Olympus 12-40mm won’t auto focus [FIXED]
Q. I cant get the Olympus 12-40mm lens to auto focus all of a sudden? Any quick tips? -Sam
A. There is a ‘manual focusing clutch’ mechanism on the lens that might have gotten bumped.
“This model is equipped with the Manual Focus Clutch mechanism, which makes instant switching to manual focus possible by pulling the focusing ring toward you. ”
Source: Olympus Asia
So check if that got pulled back (you should just be able to push it forward). 🙂
If that doesn’t work you might try disconnecting the lens and then re-attach it (you don’t even have to take it all the way off, just unlock and twist, then twist back till it clicks and locks).
I hope that helps! –JD
UPDATE, the response from Sam: I thought there might be something like that! Fixed in the nick of time!
Dude, you’re a lifesaver. I rented this lens and it just stopped focusing… I was thinking I may have broken something. (Didn’t know what a “clutch” system meant.)
Thanks for the helpful post!
Hi David,
Thank you for your kind comment 🙂 I am very glad to hear that you rented lens was OK and that my tip helped!
Enjoy your Olympus camera and feel free to post again if you have any new favorite lenses or gear!
Best regards,
-J.D.
You just helped me as well! I spent an hour googling and found this thread. THANK YOU!!!!
Hi, Kat.
Thank you for your nice comment.
I am extremely glad that my page helped you with your Olympus 12-40 autofocus!
Enjoy your nice lens and have a GREAT day 🙂
Best regards,
-J.D.
Thanks for that info,mine suddenly stopped autofocus,tried every-thing,reset the camera ect,I knew it was the lens as it worked with other lens,did as you suggested,perfect.
Regards Les.
Thank you for your comment Les! It is certainly disconcerting when AF stop working unexpectedly. I am very glad that my tip worked for you 🙂
Enjoy your nice lens and have a great week!
Best regards,
-J.D.
Thanks!!! I thought I was going to go crazy trying to get it to autofocus.
My pleasure! Have a great weekend and enjoy your nice lens 🙂
Best regards,
-J.D.
Xactly what I was looking for on my Oly lens af fix-ty!
Hi Greta,
Thank you for your nice comment. I am very glad that this fixed your lens issue!
Best regards,
-J.D.
Thank you so much!
You are very welcome Rafael, enjoy your Olympus lens!
Best regards,
-J.D.
Thank you JD – this was very helpful!
Cheers!
You are very welcome Alex! Enjoy your Olympus 12-40mm and I hope you get many great shots with it 🙂
Best regards,
-J.D.
wow… this was driving me mad and I couldn’t find an answer anywhere. Thanks for the answer, plus I found out about a useful function I never knew I had – cheers!
Thank you for the comment John. Glad to hear it resolved your issue and that you have a new feature to utilize 🙂
Best regards,
-J.D.
+1. I was actually annoyed because I didn’t think this lens had a physical AF/MF switch. Guess I should have RTFM. Thanks!
Hi Matt!
Thank you for your comment. I am very glad that you are now able to use the AF/MF switch on your 12-40mm lens 🙂
Have a great day!
-J.D.
I just had the same thing and was going to take it back to the shop. Thanks guys for your help!
Hi Douglas,
Thank you for your nice comment. I am very glad this tip helped with your Olympus lens 🙂
Best regards,
-J.D.
im just laughing at myself. im using a friend’s lens and i went “oh fxck, i broke it” thanks a million. the ring went back.
Hi Bekir,
Thank you for your comment. I am glad this tip helped fix your friend’s “broken” lens 😉
Have a great day!
-J.D.
This thread just saved my photo life in the middle of a cruise around Australia. I thought I was stuck without a camera here in Adelaide, and now I am back on the air. Huge thanks.
Hi Lyell,
Thank you for sharing your story. I am happy that my page helped you with your Olympus 12-40 lens autofocus 🙂
Enjoy your Australian cruise and have a GREAT day!
Best regards,
-J.D.