Focusing on a subject @ night

[GR3Z]

I've just bought a Speedlite so I can do some off camera lighting and fancy taking some pictures of the missus at night outdoors.... But the camera struggles to focus because everything is so dark and the same applies on manual focus because I can't see a great deal either......Any advice?

 

[lostsoulal2]

A very simple technique is to use a decent torch to illuminate the subject, this normally will then allow the camera to obtain focus, hold the shutter button half way down to retain the focus lock, switch the torch off and then shoot......

 

[GR3Z]

A very simple technique is to use a decent torch to illuminate the subject, this normally will then allow the camera to obtain focus, hold the shutter button half way down to retain the focus lock, switch the torch off and then shoot......

Cheers I'll give it ago

 

[ShutterWork]

Thanks for asking this question..I would have struggled with this as well

 

[Keebsuk]

A mini maglite or any torch that has a focusable beam work well up to a point.

Andy

 

[alanmossdan]

Ah, good tip, cheers.

 

[funky_sam]

Also look into back button focus as then you can lock the focus and not worry about it hunting again after you have taken a pic or two, so long as the subject doesnt move too much, you couls also use a higher fstop/smaller aperture but in this case you cant as its dark and you will need as large an aperture as your lens will allow.

oh you could always get focus with the light then flick the af button on the lens to manual and then click away so the focus doesnt change