XT night focussing

Is there anything that I can use with my XT to make it easier to focus at night? Thus far all I've got that helps is my 420EX. The only problem being that I have to switch the lens from AF to MF and then switch the flash off before I take the photo. It's a bit cumbersome. Is there any way of gaining IR focussing but without having to carry a flash?

I think there may be a way of disabling flash, but retaining af assist with a CF (maybe not on a 350). I can't remember from memory!

o.k. - just checked CF list, and on the 350 you haven't got "07. Flash firing (Fires, does not fire)" which may have let you use the external assist without firing flash.

your built-in flash should do a af-assist strobe type affair, but probably not much use at longer ranges. What kind of situation/shots are you trying?

maybe a combination of "05. AF-assist beam (Emits, Does not emit, Only ext. flash emits)" and the 'flash-off' shooting mode? (Although I have a feeling this will probably also turn off the external AF-assist!).

Shoot in one of the manual modes and the flash should be disabled....

In any of the creative modes (no automatic), the flash is disabled, you must pop up it in order to use it (press the flash button).

In order to focus in night enviroment, choose a light, street lamp or light source that´s at the focus distance you want to target, half press, recompose (or select the proper AF point if you dont want to recompose) and shot. Enjoy the exposition without flash !!. If you need to compensate EV, do it. I normally use evaluative metering and Av, adjust ISO properly like ISO 800 or even if necesary ISO 1600 if it´s really dark, diafragm wide open or near by, and let the machine choose the speed.

See this example.

Or this at ISO 1600

Juan Zas wrote:
In any of the creative modes (no automatic), the flash is disabled, you must pop up it in order to use it (press the flash button).

In order to focus in night enviroment, choose a light, street lamp or light source that´s at the focus distance you want to target, half press, recompose (or select the proper AF point if you dont want to recompose) and shot. Enjoy the exposition without flash !!. If you need to compensate EV, do it. I normally use evaluative metering and Av, adjust ISO properly like ISO 800 or even if necesary ISO 1600 if it´s really dark, diafragm wide open or near by, and let the machine choose the speed.

See this example.

Or this at ISO 1600

Yes but he is trying to figure a way to use the AF assistance on his 420 without the flash going off. He isnt talking about the popup flash

As far as I have understood he is asking for a tip to focus at night and even without having to carry a flash.

How about using a lens with a distance scale...if you have one.

I think this is what you need

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/​st-e2.shtml

Also not exactly what you need but if you put the focus on to the * button then once you have achieved focus by pushing it you only need to turn the flash off as pushing the shutter release button wont make the camera re-focus. it saves having to switch to manual focus. Also use a small apature if you can as this will help keep most of the shot in focus

Thats not necessarly the best bet.

If it's too dark to AF at night and you don't want to use the flash and then turn it off to take the shot, then you have to find something near the distance of your subject that is bright enough and/or has enough contrast to focus on and recompose.

I've also heard of some photogs using a small light pen to light the subject so allow the AF to lock on it as well.

Lastly, MF maybe the way to go as well.

Wow! $200 for the ST-E2. Now that's expensive! It's also pretty much what I was looking for.

I was just looking at alternatives to the ST-E2. There seem to be some sunpak IR modules. This brings an interesting question: If I used an IR lamp of some sort - whether it's a bunch of IR LEDs mounted on a hotshoe mount with a watch battery powering them or something else - would that work in place of the ST-E2?

I think building (or buying) an infrared array lamp and using it as focus lamp would work but I don't know if it would affect metering (I hope not).

have a try with a laser pointer, i have had some success with one