Beginner How to focus when using dark filters?

banjodeano

banjodeano

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Dean
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Hiya,
I have a Nikon D5300 with a 18-140 mens, i have also just purchased a NDX400 filter to take long exposure seascapes, i have also got a polarizing filter, now i believe i can put them both on at the same time to get a super long exposure, but it makes it that dark, my camera can not focus....so how do i get round it....?
Thanks
 
Set your lenses to manual focus, body too if it has a switch.
Focus without filter, attach filters.
 
What Ken said, but you can use autofocus if needed, then switch to manual and then put on your filters.
 
kendo1 said:
Set your lenses to manual focus, body too if it has a switch.
Focus without filter, attach filters.
Click to expand...
Cheers Kendo1...but when i press the button down...doesnt it automatically try to focus again
 
kendo1 said:
Not in manual focus.
Click to expand...
Thanks Kendo1, Sorry, but i am still new to cameras, so bear with me......i have been taking my long shots in aperture priority, would that still not try to focus again.?
 
View attachment 33982 Manual focus, not manual as in M setting.
ie. this switch.

I'll check the camera out. Nope, camera does not have one.
 
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banjodeano said:
Thanks Kendo1, Sorry, but i am still new to cameras, so bear with me......i have been taking my long shots in aperture priority, would that still not try to focus again.?
Click to expand...

If you set to manual focus, it will disable the focus, when you half press the shutter button.

I like to leave in autofocus, get the focus confirmation (green dot in view finder), then switch lens to manual focus and place filters on. Just be careful, not to "knock" the lens and run the risk of moving focus by slightly.
 
banjodeano said:
mine has A and M...and also vr on and off
Click to expand...

Move to manual once focus has been set. (Remember to move back to A, for normal use otherwise you'll drive yourself mad, trying to work out why your camera won't focus :eek:).

Turn VR off when on a tripod!
 
johnnypanic said:
Move to manual once focus has been set. (Remember to move back to A, for normal use otherwise you'll drive yourself mad, trying to work out why your camera won't focus :eek:).

Turn VR off when on a tripod!
Click to expand...
We've all done that :)
 
Thanks guys, you have been very helpfull, i will have another play with it over the next few days
 
Phil,

back button focus,not going to be any help, for OP original query.
 
Yes it would - set up back button AF, making sure AF is switched off on the shutter button. Focus using back button, add filters, press shutter. Much easier and more useful in the long run than keep switching AF on an off on the lens
 
Will H said:
Yes it would - set up back button AF, making sure AF is switched off on the shutter button. Focus using back button, add filters, press shutter. Much easier and more useful in the long run than keep switching AF on an off on the lens
Click to expand...

You're quite right, this would avoid the refocusing, when pressing the shutter button (if manual had not been selected on lens/camera.)

Of course, now OP, needs to learn back button focusing :)
 
banjodeano said:
Thanks for your help guys, these were my first attempts, one with the polarizor, and the second with the filter, i am hoping to get some shots with them both on
Click to expand...

Excellent start. Well done :clap:
 
move along...

nothing to see here.
 
boyfalldown said:
really? ;) you think thats a fight? -step outside and I'll show you a fight :bat::bat::bat::bat: :p:p
Click to expand...

You should know I don't fight fair. I've been know to cat scratching, hair pulling, and even the old 'look over there!'
 
johnnypanic said:
Move to manual once focus has been set. (Remember to move back to A, for normal use otherwise you'll drive yourself mad, trying to work out why your camera won't focus :eek:).

Turn VR off when on a tripod!
Click to expand...

Or, more annoyingly, forgetting to switch to manual focus at all, then putting the filters on and pressing the shutter button. Only when the camera starts trying to focus do you realise your mistake and have to take all the filters off and start again!
 
Right guys, thanks for all your help, i have been having a play with the camera (only indoors as i have been struck down with the lurgy)..and my next question is...with the two filters on, it has taken it past the 30 second exposure time, which means with my camera it goes into bulb mode (is this the same with most cameras.?) so i assume i need to buy a remote control to have the shutter open longer, and how do you calculate how much longer?
 
banjodeano said:
Right guys, thanks for all your help, i have been having a play with the camera (only indoors as i have been struck down with the lurgy)..and my next question is...with the two filters on, it has taken it past the 30 second exposure time, which means with my camera it goes into bulb mode (is this the same with most cameras.?) so i assume i need to buy a remote control to have the shutter open longer, and how do you calculate how much longer?
Click to expand...
I use an app on my phone. But you can calculate it manually.
Or you could try an auto mode but the meter tends to get a bit unreliable with so little light.
 
Phil V said:
Nikon users!o_O

Back button focus anyone?

The above is like stepping back in time to the 80s.
Click to expand...
I didn't think it would work through the filters, but I'll try it out myself.
(Can't really trust Canon users)
 
kendo1 said:
I didn't think it would work through the filters, but I'll try it out myself.
(Can't really trust Canon users)
Click to expand...
It probably won't. The point is that it negates the step of switching to MF.
 
Phil V said:
I use an app on my phone. But you can calculate it manually.
Or you could try an auto mode but the meter tends to get a bit unreliable with so little light.
Click to expand...

For bulb mode you will need a cable remote to lock the shutter open and time it yourself (unless you buy a remote with a timer on it). There are several phone apps you can download or you can find a long exposure table on the internet for the filter you are using.

BBF is good bit of advice and makes the process of focusing then locking focus a one button process and stops the trying to refocus with the filter on mistake. My long exposure method is:
  • Setup composition with camera on tripod and cable remote fitted.
  • Set focus point and ensure the camera can't refocus (use BBF or set lens to manual focus)
  • Meter shot with no filtered fitted (take a shot if wanting a comparison image when trying to remove the colour cast later in processing). I use aperture priority so I have set the ISO to 100 and aperture to f8 or f11 and the camera works out the shutter speed.
  • Once the unfiltered shutter speed is known, I use a phone app to workout the time required depending on filter strength, for me it's either 6 or 10 stops and depends on the time I want the shutter open for.
  • Switch to manual mode with mirror up set then I set the aperture, ISO and shutter speed as required for filter strength.
  • Fit filter to lens and take the image using the remote and timer function on the app.
 
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rob-nikon said:
For bulb mode you will need a cable remote to lock the shutter open and time it yourself (unless you buy a remote with a timer on it). There are several phone apps you can download or you can find a long exposure table on the internet for the filter you are using.

BBF is good bit of advice and makes the process of focusing then locking focus a one button process and stops the trying to refocus with the filter on mistake. My long exposure method is:
  • Setup composition with camera on tripod and cable remote fitted.
  • Meter shot with no filtered fitted (take a shot if wanting a comparison image when trying to remove the colour cast later in processing). I use aperture priority so I have set the ISO to 100 and aperture to f8 or f11 and the camera works out the shutter speed.
  • Once the unfiltered shutter speed is known, I use a phone app to workout the time required depending on filter strength, for me it's either 6 or 10 stops and depends on the time I want the shutter open for.
  • Switch to manual mode with mirror up set then I set the aperture, ISO and shutter speed as required for filter strength.
  • Fit filter to lens and take the image using the remote and timer function on the app.
Click to expand...
Thanks.....thats a great post for a complete novice like myself.....it will help a lot, thanks to all the other replies as well ...
 
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