how do you focus at night with an slr

[joe]

hi all,

i've been trying my hand at a little night time photography and was
wondering how ppl focus at night (subject about 2m away).

my camera (nikon f80, 28-200 tamron) struggled to auto foucus and i
couldn't see much through the viewfinder to manual focus.

my pissweak torch didn't help much either, i tried lighting the
subject with the torch but it didn't really help.

maybe a very powerful torch to illuminate the subject is the go.

any hints ....?

thanks in advance,
joe.

[Miro]

"joe" <quiet_storm_668@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:4ce679f8.0307272218.181690bf@posting.google.c om...

> hi all,
>
> i've been trying my hand at a little night time photography and was
> wondering how ppl focus at night (subject about 2m away).
>
> my camera (nikon f80, 28-200 tamron) struggled to auto foucus and i
> couldn't see much through the viewfinder to manual focus.
>
> my pissweak torch didn't help much either, i tried lighting the
> subject with the torch but it didn't really help.
>
> maybe a very powerful torch to illuminate the subject is the go.
>
> any hints ....?
>
> thanks in advance,
> joe.

fast prime lens or a camera that lets you change the focus screen.

[Stuart Elflett]

If you do use a powerful torch to light your subject, don't forget to
lock the exposure seperately to the focus, or you'll get underexposure
based on the light that's no longer there...

I find quite simple torches do a good job for focus assistance
though... even little two AA cell penlights work OK... especially at
two meters... hmmmm...

I guess the F80 doesn't have any kind of focus assist light... some of
the better Canon flashes bounce a red grid on a subject to help with
focussing in low light conditions... I'm sure Nikon have the
equivalent, then you could use the assist light to focus, and then set
your exposure suitably once the flash is off...

Generally though, if there is something there to focus on, I find the
10D can get a lock... most night exposures have SOMETHING in them to
get a focus lock on... if not, try using a hyperfocal table and
setting your lens to infinity...

Cheers,
Stuart

On 27 Jul 2003 23:18:03 -0700, [email]quiet_storm_668@yahoo.com.au[/email] (joe)
wrote:

>hi all,
>
>i've been trying my hand at a little night time photography and was
>wondering how ppl focus at night (subject about 2m away).
>
>my camera (nikon f80, 28-200 tamron) struggled to auto foucus and i
>couldn't see much through the viewfinder to manual focus.
>
>my pissweak torch didn't help much either, i tried lighting the
>subject with the torch but it didn't really help.
>
>maybe a very powerful torch to illuminate the subject is the go.
>
>any hints ....?
>
>thanks in advance,
>joe.

[Miro]

"David in Perth" <friendelijahspamtrap@tnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:3f24d5dc$0$95047$c30e37c6@lon-reader.news.telstra.net...

> Don't they put distance scale on lenses any more?
>

There is no room left with all the acronyms.

[Brenton]

AU Digital Photo Of The Day wrote:

> "Stuart Elflett"
>
>

>>Generally though, if there is something there to focus on, I find the
>>10D can get a lock... most night exposures have SOMETHING in them to
>>get a focus lock on... if not, try using a hyperfocal table and
>>setting your lens to infinity...
>>
>>Cheers,
>>Stuart

>
>
> Hi Stuart,
>
> Don't you mean setting your lens to a hyperfocal distance to obtain a DOF
> from point "x" to infinity?
>
> Russell
>
>

Yep.. agreed... set distance manually (if you have a lens with distance
scales on it)... or the easiest way.. and this works for subjects even
in pitch black....
Use the "piss weak" little torch shining back at the camera and have the
subject hold it or place it on the ground at the focal point for
landscapes and still lifes.... then use it to manually focus on... this
works really well... you will see fuzz (from the lazer matt screen) and
then you will see the pin light source when it is in focus. It is
actually VERY easy to get correct focus this way.
Of course... I would not be asking hungry lions on the palin of Africa
to "please hold my torch while I focus in you" ;-)
BRenton

[Brenton]

As I am currently in David's kill file.....can someone please reply to
this and tell him to fix up the date on his computer... his posts are
out of sequence and hard to follow... and I am sure that Perth is behind
us in time.. not a day ahead :-)
BRenton

[Ken]

"Brenton" <neuschulz@bigpond.com> wrote:

> As I am currently in David's kill file.....can someone please reply to
> this and tell him to fix up the date on his computer... his posts are
> out of sequence and hard to follow... and I am sure that Perth is behind
> us in time.. not a day ahead :-)
> BRenton

That oughta do it

[[BnH]]

What object were you trying to shoot ?
if it was pitch black .. well .. you can only guess :D
* I remember reading somewhere , you can only photo what you can see ? *

but if its dim [ like Sydney Opera House @ 2am :D ] you can just focus it
and hope the best.

btw if you want to buy a torch, buy Surefire :) my best friend outdoor
sometimes its so bright .. I can't even see the object I am lighting ..
as I was blinded by the beam :D

or as other said , use flashgun that have IR illumination ..
Nikon SB50dx is quite good for that purpose.

