Trouble focusing in the dark

[AA88]

Hello! I'm new to the P&V section and also pretty new to using a DSLR.

I've recently purchased a Nikon D3300 and have been having a play, mainly at night. The trouble I'm having is with some shots in reduced light, the auto focus can't cope and even trying manually I can't get a decent shot.

Any ideas what I might be doing wrong? I'm still using the kit lens if that makes a difference at all....

[fido]

You need contrast to focus - try using the spot focus mode on an object that has contrast, then re-compose. That's what I try to do anyway.

[LongQ]

Article here with some observations in the "Handling" section.

There is a focus assist light for the dark - you may need to read the manual to see if it is relevant for what you are trying to shoot. In the dark things are always likely to be a bit trickier and more hit and miss than daylight. Are you using flash for the shots?

Modern cameras can do some miraculous things but once in a while one may need to go back to the old school manual focus and guess (from experience) the right settings.

[rottie102]

Just get a little flashlight to help the autofocus if you struggle with manual focus.

[andy-xr]

The AF light might not be set to come on when you half press the shutter. I cant think why it wouldnt be on, and tbh it doesnt change the world when it's on anyway, but if you're not getting a light come on when trying to focus in the dark, have a look through the settings and probably go buy a torch as well

[AA88]

Thanks for the replies - I will check the settings tonight and have a play and also take a torch out and have a go with that!

[tim-b]

Live view can also be useful for (manual) focusing in poor light, you can zoom the view in to check the focus better.

[tog]

If you're trying to focus on people, try asking them to hold up their phone next to their face, then the camera should easily focus on the light of that. I've done this often if shooting in virtually total darkness (usually with flash for the actual exposure of course).

[ExPat2B]

The kit lens is quite dark.

If you upgrade to the 35mm 1.8DX lens or the 50mm 1.8DX you will be able to focus in roughly 1/8 of the light and the viewfinder will be much brighter. I find the kit lens is useless even indoors.

Much better than a flashlight is a Yongnuo flash with AF assist pattern, this projects a red grid onto the person being photographed when you depress the shutter and makes for instant focus light even in pitch black.

Also you must use the viewfinder to autofocus as live view only has contrast, viewfinder has phase and contrast which is faster and more accurate.

Edited by ExPat2B on Thursday 12th February 11:06

[Simpo Two]

ExPat2B said:

Much better than a flashlight is a Yongnuo flash with AF assist pattern, this projects a red grid onto the person being photographed when you depress the shutter and makes for instant focus light even in pitch black.

As do many other flashguns - but I wondered whether he was using flash or ambient light. If flash, then as you say some flashguns have an extra AF assist function (as does the Nikon SC29 flash lead). I use fast glass and an SC29 under a Nikon Speedlight and it focuses perfectly in the darkest of situations.

Presumably the subject is beyond the range of the camera's built-in AF assist light - or is that disabled in the settings...?