PISSED off with my Alpha, PLease Help!!

[kenxo]

Hey all, been using my alpha 300 for 6 months, and i really wanted throw it away yesterday.!! Very new to the DSLR concept, so it MUST be me and NOT the camera.

Paid 22 bucks to visit the Night Safari Halloween special ydae nite. Lighting Fairly dim thru' out the park. Just when i was about to take out my what seemingly pro equipment out to take my family and friends with the halloween fixtures, I COULD NOT SNAP..!!! i tried to SNAP, nothing could be in focus (possibly too dark???) and the camera did not allow me to snap. I then tried, using a manaul focus, SAME THING, the camera REFUSES to click..!! so irritating, that was when my mum decided to use her Nokia N 82 to snap the pictures instead. SO FED UP!!....

I used my SAL50mm, 1.4 lens thru out , coz i thought i could just fully open the aperture for max exposure..!!

Will appreciate your inputs!!!

[Headshotzx]

I'm not an Alpha shooter, but I can tell that you haven't understood the concepts of photography yet. Photography is the capture of light. If there is no light, there can't be photography.

Anyway, in dark areas, the contrast detection AF usually fails on any camera unless AF assist by a lamp or flash LED light is used. However, I don't see why you couldn't shoot in manual. Were you able to shoot MF before or after that?

"..coz i thought i could just fully open the aperture for max exposure..!!" this shows that you haven't understood the basic concepts of aperture/SS/iso and light. What's max exposure supposed to mean?

[kenxo]

hmm...thanks for your help, but what i did was to simply open the aperture to full F1.4(AV mode) and to try to get more light in, ok now, i really got to go back to basics..!

[Ayie1786]

Originally Posted by Headshotzx I'm not an Alpha shooter, but I can tell that you haven't understood the concepts of photography yet. Photography is the capture of light. If there is no light, there can't be photography. Anyway, in dark areas, the contrast detection AF usually fails on any camera unless AF assist by a lamp or flash LED light is used. However, I don't see why you couldn't shoot in manual. Were you able to shoot MF before or after that? "..coz i thought i could just fully open the aperture for max exposure..!!" this shows that you haven't understood the basic concepts of aperture/SS/iso and light. What's max exposure supposed to mean?

i am not a Alpha user my self and i agree with Headshotzx's comment... it takes time for u to understand the functions of a DSLR rather than a normal PnS...

take it slow and get the basics right before getting all worked up because the camera (i quote) 'refused' to trigger... have fun with the cam and learn along the way...

[Shin Howard]

Did you use the pop-up flash?
The lighting at the night safari is really poor, doubt you can see much without flash.
Other than that you shouldn't be using f/1.4 for group photo.

[flipfreak]

i think the night safari is pretty hard for any camera to shoot and get a decent shot without reverting to ultra high iso. your camera probably couldnt af either because it was too dark or because it was unable to lock onto anything. i am not sure why u cannot shoot even when you use manual focus. could be your camera only allows the shutter to be depressed when u get a af confirmation.

[Headshotzx]

Originally Posted by flipfreak i think the night safari is pretty hard for any camera to shoot and get a decent shot without reverting to ultra high iso. your camera probably couldnt af either because it was too dark or because it was unable to lock onto anything. i am not sure why u cannot shoot even when you use manual focus. could be your camera only allows the shutter to be depressed when u get a af confirmation.

I totally agree.

Where the animals are of concern, I believe a D3 @ ISO25,600 + 70-200 @ f/2.8VR didn't do too well.

If your camera refused to shoot while you're on manual focus, that may mean that your camera / lens is somewhat faulty. However, in normal light, if your camera can shoot in MF, but it can't in very dark places, then something is weird. With the lens cap on, any lens/camera combo will be able to shoot if it's MF mode.

EDIT: lol, everyone who has replied so far are Canon photographers.

[flipfreak]

pls take note that if your camera was set to AF instead of RELEASE, u will not be able to fire off without acquiring correct AF.

Page 119 of the owner manual.

