I was wondering, does anyone actually use this feature?
AF Assist Illuminator
Started by Leaviathan, Apr 05 2018 05:41 PM
14 replies to this topic
#1
Leaviathan
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Posted 05 April 2018 - 05:41 PM
Nikon D-3300 18-55 VRII, 1971 Nikkor 135mm Q-Auto, Tamron 70-300 AF. Not much! But I'm working on mastering what I do have.
#2
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Posted 05 April 2018 - 07:16 PM
i do not
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#3
Dennis
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Posted 06 April 2018 - 08:26 AM
Sometimes
Thanks, Dennis.
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#4
Art
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Posted 06 April 2018 - 10:00 AM
All the time.
#5
james23p
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Posted 06 April 2018 - 10:23 AM
All the time to be honest cant think of a time I turned it off
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#6
Sailjunkie
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Posted 06 April 2018 - 12:14 PM
I turned it off during our 2016 road trip, and haven't turned it back on since. I accept that it can be a very useful tool. However, it can also make you very unpopular in places like museums. I use MF a lot more than I did before 2016. 
Mark
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#7
Wheatsack
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Posted 06 April 2018 - 02:50 PM
I haven't had it turned on in any camera since my D70... if I know that I will need dull light focus assist I attach my SB800 which uses infra red to assist focus... although on pretty rare occasions.
Peter................................................ f8....and be there....
#8
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Posted 06 April 2018 - 03:33 PM
I'm curious if it has caused any distractions when shooting people
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#9
Wheatsack
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Posted 06 April 2018 - 04:19 PM
I'm curious if it has caused any distractions when shooting people
Not that I have noticed..
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#10
Peter
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Posted 06 April 2018 - 06:12 PM
In-body AF assist illuminator is very distracting when shooting people, so when I am shooting people I use my SB-800 - the red AF assist illuminator on the flash is much less distracting, and it overrides the in-body illuminator. Otherwise I have left it to automatically come on, if necessary, in low light built-in flash situations.
#11
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Posted 06 April 2018 - 10:23 PM
I've never had anyone say its distracting nor have I noticed it when someone has it on. I am sure in some very low light situations when your subject is looking right at it might be an issue. This is one of those your milage may vary.
Jim
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#12
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Posted 07 April 2018 - 01:03 PM
I've never had anyone say its distracting nor have I noticed it when someone has it on.
I was using it in museums and low-light situations. Didn't get any complaints from by-standers, but got a few from museum staff. The complaints stopped as soon as I turned it off.
When I started shooting still life, I use MF. No need for AF assist, and beer mugs don't complain anyway.
Now that I'm photographing more birds, I use continuous focus mode. For landscapes, it's back button autofocus.
Mark
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Member, Canadian Association for Photographic Art
http://markshawphotography.ca
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#13
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Posted 07 April 2018 - 01:14 PM
In-body AF assist illuminator is very distracting when shooting people, so when I am shooting people I use my SB-800 - the red AF assist illuminator on the flash is much less distracting, and it overrides the in-body illuminator. Otherwise I have left it to automatically come on, if necessary, in low light built-in flash situations.
Ditto the SB-600/800 AF assist. Don't know why they don't make the one on the body red as well. My D610 AF is not that great in low light, so even if I'm shooting ambient in low light at high ISO, I'll turn off the "Fire" mode on the SB-800 and just use its AF illuminator.
Don
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Digital: D610 backed up by a D1x. Quoted from an unknown source by a fellow planeteer, "Never get rid of a working D1x." I've got to agree.
Film: N90s, F3, F100, F4s, C330s. A few lenses.
Why film photography? I like shooting with the equipment. 6x6 Velvia slides from a C330 have an appeal all their own.
Why automated 35mm/Digital cameras? Event photography is about capturing moments. It often requires quick response. Well done automaton can be your friend or your enemy. It all depends on knowing what it can and can't do. "A man's got to know his (camera's) limitations." paraphrasing Dirty Harry...
#14
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Posted 07 April 2018 - 04:04 PM
Ditto the SB-600/800 AF assist. Don't know why they don't make the one on the body red as well. My D610 AF is not that great in low light, so even if I'm shooting ambient in low light at high ISO, I'll turn off the "Fire" mode on the SB-800 and just use its AF illuminator.
I too always wondered why they couldn't have made the on-body AF light red. Oh well.
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#15
Leaviathan
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Posted 07 April 2018 - 04:58 PM
I'm shooting 40 Baptisms tomorrow and decided to use it, lots of movement going on!
Nikon D-3300 18-55 VRII, 1971 Nikkor 135mm Q-Auto, Tamron 70-300 AF. Not much! But I'm working on mastering what I do have.
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