 Heather A. Campbell |
Why Won't My Camera Take Pictures in Low Light? I was attending a wedding this past weekend and was asked to take some photos of the reception. The reception was held in a theater and the only light that was available was from the bar (it was pretty dark). I know that with my point and shoot camera I could've snapped many pictures and they would have all turned out. With my SLR camera, the camera wouldn't even take a picture. I know it wasn't just my camera because I had a friend there that was also taking pictures with her SLR camera and it didn't work either. We're pretty sure it was because it was pretty dim lighting, but we're not sure how we could have set up the camera to make it work in the low light. We figure if our cheaper point and shoot could do it, so should our expensive SLRs! Please let me know if you have any suggestions.
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Jon Close |
What brand and model SLR were you using? Some models are designed to not fire when in full auto mode if autofocus cannot be confirmed and/or if the meter reads extreme over/under exposure. You should be able to shoot if you switch to manual focus or "creative" mode. For example, I think the Canon Rebel 2000 has these fail-safes when you shoot in "green box" or one of the PIC modes (Portrait, Landscape, Sports,...). If you switch to mode P, Av, Tv or M you will be able to shoot in the conditions you described.
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Heather A. Campbell |
I have a Minolta HTsi and my friend has a Nikon. At first both of us had it on full auto mode, then we both switched it to fully manual - and we still had the same problem. We did not switch to manual focus though - do you think this would solve the problem?
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Craig M. Hicks |
Heather, I don't know much about the Minolta HTsi, but I do know that if the Minolta 800si autofocus cannot confirm the focus it will not shot. I have two ways around this. One is to turn off that mode. The other more simple way is to use manual focusing.
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Martin J. May |
Hi Heather, I have a Minolta XTsi almost the same camera as the HTsi. Mine will not shoot if focus cannot be confirmed, in which case if you go to manual focus (may have to go to manual exposure too), then it will take a picture.
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John A. Lind |
Heather, You and your friend undoubtedly encountered one of the most common problems with AF systems at wedding receptions: not enough light for the AF system to function. Many AF bodies will not allow the shutter to fire unless the AF has locked on a focus point. Switching to manual focus usually solves that problem but can create another with you manually hunting for a focus if you are using a slower lens. A fast lens gives a brighter viewfinder making manual focus much easier in low light. It's one of the reasons I use a very fast standard lens (50mm f/1.2 or f/1.4) on a manual focus camera body for dimly lit receptions.
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Kennith Wilson |
As states above some of the camera will not work if it will not focus. Question is did you have the flash turned on. Most Minolta auto focus (newer models which I believe yours is) has a focus asst. on the flash. Turn the flash on and it will put out several burst of light and the camera will then focus and you then can take the picture. Of course this will also make the flash fire. So if you do not want to use flash will have to carry a small light source to shine on the subject till camera focuses.
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Anand S |
Hi in addition to all the above suggestions check your camera manual. HTSI plus has 9 customisable settings out of which one setting is to do with the camera firing the shutter when the focus is not confirmed. Generally this is turned on that means the shuttur won't open until the focus is confirmed you have an option of turning it off.
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RoxAnne E. Franklin |
What was ISO film were you using? With my Canon 7E, I have to also turn off auto focus, use manual settings, a fast lens, and.. film in the range of 400 to 1600. fuji NPH 400 and 800 speed film are fantastic for doing weddings in low light. When enlarging, the photos do not tend to become very "grainy." I am totally sold on the NPH film! Try it, you'll be surprised by the results.
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