting the
AF motor to the main circuit may be broken/cut (this may manifest itself only
when the lens is extended to tele).
Jim Brokaw wrote:
> The autofocus doesn't seem to work at longer focal lengths. The camera
> motors make noise, but the focus never settles, and the viewfinder stays
> fuzzy as the motor runs then stops, I think the camera gives up after a
> certain time. Since this is a fully automatic camera it won't even take the
> picture if the focus doesn't lock. It looks like the camera does focus when
> at short focal length settings, the viewfinder image gets sharper and then
> the "AF" stops blinking and the camera beeps and will take the picture with
> slightly more pressure on the release.
>
>
> My questions:
>
> Does anyone know of any possible user-fixable causes for this? I'm not
> anxious to tear into this camera, its probably very complex, but if there is
> some setting to check or something to clean I'd try it.
>
> Does anyone know how to test and verify if the autofocus is broken, or if
> the autofocus is somehow is focal-length setting related?
>
> Thanks,
> --
> Jim Brokaw
>
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