UL and others - How to focus at night?

05_GD7 · 06-30-2008, 04:12 AM

I was shooting fireworks last night, and my autofocus was having trouble locking, so I switched to manual.

Problem is that I couldn't tell thru the viewfinder if the focus was perfect, so half my pics come out of focus, and the only clear ones were when my lens was full wide at infinity focus.

Any tips?
Shot with Sony a350, 18-55mm kit lens.

The bad - 3.2"/30mm/f8

The marginally better - 20"/18mm/f9

UltimateLurker · 06-30-2008, 04:50 AM

1. Tri-pod
2. Remote, or the 2-second delay

Beyond that, I'd flip the dial a bit until you get the wb/coloration you want.

alphaSTI · 06-30-2008, 08:22 AM

I agree. Get a tripod with remote trigger. Hand holding is really hard in that kind of light. Especially since you want a pretty long shutter to really capture the fireworks.

***520*** · 06-30-2008, 09:46 AM

My XTi, didn't really have a problem focusing on the fireworks, the real problem was, the camera really only wanted to focus if the fireworks were in the middle.

Some examples:

I took ~150 pics, and maybe 10 turned out okay from this fireworks display.

Also, sometimes, try using the twilight or night shot modes, they can help in some tough situations. It's gotta be tough to manual focus on fireworks because the move and burst so quickly.

**Parker** · 06-30-2008, 08:20 PM

For fireworks you need to do manual focus and set it to infinity unless you know the distance. Or, you can wait for one to finally burst, focus on it, then set it to manual and go from there.

520...you need to check how your focus settings are setup. There is one that automatically adjusts it for you, there is one where you choose which box you want it to focus on, and there is also a setting (as well as others) where you can choose closest subject priority. Read more into the focusing in your book or pick one up.

***520*** · 06-30-2008, 09:32 PM

will do, thanks.

05_GD7 · 07-01-2008, 07:09 PM

So I tried again tonight....
Did manual focus on the first few bursts, then went from there.
Again, Sony a350 on a tripod - 2 sec delay.

UltimateLurker · 07-01-2008, 07:26 PM

Wow, #3 is brilliant!!!

05_GD7 · 07-01-2008, 07:43 PM

thanks

***520*** · 07-01-2008, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UltimateLurker

Wow, #3 is brilliant!!!

Just what I thought!

LSE · 07-02-2008, 04:57 AM

I always use manual focus at night, but it is kind of hard because I can't see very well at night. Normally I just take a few test shots and then zoom in to check the focus. once I got it then it is all good.

06-30-2008, 04:12 AM	#1
05_GD7 Spec C Club Car: 05 STi - Black Fav Mod: No Lien Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,884 Join Date: Mar 2006 Trader Rating: (2)	UL and others - How to focus at night? I was shooting fireworks last night, and my autofocus was having trouble locking, so I switched to manual. Problem is that I couldn't tell thru the viewfinder if the focus was perfect, so half my pics come out of focus, and the only clear ones were when my lens was full wide at infinity focus. Any tips? Shot with Sony a350, 18-55mm kit lens. The bad - 3.2"/30mm/f8 The marginally better - 20"/18mm/f9 This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

06-30-2008, 04:50 AM	#2
UltimateLurker Spec C Club Car: PSM '05 STi Fav Mod: S203 BBS RE's Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo Posts: 1,859 Join Date: Apr 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: UL and others - How to focus at night? 1. Tri-pod 2. Remote, or the 2-second delay Beyond that, I'd flip the dial a bit until you get the wb/coloration you want.

06-30-2008, 09:46 AM	#4
*520* STi > EVO... Wait what??? Car: 03 EVO Fav Mod: stock :( Location: Michigan / Saint Louis Posts: 12,397 Join Date: Oct 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: UL and others - How to focus at night? My XTi, didn't really have a problem focusing on the fireworks, the real problem was, the camera really only wanted to focus if the fireworks were in the middle. Some examples: I took ~150 pics, and maybe 10 turned out okay from this fireworks display. Also, sometimes, try using the twilight or night shot modes, they can help in some tough situations. It's gotta be tough to manual focus on fireworks because the move and burst so quickly.

06-30-2008, 08:20 PM	#5
Parker Photography Mod Car: 06 SGM STI Location: San Diego Posts: 3,275 Join Date: Mar 2006 Trader Rating: (7)	Re: UL and others - How to focus at night? For fireworks you need to do manual focus and set it to infinity unless you know the distance. Or, you can wait for one to finally burst, focus on it, then set it to manual and go from there. 520...you need to check how your focus settings are setup. There is one that automatically adjusts it for you, there is one where you choose which box you want it to focus on, and there is also a setting (as well as others) where you can choose closest subject priority. Read more into the focusing in your book or pick one up.

06-30-2008, 09:32 PM	#6
*520* STi > EVO... Wait what??? Car: 03 EVO Fav Mod: stock :( Location: Michigan / Saint Louis Posts: 12,397 Join Date: Oct 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: UL and others - How to focus at night? will do, thanks.

06-30-2008, 08:22 AM	#3
alphaSTI The Next Petter Solberg Car: 05 Aspen White/Gold Fav Mod: Öhlins FP Location: SoCal Posts: 948 Join Date: Jun 2005 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: UL and others - How to focus at night? I agree. Get a tripod with remote trigger. Hand holding is really hard in that kind of light. Especially since you want a pretty long shutter to really capture the fireworks.

07-01-2008, 07:09 PM	#7
05_GD7 Spec C Club Car: 05 STi - Black Fav Mod: No Lien Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,884 Join Date: Mar 2006 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: UL and others - How to focus at night? So I tried again tonight.... Did manual focus on the first few bursts, then went from there. Again, Sony a350 on a tripod - 2 sec delay.

07-01-2008, 07:26 PM	#8
UltimateLurker Spec C Club Car: PSM '05 STi Fav Mod: S203 BBS RE's Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo Posts: 1,859 Join Date: Apr 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: UL and others - How to focus at night? Wow, #3 is brilliant!!!

07-01-2008, 07:43 PM	#9
05_GD7 Spec C Club Car: 05 STi - Black Fav Mod: No Lien Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,884 Join Date: Mar 2006 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: UL and others - How to focus at night? thanks

07-02-2008, 04:57 AM	#11
LSE Professional STI Racer Car: 06 STI WRB Fav Mod: Defi Gauges Location: Bethlehem PA Posts: 849 Join Date: Dec 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: UL and others - How to focus at night? I always use manual focus at night, but it is kind of hard because I can't see very well at night. Normally I just take a few test shots and then zoom in to check the focus. once I got it then it is all good. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.