How do you manually focus at night?

12 years 8 months ago #126692 by B03b1
I was at a local pond that has a waterfall in an attempt to shooting long exposure water during the night. Upon my arrival I found the spot I wanted to focus on darker than expected. As such I couldn't really see well enough to focus.

I ended up taking a 15 second exposure, then adjusting focus manually based on the previous shot, then try again.

How do others tackle this? None of my shots came in focus.


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12 years 8 months ago #126696 by Rolly
You could take a flashlight with you. Light the subject with the flashlight, focus, turn off the light and shoot.


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12 years 8 months ago - 12 years 8 months ago #126701 by MLKstudios
Two ways:

1. A fast f/1.4 lens helps. It gives you half the light to focus with and very shallow depth of field. It lets you see focus in low light.

2. Focus is simply a distance setting of the lens. Measured from the film (or sensor) plane to the subject. Many lenses have a readout in feet and meters. You can set the focus by "guessing" the distance and setting it directly.

Matthew

3. with a flash light. ;)

Matthew L Kees
MLK Studios Photography School
www.MLKstudios.com
[email protected]
"Every artist, was once an amateur"

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12 years 8 months ago #126706 by B03b1
Thanks, but I don't want to buy a fast lens at this point. I want to know how to focus in the dark with the lens I currently have.

Thank you Rolly for that suggestion. I'll go back tonight and give it a try.


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12 years 8 months ago - 12 years 8 months ago #126713 by chasrich
Low Tech solution - Go back before dark and discover the right setting. Distance stays the same in the dark. :woohoo:

Except boogymen get bigger and somehow closer after the sun goes down... :unsure: :dry: :( :blink: :S

“Amateurs worry about equipment, professionals worry about money, masters worry about light, I just make pictures… ” ~ Vernon Trent
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12 years 8 months ago #126714 by B03b1

chasrich wrote: Low Tech solution - Go back before dark and discover the right setting. Distance stays the same in the dark. :woohoo:

Except boogymen get bigger and somehow closer after the sun goes down... :unsure: :dry: :( :blink: :S


I'll watch out for the boogymen.
That's a good idea, but what's the chance of picking the same exact spot, setting the camera on the tripod at the exact spot, to get the same distance? I would have to mark the ground or something to know I am at the exact location.


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12 years 8 months ago #126722 by Henry Peach
Buy a cheap laser pointer. Put the red dot where you want to focus. Look through the viewfinder and adjust focus until the dot is smallest. An out of focus dot looks bigger.
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12 years 8 months ago #126725 by MLKstudios
OK, 4 ways. ;)

Matthew L Kees
MLK Studios Photography School
www.MLKstudios.com
[email protected]
"Every artist, was once an amateur"

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12 years 8 months ago #126732 by kamaljhamb
Idea 1). Hi Usually i use this Idea and most of the time it works just buy a good flash light or the better idea switch on your car or bike light set your camera on tripod focus the area you want to shoot switch off the lights and then you can click this idea is similar to the Rolly's idea

Idea 2), If you don't want to use any external light then the only way is to do lot of bracketing this I use to do when i started doing photography with DSLR and I am sure this will help you
-> when you get the enough light in the picture then just do experimenting with your focusing ring you will get the desire shot in 10min

Idea 3). The maximum time consuming idea Go in a day time shoot the pond note all the reading you want
-> shoot the exact composition what you want it in night Note focal length reading's on your lens

-> Mark the spot from where you are shooting
-> At night stand on the same spot and shoot again with different Shutter speed and Aperture do little bit of sharp bracketing u will at least get a better shot what you are getting right now
I Know this third Idea sounds little bit funny and very time consuming but this I use to do when i shoot with manual SLR

kamal Jhamb

84studio - India
www.84studio.com/

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12 years 8 months ago #126736 by chasrich

Henry Peach wrote: Buy a cheap laser pointer. Put the red dot where you want to focus. Look through the viewfinder and adjust focus until the dot is smallest. An out of focus dot looks bigger.


OK - I always wanted a good excuse to buy me a laser pointer. Now I got one! :woohoo:

“Amateurs worry about equipment, professionals worry about money, masters worry about light, I just make pictures… ” ~ Vernon Trent
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12 years 8 months ago #126738 by chasrich
You know - my camera simply flickers the flash while it does an auto focus. Have you read the manual?

“Amateurs worry about equipment, professionals worry about money, masters worry about light, I just make pictures… ” ~ Vernon Trent
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12 years 8 months ago #126744 by B03b1

Henry Peach wrote: Buy a cheap laser pointer. Put the red dot where you want to focus. Look through the viewfinder and adjust focus until the dot is smallest. An out of focus dot looks bigger.


Thanks Henry.


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12 years 8 months ago #126745 by Henry Peach
I've been using one that looks similar to this one for many years. It works great with a view camera. I had a laser equipped Speed Graphic. :)

www.laserpointerpro.com/3-in-1-5mw-650nm...t-writing-p-237.html

I took off the keychain and attach it to the top of my camera with gaff tape. It takes up no room in my bag so it's usually there if I find myself doing night photography.
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12 years 8 months ago #126746 by B03b1

chasrich wrote: You know - my camera simply flickers the flash while it does an auto focus. Have you read the manual?


The manual doesn't tell me how to focus at night. When I tried the auto focus, the lens just kept hunting to find something to auto focus on.


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12 years 6 months ago #154656 by luvmyboxers
I take a lot of lightening pics. I always have a small flashlight with me to see the camera settings
. I have also increased my Iso and this has helped. Also you could set the camera up before you get there but the focus is really hard in the dark. Try a small aperture so that the depth of field is greater.


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