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Old Man · 09-03-2013, 08:38 PM

In over 20 years. I have the 18-55 WR lens and went to use it today and it will not autofocus, manual focus is OK. It seems like the lens is not communicating with the camera.
When I first turn on the power, the camera asks for the focal length of the lens, regardless of the mode it is in.
It acts the same on 3 different bodies, K10D's. All other lenses are working like they should, so I have narrowed it down to this lens is faulty. It has not really seen a lot of use, but if I can salvage it, it would make me feel better.
I have cleaned the contacts with electrical cleaner, mounted and dismounted numerous times, and checked the tightness of the mounting screws on the lens, all is OK. Moving the screw drive on the lens does result in focus ring moving, so it is not disconnected or anything. Camera makes no attempt to move focusing mechanism with this lens, just shows MF at the bottom of viewfinder.

Any ideas or suggestions welcome. What to clean, lubricate, bang on, tap or which way to throw it,

I really would like for it to work again.

Thanks, Mike

**jatrax** · 09-03-2013, 08:45 PM

Sounds like you already did most of the standard things. If the camera is asking for focal length then it is not communicating with the lens, simple as that.

Usual suggestions are clean the contacts and check to see that all the little contact points are there and the same height, IE one is not sunken down in or missing. Also make sure the lens is turned all the way and locked in, but I'm sure you know that.

Julie · 09-03-2013, 09:21 PM

Throw it this way, I'll dispose of it properly for you.

In all seriousness though, it sounds like you've already done most of what you can do... cleaning the contacts or trying a different body should have done it. You don't happen to still have warranty on it? If not, you could always sent it in to CRIS repair for an estimate and explanation of what is wrong.

Old Man · 09-03-2013, 09:56 PM

Originally posted by Julie

Throw it this way, I'll dispose of it properly for you.

In all seriousness though, it sounds like you've already done most of what you can do... cleaning the contacts or trying a different body should have done it. You don't happen to still have warranty on it? If not, you could always sent it in to CRIS repair for an estimate and explanation of what is wrong.

No, no warranty, I have had it for over 2 years. It just has not been used much. I will keep playing with it, and try to get it to communicate with the camera. It has to be one of the contacts, but I don't know which one. They all look OK and none set to low, I checked with a small screw driver and they are all spring loaded.
I have noticed one thing, the contacts are about half the size of an older FA lens, they look rather small when compared.
It is probably a contact point located under the lens mount that has gone bad, just not sure if I am up to digging for it.
Thanks for the replies.

Yos · 09-04-2013, 12:03 AM

Does K10D have a switch from AF.S/C/MF that you accidental change? Don't have a K10D but I have made the same mistake on my K-30.

Old Man · 09-04-2013, 12:19 AM

Originally posted by Yos

Does K10D have a switch from AF.S/C/MF that you accidental change? Don't have a K10D but I have made the same mistake on my K-30.

Yes, it has that switch, but it makes no difference where it is positioned. The lens still shows for manual focus and does so on 3 different camera bodies. It is the only lens that is doing this, all my others are working just fine.

hoanpham · 09-04-2013, 12:38 AM

Repair may not worth.
there are many 18-55wr for relatively cheap.

sounds like electrical contacts in the lens gone bad.

Old Man · 09-04-2013, 12:48 AM

Originally posted by hoanpham

Repair may not worth.
there are many 18-55wr for relatively cheap.

sounds like electrical contacts in the lens gone bad.

I agree, but I may just open it up a little bit to see if I can clean them or just keep trying to get it to function.

**tomwil** · 09-04-2013, 04:03 AM

According to this page, only 2 contacts are used, the data and A pins. Appears the data contact on the lens is either recessed (not making contact with the camera) or the data circuit within the lens is bad.

