Low Light Focusing E3

[Oly5050]

I just realized that there maybe a problem with low light focusing using the E3. Firstly, need to state the the E510 is worse than the E3. But at really low light...eg. dark ballroom, the E3 cannot achieve focus lock. After I switch on AF assist, it probably can achieve it but there is probably a 20-30% chance of out of focus shot. How does this compare with C and N??

[diCam]

Originally Posted by Oly5050 I just realized that there maybe a problem with low light focusing using the E3. Firstly, need to state the the E510 is worse than the E3. But at really low light...eg. dark ballroom, the E3 cannot achieve focus lock. After I switch on AF assist, it probably can achieve it but there is probably a 20-30% chance of out of focus shot. How does this compare with C and N??

I rarely encounter such issue with my E-3 in this kind of situation, even without flash mounted.

[aryanto]

maybe giving your setting might help? like what AF are you using (full AF, the dot with 4 surrounding, the center dot, the dot not in center -- duh sorry I dont know their technical term), what lense are you using, ... etc. The more info you give the better.

[Oly5050]

Center single point AF. Lens is 12-60 mm. Full auto focus. Also, I have my shutter set so that it will not fire unless there is focus lock.

[kitfox-sg]

Originally Posted by Oly5050 I just realized that there maybe a problem with low light focusing using the E3. Firstly, need to state the the E510 is worse than the E3. But at really low light...eg. dark ballroom, the E3 cannot achieve focus lock. After I switch on AF assist, it probably can achieve it but there is probably a 20-30% chance of out of focus shot. How does this compare with C and N??

hrm maybe the ball room is really really dark. I had that problem with Canons in the past too. I just shot a night concert with my E3 outdoors with very limited light source (under the rain ! e3 hehe) and i didn't have any issues with focus.

[Oly5050]

Yes, the ballroom was really dark and u could barely see the contrast. Only after I turned on AF assist, was the camera able to focus. I just wanted to know if other cameras would have that problem. If it were the E510, it would probably be dead in the water.

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by Oly5050 Yes, the ballroom was really dark and u could barely see the contrast.

In a dark room with almost no light and people dressed in black, yes the E-3 has problems, like any other camera I suppose. But if I can see, so can the E-3. With the red AF assist of the FL-50 the camera, like any other E-system camera, can focus in total darkness. Are you trying to use C-AF? Of course, under those situations the image will be OOF, since I assume people are dancing and moving. If the light is low, the shutter speed will be slow. There is no way to freeze the motion unless you use flash anyway. IS won't help.