Force shots in low light

Aegon · 02-08-2009, 12:59 PM

Sometimes when I shoot in low light, the camera can't get a focus lock and it doesn't permit me to shoot.

When I press the shutter, I want it to shoot.

Is there a way to override this behavior?

flyer · 02-08-2009, 01:06 PM

You can use to on board flash to help with focusing. You can also use AF-C or manual focus, but if you use AF-C, there is no guarantee the focus will be on.

Wheatfield · 02-08-2009, 01:21 PM

Originally posted by Aegon

Sometimes when I shoot in low light, the camera can't get a focus lock and it doesn't permit me to shoot.

When I press the shutter, I want it to shoot.

Is there a way to override this behavior?

Manual focus.

Aegon · 02-08-2009, 03:00 PM

Ahh, the worst part is that it will try to focus, fail, and then I'll use quick shift to focus. And then it won't shoot.

danielchtong · 02-08-2009, 03:19 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

Manual focus.

I second that.
If you worry about getting blurry shots, use wider lens at smaller aperture which increase your depth of field dramatically

Daniel

Arpe · 02-08-2009, 04:58 PM

Not sure what camera you have, but I think you can probably turn off that not shooting thing by going through the menu and allowing shutter release without focus ( I think).

MrApollinax · 02-08-2009, 05:22 PM

I have my K100DS setup to use the OK button to enable AF. That way AF is decoupled from the shutter button. Other than that what the others have said about manual focus is spot on.

fishy · 02-08-2009, 05:28 PM

Just yesterday morning (5 am) I had this 'problem' (on my K10D).
I like to use AF-S, because I find thet AF-C makes too many misses. Using the on-board flash as focus assist I found far too intrusive, I tried to catch an intimate scene (mother-child on a night market).
So that left the manual focus option (or, optionally, an external flash with focus assist beam. But how do you get those things to emit a beam and NOT fire?). Without a split prism I find the manual focus hard, though. What I (really) don't understand is why the fopcus assist LED seems top work just fine when manual focussing (focus indicator lighting up), but it can't find focus when autofocussing??

alderfall · 02-08-2009, 05:36 PM

Originally posted by danielchtong

I second that.
If you worry about getting blurry shots, use wider lens at smaller aperture which increase your depth of field dramatically

Daniel

Yup, I'm in this camp as well. Just flick the switch.

felix68 · 02-10-2009, 04:33 PM

There is a menu selection to let the camera shoot even if it doesn't have a focus lock. Read the manual, it is in there somewhere.
Second suggestion is to look up hyperfocal distance with an online depth of field calculator, set up your lens in manual focus and just shoot. You will have to use a specific aperture and focus at a specific distance, but once set, you can just fire away.
As an example, at 21mm and f8 on the K100D, everything from 4.6 feet to infinity is in acceptable focus.

Mark2100 · 02-10-2009, 04:51 PM

Originally posted by fishy

Just yesterday morning (5 am) I had this 'problem' (on my K10D).
I like to use AF-S, because I find thet AF-C makes too many misses. Using the on-board flash as focus assist I found far too intrusive, I tried to catch an intimate scene (mother-child on a night market).
So that left the manual focus option (or, optionally, an external flash with focus assist beam. But how do you get those things to emit a beam and NOT fire?). Without a split prism I find the manual focus hard, though. What I (really) don't understand is why the fopcus assist LED seems top work just fine when manual focussing (focus indicator lighting up), but it can't find focus when autofocussing??

If you put the flash in SB (spotbeam) mode, the flash does not fire, but the focus assist lamp will work.

heliphoto · 02-10-2009, 04:58 PM

Set your AF button to cancel autofocus, and you can press and hold the AF button an the camera will take the shot when you press the shutter release regardless of focus status.

bt*ist · 02-11-2009, 06:46 AM

I wish the AF-S setting on the K10D was a little less hesitant and the AF-C was a little bit more 'perfectionist' because both of them are a cause of frustration. But between the two, I prefer the camera to shoot rather than hesitate, so I keep things on AF-C. As settings go it's the more useful.

For quick-fire manual focus on the K10D, I set to ISO400/800, f8 and hold the lens focussed at infinity. As in literally - I hold the lens with that focus in place.

AndrewG NY · 02-17-2009, 01:26 PM

Originally posted by bt*ist

For quick-fire manual focus on the K10D, I set to ISO400/800, f8 and hold the lens focussed at infinity. As in literally - I hold the lens with that focus in place.

If you're going to use an approach like this, you should probably set the focus to the hyperfocal distance. For example, at f/8 with lens at 35mm if you focus the lens to 25 feet away, everything from ~13' to infinity will be in focus. You can use the depth-of-field calculator at dofmaster.com to figure out what settings are best for your needs.

Saaby · 02-18-2009, 11:23 PM

Whilst we're on the subject of focusing and low-light, is there a way on the K100D to have the flash fire for AF-Assist, but then not actually fire to take the picture?

02-08-2009, 12:59 PM	#1
Aegon Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,416	Force shots in low light Sometimes when I shoot in low light, the camera can't get a focus lock and it doesn't permit me to shoot. When I press the shutter, I want it to shoot. Is there a way to override this behavior?

