Hunting hunter....

jsbn · 19th November 2005

Maybe u guyz will find that I'm a spoilt brat for USM, SWM, etc....

But did u guyz have any problems with the 18-70 3.5/5.6 (Dynax 5D Kit lens) in low light? The stupid strobing flash assist don't seem to work well too (haven't got my ext. flash yet). Bzzt... focus... Bzzt... focus... flash-flash... bzzt... focus... bzzt... focus...

I'm wondering if getting the 3600HS or the 5600HS will help with the low-light focusing? Or do I really need a slightly faster lens?

dynaxattack · 19th November 2005

Low light focusing seems to be quite slow for me too. I also have to switch of the Focus Illuminator so that it wont hurt my babies eyes.

Maybe fast lens is the answer.

Drudkh · 19th November 2005

the flash light assist works well with my 28-75 f/2.8 though.

dynaxattack · 19th November 2005

Originally Posted by Drudkh

the flash light assist works well with my 28-75 f/2.8 though.

What about when without the flash assist?? That lens has my sight albeit not enuf wide.

Drudkh · 19th November 2005

Originally Posted by dynaxattack

What about when without the flash assist?? That lens has my sight albeit not enuf wide.

can't judge, cos of different lighting conditions.

dynaxattack · 19th November 2005

But I guess a quick turn on the MF could fix that easily.

Thx

jsbn · 19th November 2005

Originally Posted by Drudkh

the flash light assist works well with my 28-75 f/2.8 though.

Ahh~~~ Fast lens.

But not now... Not when I'm planning for a big trip.

U tried with slower lenses with ur ext flash? I'm wondering if it would help improve the situation? For now, I guess the fastest way for me would be to set release-priority and toggle to MF mode.

Drudkh · 19th November 2005

Originally Posted by jsbn

Ahh~~~ Fast lens.
But not now... Not when I'm planning for a big trip.

U tried with slower lenses with ur ext flash? I'm wondering if it would help improve the situation? For now, I guess the fastest way for me would be to set release-priority and toggle to MF mode.

sorry, slowest is my 300 f/4

jsbn · 19th November 2005

Ahhh~~~~~ Dunch liddat...

U try it without ur ext flash and AF assist turned off and try it with ur ext flash?

Timber Wolf · 20th November 2005

Hmm. I disable flash-AF-assist. hate it.
I agree, the viewfinder image with 18-70 is dim, and focusing can screw up easily. But what I do is to point it at a very high contrast target, let's say, someone's suit. Because it's f/5.6 the focusing error will be unnoticeable cos of depth-of-field. It's saved me many times.

QX

Zenten · 20th November 2005

I am speaking from my personal experience ......minolta DSLR tends to be slower than other brands when it comes to focusing in low light ......... don't flame me ......

Hopefully the next body would be better .......

BBTM · 20th November 2005

Maybe consider OT :P

I found that kids like to get close to the lens. Therefore, a lens with min focus least than 40cm is most ideal. Fast of course need, esp F1.4 but hey, those lens are expensive! F2.8 is a nice range, good enough for most of the time. Since I still using film, either my flash or camera will beam the infra-red on low light area. Therefore, focusing in low light isn't a problem for me even I using a 35-105 F3.5-F4.5 lens for time being.

BBTM · 20th November 2005

Btw, FYI, the most expensive in KM lenses for F1.4 is the 35mm. Follow by 85mm and then the 50mm.

IMO, 85mm is for protrait. 50mm is for product. 35mm is for bigger product???

jsbn · 20th November 2005

Originally Posted by BBTM

Maybe consider OT :P

I found that kids like to get close to the lens. Therefore, a lens with min focus least than 40cm is most ideal. Fast of course need, esp F1.4 but hey, those lens are expensive! F2.8 is a nice range, good enough for most of the time. Since I still using film, either my flash or camera will beam the infra-red on low light area. Therefore, focusing in low light isn't a problem for me even I using a 35-105 F3.5-F4.5 lens for time being.

Hmm... I guess the IR-Assist beam on flashes does help in focusing to a certain extent on slower lenses then?

BBTM · 20th November 2005

Originally Posted by jsbn

Hmm... I guess the IR-Assist beam on flashes does help in focusing to a certain extent on slower lenses then?

Of course. If not, Sony F717 sure wouldn't be using those laser light for low light focusing. I suppose it does no harm on object, esp human but great for camera during low light. I could take a photo with all the light off, ard 2+ am as I am watching soccer. The beam from the 5600 helped the camera to focus. I will scan the photo when I got the scanner. Will dig up this thread

jsbn · 20th November 2005

Ah~~~~ Its ok. And I was wondering what's wrong with my 5D when I tried to take photos under indoor, low-light conditions (chalet actually. The lighting shld be similar to that of standard ballroom conditions) and the flash assist keeps going on and off and the lens refuses to focus properly until I used manual focus.

So, the flash does help. Think its time to get a flash... and fast.

BBTM · 20th November 2005

Originally Posted by jsbn

So, the flash does help. Think its time to get a flash... and fast.

Try your hand on a 2nd hand 5600 flash if can else get a new one. Don't get 3600, if u want, can try

Why a 2nd hand 5600 becos new model might come soon. Therefore, what is the point of having a model which is in the market for so long n new model ard the corner? Think abt it. (New model not confirm but most likely

)

BBTM · 20th November 2005

Btw, i also try to get a 3600, for my 7i. 5600 too BIG for it and if I am getting LS, it makes no different liao.

My 5600 will be using for my D7 (SLR) which just nice. Time to get a BIGGER bag liao.

