Help needed with broken Nikon 80-200

[narsuitus]

At one time, I used a Kiron-made manual focus Vivitar 70-210mm Series I AI f/3.5 zoom lens on my Nikon SLRs. Eventually, I replaced it with a Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D auto focus zoom.

Recently, my 80-200 made a high-pitched noise and then the auto focus no longer worked on my F4. I tried manually focusing and that did not work either. I tried another auto focus lens on my F4 and it worked perfectly.

I also tried my 80-200 in manual mode on my manual focus Nikon F2. I still could not get the lens to manually focus. When I rotate the focus ring, it will only focus from 20 feet to beyond infinity. When I try to focus on something closer than 20 feet, the focus ring with continue to rotate but the lens elements do not move.

Have any of you had similar problems with auto focus lenses?
Could something more serious than a broken auto focus motor be causing the problem?
Should I get the lens repaired or go back to using my manual focus Vivitar?


Telephoto Zooms by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[Sirius Glass]

I would sent it to KEH or Nikon for a repair so you can quickly get back to using it.

 

[shutterfinger]

Recently, my 80-200 made a high-pitched noise and then the auto focus no longer worked on my F4. I tried manually focusing and that did not work either.

This sounds like the focus motor died or encountered high resistance from the mechanics of the lens. The factory service manual has Japanese followed by English https://learncamerarepair.com/downloads/pdf/Nikon-AF-80-200mm-f28D-Service.pdf
Does the zoom setting have any affect on manual focusing?

 

[Pieter12]

Have it repaired. It is a far superior lens.

 

[StepheKoontz]

I'm not sure they still have the parts to repair the AFS versions.

 

[reddesert]

I think that the 80-200 AF-S is a current production lens. You can buy one for only $1200 at B&H, so it would likely be cost-effective to repair. Anyway, doesn't hurt to ask Nikon.

The service manual shutterfinger posted is for the AF D version which does not have an internal focus motor. Learncamerarepair also has a service manual for the AF-S lens.

 

[shutterfinger]

Sorry, I thought I linked the correct one.
Take 2, https://learncamerarepair.com/downloads/pdf/Nikon-AFS-80-200mm-f28D-IF-Service.pdf and https://learncamerarepair.com/downloads/pdf/Nikon-AFS-80-200mmf28D-IF-Parts.pdf
Some people like me will DIY.

 

[StepheKoontz]

I think that the 80-200 AF-S is a current production lens. You can buy one for only $1200 at B&H, so it would likely be cost-effective to repair. Anyway, doesn't hurt to ask Nikon.

The service manual shutterfinger posted is for the AF D version which does not have an internal focus motor. Learncamerarepair also has a service manual for the AF-S lens.

Actually it's the old "screwdriver" focus model that is still in production. The AFS version hasn't been made in a long time, in fact went out of production in 2003. Here is a post from 2013 stating parts are no longer available.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3492987

 

[Sirius Glass]

I'm not sure they still have the parts to repair the AFS versions.

The worst that could happen is that they say no.

 

[reddesert]

Actually it's the old "screwdriver" focus model that is still in production. The AFS version hasn't been made in a long time, in fact went out of production in 2003. Here is a post from 2013 stating parts are no longer available.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3492987

You're right, I didn't look closely enough at the B&H listing - it's for the AF D version. I am not familiar enough with the checkered history of this particular lens and didn't realize that the AF D outlasted the AF-S, when it's usually the other way around.