Use Smart LEDs for Focus Assist
It's really cool how cameras can now shoot with acceptable results at super high ISO ratings like 6400. A few years back ISO ratings like this were nothing but a dream. (And before that Fujipress 1600 was the highest I ever used. Never saw a Fujipress 6400)
Alas, when shooting in the dark it is not an easy task to focus. And please forgive me canon users, but if you're a red brand lover, you're pretty much screwed).
Enter Malowz's invention - a strong focus assist that uses $10 in parts from deal extreme. Using a powerful LED and a strong reflector, Malowz build a hot shoe device that projects light to assist in focusing.
Here is the smarts, the focus assist uses an RF-602 radio transmitter to detect half and pull presses and it will only turn the light on when the shutter release is half pressed and then turn it off for the duration of the exposure.
Here is a video demonstrating the device
and a circuit diagram (way easier than what you may think)
Get the DIYP greatness via RSS, newsletter and Twitter
Connect with the community: Facebook Page, Discussions
Share Ideas, Setups, Images and Projects on DIYP's Flickr, visit Readers Photos
Comments
Please educate us Canon folks
Please educate us Canon folks as to what, exactly, a "red brand lover" means.
Red lover as opposed to yellow lover
No harm intended
Red lover as opposed to yellow lover
No harm intended
Camera colors
Canon = Red Brand.
Nikon = Yellow Brand.
Look at the color of your camera and the camera strap ;-)
It would sure be great if
It would sure be great if someone would just start making these so we could buy! I really appreciate the fact that the designer/builder/creator of this little miracle is willing to share the idea, but seriously- although it may look simple to some, that little diagram is intimidating. I'd pay $20. for it already completed!
It would cost more the $20
It would cost more the $20 the wireless flash trigger costs $30-40 alone.
As one who loves night
As one who loves night photography, focusing is a huge problem! Thanks for this great article!
It would sure be great if...
I agree with Angie. I would love to just purchase the device already assembled. I haven't used a soldering iron in many, many years...!
Seems there's something missing
I think I understand that the RF-602 status LED is replaced with the hotshoe contacts, but where is the new focus LED and where is it powered from?
Huh?
Yeah, they must have forgotten to run this one through the idiot test kitchen. I'm seeing two separate circuits here, one with an LED and no hotshoe, the other with a hotshow and no LED, but in the end there's one gizmo, not two. I can't make heads or tails of how it's supposed to actually go together. How about one picture of the circuit as it looks as one functioning unit?
useless
this will screw your light meting in your camera...result: dark pictures!
Useful
With respect to dark pictures, just use manual exposure settings for the times you need to use the LED assist. It's a trade off.
Hmm, adding a red lens would help
http://reviews.davidleetong.com
Add a red lens with some gobo to form line patterns would solve the metering issue... I use those laser pointers with funky shape lens attachments (grid, ufo, heart, etc.) for night shots but it's a pain to hold a laser pointer and camera at the same time... This half-press function from RF602 would really be useful.
blink
at the current moment, i use the AF assist beam from my Nikon SB-800 flash... i block the light from coming out so it doesnt add light to the scene. You can get a focus lock in pitch blackness this way.
st-100
I use the Canon ST-E2 - works very well without a flash but a bit expensive just for focussing in the dark! Lucky I already had it for remote triggering of flashes!
Why not focus in the dark with sound? Works for bats ;-)
This is where I wish, of all the inventions and ideas from Polaroid, sonar focusing had caught on. Or was at least an option for things like this. You can get sonar sensors as kits and I suppose you could make a focusing rig with them and a microcontroller. Not as elegant as this maybe. If I was doing wildlife or nature stuff in low light, it would be worth exploring.
have you ever smelled bat shit
I think this is why this plan failed.
problems with "red" cameras
This is a great idea.... I just love the dig tho...kind of like the teenager in the past, going between Chevy & Ford...just silly.
I'm building one for my Red Cameras...thanks
of course I can also focus manually...
i have trigger rf 603 how
i have trigger rf 603
how to diy AF assist lamp
Post new comment