Flashgun IR focus assist beams
Discussion
I was shooting a really badly light music gig the other night with fill in flash and auto focus had a really hard time hitting it.
Please don't tell me that I should be using manual focus!
Has anyone tried using two (or more!) flashguns with IR focus assist in dark conditions and if so how did you do it/did it work better?
I have various Canon, Jinbei and Caler flash controllers which would do the multi-flash job easily but it is another lump to carry around that needs batteries.
Is there a dual wired possibility that I haven't yet found?
ETA may be master/slave?
Please don't tell me that I should be using manual focus!
Has anyone tried using two (or more!) flashguns with IR focus assist in dark conditions and if so how did you do it/did it work better?
I have various Canon, Jinbei and Caler flash controllers which would do the multi-flash job easily but it is another lump to carry around that needs batteries.
Is there a dual wired possibility that I haven't yet found?
ETA may be master/slave?
eltawater said:
I've had more success in low light situations by assigning the focus back button (or other function button) to focus lock mode.
Then once you hit focus the first time (be it auto focus or manual) just hold down the button and blatt away with the flash. Let go of the button when you wish to re-focus on something else and repeat.
This avoids all the unnecessary focus hunting between exposures if you're snapping the same subject and they don't move out of the focus range too much. But as you're using the flash anyway, you can afford to narrow the aperture to give yourself that additional wiggle room anyway
Thanks I'll try that out tomorrow.Then once you hit focus the first time (be it auto focus or manual) just hold down the button and blatt away with the flash. Let go of the button when you wish to re-focus on something else and repeat.
This avoids all the unnecessary focus hunting between exposures if you're snapping the same subject and they don't move out of the focus range too much. But as you're using the flash anyway, you can afford to narrow the aperture to give yourself that additional wiggle room anyway
I cracked it! I think.
I remembered that I still had a Canon ST-E2 IR flash controller from way back when and not used for years.
Anyhow it has focus assist IR beams and together with the IR assist on the flash gun the camera was able to focus in pitch black conditions. Well at least in my cellar. I'll try it out at the next gig.
I remembered that I still had a Canon ST-E2 IR flash controller from way back when and not used for years.
Anyhow it has focus assist IR beams and together with the IR assist on the flash gun the camera was able to focus in pitch black conditions. Well at least in my cellar. I'll try it out at the next gig.
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