Focus assist...IR?

[SidewinderINC]

So, I've been doing a few gigs now (yes, mostly my sisters ones but you've gotta start somewhere and get practise) and I'm finding focussing is my biggest issue with the low light.

I know that on flash units, and some flash triggers you get focus assist beams that claim to be IR, which seem to be mostly just red light.

Please correct me if I'm being completely stupid about this, and tell me that this wouldn't work at all BUT..

If I were to get an actual IR lightsource, would that work to help focussing?
Something like an IR Krill Lamp.


If the way the focus assist works is completely different I'd love to know and be set correctly.


Thanks muchly :)

[Tysonator]

Hi,
are you still using the EOS 400D ?

[SidewinderINC]

Yep, still using it and abusing it.

[Mondo]

question is how are you going to hook it up to the camera?

I don't think it is actual Infra Red, it emmits a red light on where your camera is pointing at, and actually they relating to the focusing points in the camera too.

[SidewinderINC]

question is how are you going to hook it up to the camera?

I don't think it is actual Infra Red, it emmits a red light on where your camera is pointing at, and actually they relating to the focusing points in the camera too.

Exqueeze me? A baking powder?

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by the bold part.

[Chuckles]

Is it possible to use the focus assist of a flash (specifically a 430EX) but not actually use the flash? That would be awesome for gigs :D

[Matblack]

Yes

MB

[SidewinderINC]

That's why I'm borrowing it, Chuckles ;)

But it still has a visible light signature, though when I was on stage I couldn't even notice people using full flashes and strobe-assist so I'm sure it'll be fine :D

[Chuckles]

Well I never knew that :D

It's worth it for some 2nd curtain stuff as well.

[SidewinderINC]

Well I never knew that :D

It's worth it for some 2nd curtain stuff as well.

I know you have an awesome 2nd shutter pic that you've pimped a couple of times - how did you get the "stutter/strobe" effect? All of the second curtain pictures I've taken have had the big swoosh style shot with a crisp finish.

[Chuckles]

That one was a fluke actually. It was a long exposure during a time when other people were using flashes :D

Generally speaking for 2nd curtain pics though, you just use a fairly long exposure, and move the lens from off the subject, to towards the subject. That way you get the light trails from the movement but a crisp images of the subject.

Think that's right! It's what I do anyway :p

[Tysonator]

Sidewinder, check out some of the photo mag's as I have read some articles describing Chuckles techinque !

[SidewinderINC]

Oh I know how to use 2nd curtain to my advantage, half of my shots of Gazz the guitarist are done using slow exposure and 2nd curtain.

However one of Chuckles shots looked like 3 normal shots superimposed onto eachother rather than one single long exposure.

[Chuckles]

Ah yeah. That one was definitely a fluke :o

[SidewinderINC]

Is it possible to use the focus assist of a flash (specifically a 430EX) but not actually use the flash? That would be awesome for gigs :D

I don't appear to be able to set this up on the 400D

the 400D doesn't have the flash comms menu like the 40D

[Chuckles]

You could maybe get round it by putting the flash itself at the lowest amount of brightness?