Unable to use L1 (Digilux3) in night

[srivastava]

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Here's a query for those with the know how. I have been using the Panasonic DMC L1 for 6 months now and absolutely love it. It has given me the best shots ever both in day time and indoors with the bounce flash (what a cool feature).

 

I seem to have a problem though. I shoot pics in Auto mode usually. When I try and shoot something outdoors at night (with or without flash), the camera does not let me take pictures...it seems to be trying to focus for ages and I just can't seem to press the shutter.

 

I am going out this weekend to watch "Its a wonderful Life " in London and want to take some shots at night around London. Ca anyone help me with this?

 

Thanks for your help in advance.

 

Rajat

[lemalk]

One of the things you need to do on the L1 or Digilux 3 is to turn on the AF assist light (the red light that flashes on the front of the camera).

It's obviously not as stealthy, but it helps the camera focus much better in most situations.

 

There's also an option to release the shutter even if it hasn't yet locked focus. That may also help the frustration of having the camera hunt for an eternity. Good luck!

[Riley]

to be safe, as i dont know what you are shooting

 

go to manual focus, and zone focus the lens

dont know if you are shooting scenic but

you should probably consider a tripod, and shoot at iso100 on a slow shutter

[ASpes]

...

I seem to have a problem though. I shoot pics in Auto mode usually. When I try and shoot something outdoors at night (with or without flash), the camera does not let me take pictures...it seems to be trying to focus for ages and I just can't seem to press the shutter.

...

 

Rajat

 

As already suggested, turning the AF light on can be of a great help but it works only at a short range, zone focusing is the best way to go for candids, but as your camera lens has no DOF scale on it, you must know beforehand what to expect by getting the info with some DOF calculator on internet. This is anyway something easier with a Leica M and its lenses than with an L1-D/3 ...

 

My only practical "trick", so to say, is to put the camera in manual exposure (check & set it once and go on with it) and use the AF by pointing it to some brighter point. A light or anything bright at about the same distance of the subject will do and have the AF nail it fast, then half press the shutter to lock it and reframe to get the shot. A bit of practice will help to make this quick of course.

Not definitely neither the best nor the only solution, but it works for me, and in any case I like it better than to put up with manual focus, never that easy on a standard DSLR screen.

 

Hope this can be of any help.