[tank0085]

I am an alpha user... I believed that you merely changed your dial to manual mode right? You still need to change the focusing to manual focus, which is located beside the lens. Having said that, i think the internal flash present in a700 is insufficient for you to shoot at night, especially in such a dark area like night safari. This is because, if you are not shooting close up portraits, the internet flash simply cannot provide enough lighting for proper focusing to be done. Plus in manual mode, did you press the flash button for the flash to pop up? Cos if u didn't do that, the flash will not pop up.

- my 2cents worth! hope this helps

[cufre84]

Using a dslr is really much different.. need to think more, what settings to use.. what effects you want.. you are in full control.. but at the same time if dunno how to control jialat . lol.But no issue juz go read manual , ask frens , shoot more.. sure can 1. sayang your cameara more..

[weishengg]

Originally Posted by kenxo I then tried, using a manaul focus, SAME THING, the camera REFUSES to click..!!

if the camera still cant snap even if you're using manual focus, then its probably a malfunction of the camera.

like what bro tank0085 mentioned, manual focus =/= manual mode.

[Agetan]

just check if the camera AF mode is not in focus priority....

If it is in focus priority, it won't let u take photos unless the focus is on. I have mind in release priority.

Hope that helps.

Read the manual again just in case you haven't.

Regards,

Hart

[psychobiologist]

Originally Posted by Headshotzx I totally agree. Where the animals are of concern, I believe a D3 @ ISO25,600 + 70-200 @ f/2.8VR didn't do too well. If your camera refused to shoot while you're on manual focus, that may mean that your camera / lens is somewhat faulty. However, in normal light, if your camera can shoot in MF, but it can't in very dark places, then something is weird. With the lens cap on, any lens/camera combo will be able to shoot if it's MF mode. EDIT: lol, everyone who has replied so far are Canon photographers.

care to share some samples? want to have a closer look

[eleveninth]

Originally Posted by kenxo Hey all, been using my alpha 300 for 6 months, and i really wanted throw it away yesterday.!! Very new to the DSLR concept, so it MUST be me and NOT the camera. Paid 22 bucks to visit the Night Safari Halloween special ydae nite. Lighting Fairly dim thru' out the park. Just when i was about to take out my what seemingly pro equipment out to take my family and friends with the halloween fixtures, I COULD NOT SNAP..!!! i tried to SNAP, nothing could be in focus (possibly too dark???) and the camera did not allow me to snap. I then tried, using a manaul focus, SAME THING, the camera REFUSES to click..!! so irritating, that was when my mum decided to use her Nokia N 82 to snap the pictures instead. SO FED UP!!.... I used my SAL50mm, 1.4 lens thru out , coz i thought i could just fully open the aperture for max exposure..!! Will appreciate your inputs!!!

hmm don't think i've seen anyone with decent pics from night safari. correct me if i'm wrong.

[Gunjack]

If the camera shutter release is in Focus Priority, I think you would not be able to snap any pictures regardless whether in AF or Manual Focus IF the picture is not focussed or unable to comfirm focus, like in the night safari. If you set to Release Priority, then you would be able to release the shutter, whether the camera comfirms focus or not.

[Rashkae]

Originally Posted by weishengg if the camera still cant snap even if you're using manual focus, then its probably a malfunction of the camera. like what bro tank0085 mentioned, manual focus =/= manual mode.

No, it's no camera malfunction. He needs to set the shutter release to release priority.



TS: What ISO setting were you on? I know you can't use flash, it's not allowed in the Night Safari. Basically, it's challenging for any camera... I bet you mom's N82 fired up the LED light?

[Rashkae]

Originally Posted by Gunjack If the camera shutter release is in Focus Priority, I think you would not be able to snap any pictures regardless whether in AF or Manual Focus IF the picture is not focussed or unable to comfirm focus, like in the night safari. If you set to Release Priority, then you would be able to release the shutter, whether the camera comfirms focus or not.

Exactly.

[waipeng]

Originally Posted by kenxo Hey all, been using my alpha 300 for 6 months, and i really wanted throw it away yesterday.!! Very new to the DSLR concept, so it MUST be me and NOT the camera.

Throw to me... please...

[Gunjack]

I think other than perhaps using an external flash for focus assist, even top of the line DSLR will have a very hard time comfirming focus at the Night Safari.

[acl30]

hello there

suggest u dun throw away ur alpha just yet.

keep on taking pictures and learn and share, and learn and shoot again!