Canon xsi - not focusing in low light..

[PhotoMaster]

I'm having a issue with the camera focusing in low light. I tried similar shots with my Canon SD850 IS and it seems to focus the shots.. I'm confused.. I'm using the kit lens on program mode, without the flash.. thanks for your help.

[Rooz]

if the xsi is anthing like the xti, it doesnt have an AF assist lamp. you need to raise the flash which acts as your AF assist in low light.

[Honest Gaza]

Yep....what Rooz said.

You may need a "faster" lens than the kit lens.....or use the "strobe" light that the built-in flash can provide.

[24Peter]

Or you can use a Canon Speedlite which has the option for infrared (well not really since you can see it but it looks red to the eye) focus assist, which is way less intense than the seizure-inducing strobe effect of the on-camera flash assist mode...

[cdifoto]

Or you can go old skool with a D30 or D60, both of which have a proper assist lamp. :D

[JTL]

Or, you could change your handle to something less obnoxious than "PhotoMaster". :eek::p:D:p:eek:

[faisal]

Or we could swap camera's as mine has 'built in' low light sensor (after market mods).... :cool: :p :D :p

[Honest Gaza]

Or you can use a Canon Speedlite which has the option for infrared (well not really since you can see it but it looks red to the eye) focus assist, which is way less intense than the seizure-inducing strobe effect of the on-camera flash assist mode...

Best option....although, using this option (and the option of internal strobe), means you will be taking a "flash" shot....which may not be what you are after.

In the case of the internal strobe option (no cost), the strobe attracts too much attention and you lose any candid opportunities.

At least with the external flash (cost), the infrared is a little more subtle.

[Rhys]

Hmm... Didn't think it was a great lot better than the XT

[cdifoto]

Best option....although, using this option (and the option of internal strobe), means you will be taking a "flash" shot....which may not be what you are after.

You can set the flash not to fire while still lighting up the AF-assist beam in Custom Functions on the camera body.

[GaryS]

You can set the flash not to fire while still lighting up the AF-assist beam in Custom Functions on the camera body.

Don, do you (or anyone else) know if you can do this on the 430EX? I looked at the custom functions in the manual, and I could not figure option would do this....

[cdifoto]

Don, do you (or anyone else) know if you can do this on the 430EX? I looked at the custom functions in the manual, and I could not figure option would do this....

It's a custom function of the camera, not the flash. Custom Function 5 on the XTi.

[BBPhoto]

Or, you could change your handle to something less obnoxious than "PhotoMaster". :eek::p:D:p:eek:


Absolutely priceless. I'm not saying nice, but priceless.

[GaryS]

Hmm.. I just tried that out Don, but that seems to control whether the AF beam emits or not, but the flash fired regardless of what cf5 is set to.

[cdifoto]

Hmm that's odd. On my 10D I can set the AF beam to emit without the flash firing, emit with the flash firing, or not emit with the flash firing, or only emit for the external flash and not for the popup. I thought that CF would do the same on the XTi.

[GaryS]

I just read Don's response, and decided to google 'cf5 canon xti' to get more information. The number one result... This thread.

Man, google is fast.

[cdifoto]

I just read Don's response, and decided to google 'cf5 canon xti' to get more information. The number one result... This thread.

Man, google is fast.

It's your reply now. :D

[Honest Gaza]

Hmm that's odd. On my 10D I can set the AF beam to emit without the flash firing, emit with the flash firing, or not emit with the flash firing, or only emit for the external flash and not for the popup. I thought that CF would do the same on the XTi.

Nah mate....but you had me hoping there for a bit.

[GaryS]

Yeah, gaza is right, the XTi can't do this. For indoor shots where I need the af-beam, what I usually do is crank the FEC down to -2 and then the flash is just minimal.

For outdoor night shots (which are usually beyond the range of the af-beam anyway), I have a big spotlight/flashlight which throws enough light to get af working, then switch to mf. But that wasn't much help at Niagara falls last month....

[moneypenny02]

what I usually do is crank the FEC down to -2 and then the flash is just minimal.



