EOS 90D Night time (dark) focussing advice

[Ramsden]

Hi Folks from a cold, wet North of Englanf

Just recovering  a knee op and planning some New Year compositions.

You may remember my interest in 19th.Century railway viaducts with trains crossing. A while back I ventured out with my camera, EOS90D and 70-300 lens to try and capture a train at night and it was a disaster. AI servo and panning and I just got blurred carriage lights. No control what so ever.

Moving on.

Some websites recommend manual focus for night time, so here's my request for help.

I want to capture the train at night with the moon in the background. The setting is ideal, facing East, and I can get a great panoramic composition with the moon rising. Very atmospheric, i hope.

Ive also got a 100mm Macro and small wide angle 10- l8 IS to choose from.

So do I set my camera on a tripod on Man focus, Raw, high ISO, ap 2.8,  and try and focus in the dark as the train comes into view. My worry is that the light meter might be thrown by the moon and carriage lights at the last moment. And if I'm in live view, the process of split second focussing at the same time, seems fraught with difficulty. Not to mention knowing when focus is achieved.

Any ideas, tips on use of equipment etc will be gratefully recieved , plus your thoughts on manual focussing at night.

Thanks 

Ramsden

[Ramsden]

Thanks Waddizle

I'll give that a go. I can get 4 trains in an hour, so time to change lens' between shots. Probably opt for my 100mm Macro

Cheers

R

[Ramsden · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the detail. Thats just what I'm looking for. Its a lot to remember, but now I'm taking notes rather than relying on an ageaing memory. So I've got a documented plan coming together.

Watch this space in January!

Ramsden

[Ramsden]

Hi

Thought I might try and get the new full moon tonight - but clouds rolled over, then heavy rain. But at least I tried your settings of ISO 1000, TV prioity for a blurred train and gaffa tape! There's two more nights of this moon, but forecast is bad.

Thanks guys.

Ramsden

 

[Ramsden]

And now it comes out!

 

[Ramsden]