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Canon Normal EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Autofocus Lens - Beginner issue.

C

Coldkilla

Diamond Member
Hello Anandtech once more,

I am extremely new to photography so if you could bare with me. I purchased a Canon T2i and a Canon Normal EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Autofocus Lens. I had a fair amount of time to learn how the stock lens worked on the camera so I figured the change wouldn't be too drastic (operational wise that is)...

I put the new lens on, switched the camera to manual mode and flipped the switch on the lens itself from MF to AF. Taking from what I learned about my previous lens, I held the shutter button half-pressed and to my surprise the lens does not auto-focus. Is this normal? I also tried changing it in the menu settings and it would not let me.

Any thoughts for this new photographer? Thanks!

Ps: An aside issue: Also, the Aperture is F0.0 and I cannot change it.
 
Coldkilla said:
I put the new lens on, switched the camera to manual mode and flipped the switch on the lens itself from MF to AF. Taking from what I learned about my previous lens, I held the shutter button half-pressed and to my surprise the lens does not auto-focus. Is this normal? I also tried changing it in the menu settings and it would not let me.
[...]
Also, the Aperture is F0.0 and I cannot change it.
Click to expand...

No, this is not normal, and you shouldn't have had to switch it to AF from MF -- it should have come as AF as the normal default (of course someone might have bought and returned it though). Try taking off the lens, maybe cleaning the lens contacts, powering down, etc. If that doesn't work, maybe the lens is defective.
 
omg... I have a feeling its my camera. The other lens won't focus now ether. I don't know what happened!!! It was working fine last week... and of course I'm one month out of warranty. It was never dropped or mishandled that I know of.. it'll probably cost me hundreds to fix too no doubt..

It took writing this thread to try the old lens again. Usually I operate in Manual focus but for the purposes of my next project it needed auto-focus.

Thanks guys.

Edit: Automated/estimated repair cost is $204. Joy... Any idea if theres another place that might give me a better quote? It's just this one thing thats broke... ugh
 
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Nods its entirely possibly you changed the default autofocus setting from half-press to another key. I use the AE lock button on the back for AF and half press for exposure lock.
 
bobdole369 said:
Nods its entirely possibly you changed the default autofocus setting from half-press to another key. I use the AE lock button on the back for AF and half press for exposure lock.
Click to expand...



This would not explain the 0.0 aperture reading.


OP, clean the contacts on your camera's lens mount with sensor cleaning fluid.
 
angry hampster said:
What good will this do if the camera read the lens? Before touching any buttons on the camera, the contacts need to be cleaned.
Click to expand...

No doubt. I assumed that would be done. P mode is the basic auto mode that allows manual adjustments.
 
angry hampster said:
What good will this do if the camera read the lens? Before touching any buttons on the camera, the contacts need to be cleaned.
Click to expand...

No doubt. I assumed that would be done. P mode is the basic semi-auto mode that allows manual adjustments.
 
RobDickinson said:
The canon 50/1.4 is notoriously frail , was this bought used?
Click to expand...

The 18-55mm doesn't auto focus ether. The 50/1.4 is brand new. I've called Canon Support and they had me do a complete factory reset on the camera - which turned up nothing. Sensor cleaning is next on the agenda once I get some fluid that can do that.
 
If the camera is fairly new, the sensor should not need cleaning.
 
Coldkilla said:
The 18-55mm doesn't auto focus ether. The 50/1.4 is brand new. I've called Canon Support and they had me do a complete factory reset on the camera - which turned up nothing. Sensor cleaning is next on the agenda once I get some fluid that can do that.
Click to expand...


Have you cleaned the contacts like we've suggested several times? Dirty sensor is irrelevant.
 
I have checked it a number of times as suggested here. I called a local repair shop and they said the $200 is to be expected for my type of camera. Canon has now quoted the repair to be $215 and I guess I will have to fork it over..
 
Coldkilla,

I think you might be missing the great advice given above : clean the contacts on the lens first : these are the points on the lens that come in contact with the camera body - the metallic rim on the back of the lens and also the front of the camera, and used to convey electronic information from camera to lens and back. This you can do yourself.

Cleaning the sensor is a bigger job, do not try it yourself! (you might not need to get it done at all!).

And looks like your camera contacts might need cleaning too.

I have Nikon, but ran into this last year, and used a pencil eraser to clean the contacts on both camera and lens (verrry carefully, not to allow anything fall into the camera), and it's functioning great ever since!

You could see detailed advice on the net, and follow closely. It might save you that repair cost.

http://www.ehow.com/how_6722254_clean-contacts-slr-rebel-camera.html gives for one specific camera but applies to all.
 
This would not explain the 0.0 aperture reading.
OP, clean the contacts on your camera's lens mount with sensor cleaning fluid.
Click to expand...

Yup, didn't realize he had a 0.0

OP clean your contacts. I had a lens that I dropped (shitty f/5.6 70-300 zoom) in mud it would occasionally give the 0.0 on aperture. it means the lens cannot be read. Clean the contacts.
 
I cleaned each contact carefully using a microfiber cloth with a dab of alcohol a few times over the course of a day, and switched with different batterys. No change.

I also called Canon back and tried to explore another alternative, instead I got quoted 50% less for labor costs. The repair was only $115 (with shipping). I went ahead and did it. I appreciate the comments here y'all and thanks for everything.
 
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Coldkilla said:
I cleaned each contact carefully using a microfiber cloth with a dab of alcohol a few times over the course of a day, and switched with different batterys. No change.

I also called Canon back and tried to explore another alternative, instead I got quoted 50% less for labor costs. The repair was only $115 (with shipping). I went ahead and did it. I appreciate the comments here y'all and thanks for everything.
Click to expand...

Hey $115 is really not bad at all! Glad you got a deal on it. Let us know how it goes when you get it back. You will love the prime I'm sure!
 
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