Help me find the right lens for my Sony A550

[wisbucky]

I have had my Sony A550 for a couple years now. I continously have problems with focus when it comes to night time parades at Disney. I get great shots at a distance away. But the minute a float is in front of me my camera will not focus and will not take a photo. Very frustrating. Anyone suggest a good lens that would help with this.

 

[photo_chick]

There could be any number of reasons why you're having focus problems in that situation.

What lens are you using?

 

[wisbucky]

I've tried my Tokina 11-16mm - bought just for this with constant problems.
Tried my Sony 16-55 worse. I am looking for lens just for this type of shooting.

 

[zackiedawg]

What focus mode and area are you set to, and in what shooting mode? You really should not have any problems acquiring focus in such conditions with the A550, even with slow lenses. However, the wrong modes can cause problems.

My suggestion would be to shoot in AF-S mode, rather than AF-A or AF-C. I'd likely shoot in A priority mode with the aperture dialed to full open, ISO on Auto or manually set as needed (likely ISO800 - 3200)...or alternately in P mode which might also work out well enough...I'd avoid any Auto modes personally. I'd set the camera to Spot focus, rather than center or wide/multi...that way you can point the focus spot at an area where you can acquire focus on the float (a person's face, a light, etc) and hold the shutter half-pressed while recomposing to take the shot.

If you're already using those settings and still having a problem focusing, I'd have to guess you have a lens and/or camera problem, as this should not be very challenging focus conditions for the A550 with those settings.

 

[wisbucky]

I have the ISO set for 800. I have tried shooting in manual. That just doesn't work with moving floats.

I have tried the set setting of night shots but still problems with focusing. I get either way to much light coming in with blurred streaks of light or just too dark.

It just does not to focus to take a pic of the float with the lights non streaking.

Would you say the Tokina 11-16mm should be working?

 

[wisbucky]

I am thining maybe using a tripod and just have the camera set to one position and just take pics as the floats go by. Versus holding it and trying to capture pics moving the camera and focusing in and out. I am usually 6 feet from the float as it goes by. Or as characters are standing in the street I get just way to dark photos.

I really believe it has to be my settings. I must be not setting it correctly even though I think I am.

Any suggestions on settings to use besides what zackiedawg suggested If I use manual?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Without seeing the pictures it almost sounds like either the shutter speed is too slow or aperture too closed down instead of totally being a focus problem. A tripod doesn't provide much assistance for moving objects - it helps more with static.

The Tokina should be ok for shooting the parade although my first choice is a lens that has a little wider aperture such as the Sony 35mm 1.8 SAM although that isn't absolutely necessary to get what you want.

I'd agree with Justin on setting the focus to AF-S mode and I'd use either center weighted or spot metering which should mostly take care of the too light or too dark problems. Then shoot in A-mode (aperture) and set the aperture to the widest it goes which on the Tokina is 2.8. I'd also suggest setting ISO on 1600. The camera will then select the shutter speed which should be adequate for much of the parade.

If you're still getting blurring then you are most likely still needing a faster shutter speed. You can bump up the ISO to 3200 or switch to S-mode (shutter speed) but the speed needed is going to vary depending on how close to the parade you are and how fast the float is moving.
(I just looked at some of my parade pictures and it looked like I consistently did ok with a shutter speed around 1/50th for a starting point if you try S-mode. As I mentioned, much will depend on your distance from what you're shooting and how fast the parade is moving but with the wider lens you might even be able to go slower if the shots are still too dark. It would be better to use as fast of shutter speed as possible though).

 

[photo_chick]

Is the problem poor focusing or motion blur? Because what's described is sounding like motion blur.

Post a shot with the EXIF data.

 

[wisbucky]

Without seeing the pictures it almost sounds like either the shutter speed is too slow or aperture too closed down instead of totally being a focus problem. A tripod doesn't provide much assistance for moving objects - it helps more with static.

The Tokina should be ok for shooting the parade although my first choice is a lens that has a little wider aperture such as the Sony 35mm 1.8 SAM although that isn't absolutely necessary to get what you want.

I'd agree with Justin on setting the focus to AF-S mode and I'd use either center weighted or spot metering which should mostly take care of the too light or too dark problems. Then shoot in A-mode (aperture) and set the aperture to the widest it goes which on the Tokina is 2.8. I'd also suggest setting ISO on 1600. The camera will then select the shutter speed which should be adequate for much of the parade.

If you're still getting blurring then you are most likely still needing a faster shutter speed. You can bump up the ISO to 3200 or switch to S-mode (shutter speed) but the speed needed is going to vary depending on how close to the parade you are and how fast the float is moving.

This helps greatly. Thanks so much. I am wondering if the 35mm 1.8 would maybe really help out. I spend so much time zooming in and out.

 

[wisbucky]

Is the problem poor focusing or motion blur? Because what's described is sounding like motion blur.

Post a shot with the EXIF data.

Sorry I deleted all my horrible shots.

 

[photo_chick]

Sorry I deleted all my horrible shots.

It's a good idea to keep some, at least as a reference for what not to do as far as settings goes since it's all there in the EXIF data. I find that I learn the most from the bad shots I take.

 

[NLD]

Sounds like your shutter speed is too slow. That's not a focusing issue.

Do you remember what shutter speeds you were getting on your shots?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

This helps greatly. Thanks so much. I am wondering if the 35mm 1.8 would maybe really help out. I spend so much time zooming in and out.

Because of the larger aperture it would allow for faster shutter speeds so it would help that way. But having the ability to zoom can be a plus too although even at 16mm you're pretty wide. Lack of zoom is one of the things that frustrates DH the most when he's taking pictures of the parade although I always shoot with a prime and am fine with it so it varies person to person. More than once I've shot the parades with an 85mm so I know I'm not exactly in the norm though.