=bob=

"joe" <quiet_storm_668@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:4ce679f8.0307272218.181690bf@posting.google.c om...

> hi all,
>
> i've been trying my hand at a little night time photography and was
> wondering how ppl focus at night (subject about 2m away).
>
> my camera (nikon f80, 28-200 tamron) struggled to auto foucus and i
> couldn't see much through the viewfinder to manual focus.
>
> my pissweak torch didn't help much either, i tried lighting the
> subject with the torch but it didn't really help.
>
> maybe a very powerful torch to illuminate the subject is the go.
>
> any hints ....?
>
> thanks in advance,
> joe.

[Gavin Cato]

"Stuart Elflett" <stuart@(Don'tspamme)dataman.com.au> wrote in message
news:1li9iv0togubrohspdqrb3f9ufp1s842r7@4ax.com...

> I guess the F80 doesn't have any kind of focus assist light... some of
> the better Canon flashes bounce a red grid on a subject to help with
> focussing in low light conditions...

It does have a focus assist light, and it also will light up the selected AF
point in red (F80 has 5 point AF)

I think thats a custom setting though, I can't remember for sure, I sold my
F80 a few weeks ago.

Gav

[Gavin Cato]

Get a faster lens than the tamron, that'll let a lot more light through.

I've never had a problem using MF though with slow lenses before (i.e. f/4
and slower) although I have pretty good eyesight. Try and let your eyes get
accustomed to the darkness, maybe hold your eye to the viewfinder for a bit
longer than you are to let yourself get used to the low light levels, that
might help.




"joe" <quiet_storm_668@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:4ce679f8.0307272218.181690bf@posting.google.c om...

> hi all,
>
> i've been trying my hand at a little night time photography and was
> wondering how ppl focus at night (subject about 2m away).
>
> my camera (nikon f80, 28-200 tamron) struggled to auto foucus and i
> couldn't see much through the viewfinder to manual focus.
>
> my pissweak torch didn't help much either, i tried lighting the
> subject with the torch but it didn't really help.
>
> maybe a very powerful torch to illuminate the subject is the go.
>
> any hints ....?
>
> thanks in advance,
> joe.

[Obake]

In article <bg2hof$oii$1@austar-news.austar.net.au>, "AU Digital Photo Of The Day" <adpotd@pixelpix.com.au> wrote:

>
>"joe" <quiet_storm_668@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
>news:4ce679f8.0307272218.181690bf@posting.google. com...

>> hi all,
>>
>> i've been trying my hand at a little night time photography and was
>> wondering how ppl focus at night (subject about 2m away).
>>
>> my camera (nikon f80, 28-200 tamron) struggled to auto foucus and i
>> couldn't see much through the viewfinder to manual focus.
>>
>> my pissweak torch didn't help much either, i tried lighting the
>> subject with the torch but it didn't really help.
>>
>> maybe a very powerful torch to illuminate the subject is the go.
>>
>> any hints ....?
>>
>> thanks in advance,
>> joe.

>
>I don't know about the Nikons... but with some Canons you can use a
>Speedlight (Canon flash) that has a focus assist beem and tell the camera to
>use the focus assist but NOT to fire the flash.... perhaps Nikon has
>something similar??

anyone tried a laser pointer to focus on? i was at school and a kid got his
laser pointer confiscated so i got to play with it for a minute. its bright
and seems sharp. could one of these be used to focus?

i also know sony uses a laser 'grid' auto focus assist. is this the same
thing?

[AU Digital Photo Of The Day]

> anyone tried a laser pointer to focus on? i was at school and a kid got

his

> laser pointer confiscated so i got to play with it for a minute. its

bright

> and seems sharp. could one of these be used to focus?
>
> i also know sony uses a laser 'grid' auto focus assist. is this the same
> thing?

lasers have been used a few times as D60 focus assists by the people over at
dpreview forums... they work well it seems.

You can get the ones that project a pattern or line drawing of something....
I think these would work better than a single dot to focus on, as most
cameras look for both horizontal and vertical lines of contrast.

