any focusing problem in low light portraiture for nikon VR 18-200mm?

[alexl8]

i'm quite new to dlsr. i haven't got this lens yet and intending to get one soon for travelling / indoor purposes.

just to check if anyone has this problem or if i really need to bring along my dedicated 85/1.4 lens along, which will add more weight in my shoulder bag?

I've afs80-200/2.8d which i sometime use for indoor portrait shots and experience this problem most of the time only on people but not on steady objects. as such, i only use the manual focus. also, fyi, i'm using sb-800 at these times when i have hunting problem.

please offer your good advice, thank you.

[lsisaxon]

Originally Posted by alexl8 i'm quite new to dlsr. i haven't got this lens yet and intending to get one soon for travelling / indoor purposes. just to check if anyone has this problem or if i really need to bring along my dedicated 85/1.4 lens along, which will add more weight in my shoulder bag? I've afs80-200/2.8d which i sometime use for indoor portrait shots and experience this problem most of the time only on people but not on steady objects. as such, i only use the manual focus. also, fyi, i'm using sb-800 at these times when i have hunting problem. please offer your good advice, thank you.

If you're having problems with an f/2.8 lens, then I think at f/5.6 it will be worse. But so far I don't have any problems with the lens. If I can see with my eye through the viewfinder, it should be able to focus.

[erictan8888]

the 18-200mm is ok for portrait indoors....

the smaller aperture means slower shutter speed, but the VR II does wonders to help you with that slower shutter.... no camera blur....

so in answer to your question: no problem

[ExplorerZ]

Originally Posted by alexl8 i'm quite new to dlsr. i haven't got this lens yet and intending to get one soon for travelling / indoor purposes. just to check if anyone has this problem or if i really need to bring along my dedicated 85/1.4 lens along, which will add more weight in my shoulder bag? I've afs80-200/2.8d which i sometime use for indoor portrait shots and experience this problem most of the time only on people but not on steady objects. as such, i only use the manual focus. also, fyi, i'm using sb-800 at these times when i have hunting problem. please offer your good advice, thank you.

if you have very bad hunting or unable to focus on a f2.8 lens, 18-200 will be worse... i guess you are using it in very dim lighting... normal typical indoor lighting ain't bad enough to give you bad hunt especially on a AFS f2.8 lens.

[longkangman]

SB800 should have the IR tracking light to assist focus ?

[alexl8]

Originally Posted by ExplorerZ if you have very bad hunting or unable to focus on a f2.8 lens, 18-200 will be worse... i guess you are using it in very dim lighting... normal typical indoor lighting ain't bad enough to give you bad hunt especially on a AFS f2.8 lens.

actually it's during daytime indoor which i consider not too dim. Does adjustment on the focusing mode help on this? which one should i use, really?

[ExplorerZ]

Originally Posted by alexl8 actually it's during daytime indoor which i consider not too dim. Does adjustment on the focusing mode help on this? which one should i use, really?

try using center AF point, it should be the most precise.

[huggable]

What body are you using?

[alexl8]

Originally Posted by huggable What body are you using?

F100 and D200. Both almost similar experience.

[lsisaxon]

Originally Posted by alexl8 F100 and D200. Both almost similar experience.

Then your lighting must be really meagre and your subject probably has no contrast.
BTW, the 18-200 will not give you full frame coverage on the F100.

[JamesW]

Sometimes I have too. Using D200 as well.

[lsisaxon]

Originally Posted by JamesW Sometimes I have too. Using D200 as well.

Have you upgraded to the latest firmware? My dad uses the D200 more often but I did find that before the firmware upgrade it did hunt a little but after the latest firmware has been put in, the focusing is able to lock with less difficulty. You can try it and let me know if I'm imagining things.