Finding a solution for poor low-light auto-focus with mirrorless cameras
As much as I love all the advantages mirrorless cameras offer, at this point there is still a serious flaw in my experience – the low-light autofocus response just isn’t as solid as the top-end DSLRs. The autofocus capabilities of my Sony A1 (Amazon / B&H) as amazing as it is in proper light, just isn’t a match for my Nikon D5 when it comes to low light levels with low contrast. As the current technology is, mirrorless cameras have a hard time seeing the AF-assist beam from an on-camera flash.
For example, when photographing candid groups of guests at an event, where their backs are to the light source – ie, their faces were shrouded in shadow – the mirrorless camera generally battles.
The solution – adding additional light when needed so the camera can focus. I bought an Arca-Swiss clamp (Amazon) to fit on the Kirk L-bracket (B&H)… and then this slim Godox M1 video light (Amazon / B&H) is fixed onto that Arca-Swiss clamp. I used the L-bracket specifically made for the Sony A1 with the grip, but if you want to try this – adding a video light to your camera – then any L-bracket appropriate to your camera would work.
I had been playing with this idea a while now, but just never found the right video light. But when I saw how the Godox M1 video light (Amazon / B&H) hinges in and out, I knew I could make the setup work. The video light is small enough to keep in my camera bag as a matter of course. So it will see other use as well, like photographing details.
Now here’s the thing – the flash AF assist with mirrorless is kinda iffy. Kinda works, kinda struggles. But you will get mirrorless / Sony / Canon / whatever fanboys tell you that their mirrorless cameras focus terrifically in low light. But you can’t just blanket trust their observations, since we don’t know what lighting conditions they are shooting under.
Here are two examples of the kinds of lighting you might encounter at wedding venues – and it is this kind of low-contrast weird light where the mirrorless cameras struggle in my experience. But with this new somewhat clumsy setup, I would be ready.
What about the AF assist beam on the Profoto A1 series of flashes? Unless I’ve just convinced myself, turning it on manually via the menu so it’s always on seems to work well in dim lighting at weddings with my Z9.
Any thoughts on this?
Somehow the Sony cameras I use (A9 / A9ii / A1) don’t appear to latch onto that Auto Focus pattern of the Profoto A series flashes as easily as the Nikon D5 did. So they really do better with the constant light from the small video light.
Thanks for addressing this, Neil! I shoot a lot of wedding/event photography and struggle with the same exact issue. As much as I love the Z9, the D5 (in conjunction with the flash’s IR AF Assist beam) just snaps right into focus on a dark dance floor or moonlit midnight exit. The Z9 simply struggles in these situations. So I bought a Flashpoint Zoom Li-On III flash (made by Godox). It has a small LCD light on the front that was presumably designed for “hybrid” shooters who might occasionally need a little constant light-source for video. When it’s time for the dark dance-floor shots, I just turn that on (dialed down low so I don’t blind my subjects), and it really increases my keeper rate!
This is interesting to hear. I thought the z9 had some new tech that made it better than other mirrorless for AF.
Currently, the vast majority of electronic speedlights have AF assist beams that use patterns of deep red light. Most mirrorless cameras turn the speedlight AF light off, however even if they didn’t, the camera would still not be able to focus in low light because mirrorless cameras (at leas Nikon) have their AF sensors located on Blue and Green photosites, which are insensitive to red light.
If you use a green lamp to illuminate the subject my Nikon Z6II and probably most mirrorless will focus flawlessly in dim light.