Why won't my Canon EOS 400D take photo's in the dark?

[Just call me Al]

I was trying to take some photo's in the dark yesterday with my Canon EOS400D & the Nifty Fifty. I was using a tripod & wanted 4 seconds + exposure. It would take in brighter light, where there was a street light, but where tree's were lit by street lights but the lights were not directly in the frame, it would not take a picture. I had a similar problem with my Sigma 18-200 OS last year and when I turned off the autofocus it then took the photo's. I turned off the auto focus on the Nifty Fifty but it would not take a thing. I could hear a slight noise but no photo. I tried it on Manual (various settings), AP, etc but nothing. The Nifty Fifty takes photo's indoors & in normal light. I put my Sigma 18-200 OS on with the MF off & it took the photo's with no problem. Any idea's?

[electrolyte]

I'm not surprised that in the dark your nifty fifty's AF doesn't work because mine doesn't either. The lens needs quite a bit of light to be able to focus properly.

However I am surprised that you couldn't get the 400D to take a shot with the lens in MF mode as it should take a shot then. The camera will assume that you have correctly focused the subject and open the shutter. Perhaps there is something wrong with your 50mm lens when it is in MF mode? Have you tried to take a photo using the 50mm lens in good light using MF? Will the 400D take a photo? If it won't then perhaps you have a dud 50mm??

[Just call me Al]

Originally Posted by electrolyte

I'm not surprised that in the dark your nifty fifty's AF doesn't work because mine doesn't either. The lens needs quite a bit of light to be able to focus properly.

However I am surprised that you couldn't get the 400D to take a shot with the lens in MF mode as it should take a shot then. The camera will assume that you have correctly focused the subject and open the shutter. Perhaps there is something wrong with your 50mm lens when it is in MF mode? Have you tried to take a photo using the 50mm lens in good light using MF? Will the 400D take a photo? If it won't then perhaps you have a dud 50mm??

The Nifty Fifty takes photo's OK in Good Light with AF & MF, & as I said it took photo's when there was a street light in the frame (even though the light was in the distance). It does "hunt" a bit even in Manual Focus & only seems to let you take a picture when the focus is correct. Would the AI Servo AF have anything to do with it? It seems to let you (in daylight at least) take a photo easier in the AI Servo mode.

[SomeVorn]

Yeah that sounds to me like the camera can't autofocus because its dark so the camera won't allow you to take the photo. Use manual focus or Single Servo Autofocus - AFS.

[electrolyte]

Originally Posted by D2V2D

The Nifty Fifty takes photo's OK in Good Light with AF & MF, & as I said it took photo's when there was a street light in the frame (even though the light was in the distance). It does "hunt" a bit even in Manual Focus & only seems to let you take a picture when the focus is correct. Would the AI Servo AF have anything to do with it? It seems to let you (in daylight at least) take a photo easier in the AI Servo mode.

I think I know what might have been the problem. Sometimes with my EOS 350 when I try to take a photo the camera tries to take a photo but doesn't do it. It makes a small click noise and then freezes. I get an "error 99" message on the display. If I turn off the camera, remove the lens, put the lens back on and then turn on the camera this seems to solve the problem.

Perhaps this is what happened with you? By removing the 50mm and replacing it with your Sigma you managed to reset the camera and solved the problem.

HTH

[Just call me Al]

Thanks Electrolyte & SomeVorn. I will try some tonight in the garden when it gets dark.

[T0MAT01]

It doesn't have to be dark... just leave the lens cap on! If the lens is still in MF is should take a shot, but I wouldn't suggest using Av mode unless you don't mind waiting for 30 seconds!

[senu]

Auto focus speed is not the 50mm 1.8s forte. In "so so " light, it struggles , in darkness .. forget it
Manual focus should work though
Certainly shooting in the dark like that will need the ISO upping a bit, Manual focus, and perhaps the need to use AV and use a minimum of 2.8 as the ultra shallow DOF may mean only a segment of the scene will bee in sharp focus

For your 4 second exposure shot you will be using either manual exposure mode or shutter priority.. , manual focus and ISO at least 400 I would imagine
Good luck

[RobDickinson]

Theres a setting on the canons that stops you taking a shot if things arnt right (focus, exposure I think) you can switch this off (custom function?).

[senu]

Originally Posted by RobDickinson

Theres a setting on the canons that stops you taking a shot if things arnt right (focus, exposure I think) you can switch this off (custom function?).

There is but it is best left on and Manual focus used when the AF is having a tough time. As annoying as it is when the lens is ""struggling" to Auto focus it does prevent OOF images