clicking during autofocus

[paigew]

Last night while out shooting my lens (50mm 1.8) was clicking when I was trying to get focus (al servo mode). It has done this in the past but usually just once, last night it happened about 3-4 times in a row as I tried to get the shot. Does this mean I broke my lens? I am saving for an upgrade but don't want this one to break before I can afford my new one! I have never dropped it or anything, it looks brand new!

 

[Derrel]

It's probably nothing to worry about. Were the conditions "tough" for the AF system? Many times a lens will hunt for focus and will click a bit. Depends on the brand and lens model...I am assuming it's a Canon EF lens, which in the 1.8 EF-II model (ie the one they've made for a long,long time), there is an A/M switch...was the switch 100 percent in to the AF position? if it has made the same clicking sound before, but last night it was doing it 3-4 times, I'm guessing that, based on a hunch, that maybe it was just searching for focus. ALSO, in Ai-Servo mode, the camera EXPECTS that there WILL BE motion, so the AF system will be very much predisposed to searching for focus points (in anticipation of subject movement). There was a lin k to a series of three 30-minute B&H videos with a Canon USA representative going through the ENTIRE schpeel on Canon AF issues and he mentioned specifically that using AI-Servo on STILL subjects, there WILL BE (he was emphatic) a pronounced tendency for the AF system to hunt and seek focus on still objects.

 

[paigew]

Yes, the conditions were tough! I was shooting backlit photos with A LOT of hazy light showing on my sooc images. I have noticed it clicking before when I shoot backlit like that! Thanks I am glad to know it will be okay until I get my 35mm!