Low light manual focus quick shot help & tips needed please

Watoh

Watoh

Senior Member
Hi all,

I'm looking for help to improve my low light manual focus shots. I'm talking focus here. It is so hard to get good focus in low light, I almost always fail. I have so many beautiful shots ruined by being out of focus. I'm not talking about tripod staged shooting, but spontaneous in the wild shooting!

Love to hear how people cope with the obvious difficulties of low light focus as I'm stumped.

Thanks for any tips or tricks.
 
Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
I think one of the first thing to try is to replace the focusing screen. Otherwise, using Live View is the only real way to be certain because you can magnify the sensor's plane. But LV is very unusable if you are shooting wild life.

What kind of shots are you talking about and with which lens?
 
S

singlerosa_RIP

Senior Member
Not to be dense, but why focus manually when you have autofocus lenses? I might already know the answer, because I had the same issue with my D600. I shoot a lot of indoor events (without modeling flash) and the 600 wasn't cutting it. My solution was the D750.

While using Live View will slow you down a bit, perhaps trying it with autofocus will help. Wouldn't work for me for the type of shooting I do. Changing the screen out for a focus prism might do it for your manual style. Here's a company that offers a few for the D600.

https://www.focusingscreen.com/index.php?cPath=22_137&osCsid=3aafd8d10d95a31aad689e78be292a10
 
Watoh

Watoh

Senior Member
Marcel said:
I think one of the first thing to try is to replace the focusing screen. Otherwise, using Live View is the only real way to be certain because you can magnify the sensor's plane. But LV is very unusable if you are shooting wild life.

What kind of shots are you talking about and with which lens?
Click to expand...

I'd mostly be using my AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G, but the problem is with any lens in very low light. Shot type could be anything really.


singlerosa said:
Not to be dense, but why focus manually when you have autofocus lenses? I might already know the answer, because I had the same issue with my D600. I shoot a lot of indoor events (without modeling flash) and the 600 wasn't cutting it. My solution was the D750.

While using Live View will slow you down a bit, perhaps trying it with autofocus will help. Wouldn't work for me for the type of shooting I do. Changing the screen out for a focus prism might do it for your manual style. Here's a company that offers a few for the D600.

https://www.focusingscreen.com/index.php?cPath=22_137&osCsid=3aafd8d10d95a31aad689e78be292a10
Click to expand...

Yeah my D600 low light autofocus is pretty poor. Not sure if its the D600 or me simply pushing what i can expect from it.

FredKingston said:
Google and understand how to operate "hyperfocal distance"...
Click to expand...

This is probably where I need to head, defiantly looks like it will help in certain conditions.


Basically If I can't see clearly what you are focussing on but the sensor can tricks are needed and I'm lacking the knowledge. The focus screen replacement looks sweet, didn't know it was possible, bit pricey though.

Thanks of the tips so far.
 
Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
Ah, if your lens does have autofocus you could use the flash's infrared beam to acquire focus. I think there is a unit that just sends the infrared that also can be used for focusing in the dark.
 
Dawg Pics

Dawg Pics

Senior Member
Marcel said:
Ah, if your lens does have autofocus you could use the flash's infrared beam to acquire focus. I think there is a unit that just sends the infrared that also can be used for focusing in the dark.
Click to expand...

I wish I knew about this feature several months ago. I have been struggling with this. I just read that my SB800 has an AF assist only feature. I will confirm with the manual.
 
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SkvLTD

SkvLTD

Senior Member
Otherwise and with actual older manual-only glass - learn your distance scale and train your eye to know what looks like its in and out of focus to help you nail it more often. And shoot>check what you got quickly>try again if anything.
 
Fred Kingston

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
I paid an eBay dealer $23 just a few months ago. I was really concerned about doing surgery on my camera, but I was amazed at how easy it popped in...
 
R

rocketman122

Senior Member
even a d3s has issues focusing on the dance floor at weddings if it doesnt get some af assist beam.

as for manual focusing..if the subject is static, consider a led light, shoot 2-4 shots with minor adjustments while youre in the correct "zone" but ive been there and done that. used an 85 1.4 AIS for weddings. I was very brave back then. an a 50 1.8 wont be that much better. imo, its a lost cause. very difficult and near impossible when people are moving..especially at f/4 and below. its why I sold my 85 ais for a 1.8D. just so I can get proper photos
 
Watoh

Watoh

Senior Member
rocketman122 said:
even a d3s has issues focusing on the dance floor at weddings if it doesnt get some af assist beam.

as for manual focusing..if the subject is static, consider a led light, shoot 2-4 shots with minor adjustments while youre in the correct "zone" but ive been there and done that. used an 85 1.4 AIS for weddings. I was very brave back then. an a 50 1.8 wont be that much better. imo, its a lost cause. very difficult and near impossible when people are moving..especially at f/4 and below. its why I sold my 85 ais for a 1.8D. just so I can get proper photos
Click to expand...

This sums up my issues best. Looking for ways to make it work, cheers all.
 
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