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K-S2: So, how dark is -3EV for AF?

Started Mar 10, 2016 | Discussions thread
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Anirut J
Anirut J Regular Member • Posts: 259
K-S2: So, how dark is -3EV for AF?

Does anybody know how dark is -3 EV for the AF to work as advertised?

I don't know how much minus EV's are the pictures below. But the K-S2 did lock focus. Sorry for the grainy ISO6400 and the camera shake. I just want to see if the AF would lock.

This wide angle picture below shows the ambiance of the scene. I first took a focus lock at the fluorescent lamp on the lamp post just behind the black car and then moved the center focus to locked on the front wheel of the black car. It took less than 2 seconds. Lens used: 16-85.

Now, let's get really dark.

The picture below, taken from the same spot as above, at full 85 mm zoom. In a similar manner, I first locked focus on the same fluorescent lamp and then moved the center focus to the turn signal lamp that's between the front door and the wheel right in the center of the picture (if you could see it). I also took about two seconds to lock.

Can you spot the turn signal in the center of the picture?

Certainly, this is not a very scientific method, but I hope these real life pictures can give us some idea as to "how dark" can we go for the camera to lock focus.

BTW, I love the 16-85!

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R.I.P. -- Rejoice In Photography

 Anirut J's gear list:Anirut J's gear list
Pentax K-S2 Pentax smc DA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 Pentax 16-85mm F3.5-5.6 WR Pentax 18-50mm F4.5-5.6
Pentax 16-85mm F3.5-5.6 WR
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