AF assist beam?

[stingray]

Im new to the features of my G3 which I love and I was wondering what is the AF assist beam? How is that used and when should I use it? Is that a function that is use only with external flash?

Also, I was wondering , I was at a play and they said no flash photography was allowed, can I take off the flash on my G3 and will the picture still come out? Excuse my questions, im a newbie.
TIA

[jglisson73]

Tia,

The AF Assist beam (Auto-Focus Assist) is the little light on the front of the camera right next to the optical viewfinder. It helps the G3 to "see in the dark" if you will. It trains on what you have the camera pointed at so the camera has better light to get a focus lock.

About the play...you don't have to use the flash, but at low light with no flash, you really need a tripod to reduce camera shake. Also, for a play, you are going to have a hard time with the actors being blurry because of their movement. The shutter speed will be too slow to capture a still of their movement without a flash.

What mode are you using most of the time? Auto? P?

John

[CyberDyneSystems]

... also in a performance environment as intimate as a play,. be sure to turn off the AF assist beam,. it IS very distracting to the actors and may result in your camera being confiscated,.. or at least a rebuke from the ushers.

[stingray]

Im put the mode in auto. thank you for your responses.