Joe Sherwood
Forum Enthusiast
As some of you may know I finally upgraded (?) from a D200 to a 300s, and so far flash photography with the D200 is Far superior....just getting the 300s to focus is turning into a major chore!
-
Welcome to the new forums! Please read this first. For known issues we are working to resolve, click here.
Flash photography with the D300s.....not impressed!
- Thread starter Joe Sherwood
- Start date
-
- Tags
- nikon d300s
Joe Sherwood
Forum Enthusiast
btw...I use auto focus S
pavi1
Veteran Member
You seem to have a great deal of difficulty using your camera. Something or someone is broken.
n057
Veteran Member
I am surprised that you got good results with the D200 but not with the D300, since they work the same way ... You are complaining about autofocus in low light. Don't answer me, check the manual for focus assist built into the camera and also built into your Nikon flash. Also, review your images to see where the camera has focused, wether or not it will take an out of focus image, etc.As some of you may know I finally upgraded (?) from a D200 to a 300s, and so far flash photography with the D200 is Far superior....just getting the 300s to focus is turning into a major chore!
It's all in the manual! Experiment! Have fun! Once the equipment is paid for, it's all free!
JC
Some cameras, some lenses, some computers
William Baburchak
Well-known member
Mine seems to work okay.....
Joe Sherwood
Forum Enthusiast
I tried using the same specs I used with the 200 1/60 and adjusted the flash power is all. With a Tamron lens no doubt. I can't even get decent rsults with a Nikon lens!I am surprised that you got good results with the D200 but not with the D300, since they work the same way ... You are complaining about autofocus in low light. Don't answer me, check the manual for focus assist built into the camera and also built into your Nikon flash. Also, review your images to see where the camera has focused, wether or not it will take an out of focus image, etc.As some of you may know I finally upgraded (?) from a D200 to a 300s, and so far flash photography with the D200 is Far superior....just getting the 300s to focus is turning into a major chore!
It's all in the manual! Experiment! Have fun! Once the equipment is paid for, it's all free!
JC
Some cameras, some lenses, some computers
Joe Sherwood
Forum Enthusiast
Robert Cohen
Senior Member
Joe, something is definitely wrong. While I prefer using available light, I've taken thousands of photos with my D300 using flash.
RTFM again and check the settings. The D200 and the D300 are not identical, there may be a setting you used before that is not appropriate for you now.
RTFM again and check the settings. The D200 and the D300 are not identical, there may be a setting you used before that is not appropriate for you now.
Hi Joe
Out of interest, are you using the built-in flash or Nikon Speedlight? You should definitely not have issues with focus in poor light. Certainly should get better lock than using the D200 which in my years with it used to struggle with anything but the centre Af point.
However, if you are using a Speedlight and the Speedlight's red AF-assist beam, then I might have news for you. There seems to be a well documented issue with front-focusing on certain lenses with the more recent cameras. I only found this out after coming home to many misfocused photos when I had used my SB-800 for fill flash, in good light. With my D700, the problem occurs with Sigma 24-70. Couldn't reproduce the issue with D2h. Focusing is fine if I turn off the flash's AF assist.
Out of interest, are you using the built-in flash or Nikon Speedlight? You should definitely not have issues with focus in poor light. Certainly should get better lock than using the D200 which in my years with it used to struggle with anything but the centre Af point.
However, if you are using a Speedlight and the Speedlight's red AF-assist beam, then I might have news for you. There seems to be a well documented issue with front-focusing on certain lenses with the more recent cameras. I only found this out after coming home to many misfocused photos when I had used my SB-800 for fill flash, in good light. With my D700, the problem occurs with Sigma 24-70. Couldn't reproduce the issue with D2h. Focusing is fine if I turn off the flash's AF assist.
pavi1
Veteran Member
Joe Sherwood
Forum Enthusiast
Joe Sherwood
Forum Enthusiast
Robert Cohen
Senior Member
For a start, since you're using the built-in flash, do you have the white flash assist lamp on the camera body turned off or on? I normally turn that off, but then I usually use an auxiliary flash in such dark conditions and the SB600 or SB800 has its own focusing light. You'll want that light on if you're using the built-in flash in dark conditions. (Doesn't matter much if you're using the built-in flash as fill, which is normally the only way I use it.)
pavi1
Veteran Member
n057
Veteran Member
In very low light, the camera will have trouble focusing, because there is nothing with enough contrats to latch on.
A Speedlight has a built-in light that illuminates the target area in red, thus assisting the AF system. You do not have a Speedlight, but then there is the built-in camera light, between the shutter button and the flash. Set a9 to ON, and use S mode. The assist light should come on when you press the shutter or AF-ON.
That is all described on page 268 of the manual. There are restrictions on certain lenses: those are listed on page 345 of the manual.
JC
Some cameras, some lenses, some computers
Also you have to use the center focus point as I recall for this assist to work. I'm not sure what is going on but all those pictures are OOF and/or have motion blur etc.
vwsjr
Leading Member
I don't think anyone is going to be able to tell you exactly what is wrong, whether you are doing something wrong, or it's the camera, but why on earth would anyone think this is the fault of a properly functioning camera?! This obviously isn't attributable to the D300s just having worse flash performance, that would make absolutely no sense whatsoever. When your instincts tell you 'this can't possibly be right', they are probably correct.
I don't thin you have a focus issue as much as you have a shutter speed issue. Since you do have some ambient light, you have motion blur from the 1/60 shutter speed
given the nice low white ceiling I would have bounced the flash with the reflector card up
set to manual with 1/125 shutter is usually works for singers, widest sperture
adjust ISO so you are underexposed by no more than a stop or 3/2 stops
ttl bl flash bounced off ceiling
Robert Cohen
Senior Member
Since he says he was using the built-in flash, unless he adds something, he's not going to be able to bounce the flash.
Joe Sherwood
Forum Enthusiast
Couple more questions, since the Flash sync with the D300s is 1/250, why would you want to use other shutter speeds other than 1/250 while using the flash? Also what ISO do you shoot doing Flash photography?
Last edited:
Keyboard shortcuts
- f
- Forum