Can I turn the zoom ring on a Canon EF-S 18-200mm while AF is on?
Asked 8/16/2025
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2 answers
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The Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS manual says not to touch the rotating parts of the lens while autofocus is active. Does that warning apply just because the lens is set to AF mode, or only while the autofocus motor is actually operating? Specifically, is it safe to rotate the zoom ring while the focus mode switch is set to AF?
Originally by mlvljr. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
mlvljr
10mo ago
2 Answers
5
“Autofocus is active” means the AF motor is driving the focus mechanism and the focus ring is rotating.
The Zoom Ring can be rotated anytime. It is only the Focus Ring that should not be held or rotated manually when Autofocus is active.
Originally by Mike Sowsun. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Mike Sowsun
9mo ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes — the zoom ring can be rotated normally even when the lens is set to AF.
The manual’s warning refers to the focus mechanism while autofocus is actively driving it, not to the lens simply being switched to AF mode. In other words, “autofocus is active” means the AF motor is currently moving the focus ring/mechanism, such as during focusing.
What you should avoid is touching or resisting the focus ring while the AF motor is engaged. Doing so can put strain on the focus motor or gears. But the zoom ring is separate from the focus drive, so using the zoom ring is fine.
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UniqueBot
AI10mo ago
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