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Samsung NX300/NX300M workaround for auto focus in low light

Started Jun 17, 2015 | Discussions
ChilleeX New Member • Posts: 1
Samsung NX300/NX300M workaround for auto focus in low light
1

Hi,

last christmas I got my Samsung NX300M, since I wanted to learn more about photography and I wanted to be able to take some nice pictures while I was abroad studying in Australia.

So far I am really happy with this camera, however I also noticed the auto focus issues in low light and as it seems it is not just me having those issues. Consequently, I was wondering, if anybody discovered a workaround except from switching to manual focus?

I am asking, since so far it was impossible for me to take a picture of the stars. With the manual focus I see just nothing on the screen when it so dark. Also moving the manual focus till the end for endless focus does not work, since the correct endless focus is somewhere short before the end.

Thanks for any help in advance!

Best regards

ChilleeX

otto k Senior Member • Posts: 2,252
Re: Samsung NX300/NX300M workaround for auto focus in low light
1

You did not say what lens you are trying to use, but, focus on something 100m or more away and keep that focus. This is past hyperfocal distance and everything will be in focus.

 otto k's gear list:otto k's gear list
Canon EOS 600D Samsung NX1000 Samsung NX500 Sony a6400 Samsung NX 30mm F2 Pancake +10 more
(unknown member) Veteran Member • Posts: 6,192
Re: Samsung NX300/NX300M workaround for auto focus in low light

Is this with framing mode ON?

ChilleeX wrote:

With the manual focus I see just nothing on the screen when it so dark.

Stan Still Regular Member • Posts: 227
Re: Samsung NX300/NX300M workaround for auto focus in low light

I agree that it can be a problem, I have sorted out a sort of work around.  During daylight, manually focus on something far away and take a note of the position of the focus indicator on the scale on the screen.  It will probably be just short of the end position.  At night, manually focus so that the focus indicator on the screen is on the same place and everything at infinity will be in focus.

 Stan Still's gear list:Stan Still's gear list
Panasonic FZ1000 Panasonic LX100 Panasonic ZS100
AxelHawk Regular Member • Posts: 217
Re: Samsung NX300/NX300M workaround for auto focus in low light
1

ChilleeX wrote:

Hi,

last christmas I got my Samsung NX300M, since I wanted to learn more about photography and I wanted to be able to take some nice pictures while I was abroad studying in Australia.

So far I am really happy with this camera, however I also noticed the auto focus issues in low light and as it seems it is not just me having those issues. Consequently, I was wondering, if anybody discovered a workaround except from switching to manual focus?

I am asking, since so far it was impossible for me to take a picture of the stars. With the manual focus I see just nothing on the screen when it so dark. Also moving the manual focus till the end for endless focus does not work, since the correct endless focus is somewhere short before the end.

Thanks for any help in advance!

Best regards

ChilleeX

Hi, I've began to take photos of the stars with my NX300M with some success. To this, manual focus is way better. I use theses configurations: focus peaking: off, focus assist: 8x. Center the brightest star in the sky in the LCD and turn the focus ring until it is just a spot. The smaller, the better.

Some tips: use fast lens. Watch for chromatic aberration, it makes ugly photos. If you don't want star trails, keep your shutter time low (I use less than "300/lens focal length" seconds, but it can still leave some trail). Noise are very low with ISO 400, but it's ok to use it at 1600. Light pollution is always worst than we think. Read something about stacking (deep sky stacking is great), you will thank me later.

Sorry for my poor english.

 AxelHawk's gear list:AxelHawk's gear list
Samsung NX500 Samsung NX 30mm F2 Pancake Samsung NX 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OIS Samsung NX 50-200mm F4-5.6 OIS Samsung NX 16mm F2.4 Pancake +2 more
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