Focusing problem at night

[wallacetham]

Hi All,

I m using Canon body with Nissin Di622 ext flash. I find it difficult to focus with the flash attached at night, especially when the area is dark.

Not like built in flash, it will blink the flash light to assist focusing point.

Any idea how to solve this?:think:

 

[spree86]

Hi All,

I m using Canon body with Nissin Di622 ext flash. I find it difficult to focus with the flash attached at night, especially when the area is dark.

Not like built in flash, it will blink the flash light to assist focusing point.

Any idea how to solve this?:think:

The external flash uses IR-assist, which is better than the flash light. What are you trying to focus on when you encounter this problem?

 

[eulee]

I'm going to suggest something really dumb but if you're not shooting people, bring a flashlight. Shine on the area you want to focus on. I've done it before especially in total darkness.

I'm not familiar with your flash but external flashes usually emit infrared which helps focusing. At least the canon ones do.

el.

 

[Override2Zion]

...The external flash uses IR-assist, which is better than the flash light...

This is true, was the subject you're trying to focus on far away or lacking in details for the AF processor to lock on effectively?

...bring a flashlight...

This is actually a very practical and effective solution, nothing dumb about it IMHO

 

[hkingx]

manual focus will help alot. =D

 

[derrickder]

How about focusing on something with sufficient contrast on the same plane as your subject? Then recompose. But not recommended for small f-stops though :/

 

[yu jianzhi]

Shooting Indoors?
Or
Night Macro ??
Or
Night Outdoors Group Shot

I don't know about Nissin but My Nikon SB-600 Works Fine with my D60 on almost Night Conditions People Outdoors Situations but it do sometimes fail when i Take a Large Group shot which i was standing very far from the Group with a tripod on it 18-55 lens around 6 m Away and it do fail when it can't focus and i think most likely is Light Problem and i found the only way to counter this is to Shine a Big Torchlight on the Center of the Group and it Auto Focuses on my Nikon D60 or using a Mobile phone Flash lighting up the Place a little more for the Flash to Focus on

Works so ... why not lol Red Eye Reduction sometimes does the trick on my Friends Olympus Camera

 

[Rogue86]

Another vote for flashlight + manual focus.

 

[wallacetham]

Mostly shooting indoor when I am trying focus on people face. I find the IR assist light is not bright enough for the lens to find focus. This make the lens take much longer time to focus correctly.

Does any Nissin 622 user facing the same issue?

 

[NewbieInCS]

I find the di622 to not assist too well with the non-center focus point. Center focus point should be fine with the IR.

 

[spree86]

Mostly shooting indoor when I am trying focus on people face. I find the IR assist light is not bright enough for the lens to find focus. This make the lens take much longer time to focus correctly.

Does any Nissin 622 user facing the same issue?

I'm using a Nissin Di622, the AF works very well for me, even in darkness. Like NewbieInCS said, try using the center focus point.

 

[col400d]

i set my flash to a low-mid power and strobe it with the manual trigger when focusing, like what the pop up flash does. this works alot of the time for me an saves carrying a flash light.

 

[wallacetham]

i set my flash to a low-mid power and strobe it with the manual trigger when focusing, like what the pop up flash does. this works alot of the time for me an saves carrying a flash light.

Can explain in simpler term? Catch no ball, paiseh

 

[Kiwira]

Can explain in simpler term? Catch no ball, paiseh

built in flash fires a pre flash with the * button, able make use of this to assist in focus in darker areas

same way for off shoe manual flash, but have to trigger by its transmitter >_>

 

[wallacetham]

built in flash fires a pre flash with the * button, able make use of this to assist in focus in darker areas

same way for off shoe manual flash, but have to trigger by its transmitter >_>

So you mean can use the "pilot test light" as a guide in focusing? Then must use both hand. One hand half press shutter button, another hand press flash light pilot test button.

 

[khaihori]

use a canon st-e2 if you have one. it helps focussing when there is very little light.

 

[allenleonhart]

votes for canon IR assist. so far i got 100% hit rates in low light.

 

[droozy]

so meaning taking night shots handheld should be put to MF instead coz there is no focusing point ?

using canon.

thanks!

 

[PrimePhotog]

I'm going to suggest something really dumb but if you're not shooting people, bring a flashlight. Shine on the area you want to focus on. I've done it before especially in total darkness.

I'm a fan of the above for night landscape photography. Get a small but very powerful flashlight such as the Maglite (not the cheapo <$10 kind) and leave it in your bag

 

[mitsucolt]

flash range have limitation.

http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10051_10051_214561_-1

for that sort of range, if you r shooting pple, ask them to hold a handphone near their face as a focus point

you can try using maximum aperture first and play with other settings.