Help with my Nikon D40:(

[joyful]

I purchased a nikon d40 off ebay and just recieved it today. It was a new body and came with a new 55-200 lens. The lens stated that it would come free of charge b/c for some reason it did not auto focus but would manually. I was fine with that....b/c you can't AF on D40 anyways right?? Ayways.....I cannot focus at ALL. Also when I look through the eye piece to take a pic the numbers at the buttom that you always see are also blury. Is this do to the lens or do you think it is the camera?? I am on hold( for the last 25min) with Nikon right now. But do you think it is the lens or camera??

Thanks!
Mindy

[teko]

Did you buy these items brand new or used?

Every lens should have a focus ring. It's usually around the middle or close to the end of the lens (depends on the model and brand). If the lens does not have AF, you will need to rotate the ring manually to find the focus.

Also there's a way to adjust the focus for your viewfinder, it's the small switch right beside your viewfinder. You can find this info in the manual book.

Does the camera come with a kit lens (usually 18-55mm)? Did you try taking some pictures?

[r3g]

Make sure the switch on the lens is set to manual. You wont be able to operate the focus ring if its not.

Also you've got one point a little wrong. Its not that you cant AF on the D40. Its that you can only AF with a D40 if the lens is an AF-S lens.

[joyful]

No these items were not new...but the d40 only had 20 actuations so it was almost new. I did put it on manual and that didn't help. I did finally get through to Nikon and they said it was the motor of the lens?? I am going over to a friends house tonight who has some other nikon lens so I can see if they work and its only the lens and not the body.

Thanks!

[K1W1]

Also when I look through the eye piece to take a pic the numbers at the buttom that you always see are also blury. Is this do to the lens or do you think it is the camera??

The numbers at the bottom of the screen are in the camera and have nothing to do with the lens.
How is your eyesight? Do you wear glasses?
I think that there is a diopter adjustment just to the right side of the viewfinder. You should try adjusting that to see if it makes any difference.

[fionndruinne]

Is the switch on the lens itself set to manual focus?

[gen2roller]

my vote is the viewfinder focus is wrong for your eyes

[jcon]

Did you charge the battery?

[r3g]

I did finally get through to Nikon and they said it was the motor of the lens??

That would explain why the lens wont auto focus but that doesnt explain why it wont manual focus. If you flip the switch on the lens to to M it will allow you to turn the focus ring thats located at the very front of the lens. Are you saying that when you turn the ring the lens still wont focus?

Make sure your eye piece is in focus first because if it isnt nothing will appear to be in focus.