If the image above does not show (apparently RobertsTech does not allow hotlinking), try this similar image:

09-03-2013, 08:38 PM	#1
Old Man Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 171	My First Problem In over 20 years. I have the 18-55 WR lens and went to use it today and it will not autofocus, manual focus is OK. It seems like the lens is not communicating with the camera. When I first turn on the power, the camera asks for the focal length of the lens, regardless of the mode it is in. It acts the same on 3 different bodies, K10D's. All other lenses are working like they should, so I have narrowed it down to this lens is faulty. It has not really seen a lot of use, but if I can salvage it, it would make me feel better. I have cleaned the contacts with electrical cleaner, mounted and dismounted numerous times, and checked the tightness of the mounting screws on the lens, all is OK. Moving the screw drive on the lens does result in focus ring moving, so it is not disconnected or anything. Camera makes no attempt to move focusing mechanism with this lens, just shows MF at the bottom of viewfinder. Any ideas or suggestions welcome. What to clean, lubricate, bang on, tap or which way to throw it, I really would like for it to work again. Thanks, Mike

09-04-2013, 04:03 AM	#9
tomwil Site Supporter Join Date: May 2009 Location: Maryland USA Posts: 778	According to this page, only 2 contacts are used, the data and A pins. Appears the data contact on the lens is either recessed (not making contact with the camera) or the data circuit within the lens is bad. If the image above does not show (apparently RobertsTech does not allow hotlinking), try this similar image: Last edited by tomwil; 09-04-2013 at 06:56 AM. Reason: Added image

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09-03-2013, 08:45 PM	#2
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Sounds like you already did most of the standard things. If the camera is asking for focal length then it is not communicating with the lens, simple as that. Usual suggestions are clean the contacts and check to see that all the little contact points are there and the same height, IE one is not sunken down in or missing. Also make sure the lens is turned all the way and locked in, but I'm sure you know that.

09-03-2013, 09:21 PM	#3
Julie Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Illinois Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,069	Throw it this way, I'll dispose of it properly for you. In all seriousness though, it sounds like you've already done most of what you can do... cleaning the contacts or trying a different body should have done it. You don't happen to still have warranty on it? If not, you could always sent it in to CRIS repair for an estimate and explanation of what is wrong.

09-03-2013, 09:56 PM	#4
Old Man Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 171 Original Poster	Originally posted by Julie Throw it this way, I'll dispose of it properly for you. In all seriousness though, it sounds like you've already done most of what you can do... cleaning the contacts or trying a different body should have done it. You don't happen to still have warranty on it? If not, you could always sent it in to CRIS repair for an estimate and explanation of what is wrong. No, no warranty, I have had it for over 2 years. It just has not been used much. I will keep playing with it, and try to get it to communicate with the camera. It has to be one of the contacts, but I don't know which one. They all look OK and none set to low, I checked with a small screw driver and they are all spring loaded. I have noticed one thing, the contacts are about half the size of an older FA lens, they look rather small when compared. It is probably a contact point located under the lens mount that has gone bad, just not sure if I am up to digging for it. Thanks for the replies.

09-04-2013, 12:03 AM	#5
Yos Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Stockholm Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 533	Does K10D have a switch from AF.S/C/MF that you accidental change? Don't have a K10D but I have made the same mistake on my K-30.

09-04-2013, 12:19 AM	#6
Old Man Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 171 Original Poster	Originally posted by Yos Does K10D have a switch from AF.S/C/MF that you accidental change? Don't have a K10D but I have made the same mistake on my K-30. Yes, it has that switch, but it makes no difference where it is positioned. The lens still shows for manual focus and does so on 3 different camera bodies. It is the only lens that is doing this, all my others are working just fine.

09-04-2013, 12:38 AM	#7
hoanpham Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Strand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,366	Repair may not worth. there are many 18-55wr for relatively cheap. sounds like electrical contacts in the lens gone bad.

09-04-2013, 12:48 AM	#8
Old Man Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 171 Original Poster	Originally posted by hoanpham Repair may not worth. there are many 18-55wr for relatively cheap. sounds like electrical contacts in the lens gone bad. I agree, but I may just open it up a little bit to see if I can clean them or just keep trying to get it to function.

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