My technique to focusing in extreme low light

vitalsax · 01-02-2009, 05:36 PM

I just zoom in focus it and then zoom out to my original frame

like i use to do when i was a tv cameraman. Does anybody does that to make sure your k20d is in perfect focus?

mickeyobe · 01-02-2009, 05:43 PM

Vic,

I do that with my K100D.
I did that with my Canon T90.
I did it with my Canon Ftb.
Also with my Exakta VX IIa.

There is nothing new under the sun.

Mickey

mithrandir · 01-02-2009, 07:50 PM

Works for my K10D as well.

stgmgr · 01-02-2009, 10:06 PM

Originally posted by mickeyobe

Vic,

I do that with my K100D.
I did that with my Canon T90.
I did it with my Canon Ftb.
Also with my Exakta VX IIa.

There is nothing new under the sun.

Mickey

Someone ELSE used to own an Exakta?!?!
Wish I could remember the exact model (no pun intended).
Great little camera that I "cut my teeth on" photographically speaking!

heliphoto · 01-02-2009, 10:39 PM

With some of my lenses this works (the DA* 50-135 for sure), but with others, the focus needs to be adjusted differently at different focal lengths.

soccerjoe5 · 01-02-2009, 10:59 PM

For the times I do strobe shooting in dying light, I use an LED headlamp

Looks silly but it works awesome.

nostatic · 01-02-2009, 11:24 PM

zoom? what's a zoom?

Mike Cash · 01-03-2009, 01:44 AM

The only problem with zooming in under low light conditions comes if your zoom is not a constant aperture. If it is a variable aperture you're actually making your viewfinder darker when you zoom in.

I sometimes put a small LED penlight next to my subject, focus on it, and retrieve it before shooting. If the subject is close enough I just shine it on the subject while focusing.

pingflood · 01-03-2009, 08:37 AM

Originally posted by stgmgr

Someone ELSE used to own an Exakta?!?!
Wish I could remember the exact model (no pun intended).
Great little camera that I "cut my teeth on" photographically speaking!

Used to? You guys don't still have one? I do (a VX) and you can quite literally cut yourself on that beast.

Marc Sabatella · 01-03-2009, 11:04 AM

Originally posted by nostatic

zoom? what's a zoom?

For me:

Zoom = a slow autofocus lens I wouldn't even try to use in low light

My low light lenses are all primes - and mostly manual focus. So I have to admit I scratched my head a moment before figure out what the OP meant :-)

elne · 01-03-2009, 11:39 AM

I tried this with a 16-50 when I found that I could not see to manually focus on infinity whether in poor light or sunlight. Of course it didn't work;the point of sharpest focus varied from 16mm to 50mm . At 16 mm the cursor had to be set between the lemniscus and the 7m mark to obtain sharp focus whist at the other end it was set on the second lobe of the lemniscus. Other settings were: 20mm,first lobe,28mm and 35mm dead centre.Departures from these settings produced noticeable degradation in focus . And so any point of focus towards the wider end can be a little hit- or- miss. But then those of us who have come to know (and love) the foibles of our 16-50's,know this already.

vitalsax · 01-03-2009, 11:47 AM

Originally posted by Marc Sabatella

For me:

So I have to admit I scratched my head a moment before figure out what the OP meant :-)

scratch it again

**Kerrowdown** · 01-03-2009, 02:23 PM

You have to be careful with that technique if you have a one touch zoom focus ring, the pull a twist gremlin is alive and well.

vitalsax · 01-03-2009, 04:21 PM

well unfortunatly i've started using this maneuver only with the k20d under yellow lights

mickeyobe · 01-03-2009, 05:17 PM

Originally posted by pingflood

Used to? You guys don't still have one? I do (a VX) and you can quite literally cut yourself on that beast.

I still have my Exakta VX IIa that I purchased new in 1957.

I still think it is an outstanding camera.

Mickey

01-02-2009, 05:36 PM	#1
vitalsax Inactive Account Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: U.S. /Miami - Florida. Posts: 208	My technique to focusing in extreme low light I just zoom in focus it and then zoom out to my original frame like i use to do when i was a tv cameraman. Does anybody does that to make sure your k20d is in perfect focus?

