Canon slr won't focus

ds1980

Camera works in MF on lens but I don't know how to manually focus! Camera won't work on AF. if I leave the lens cap on it the flash light will flash really quickly with a tick tick tick sound and after you'll hear the camera try to focus. If I take the lens cap off it will try to focus but only on the closest setting on the lens? All help appreciated!

Marktheshark

Clean the contacts on the lens and camera body

ds1980

No joy. I assume the two metal strips are most importnany. Cleaned body and lens but same thing.

agrinnall

What camera and what lens?

ds1980

Canon eos rebel xsi

18-55mm lens? Assume it came with camera.

Big_Graeme

Check the little switch on the side of the lens is clicked to AF. You have another lens to try? Sounds like the Auto Focus motor in the lens is shot, common with the kit lenses after time.

RobTang

Go into a camera shop (or currys at a push) with your camera and ask to test a lens, if the AF works the focus motor in your current lens is probably shot.

ds1980

Thanks. Sounds like that's prob it. Assume just buying a new lens will solve. Any recommendations? As you can tell I'm pretty amateur!

Big_Graeme

Check that little switch first, they can jump out of position and would cause the symptoms you are having.

Do as suggested, take your camera body to somewhere like Jessops or Currys and try another lens, if that works then the old lens is the issue. This makes sure it's not the camera body that is at fault.

A good (and reasonably cheap) replacement is the Image Stabilised version of the lens you have -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAND-NEW-CANON-EF-S-18-55mm-f-3-5-5-6-IS-II-LENS-WHITE-BOX-/161482050884?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2599148d44

The 55-250mm IS is pretty good value too -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-EF-S-55-250mm-f-4-0-5-6-IS-Telephoto-Zoom-Lens-for-Digital-SLR-Cameras-EOS-/261529973790?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3ce466b41e

ds1980

Looks like it was the lens. Tried 3 today and all worked fine. Thanks for help. Now to choose that new one