Help with my new D70s

[jpperry]

Hello all, well after posting here a few times and reading many other posts I went and purchased a D70s with the 18-70 lens today. I have one question though regarding the lens; mine doesn't seem to be changing focal length at all in autofocus, am I doing something wrong here? When I put my other Nikon lenses on the D70s (lenses for my N65) they change their focal length? I am wondering if there is some setting I don't have correct or if the motor in my lense is broken, please help. I am sure you all know what it is like to get a new toy and think something is wrong with it but not know for sure...it is driving me crazy.

Thanks.

Joe

[another view]

Focusing and focal length are two different things. There are two rings on that lens - one for focusing (the one closest to the camera body) and one for zooming (farthest from the camera body).

If it's not focusing, then check to be sure that the body is in an autofocus mode (usually S or C). There is a switch (probably near the lens mount, I don't have a D70s but this is where Nikon puts it) that may have been bumped. There is also an autofocus switch on the lens itself - make sure it's in "A".

Please only post a question in one forum - if it's been a few days and it's not answered, feel free to try another forum but a lot of us check most of the different forums here.

[jpperry]

Well, the camera is focusing (using the small ring) but is not adjust focal length (zooming). My lenses that I used on my N65 will adjust focal length automatically does the D70s kit lense do this also?

[jpperry]

Ok, maybe I am just dumb...my other lenses don't adjust the focal length automatically, but when the focus the length of the lens changes which I was thinking was the focal length; does the kit lens with the D70s focus internally or something? Anyway, I am obviously still learning.

[Photo-John]

I think we have a communication problem. I know you have to use the zoom ring to change the focal length of your Nikon lenses. The only SLR that had an electronic zoom feature was an old Minolta, from about 10 years ago. Do you mean that when you change the focal length on your old lenses the lens actually physically gets longer - the barrel extends? But if you got the new 18-70mm Nikkor - there are two versions - it's an IF lens, meaning, internal focus. The barrel doesn't change length when you zoom it (change the focal length). All of the zooming and focus movements take place inside the lens without it physically changing length.

Does that explain it?

[jpperry]

Yeah, that was what I was trying to get at in my last post...only you put it much more clearer. Now I can rest easy knowing that my camera/lense is A-OK. Thanks for both of your help.