Do you NEED a focus light in sunny conditions?

Hey guys

As the title says - do you really need to use a focus light if you're shooting with strobes on a sunny day in the tropics at 10-20 metres?

Ta

Adam

never used a focus light, not with my Fuji E900, not with my Nikon D90 and not with my Canon G11 during day and down to 140ft.

There are cameras or lenses having problems with focusing under "low light/low contrast" conditions, and there a focus light may help

to get a faster focus.

Chris

It can depend on what you are shooting and with what...and with the age of your eyes.

Someone asked me to take their photo with their camera the other day. Their 7D has a WAY better viewfinder than my D90.

When shooting macro with my 100mm lens, it finds a subject to focus on but with aging eyes, its helpful for me to see better to know what is in focus.

Here is an example. I love photoing these little guys. I think I could watch them all day. They often move to face the focus light and seem to pose for me. I wanted the eyes to be in sharp focus. When viewing the shot, it was lit about the same as the photo you see in the link. That helped me focus a lot. Required? maybe not. Sure glad to have it though.

Smiling crab

This photo was also helped by using the focus light for the same reasons. For me to see the focus as well as the camera.

so many nipples, no little time

Just some thoughts...

dave

Adam a focus while not essential would certainly help at the deeper zone and under ledges.

never used a focus light, not with my Fuji E900, not with my Nikon D90 and not with my Canon G11 during day and down to 140ft.

There are cameras or lenses having problems with focusing under "low light/low contrast" conditions, and there a focus light may help

to get a faster focus.

 

Chris

If a camera is having trouble due to those conditions a Focus Light will definitely help achieve fast and accurate focus.

Cheers,

Jim.

I would say that a focus light is one of those gadgets that in good light is not really needed, especially for WA. On the other hand, a focus light is one of those things that is good to have, and then especially for macro. Super macro I wouldn´t even consider trying without focus light. I guess the question could be stated for a lot of the stuff we use. How much of it is really needed in the sense that no pictures will be without it? A focus light certainly is not the most superflous thing to carry around, generally it makes things easier.

If you love night Dives as much as I do then it is a critical piece of kit

Cheers,

Jim.