[joe]

g'day chris,
i was using the AF assist light, i think that's what saved a few of my
photos however the AF still struggled.

i shot a few with the AF assist and a few manual focus but it was
tough to see the subject through the view finder and guage focus.

joe


"Chris Wardrop" <c.wardrop@student.adfa.edu.au> wrote in message news:<3f24e73f$1@news.adfa.edu.au>...

> Actually the F80 does have an AF assist light, and I've found it works
> pretty well. Not as well as the AF assist on my SB-28 though. I'm guessing
> Joe is not finding the AF assist light adequate, or maybe he does not have
> it turned on. Make sure that the AF selector switch is set to S not C or M.
> Go to the manual for more troubleshooting.
>
> Chris

[joe]

i was actually out trying to work on my low light/night time
photography.

subject was a statue, no background lighting and on a dark
night.....tough to see.

i did have my SB80 with me but left the batteries at home (nice work
einstein).

the built in speedligh in the F80 is a nice feature, saved me from
going home without any pics.


joe

> What object were you trying to shoot ?
> if it was pitch black .. well .. you can only guess :D
> * I remember reading somewhere , you can only photo what you can see ? *
>
> but if its dim [ like Sydney Opera House @ 2am :D ] you can just focus it
> and hope the best.
>
> btw if you want to buy a torch, buy Surefire :) my best friend outdoor
> sometimes its so bright .. I can't even see the object I am lighting ..
> as I was blinded by the beam :D
>
> or as other said , use flashgun that have IR illumination ..
> Nikon SB50dx is quite good for that purpose.
>
> =bob=
>
> "joe" <quiet_storm_668@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
> news:4ce679f8.0307272218.181690bf@posting.google.c om...

> > hi all,
> >
> > i've been trying my hand at a little night time photography and was
> > wondering how ppl focus at night (subject about 2m away).
> >
> > my camera (nikon f80, 28-200 tamron) struggled to auto foucus and i
> > couldn't see much through the viewfinder to manual focus.
> >
> > my pissweak torch didn't help much either, i tried lighting the
> > subject with the torch but it didn't really help.
> >
> > maybe a very powerful torch to illuminate the subject is the go.
> >
> > any hints ....?
> >
> > thanks in advance,
> > joe.

[Stuart Elflett]

I've got a $14.95 handheld laser at home that can project the line
drawings... I'll give it a test... I also have a decent power unit
that was about $300 when it was bought for me to do sales
presentations... but no 'toys' to fit on that one... but I'll try it
too...

Cheers,
Stuart

On Mon, 28 Jul 2003 21:09:41 +1000, "AU Digital Photo Of The Day"
<adpotd@pixelpix.com.au> wrote:

>

>> anyone tried a laser pointer to focus on? i was at school and a kid got

>his

>> laser pointer confiscated so i got to play with it for a minute. its

>bright

>> and seems sharp. could one of these be used to focus?
>>
>> i also know sony uses a laser 'grid' auto focus assist. is this the same
>> thing?

>
>lasers have been used a few times as D60 focus assists by the people over at
>dpreview forums... they work well it seems.
>
>You can get the ones that project a pattern or line drawing of something....
>I think these would work better than a single dot to focus on, as most
>cameras look for both horizontal and vertical lines of contrast.
>
>
>

[Bushy]

Get the Nikon Speedlight flash to suit your camera, for my old F801's the
SB24 was the unit of the day and you'll love it's focus assist light.

I did 30,000 shots on one body and flash combination and about 6,000 of
those were night shots and another 10,000 were flash assisted daylight or
twilight in the main ring of the Brisbane Ekka and found that I used the
autofocus to set a flash distance on the lens while I had time to play
around and then hold the focus lock with my finger. If I set the flash and
lens and shutter to fire manual at 1/4 power I could get three shots in a
row before the flash would underexpose and then it would take a
few........seconds to recharge.

If you need to take action shots at varying distances, use prefocus as much
as possible, and if taking shots of moving objects, you can prefocus on the
ground where you expect your subject to be when ready.

Manual focus is also OK sometimes, and a light or reflection at or on your
subject can help.

Laser pointers are dangerous. If you are taking shots where you are trying
to focus on people or pathways then be very careful not to injure anyone!

Hope this helps,
Peter

[Flatulant Dingo]

On Mon, 28 Jul 2003 17:05:25 +1000, "AU Digital Photo Of The Day"
<adpotd@pixelpix.com.au> wrote:

> perhaps Nikon has
>something similar??

Same