Reliably focusing lens for very low light situations? (and no ghosting)

I am doing available light photography often in very low light conditions. Think of streets at night, clubs, candle/fire lit situations at night and that kind of stuff. Unfortunately I am on a limited budget, so the D700 is not really a realistic option (and it's HUGE). My current equipment comprises a D70 and a 35mm f/2.0D and a 50mm f/1.8 DX lens.

First of all, the 50mm lens usually has a too narrow field of view so I am mostly using the 35mm f/2D lens. Problems:

• It is awfully difficult to focus. The lens hunts for focus for an eternity, if it ever focuses. Often I need to find a higher contrast point at the same distance as the subject, focus and then reframe. Finding such a point can be a pain. Sometimes I need use the distance scale and do manual focus bracketing (the viewfinder on D70 is useless). The focus help light of the camera is distracting and makes people react, thus ruining the shots. And it only works at close range.

• fire causes horrible green ghosts at long shutter speeds. I get yellow flames, and some green too, superposed on someones face. That's not what I am looking for.

So, any lens recommendations? Do you think that replacing the 35mm f/2D with the new 35/1.8DX or a Sigma 30/1.4 would really help?

ps. Many optical flaws can be autocorrected with DxO and sucgh software, focusing and ghosts not.

You are working on the edge of capability and I don't think a new lens will help that much with focusing. Nikon cameras have a contrast based focusing system and if you are aiming one in the dark at a very low contrast subject, you won't get focus. It's really that simple. The newer cameras are a little more capable in that regard with improved focusing systems but I don't think a lens change will be that great of an improvement on the same body. If you went with a F1.4 lens there would be some improvement due to letting more light in at focus time but if there's no light to begin with, then.............

It's the same thing with the flare, though maybe a little bit better. The newer lenses have the glass formulations designed to reduce those types of errors so making a change to reduce flare may prove more fruitful. The only way to know for sure, though, is to test both under the same conditions.

Phil

Are you certain the AF of the D70 or 35/F2 is not the problem?

If not, I guess manual focus is the only way to go under those conditions...and maybe resorting to the distance scale as you are. Who knows how much better the new 35 1.8 would be under very poor light....but the newer lens should probably be much better.

Have you considered that DK-17 or 12 whatever for a magnifier for the D70 to magnify the viewfinder?

Mike

carauction said:

Who knows how much better the new 35 1.8 would be under very poor
light....but the newer lens should probably be much better.

Click to expand...

Possibly, but I can't really see the 1/3 stop more light to focus with making
all that much of a difference.

--
Patco
A photograph is more than a bunch of pixels

Patco said:

carauction said:

Who knows how much better the new 35 1.8 would be under very poor
light....but the newer lens should probably be much better.

Click to expand...

Possibly, but I can't really see the 1/3 stop more light to focus
with making
all that much of a difference.

--
Patco
A photograph is more than a bunch of pixels

Click to expand...

Well, I am not talking about the extra stop of light. Just the newer lens technology.

Mike

...maybe combined with a new focusing screen that would be better in low light?

Nikon DLSR autofocus is phase-based isn't it, unless you are using live view?

The OP might do better to use a single point AF, pick a plausible spot, hold the AF lock and recompose. Best is probably manual focus, but it's almost impossible in the tiny D70 finder.

I'll try, if I can find one that can be attached...

Rlf said:

The focus help light of the camera is distracting and makes
people react, thus ruining the shots.

Click to expand...

Rlf said:

So, any lens recommendations? Do you think that replacing the 35mm
f/2D with the new 35/1.8DX or a Sigma 30/1.4 would really help?

Click to expand...

I don't think replacing your lens will help; replacing your camera almost certainly will (even a D200, but you could get a D2x for a reasonable price and that would be really first rate in this regard). A less expensive solution is to use an SB800 with focus assist and the flash turned off -- it's red light is much less annoying than that spotlight that comes from the camera. If the conditions are really challenging, then that SB800 is going to help you even when you get a more expensive camera with a more capable AF module.

carauction said:

Patco said:

carauction said:

Who knows how much better the new 35 1.8 would be under very poor
light....but the newer lens should probably be much better.

Click to expand...

Possibly, but I can't really see the 1/3 stop more light to focus
with making
all that much of a difference.

--
Patco
A photograph is more than a bunch of pixels

Click to expand...

Well, I am not talking about the extra stop of light. Just the newer
lens technology.

Mike

Click to expand...

You guys should read my comparative review of theses lenses: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=31357893