T3i won't shoot
Jan 17, 2014 01:29:51 #
Sorry - newbie here. I just bought a T3i and trying to figure it out before I go up to the top of the world to shoot the Northern Lights in a week. I put a Canon 50mm on it. I think it's the 1.8. My plan is to shoot Av at f/2.0 and 800 ISO. I go out after sunset with the cam on a tripod, set it up on the 2 second timer and shoot. Just after sunset, it shoots. A couple hours later it doesn't seem to want to. Is there not enough light? I thought it would go several seconds or whatever was necessary to get a shot. It just doesn't go like it does when it's still dusk. What am I missing? Thanks.
Jan 17, 2014 02:10:27 #
surfshoptom wrote:
Sorry - newbie here. I just bought a T3i and tryin... (show quote)
Photography is known as Painting With Light. No Light No Photo.
To shoot in the dark, you will need a light source much like your own eyes need the same.
I hope this helps. Steve
Jan 17, 2014 09:27:59 #
St3v3M wrote:
Photography is known as Painting With Light. No Light No Photo.
To shoot in the dark, you will need a light source much like your own eyes need the same.
I hope this helps. Steve
To shoot in the dark, you will need a light source much like your own eyes need the same.
I hope this helps. Steve
hmmm..... so not enough light even with the shutter open 30 seconds? I would have thought there was enough light if the shutter was open long enough.
Jan 17, 2014 10:14:21 #
Is the camera not clicking at all, or are you getting a result but it's all black? You'll need to focus manually, I believe.
What was your subject? Was there any light at all in the scene?
What was your subject? Was there any light at all in the scene?
Jan 17, 2014 10:53:44 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
Is the camera not clicking at all, or are you getting a result but it's all black? You'll need to focus manually, I believe.
What was your subject? Was there any light at all in the scene?
What was your subject? Was there any light at all in the scene?
I wish I knew more about the camera settings. I have it set up at Av, ISO 800, f1.8, 2 second delay, Live View. When I half press the shutter, a rectangle shows up. During dusk, the rectangle turns green and there's a beep. Later/darker, the rectangle gets red. No beep no shot.
I'm shooting across a lake at mountains. There's a State Park on the other side. There's lights on the other side - street lights, homes, etc. You think I need to set it to manual focus and infinity?
Thanks.
Jan 17, 2014 11:11:31 #
surfshoptom wrote:
hmmm..... so not enough light even with the shutter open 30 seconds? I would have thought there was enough light if the shutter was open long enough.
How is it going to focus in the dark? It needs light to focus. I am not saying it cannot shoot, I've done it, but I was looking at the stars, therefore I had contrast and light to focus on. Cameras need light.
Jan 17, 2014 11:18:53 #
surfshoptom wrote:
I wish I knew more about the camera settings. I have it set up at Av, ISO 800, f1.8, 2 second delay, Live View. When I half press the shutter, a rectangle shows up. During dusk, the rectangle turns green and there's a beep. Later/darker, the rectangle gets red. No beep no shot.
I'm shooting across a lake at mountains. There's a State Park on the other side. There's lights on the other side - street lights, homes, etc. You think I need to set it to manual focus and infinity?
Thanks.
I'm shooting across a lake at mountains. There's a State Park on the other side. There's lights on the other side - street lights, homes, etc. You think I need to set it to manual focus and infinity?
Thanks.
A good way to start is to place the camera in Auto, press the shutter half-way and look at the readings. Now move it to the mode you want, like Av, and mimic the rest then modify as needed. The idea is to get a feeling for what your camera thinks it needs and learn from it. You will be smarter of course once you learn it's language which this technique will help you understand.
As for the rest, cameras focus looking for light, then typically look for the closest thing to them with contrast. In your situation then, either focus on the edge of a light across the shore or set the lens to Manual Focus at the distance you need.
I hope this helps! Steve
Jan 17, 2014 11:24:11 #
surfshoptom wrote:
I wish I knew more about the camera settings. I have it set up at Av, ISO 800, f1.8, 2 second delay, Live View. When I half press the shutter, a rectangle shows up. During dusk, the rectangle turns green and there's a beep. Later/darker, the rectangle gets red. No beep no shot.
I'm shooting across a lake at mountains. There's a State Park on the other side. There's lights on the other side - street lights, homes, etc. You think I need to set it to manual focus and infinity?
Thanks.
I'm shooting across a lake at mountains. There's a State Park on the other side. There's lights on the other side - street lights, homes, etc. You think I need to set it to manual focus and infinity?
Thanks.
Live View is even more a pain for auto-focusing in darker conditions than when using the viewfinder. I can't get it to work with my T3i in those circumstances at all :) Definitely use manual focus. Try Steve's guidelines for the exposure.
Jan 17, 2014 12:02:44 #
I assume you are using autofocus. I had a T3i and had the same experience. The camera will shoot regardless of the light but not unless it can focus. It won't focus below certain light levels. That's one reason why when using the flash it will pre-fire. It provides enough light to focus. This works at close range but is useless for longer shots, and when not using the flash, of course. I found this out, and almost froze in the process, while trying to shoot Christmas lights on my house one year. Working on the theory that you only read instruction manuals AFTER you screw up, I finally figured it out. Put the lens on manual focus and try again. Should work fine.
Jan 17, 2014 12:05:37 #
St3v3M wrote:
A good way to start is to place the camera in Auto... (show quote)
Good ideas. Thanks. I'll do that. Maybe I'll find out I need a higher ISO, but if it's purely a focusing issue, I should be able to shoot in manual at infinity.
Jan 17, 2014 12:08:02 #
LFingar wrote:
I assume you are using autofocus. I had a T3i and ... (show quote)
Yes - definitely was in auto-focus. I'm going to try manual focus tonight. Thanks.
Jan 17, 2014 12:08:58 #
surfshoptom wrote:
Good ideas. Thanks. I'll do that. Maybe I'll find out I need a higher ISO, but if it's purely a focusing issue, I should be able to shoot in manual at infinity.
A 50 mm 1.8 can shoot in very low light you just need to help it find its target!
Jan 17, 2014 12:10:50 #
surfshoptom wrote:
Sorry - newbie here. I just bought a T3i and tryin... (show quote)
Set your camera to manual focus and see it this does not solve your problem.
Jan 17, 2014 12:10:59 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
Live View is even more a pain for auto-focusing in darker conditions than when using the viewfinder. I can't get it to work with my T3i in those circumstances at all :) Definitely use manual focus. Try Steve's guidelines for the exposure.
Yep. Manual focus it is. There won't be anything close to me I need in focus either from home or when I go up there.
Thanks.
Jan 17, 2014 12:14:03 #
Blurryeyed wrote:
Set your camera to manual focus and see it this does not solve your problem.
Yes. Thank you. It never occurred to me it was a focus issue. I'll do that. That seems to be the consensus and will most likely solve the problem.
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