Camera focus

Kenny B

Kenny B

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Kenneth
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Tried a low key portrait last night at home off camera flash 24"x24" softbox because had hardly any light camera would not focus properly on partners face had to use a torch to get focus ,all new to me , what did I do wrong canon eos 50d,24-105 lens,580 ex 11flash ,1/200 sec, f8', hope this not a dumb question.( flash did work)
 
Re the the above question by myself on focusing ,I had set up a off camera flash in a ezybox,no lights on in the room so it was very dark ,to get a low key portrait , but the camera could not focus on subjects face ,had to shine a torch on subject to allow camera to get proper focus, is there another way of doing this.
 
This is standard behaviour on a cropped sensor, my 500d does exactly same thing. Studio Lights mostly have a modelling light for these reason and some flashes have a permenant on state for this also.

Torch is the method I use or the modelling light on my ring flash.... (Macro work)

Something like 6d is renowned for focus in low light.
 
I've had this before, most likely just too dark for the camera to pick focus properly. Do you have an AF assist light setting? If so, best turn it on for those sort of situations.
 
Put the room light on.

Don't worry about the domestic light being too bright for your low key effect, to test try this:

Switch on the room light
Remove the trigger from the camera
Take a shot at the settings you're using for the flash lit shot
Check the image

If your ISO is 100 or 200 that frame should be perfectly black.

Now you can reattach your trigger, happily AF with the room light on and shoot away.
 
Hi, there thanks to Bryn ,Kevin ,& Philip v for your advice, I think I,m going to give Phil v,s option a go once again thanks for prompt advice,:ty:
 
manual focus??
 
Phil V said:
You saw the bit where he's trying to focus in the pitch dark?
Click to expand...
yes and a torch was mentioned
i really didnt think he would want to use autofocus and blurted out my post
apologies for under reading the other posts
cheers
geof
 
mrtoad said:
yes and a torch was mentioned
i really didnt think he would want to use autofocus and blurted out my post
apologies for under reading the other posts
cheers
geof
Click to expand...
Surely no need for apologies:)
 
The flash being off camera would mean the Focus Assist on the flash will not work, besides which you have stuffed into a softbox so it cannot illuminate the subject anyway.
I like Phil's solution, sounds the best approach.
 
Turn the room light on, focus, switch to manual focus, then turn the room light off again.
 
Stuart M said:
Turn the room light on, focus, switch to manual focus, then turn the room light off again.
Click to expand...
Already covered, but whilst we're trying to be helpful, why turn the lights back off?
 
Phil V said:
Already covered, but whilst we're trying to be helpful, why turn the lights back off?
Click to expand...


I said that because of what the OP said in their opener about using a torch to find the target. I got the impression they prefer doing it in the dark ... some people are shy like that.
 
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