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Can 2 AF assist lamps be used at the same time? (on camera & off camera ext' flash)
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<blockquote data-quote="WayneF" data-source="post: 376453" data-attributes="member: 12496"><p><strong>Re: Can 2 AF assist lamps be used at the same time? (on camera & off camera ext' flas</strong></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The AF assist lights do not measure distance. They are just a light to illuminate what the camera focus sensor is trying to see. It cannot otherwise focus in the dark. <img src="http://nikonites.com/images/smilies/smile.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> </p><p></p><p>Just saying, off camera lights in the house are probably in a halfway reasonably lighted room, and no focus assist is normally needed at all.</p><p>Only needed if in a rather dark place. Only needed if the camera is not able to focus. That seems fairly rare, at least if at home. The assist might be needed in a dark club or outside at night, etc.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Off-camera use still requires the speedlight AF assist light to really aim at the exact point where focus actually is. It is useless if it does not aim at the focus point for the camera to see. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> This aim is not normally the case for off camera lights. AF Assist is triggered only if in AF-S mode, and if with only one single focus point selected. That one focus point has to see it.</p><p> </p><p>The Nikon SC-29 hot shoe extension cable provides yet another AF assist light at the camera hot shoe socket, which will aim at the central focus point.</p><p></p><p>Speaking of Nikon flash units: Speedlight AF light requires CLS communication (to know about shutter half press), so AF assist does not work if not attached to camera shoe (it would work in a hot shoe extension cord, but needs to be attached, and aimed at focus point). </p><p></p><p> If the speedlight is attached to camera, its AF assist is used, and the camera white AF assist is not used (remains dark, even if on in the menu). </p><p></p><p>The Nikon flash red AF assist light looks dim, but it is primarily infrared (nearly invisible to humans), and Nikon specs its range at 33 feet (vs 9 feet for white camera light). I was playing last night, and mine worked and focused fine at 40 feet in a pitch black room. Would not focus there with the camera white light, although it was much more visible to my eyes.</p><p></p><p>Yongnuo: Less sure? I have a YN565EX and its AF assist blinks incessantly every second in any off camera slave mode. Not a plus, I cover it with a piece of tape. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> </p><p></p><p>It would be in Manual flash mode for a radio trigger, and it would never blink then (no CLS communication), but it would work if instead on a hot shoe extension cable (but which must still be aimed at the focus point). However, my Yongnuo Assist beam pattern is very wide, where the Nikon beam is very narrow, just where it needs to be.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="WayneF, post: 376453, member: 12496"] [b]Re: Can 2 AF assist lamps be used at the same time? (on camera & off camera ext' flas[/b] The AF assist lights do not measure distance. They are just a light to illuminate what the camera focus sensor is trying to see. It cannot otherwise focus in the dark. [IMG]http://nikonites.com/images/smilies/smile.png[/IMG] Just saying, off camera lights in the house are probably in a halfway reasonably lighted room, and no focus assist is normally needed at all. Only needed if in a rather dark place. Only needed if the camera is not able to focus. That seems fairly rare, at least if at home. The assist might be needed in a dark club or outside at night, etc. Off-camera use still requires the speedlight AF assist light to really aim at the exact point where focus actually is. It is useless if it does not aim at the focus point for the camera to see. :) This aim is not normally the case for off camera lights. AF Assist is triggered only if in AF-S mode, and if with only one single focus point selected. That one focus point has to see it. The Nikon SC-29 hot shoe extension cable provides yet another AF assist light at the camera hot shoe socket, which will aim at the central focus point. Speaking of Nikon flash units: Speedlight AF light requires CLS communication (to know about shutter half press), so AF assist does not work if not attached to camera shoe (it would work in a hot shoe extension cord, but needs to be attached, and aimed at focus point). If the speedlight is attached to camera, its AF assist is used, and the camera white AF assist is not used (remains dark, even if on in the menu). The Nikon flash red AF assist light looks dim, but it is primarily infrared (nearly invisible to humans), and Nikon specs its range at 33 feet (vs 9 feet for white camera light). I was playing last night, and mine worked and focused fine at 40 feet in a pitch black room. Would not focus there with the camera white light, although it was much more visible to my eyes. Yongnuo: Less sure? I have a YN565EX and its AF assist blinks incessantly every second in any off camera slave mode. Not a plus, I cover it with a piece of tape. :) It would be in Manual flash mode for a radio trigger, and it would never blink then (no CLS communication), but it would work if instead on a hot shoe extension cable (but which must still be aimed at the focus point). However, my Yongnuo Assist beam pattern is very wide, where the Nikon beam is very narrow, just where it needs to be. [/QUOTE]
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Can 2 AF assist lamps be used at the same time? (on camera & off camera ext' flash)
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