Using AF-assist with Lencarta Safari

philthejuggler

philthejuggler

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Hi all

What's the best way of focussing in low light with my 430EXII or 580EXII while not wanting it to add to the exposure because the Lencarta will be the main source?

Should I just set it to manual at the lowest output and assume this will be irrelevant as far as exposure is concerned - I could always point the head backwards to be sure.

The Lencarta will be fired using a PC-Sync cord.

Thanks in advance,

Phil
 
Depends how dark it is, and what and where the item is you are shooting.. I have used a very bright spot LED pen torch elastic banded to camera, though to a large car sized torch that an assistant illuminates part of the subject with
 
Given the power difference between your hotshoe flashes at min power and the Lencarta Safari, I can't see it making any difference unless you're very, very close to the subject - but you could always block the little light that there is with a ND gel or a bit of card, just to be sure...
 
Garry Edwards said:
Given the power difference between your hotshoe flashes at min power and the Lencarta Safari, I can't see it making any difference unless you're very, very close to the subject - but you could always block the little light that there is with a ND gel or a bit of card, just to be sure...
Click to expand...


Many thanks - never thought of that!

Phil
 
Most hot shoe flashes, you can just turn the flash off in the options. Certainly can on the 580ex2, leaving you with just the AF beam. Or just set it to 1/128th power or whatever.
 
^^^^^^ disable flash firing, enable af assist, one shot af and hook the radio slave up to the pc port - done that a lot
 
david1701 said:
^^^^^^ disable flash firing, enable af assist, one shot af and hook the radio slave up to the pc port - done that a lot
Click to expand...

And if after all that you are still worried you can point the head backwards.. :D
 
the AF assit beam won't affect the exposure and since you are using a flash as the main source are you not using manual exposure anyway

philthejuggler said:
Hi all

What's the best way of focussing in low light with my 430EXII or 580EXII while not wanting it to add to the exposure because the Lencarta will be the main source?

Should I just set it to manual at the lowest output and assume this will be irrelevant as far as exposure is concerned - I could always point the head backwards to be sure.

The Lencarta will be fired using a PC-Sync cord.

Thanks in advance,

Phil
Click to expand...
 
Many thanks for all the comments & advice! POAH - I wasn't expect the AF assist to affect the exposure, but I was worried that output from the on camera flash might.

Phil
 
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