Caussway · 20th November 2005

When I tried 5D in comex with kit lens, I found it way slow compared to 17-35mm on 7D.
Yes 7D does hunt a bit sometimes, but when you use the center sensor, it's more accurate than my Nikon F60. Using 5400 / built in flash for AF assist, I do not find any problem.

Hope KM will have firmware upgrade for better AF performance.
Has anyone here tried the Sigma 18-50 F2.8 EX ?

Originally Posted by Zenten

I am speaking from my personal experience ......minolta DSLR tends to be slower than other brands when it comes to focusing in low light ......... don't flame me ......

Hopefully the next body would be better .......

apchoo · 20th November 2005

I also hate the 7D focus assist lamp when using the internal flash. Which is why I tend to use my 5600HS when I have to use flash in low light. The 5600HS red focus assist lamp is less intrusive and it's always spot on

!!! I've done test shots in absolute darkness at my daughter's messy toy area and the 5600HS focus assist managed to produce a focused image everytime.

19th November 2005	#1
jsbn Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Planet Eropagnis Posts: 2,977	Hunting hunter.... Maybe u guyz will find that I'm a spoilt brat for USM, SWM, etc.... But did u guyz have any problems with the 18-70 3.5/5.6 (Dynax 5D Kit lens) in low light? The stupid strobing flash assist don't seem to work well too (haven't got my ext. flash yet). Bzzt... focus... Bzzt... focus... flash-flash... bzzt... focus... bzzt... focus... I'm wondering if getting the 3600HS or the 5600HS will help with the low-light focusing? Or do I really need a slightly faster lens? __________________ "Wonders of the Human Mind. Unfathomable to the highest degree." Last edited by jsbn; 19th November 2005 at 10:33 PM.

19th November 2005	#2
dynaxattack Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 142	Re: Hunting hunter.... Low light focusing seems to be quite slow for me too. I also have to switch of the Focus Illuminator so that it wont hurt my babies eyes. Maybe fast lens is the answer.

19th November 2005	#3
Drudkh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,019	Re: Hunting hunter.... the flash light assist works well with my 28-75 f/2.8 though.

19th November 2005	#6
dynaxattack Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 142	Re: Hunting hunter.... But I guess a quick turn on the MF could fix that easily. Thx

19th November 2005	#9
jsbn Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Planet Eropagnis Posts: 2,977	Re: Hunting hunter.... Ahhh~~~~~ Dunch liddat... U try it without ur ext flash and AF assist turned off and try it with ur ext flash? __________________ "Wonders of the Human Mind. Unfathomable to the highest degree." Last edited by jsbn; 19th November 2005 at 11:06 PM.

20th November 2005	#10
Timber Wolf Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 910	Re: Hunting hunter.... Hmm. I disable flash-AF-assist. hate it. I agree, the viewfinder image with 18-70 is dim, and focusing can screw up easily. But what I do is to point it at a very high contrast target, let's say, someone's suit. Because it's f/5.6 the focusing error will be unnoticeable cos of depth-of-field. It's saved me many times. QX

20th November 2005	#11
Zenten Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 6,206	Re: Hunting hunter.... I am speaking from my personal experience ......minolta DSLR tends to be slower than other brands when it comes to focusing in low light ......... don't flame me ...... Hopefully the next body would be better .......

20th November 2005	#12
BBTM Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: BB West Posts: 713	Re: Hunting hunter.... Maybe consider OT :P I found that kids like to get close to the lens. Therefore, a lens with min focus least than 40cm is most ideal. Fast of course need, esp F1.4 but hey, those lens are expensive! F2.8 is a nice range, good enough for most of the time. Since I still using film, either my flash or camera will beam the infra-red on low light area. Therefore, focusing in low light isn't a problem for me even I using a 35-105 F3.5-F4.5 lens for time being. __________________ Believe in yourself, dont trust other so much. :)

20th November 2005	#13
BBTM Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: BB West Posts: 713	Re: Hunting hunter.... Btw, FYI, the most expensive in KM lenses for F1.4 is the 35mm. Follow by 85mm and then the 50mm. IMO, 85mm is for protrait. 50mm is for product. 35mm is for bigger product??? __________________ Believe in yourself, dont trust other so much. :)

20th November 2005	#16
jsbn Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Planet Eropagnis Posts: 2,977	Re: Hunting hunter.... Ah~~~~ Its ok. And I was wondering what's wrong with my 5D when I tried to take photos under indoor, low-light conditions (chalet actually. The lighting shld be similar to that of standard ballroom conditions) and the flash assist keeps going on and off and the lens refuses to focus properly until I used manual focus. So, the flash does help. Think its time to get a flash... and fast. __________________ "Wonders of the Human Mind. Unfathomable to the highest degree."

20th November 2005	#18
BBTM Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: BB West Posts: 713	Re: Hunting hunter.... Btw, i also try to get a 3600, for my 7i. 5600 too BIG for it and if I am getting LS, it makes no different liao. My 5600 will be using for my D7 (SLR) which just nice. Time to get a BIGGER bag liao. __________________ Believe in yourself, dont trust other so much. :)

20th November 2005	#20
apchoo Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: 37º47'S, 114º58'E Posts: 278	Re: Hunting hunter.... I also hate the 7D focus assist lamp when using the internal flash. Which is why I tend to use my 5600HS when I have to use flash in low light. The 5600HS red focus assist lamp is less intrusive and it's always spot on !!! I've done test shots in absolute darkness at my daughter's messy toy area and the 5600HS focus assist managed to produce a focused image everytime.