Please help! Not auto-focusing in low light?

Skribblez

New member
Hi,

I've just brought my first DSLR so this might be a silly question.
But my D3100 isn't auto-focusing in low lighting, the images aren't clear at all.... really really blurry. Is it something that I'm doing wrong or is there something wrong with my camera?

Any help would be much appreciated!
 

bluenoser

Banned
Hi there.

I suspect what is happening is that your shutter speeds are too slow and therefore the blurriness you are seeing is from your hand movement. However cameras do struggle with auto-focus a bit more in low light as well. Perhaps you are too close to your subjects and you are not beyond the minimum focusing distance for the lens you are using. Lots of possibilities.

It would be helpful if you posted a picture or 2 (preferably with the EXIF) to allow the folks here to assist you better.

PS. I see this is your first post - welcome to the forum! :)
 

Skribblez

New member
Thanks for the welcome =)

Don't think its blur from movement because I can see it go out of focus on the live view screen before the shot is even taken. Focus assist lamp is on.
I'm using an 18-55mm lens and the same thing is happening in both auto and manual mode.....
Can't post a shot though becuase I'm still waiting for the cord to connect to computer.
 

FoxRacer2

Senior Member
In low light the shutter speeds are longer, and its probably blurry cause of hand shake when the shutter is closed...as someone posted above.

Check and see if VR is on or off and try that. That might help with the blurry, Or you can try manual focusing.

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Tapatalk
 

Skribblez

New member
Thanks loads for all the help.... just wanted to make sure it wasn't a problem with my camera.
Think I'll just manual focus in low light then.
 

Will V|Photography

Senior Member
Try putting your camera on a tripod (or table or counter), set the self-timer for 2 seconds and snapping a few off. A stable base should prove/disprove the shaky-hand theory.

*edit: Are you sure you have the auto-focus switched on the lens?
 

Skribblez

New member
Yeah AF is definitely on. And i don't think its the shaky hand thing because the pictures come out fine when i manual focus. And when I say they're blurry, I mean REALLY blurry, like you can't even make out what the picture is.....
But it doesn't happen every time....
 

Skribblez

New member
Yeah just did a test on the table with the timer on and the same thing.... really blurry.
I've done lots of test shots and its only happening sometimes, and I think it seems to be when the colour of what I'm focusing on isn't much different from the background? So is that normal?
 
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Joseph Bautsch

New member
Two things could be the reason for the lack of focus in low light. The Nikon auto focus system needs contrast in the subject in order to lock focus. In low light you have low contrast and the focus system may not lock. This can happen even in bright light. Try pointing the camera in bright light at a blank wall, nothing on it, and the camera will not focus. The other reason is the auto focus mode. In the "C" mode, continuous focusing, the camera will take the shot even if it's not in focus. In any other mode the camera will not shoot unless it has a focus lock. Check the little yellow dot in the lower left of the view finder. If it's not on then you are not in focus. If it's blinking then you are close to focus but not locked in.
 

Rick M

Senior Member
Skribblez - Page 56 of the reference manual (on the CD it came with) discusses potential auto-focus issues such as mentioned by Joseph and other situations you may run into. I found it very helpful to print the manual for easy reference.
 

Will V|Photography

Senior Member
Skribblez - Page 56 of the reference manual (on the CD it came with) discusses potential auto-focus issues such as mentioned by Joseph and other situations you may run into. I found it very helpful to print the manual for easy reference.

I was going to suggest the same thing. The print manual also has a bunch of info on low-light shooting.
 

vdub804

New member
Two things could be the reason for the lack of focus in low light. The Nikon auto focus system needs contrast in the subject in order to lock focus. In low light you have low contrast and the focus system may not lock. This can happen even in bright light. Try pointing the camera in bright light at a blank wall, nothing on it, and the camera will not focus. The other reason is the auto focus mode. In the "C" mode, continuous focusing, the camera will take the shot even if it's not in focus. In any other mode the camera will not shoot unless it has a focus lock. Check the little yellow dot in the lower left of the view finder. If it's not on then you are not in focus. If it's blinking then you are close to focus but not locked in.

Thanks this explains alot because I was wondering why my brand new d3100 wouldn't take the pic sometimes unless I focused on something else, I was thinking it was either the cam or the 55-200mm but it was just user error.

Sent from my Evo3D
 
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