Nikon SB800 AF Assist

[tukaniray]

Hey guys,

I had a quick question ... I recently did a gig late at night in a very low-light area, so I brought out one of my SB800s.

I don't usually have the issue of AF, and I haven't done a late night gig in that kind of lowlight in a long time.

Anywho, I wanted to know if the SB800s AF Assist light would emit in the SB800s Manual Mode? Or does it only work in TTL?

Also, in TTL, it doesn't seem to AF everytime. Does that mean I have to be in AF-S as oppose to AF-C on my D300s?

Just a few questions, because I have a feeling I will be doing a few more gigs like that ... club night style.

-Ray-

[Nikonfan]

Did you ever figure this out? Was your flash on the camera? If so I know there are a few things that you have to do for the AF assist light to work. The camera has to be in AF-S not AF-C mode. Also, you have to use the center AF point. For some reason it doesn't work with the other points selected.

[Hanky]

Originally Posted by Nikonfan

Did you ever figure this out? Was your flash on the camera? If so I know there are a few things that you have to do for the AF assist light to work. The camera has to be in AF-S not AF-C mode. Also, you have to use the center AF point. For some reason it doesn't work with the other points selected.

Thanks. I needed that.

[Nikonfan]

Originally Posted by Hanky

Thanks. I needed that.

Glad I could help! I still have to remind myself from time to time.

[tukaniray]

Hmm ... thanks.

Funny thing, I didn't figure it out. But I had my other SB800 on site and just switched to that one. I had left that one on Default from when I bought it, and it worked fine.

Could be the reason.

Thanks.

-Ray-

[traviswan]

I was really confused when I once had to take photos for a halloween party where the available light was too low for focusing.

I found out that only a few designated focus points in AF-S mode work with the flash AF assist. It usually only works with the few X and Y focus points and the center focus point. My guess (I actually havent tested this myself) is that the AF lamp only works with the cross-type focus points

[Nikonfan]

Originally Posted by traviswan

I was really confused when I once had to take photos for a halloween party where the available light was too low for focusing.

I found out that only a few designated focus points in AF-S mode work with the flash AF assist. It usually only works with the few X and Y focus points and the center focus point. My guess (I actually havent tested this myself) is that the AF lamp only works with the cross-type focus points

That would make sense but I'm pretty sure it only works with the center focus point and no others. My D300 has 15 cross type focus points so I don't understand why it only works with the center focus point? I could be wrong though.

[Abel]

moving this to the lighting section.

[dmora]

Originally Posted by Nikonfan

Did you ever figure this out? Was your flash on the camera? If so I know there are a few things that you have to do for the AF assist light to work. The camera has to be in AF-S not AF-C mode. Also, you have to use the center AF point. For some reason it doesn't work with the other points selected.

This is the key.