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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Autofocusing In the Dark
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 03/03/2007 10:55:31 AM · #1
So I shot my first event the other day (yay :P)... It went quite well, except for one major problem. Focussing was quite an issue. Pretty much for all the indoor shots, I had to manually focus (which gave me about a 80% hit rate), as with autofocus, it barely ever was right... I was shooting at f/8.0, so manually focussing wasn't too hard luckily.

I was shooting with a 350d+18-55mm standard lens, and a 550ex. I know the setup is a bit ghetto, but it'll have to do for now :P... I have a 50mm 1.8, but i thought the zoom would be a bit more flexible.

Anyway, any hints for focussing in the dark? Does the AF assist beam help? or am i pretty much stuck with manual focus? Also, can you preset manual focus to a particular distance on a zoom lens? Or does the focal point change as you zoom in and out?

Thanks
 03/03/2007 10:58:56 AM · #2
My flash has an autofocus assist beam, but it's not a Canon. That helps a lot when it's on there.
 03/03/2007 11:15:23 AM · #3
With the 300d and the hacked firmware there is a way to set the flash so that you have an auto assist beam. You actually have several options. Flash only, flash assist (which makes people think you already took their picture), infrared assist (which rocks) and flash with infrared assist. I would have thought that that option would be on your cameras menu but I've never actually played with one...

Edit to add: I've played around with focusing in almost total dark with the infrared and was amazed at how well it worked...

Message edited by author 2007-03-03 11:17:55.
 03/03/2007 11:21:35 AM · #4
have you tried to use the camera intern focusing light?
not as good as a flash beam, but works well on shorter distances...

edit to add: i think you should have used the 50mm 1.8, it focuses much better in low light situations than the 18-55

Message edited by author 2007-03-03 11:23:53.
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