What is the FEC?

[JTL]

Yeah, gaza is right, the XTi can't do this. For indoor shots where I need the af-beam, what I usually do is crank the FEC down to -2 and then the flash is just minimal.You guys know that this issue has been "resolved" in the XSi, right? :D

[JTL]

What is the FEC?Flash Exposure Compensation

[GaryS]

You guys know that this issue has been "resolved" in the XSi, right? :D

It drives me crazy when companies artificially limit features like this... And then get you to 'upgrade' based on something that you should have had in the first place!

[Mark_48]

Need AF assist, but don't want flash?

You need the Stofen OmniBlock !!!

[PhotoMaster]

thanks for all your help... I will try to use the flash as an assist.. Someone did point out tha using a flash might destroy the mood, since it's very distracting and you mind lose a candid shot..I find it hard to manually focus using the viewfinder and get it super sharp at night. maybe because it's not 100% viewfinder...photomaster.. is my goal, not what I am, that's why I choose it. I didn't mean to offend anyone.. I am no master..

P.S. does anyone know the shutter life of the xsi? the xti was 50,000.. I can't seem to find the xsi's shutter life.. thanks again..

[faisal]

P.S. does anyone know the shutter life of the xsi? the xti was 50,000.. I can't seem to find the xsi's shutter life.. thanks again..

No ways....only 50K on my Xti...I'm already 18000 clicks in about 7 months... :eek:

I hope its an estimate and surely my camera can last 100K clicks...

[PhotoMaster]

No ways....only 50K on my Xti...I'm already 18000 clicks in about 7 months... :eek:

I hope its an estimate and surely my camera can last 100K clicks...

yeah I got a knot is my stomach when I saw the Canon 40D had 100,000 clicks and the xti had 50,000 clicks... I hope it was a typo or something...

[cdifoto]

It's not a set number. It's a Mean Time Between Failure Rating (MTBF) based on the design and testing...the same as hard drives. Some go early, some last forever. There's no self-destruct mechanism that implodes your camera at 50K.

Let's try and curb the panic attacks & hyperventilation folks.

[FLiPMaRC]

It's not a set number. It's a Mean Time Between Failure Rating (MTBF) based on the design and testing...the same as hard drives. Some go early, some last forever. There's no self-destruct mechanism that implodes your camera at 50K.

Let's try and curb the panic attacks & hyperventilation folks.True ... I have a 89' BMW with 201,xxx miles on it that runs as good as my 2001 Eclipse with 54,xxx miles :D

I guess it'll depend on your maintenance, and how many times you drop it :p

[faisal]

It's not a set number. It's a Mean Time Between Failure Rating (MTBF) based on the design and testing...the same as hard drives. Some go early, some last forever. There's no self-destruct mechanism that implodes your camera at 50K.

Let's try and curb the panic attacks & hyperventilation folks.

I figured that there is no self destruct mechanism...but why such low estimates???

[cdifoto]

I figured that there is no self destruct mechanism...but why such low estimates???

50,000 is a still a lot of frames, but it's lower than some other cameras because it's not meant to be abused like the pro or prosumer models. A 1D II for example is rated at 200,000 because it's likely the user will spend a lot more time at 8FPS than a casual snapper will with a rebel at 3FPS. The 1D III is rated at 300,000.

Again it's just a rating. Some 1D III bodies have died extremely prematurely. Some 1D IIs as well. Some are still going strong on their first shutter after MANY more clicks than the rating.

[faisal]

hmm.....so I shouldn't be worried...thanks

[cdifoto]

Nothing to concern yourself about, no. My first 10D put in a service of 163,000 clicks before it went, unfortunately not all by me.

[24Peter]

I racked up 57,000 clicks on my XT in about 2 yrs before I sold it and it was still working fine... Plus I think shutter replacement is pretty painless and (relatively) cheep, so if it does go, not to worry. FWIW - I don't think Canon posts expected shutter life for their entry level DSLR's. The numbers you see are speculation.