Canon 5D - Lack of AF lamp - problems?

[jon_worth]

Okay, so I'm considering taking the plunge for a FF body for better noise

response/IQ in low-light photography and I'm thinking a 5D would be a good step

up from a 350D (not to mention its better feature set--brighter viewfinder,

thumbwheel, customizability, etc.).

 

I do a lot of indoor and twilight photography and I'm concerned that by

upgrading to the 5D I might give up a little AF performance in low light by not

having the AF-assist beam.

 

I found another post on this but it yielded conflicting opinions and, of

course, digressed off onto other camera bodies--no surprise in this forum! :-)

 

As for lenses, I am down to only one (50/1.8) at the moment but plan on

acquiring some more *fast* primes when (or if!) I transition camera bodies.

 

So I just wanted to reopen a little discussion on this--any thoughts would be

appreciated...

 

--Jon

[michael.gregory]

What? You can't twist the lens barrel in low light?

[cnhoff]

Do you really use this annoying strobe flash thing?

 

If you want discrete AF aid, buy a Canon flash with near invisible assist lights. Works great. Maybe even a Canon ST-E2, if it is only for better low-light AF.

[jon_worth]

Michael -- Yes, I can twist the barrel. This isn't so easy with the tiny viewfinder on a 350D and poor eyesight, unfortunately. Hopefully barrel-twisting will be easier on a 5D. (Hmm, LASIK surgery or a 5D...?) Perhaps a Katz-Eye focusing screen would help.

 

Christian -- You know, when I think about it I don't really use it very often at all. So, my question may be somewhat moot after all. Thanks. :-)

[cnhoff]

You can't do your eyes much better in low light than using a 5D with a 50 f/1.8, so go for it!

[santa1]

The STE2 is an option I'll reiterate. When light is that low you can use it or you can use a flash like the 580 that has a focus assist beam. I think you need not worry about the 5D having worse performance than the 350D....

[jon_worth]

Santa (and Christian) -- Interesting recommendation about the STE2.

 

Of course, I see that they run in the $200 range (new, at least).

 

For just a little more I could just go ahead and get a 430EX. But then, the STE2 has a much lower profile. Argh!

 

Is it too early to ask for one for Christmas, I wonder? :-)

[PuppyDigs]

I use my 5D to shoot with available light at night in bars, casinos and city streets. No

problems with AF as long as you have ring-USM and a fast optic (F2.8 or larger). Just use a

little common sense in ultra low light (lock on points of contrast) and it never fails. If

you're a hardened point 'n shoot guy, you might have problems once in a while, e.g.,

blank walls, etc. I instinctively lock on a contrasty edge so I don't think AF has actually

missed once these 2 years. Much better than my 10D and 20D AF (they missed 15-20% of

the time in low light).

 

I have a ST-E2 but its AF assist is not necessary except in total darkness. I only use it as a

trigger.

[mark u]

Cheap DIY solution: use a small torch to provide illumination of the focus area if it's really needed.

[pjmeade]

Hello Jon, Puppy face has the answer for you. Although the 5D has more accurate focusing with lenses of 2.8 or faster, if you put an element of contrast under your focus point, you can achieve a good result. I've used that method in some very dark situations and got good results.

 

There is also the option of getting a different focus screen for manual focus on the 5D, but I haven't explored that option.

[andrew robertson]

It is extremely rude to use the blinding and annoying AF assist beam in public. Please

consider using manual focus.

[jon_worth]

Puppy Face, Peter -- Gotcha, thanks. I'm thinking the brighter viewfinder will alleviate any misgivings about low-light focusing. A Katz-eye focusing screen might be worth pursuing.

 

Mark -- Interesting idea, thanks.

 

Andrew -- Thanks, but I've never heard any complaints from architecture.