Taking pics in the dark with an XTI

Hey guys,
Whats the trick to getting the XTI to take pics in the dark? Everytime i try to take a low light or dark setting pic, it never lets me take it. I only have the popup flash for it. Thanks!

What mode are you trying to take the picture in?
Is it getting a focus lock?

How dark? It sounds like the camera can not achieve focus lock. If it's real dark you might have to switch to both manual shooting and focusing.

Also, do you have focus assist enabled in your custom functions, and is the flash firing to assist in focusing?

jumbopackage wrote in post #6634233
What mode are you trying to take the picture in?
Is it getting a focus lock?

Not sure if its getting a focus lock or not. I can try tonight when i get home and see if it will.

gjl711 wrote in post #6634243
How dark? It sounds like the camera can not achieve focus lock. If it's real dark you might have to switch to both manual shooting and focusing.

Like if i took a pic outside at night time. That is what i am bascially trying to achieve.

jumbopackage wrote in post #6634248
Also, do you have focus assist enabled in your custom functions, and is the flash firing to assist in focusing?

I don't think i do. Do you know where i would find that option?

Depends on how dark and what your subject is.

The XTI's popup flash will try to help AF by emitting a burst of annoying short flashes that don't always work On inanimate subjects, that would be ok, but people, no. If you aren't sure if it is firing, check your manual as to which Custom Function that is.

Use the center AF point, especially with a fast lens (f/2.8 or better) since it is more sensitive on the center AF point on the XTI.
Focus on a contrasty spot on the subject. You may need to focus and recompose.
For nearby subjects, a flashlight (white or red beam) can work better than the popup flash.
For distant subjects, a laser light pointer will work. Or lock onto something that is far away also, like a point of light.
Or switch to Manual Focus on your lens. Distant subjects go to Infinity, and you'll need to eyeball nearer subjects.
Or better yet, get a speedlight that has an AF-assist light like the Canon 430EX

AF works on contrast, it needs a change in light/shadow to focus on. If you point a camera at a blank wall, it generally wont achieve focus and wont take a shot. If you're shooting in the dark, you'll need some lights in there somewhere so it can pick the focus range. Otherwise, shoot in manual focus. Or, set your focus ring to infinity (If your subject is far enough away) and shoot from there. Good luck

Yea, as others have suggested its probably not achieving AF. You could manually set the focus and turn off AF... Also try shooting in manual mode.

Awesome! Thanks guys! I'll give that a shot tonight. Hopefully i can make it work. There's been a couple of occassions that i have wanted to shoot something in very low light and couldn't make it take the pic. It probably was that i had the camera on full auto. I'll try changing the setting around and see what happens. I just bought a 55-250mm IS lens, and i was thinking about the Canon 430EX as Blssdwlf suggested. So i might go ahead and get that as well.

Shooting in dark conditions is probably the most difficult type of photography to do and a lot of forethought needs to go into the shot before pressing the shutter button else all you will get is is a dark blurry mess.

If you shooting with a flash in dark conditions it requires much less thought, but make sure that C.Fn-5 is set to 0 and the flash is up. as Peter said.