Focusing in low light issues....

I was at a wedding reception, taking photos for free so don't get started on how I should have the right stuff already. Anyway, I had 3 lenses with me and a 580 Ex set to master and a 430 Ex set to slave (what a battery eater that set up is!!). Lenses were Tamron 28-75 2.8, Canon 70-200 F4, Canon 85 1.8. All 3 of them hunted for focus more than I anticipated. What should I have to combat this? Different lens? Thanks in advance for any help

Hmm, those lenses are all pretty fast and accurate AF, with the speedlights you should have been bulletproof....What focus points were you using?

The non-center points on the 5D aren't the greatest but the Canon lenses you mentioned aren't known for having any AF issues...

I used mostly the farthest right point, its on top when you are in portrait mode.

With the speedlights, should I have been able to just point and shoot and when the speedlights flashed, it would have focused. I always focus first, sometimes change the point, then when it finds focus, depress the shutter button. Sometimes it just couldn't find the focus.

On a 5D, switch to the center focus point since that's the only cross sensor it has. The 40D and 50D have cross sensors on all nine focus points, which makes low-light shooting much easier. And of course the various 1D models have lots of cross sensors. Alternatively, switch to One-Shot focus and use the AF assist light in your 580EX.

This is why lenses have a manual focus setting on them.

BeckyMax wrote in post #6659113
I was at a wedding reception, taking photos for free so don't get started on how I should have the right stuff already. Anyway, I had 3 lenses with me and a 580 Ex set to master and a 430 Ex set to slave (what a battery eater that set up is!!). Lenses were Tamron 28-75 2.8, Canon 70-200 F4, Canon 85 1.8. All 3 of them hunted for focus more than I anticipated. What should I have to combat this? Different lens? Thanks in advance for any help

I can tell you that I've had some serious 'low light focus' issues with the Tamron 28-75. I can't wait to get rid of it...


Jen D.

I tried the manual focus. It just never came in sharp enough to take the photo. Come to think of it, I think I had it on AI Servo. I hardly ever move that but maybe I should have. I'll use the center focus point next time too. In fact, tonight I think I'll experiment. Thanks!

You should have no problems using a 580ex, is your af-assist light going on? If you're on servo mode it won't beam out (at least it didn't on my 40D), set it to one shot or ai-focus.

Manual focusing is almost impossible in low light! You kinda have to get it JUST right, otherwise it'll be slightly blurry.

I agree that One-Shot is to your advantage in this situation.. AI-Servo needs lots of light to keep focusing for panning, something I don't think you were doing at the wedding. I set my AV and TV up manually; Av @250 Tv depends on DOF I'm looking for.

BeckyMax wrote in post #6659113
I was at a wedding reception, taking photos for free so don't get started on how I should have the right stuff already. Anyway, I had 3 lenses with me and a 580 Ex set to master and a 430 Ex set to slave (what a battery eater that set up is!!). Lenses were Tamron 28-75 2.8, Canon 70-200 F4, Canon 85 1.8. All 3 of them hunted for focus more than I anticipated. What should I have to combat this? Different lens? Thanks in advance for any help

Do what I do when my lenses hunt in low light,, switch to manual focus..

BeckyMax wrote in post #6659113
I was at a wedding reception, taking photos for free so don't get started on how I should have the right stuff already. Anyway, I had 3 lenses with me and a 580 Ex set to master and a 430 Ex set to slave (what a battery eater that set up is!!). Lenses were Tamron 28-75 2.8, Canon 70-200 F4, Canon 85 1.8. All 3 of them hunted for focus more than I anticipated. What should I have to combat this? Different lens? Thanks in advance for any help

focus on something with more contrast.

ed rader

BeckyMax wrote in post #6659370
With the speedlights, should I have been able to just point and shoot and when the speedlights flashed, it would have focused.

Maybe I'm mis-understanding what you're saying but the camera will not acheive focus after the shutter butter has been pressed and the strobes flash. Instead, the speedlights will emit an auto focus assist beam (looks like a redish light) when you try to focus. The assist beam will not work in Ai Servo mode....only in one shot.

I just got the 50D (upgrade from the 30D)and I have to say its autofocus is AMAZING! in LOW light and FAST!. I've heard from people that use the 1DMKIII say its as fast. The 50D is a bargain.

i really never had a problem with my 28-75 focusing in the dark with my 430ex, it's acutally not that bad after using it so much