nikon 300mmF:2,8 AFS VR

Twice NPS has loaned me a 300mmF:2.8 AFS VR to use during the warbler migration at Magee Marsh. Both lens have hunted to the point of non usable. I sent one back early and turned off VR on the second one. Like magic I could get focus without its hunting. So why does it hunt with VR on, but work perfectly with VR turned off. My 200-500mmF:5.6 VR works great on boardwalk has does my 600mmF:4 G VR. so what is it with the 300 that causes hunting when VR is turned on?

Thanks
Larry Shuman

Because it's broken ?
I have no problems with my copy of that lens.

Nikon never contacted me about the 2 lens being broke. I was new to VR on the first lens but by the second one I knew to turn off VR. There has to be a reason for the performance other than being broke.

Larry Shuman wrote:Nikon never contacted me about the 2 lens being broke. I was new to VR on the first lens but by the second one I knew to turn off VR. There has to be a reason for the performance other than being broke.

Like I said, I have the same lens and never had problems acquiring focus with VR on.
So either lens you have is broken or you constantly select subject with low contrast.
What is more likely ?

I also have this same lens and have never had this problem. My first reaction was that lack of light or contrast may be the problem. If you have two different Nikon cameras, try the lens on both of them and see if the same problem is present on both bodies. Here is another thing to try. Set focus to the AF-ON button to delink AF from the shutter/VR button. Then mount he lens and see if the problem continues or goes away. Also download any software updates for your camera or lens that may exist and load them into the camera. And finally hit the reset settings button on your camera and see if that fixes anything.

photoman4343 wrote:I also have this same lens and have never had this problem. My first reaction was that lack of light or contrast may be the problem. If you have two different Nikon cameras, try the lens on both of them and see if the same problem is present on both bodies. Here is another thing to try. Set focus to the AF-ON button to delink AF  from the shutter/VR button. Then mount he lens and see if the problem continues or goes away. Also download any software updates for your camera or lens that may exist and load them into the camera. And finally hit the reset settings button on your camera and see if that fixes anything.

He already said his other two lenses work just fine so I don't see how any of those really unrelated suggestions may help.

Agree, when the VR unit fails it can set-up an oscillation internal to the lens that prevents it from achieving good AF performance. My 80-400 failed in the same way.