Light Painting

[CheaperKings]

Originally Posted by Graemey

Hello All,

I think I get it now! If I'm light painting then in the dark there is nothing for the lens to focus on? In the normal light how do I focus manually though? It seems there is only one focus point.

Thank you,

Best wishes
Graeme

Your camera cannot focus in the dark. Put the camera in AF mode with the lights on. Let it focus on the subject. Once it does, put it in MF mode, shut the lights off and paint away! The camera has found its' focus point when you auto focused it so, that's why you put it in MF mode - so it won't try to focus again...

[Biomech]

I think I get it now! If I'm light painting then in the dark there is nothing for the lens to focus on? In the normal light how do I focus manually though? It seems there is only one focus point.

You don't have to focus manually. Think of switching to manual focus as turning the focus off instead. So auto focus gets it right, now that the camera is focused, you turn it off (manual focus) so that it doesn't change.

The easy way to think of focusing is that the focus area needs to see an area of contrast, like an edge, or line or something. If you point your camera at a black white wall it can also struggle to focus.

[Graemey]

Hello,

Can I ask how do I focus in manual during the daylight?

Thank you

[loons49]

In your cameras menu setup, you will find a setting for "Priority" this should be set to "Release" for light painting otherwise the shutter will not release until a sharp focus is established either through manual or auto-focus.

[CheaperKings]

Originally Posted by Graemey

Hello,

Can I ask how do I focus in manual during the daylight?

Thank you

In the daylight, you don't need to manual focus. However, if you just want to; there's a ring on your lens - looking through the viewfinder, spin it until the subject is in focus.

[Biomech]

^^ if you don't switch it to manual focus first, the ring will be harder to turn

[CheaperKings]

Originally Posted by Biomech

^^ if you don't switch it to manual focus first, the ring will be harder to turn

Thanks - forgot to add that part.