Nikon D70 SLR Auto Focus

If the gears are stripped, it will require an experienced tech to repair.

That being said, there should be a small switch near the lens mount to switch between auto and manual focus mode's, be sure that that switch is pointing to A. When set to M, the little screw recesses into the mount so it doesn't try to engage, when set to A, it'll extend very slightly.

Also, Nikon has manufactured two types of AF lenses - with the motor in the body and with the motor in the lens, as with most newer lenses. Your camera should have a small screw on the lens mount that drives the focus motor between the lens and the camera, but I'm not 100% certain on that. Your camera can focus lenses with and without this type of coupling. BUT, if that screw/motor in the body is not functioning, you'll only be able to use lenses which contain the focus motor inside them, or manual focus lenses (you can manually focus AF lenses too).

Depending on the type of interchangeable lens you have mounted on the camera, there may be a switch on the lens barrel for choosing between auto-focus or manual focus. The N55 also will not auto-focus with the newer Nikon AFS lenses such as those used with the Nikon D40 digital slr. Finally, there was a service bulletin on the N55 back in 2005. Nikon discovered a problem with the auto-focus and fixed it for free, but there may have been a time limit. Here is a link to more info about that:

http://www.nikonusa.com/Service-And-Support/Service-Advisories/N55-Service-Advisory.page

Hope this helps : -)

If the lens has an aperture ring, make sure it is set on the largest f number. Make sure the lens is mounted fully on camera. Oherwise an AF 50mmm f1.8 lens should work on a D70 with no problem

I've got a D70 and never had this issue. I bought mine around the same time frame. Thanks for the info!

The camera is unable to focus properly in low light at long focal lengths. You might have to throw some light on the subject with a flashlight until the camera locks in the focus or resort to focussing manually.

Fixing a Dead Nikon D70 - Green Blinking Light My first-generation Nikon D70, which I bought the day it was released to the market a few years back, died on me a few months ago. Without a card in it, it won't start, and when you insert a CF card in the slot, the green data-access indicator flashes on and off. If I hold down the Menu button, the menu flashes on and off along with the green LED.
As it turns out, this is a known problem with the original Nikon D70 cameras, and Nikon USA has a service bulletin out on the camera body. They'll repair it free of charge.
So, if you have the same problem, visit this service bulletin page, http://nikonusa.com/Service-And-Support/Service-Advisories/D70-Service-Advisory.page click on the D70, and you can access a PDF file that you'll need to print, fill out and send to Nikon along with your camera body. Be sure to take your camera strap off and remove the battery, and don't send any lenses or other accessories.
Mine's on it's way to Nikon now - they say the turnaround is five days (plus shipping time).

check to see if auto lever on rear is on dot. I accidentally moved mine and camera would not focus or fire when I was in automatic mode. I went to manual and everything was okay. Switched back to full auto and had same old problem.

When this happens with my D70s, I know of two options. 1) use manual focus or 2) autofocus on another object about the same distance away from my subject (holding the shutter release half way) and then move the camera back to my subject composition. This seems to happen when there is little contrast in the scene, i.e., a field of same colored flowers. Hope this helps.

Perhaps you have accidentally set the auto-manual focus to manual on the camera body?

Per.

PS. The r10 message is just a report of the current memory buffer status, not an error indication.

The D70 has a reset button at the bottom of the camera. Firts of all, I think you have checked you have the correct lens inserted (at least D mount) and well done, checked your memory card is correctly inserted, and if you have another, change it.Checked the battery. Looked the AF modes on the body. If everything is OK, then press the reset button. If you have no answer, then take the camera to the T. Service.