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01-02-2009, 05:43 PM	#2
mickeyobe Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,759	Vic, I do that with my K100D. I did that with my Canon T90. I did it with my Canon Ftb. Also with my Exakta VX IIa. There is nothing new under the sun. Mickey

01-02-2009, 07:50 PM	#3
mithrandir Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,895	Works for my K10D as well.

01-02-2009, 10:06 PM	#4
stgmgr Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: MiltonBrampton Posts: 84	Originally posted by mickeyobe Vic, I do that with my K100D. I did that with my Canon T90. I did it with my Canon Ftb. Also with my Exakta VX IIa. There is nothing new under the sun. Mickey Someone ELSE used to own an Exakta?!?! Wish I could remember the exact model (no pun intended). Great little camera that I "cut my teeth on" photographically speaking!

01-02-2009, 10:39 PM	#5
heliphoto Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Region 5 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,539	With some of my lenses this works (the DA* 50-135 for sure), but with others, the focus needs to be adjusted differently at different focal lengths.

01-02-2009, 10:59 PM	#6
soccerjoe5 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Philippines Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,343	For the times I do strobe shooting in dying light, I use an LED headlamp Looks silly but it works awesome.

01-02-2009, 11:24 PM	#7
nostatic Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: socal Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,575	zoom? what's a zoom?

01-03-2009, 01:44 AM	#8
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	The only problem with zooming in under low light conditions comes if your zoom is not a constant aperture. If it is a variable aperture you're actually making your viewfinder darker when you zoom in. I sometimes put a small LED penlight next to my subject, focus on it, and retrieve it before shooting. If the subject is close enough I just shine it on the subject while focusing.

01-03-2009, 08:37 AM	#9
pingflood Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Borås, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,169	Originally posted by stgmgr Someone ELSE used to own an Exakta?!?! Wish I could remember the exact model (no pun intended). Great little camera that I "cut my teeth on" photographically speaking! Used to? You guys don't still have one? I do (a VX) and you can quite literally cut yourself on that beast.

01-03-2009, 11:04 AM	#10
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Originally posted by nostatic zoom? what's a zoom? For me: Zoom = a slow autofocus lens I wouldn't even try to use in low light My low light lenses are all primes - and mostly manual focus. So I have to admit I scratched my head a moment before figure out what the OP meant :-)

01-03-2009, 11:39 AM	#11
elne Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: chesterfield,uk Photos: Gallery Posts: 10	I tried this with a 16-50 when I found that I could not see to manually focus on infinity whether in poor light or sunlight. Of course it didn't work;the point of sharpest focus varied from 16mm to 50mm . At 16 mm the cursor had to be set between the lemniscus and the 7m mark to obtain sharp focus whist at the other end it was set on the second lobe of the lemniscus. Other settings were: 20mm,first lobe,28mm and 35mm dead centre.Departures from these settings produced noticeable degradation in focus . And so any point of focus towards the wider end can be a little hit- or- miss. But then those of us who have come to know (and love) the foibles of our 16-50's,know this already.

01-03-2009, 11:47 AM	#12
vitalsax Inactive Account Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: U.S. /Miami - Florida. Posts: 208 Original Poster	Originally posted by Marc Sabatella For me: So I have to admit I scratched my head a moment before figure out what the OP meant :-) scratch it again

01-03-2009, 02:23 PM	#13
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,863	You have to be careful with that technique if you have a one touch zoom focus ring, the pull a twist gremlin is alive and well.

01-03-2009, 04:21 PM	#14
vitalsax Inactive Account Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: U.S. /Miami - Florida. Posts: 208 Original Poster	well unfortunatly i've started using this maneuver only with the k20d under yellow lights

01-03-2009, 05:17 PM	#15
mickeyobe Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,759	Originally posted by pingflood Used to? You guys don't still have one? I do (a VX) and you can quite literally cut yourself on that beast. I still have my Exakta VX IIa that I purchased new in 1957. I still think it is an outstanding camera. Mickey