02-10-2009, 04:33 PM	#10
felix68 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 281	Couple of Suggestions There is a menu selection to let the camera shoot even if it doesn't have a focus lock. Read the manual, it is in there somewhere. Second suggestion is to look up hyperfocal distance with an online depth of field calculator, set up your lens in manual focus and just shoot. You will have to use a specific aperture and focus at a specific distance, but once set, you can just fire away. As an example, at 21mm and f8 on the K100D, everything from 4.6 feet to infinity is in acceptable focus.

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02-08-2009, 01:06 PM	#2
flyer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ste-Anne des Plaines, Qc., Canada Posts: 2,013	You can use to on board flash to help with focusing. You can also use AF-C or manual focus, but if you use AF-C, there is no guarantee the focus will be on.

02-08-2009, 01:21 PM	#3
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,991	Originally posted by Aegon Sometimes when I shoot in low light, the camera can't get a focus lock and it doesn't permit me to shoot. When I press the shutter, I want it to shoot. Is there a way to override this behavior? Manual focus.

02-08-2009, 03:00 PM	#4
Aegon Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,416 Original Poster	Ahh, the worst part is that it will try to focus, fail, and then I'll use quick shift to focus. And then it won't shoot.

02-08-2009, 03:19 PM	#5
danielchtong Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 885	Originally posted by Wheatfield Manual focus. I second that. If you worry about getting blurry shots, use wider lens at smaller aperture which increase your depth of field dramatically Daniel

02-08-2009, 04:58 PM	#6
Arpe Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,452	Not sure what camera you have, but I think you can probably turn off that not shooting thing by going through the menu and allowing shutter release without focus ( I think).

02-08-2009, 05:22 PM	#7
MrApollinax Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,529	I have my K100DS setup to use the OK button to enable AF. That way AF is decoupled from the shutter button. Other than that what the others have said about manual focus is spot on.

02-08-2009, 05:28 PM	#8
fishy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Brussels Photos: Gallery Posts: 199	Just yesterday morning (5 am) I had this 'problem' (on my K10D). I like to use AF-S, because I find thet AF-C makes too many misses. Using the on-board flash as focus assist I found far too intrusive, I tried to catch an intimate scene (mother-child on a night market). So that left the manual focus option (or, optionally, an external flash with focus assist beam. But how do you get those things to emit a beam and NOT fire?). Without a split prism I find the manual focus hard, though. What I (really) don't understand is why the fopcus assist LED seems top work just fine when manual focussing (focus indicator lighting up), but it can't find focus when autofocussing??

02-08-2009, 05:36 PM	#9
alderfall Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Southern Oregon Coast Photos: Gallery Posts: 127	Originally posted by danielchtong I second that. If you worry about getting blurry shots, use wider lens at smaller aperture which increase your depth of field dramatically Daniel Yup, I'm in this camp as well. Just flick the switch.

02-10-2009, 04:51 PM	#11
Mark2100 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 185	Originally posted by fishy Just yesterday morning (5 am) I had this 'problem' (on my K10D). I like to use AF-S, because I find thet AF-C makes too many misses. Using the on-board flash as focus assist I found far too intrusive, I tried to catch an intimate scene (mother-child on a night market). So that left the manual focus option (or, optionally, an external flash with focus assist beam. But how do you get those things to emit a beam and NOT fire?). Without a split prism I find the manual focus hard, though. What I (really) don't understand is why the fopcus assist LED seems top work just fine when manual focussing (focus indicator lighting up), but it can't find focus when autofocussing?? If you put the flash in SB (spotbeam) mode, the flash does not fire, but the focus assist lamp will work.

02-10-2009, 04:58 PM	#12
heliphoto Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Region 5 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,539	Set your AF button to cancel autofocus, and you can press and hold the AF button an the camera will take the shot when you press the shutter release regardless of focus status.

02-11-2009, 06:46 AM	#13
bt*ist Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 211	I wish the AF-S setting on the K10D was a little less hesitant and the AF-C was a little bit more 'perfectionist' because both of them are a cause of frustration. But between the two, I prefer the camera to shoot rather than hesitate, so I keep things on AF-C. As settings go it's the more useful. For quick-fire manual focus on the K10D, I set to ISO400/800, f8 and hold the lens focussed at infinity. As in literally - I hold the lens with that focus in place.

02-17-2009, 01:26 PM	#14
AndrewG NY Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chappaqua, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 688	Originally posted by bt*ist For quick-fire manual focus on the K10D, I set to ISO400/800, f8 and hold the lens focussed at infinity. As in literally - I hold the lens with that focus in place. If you're going to use an approach like this, you should probably set the focus to the hyperfocal distance. For example, at f/8 with lens at 35mm if you focus the lens to 25 feet away, everything from ~13' to infinity will be in focus. You can use the depth-of-field calculator at dofmaster.com to figure out what settings are best for your needs.

02-18-2009, 11:23 PM	#15
Saaby Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 70	Whilst we're on the subject of focusing and low-light, is there a way on the K100D to have the flash fire for AF-Assist, but then not actually fire to take the picture?