Camera lacks night vision

[levittownnick]

I have a Panasonic Lumex that has some good atributes but focusing in limited light is not one of them. Is there reasonable technology available with a camera like the Lumex that allows the camera to focus well in low light conditions? Which camera models/brands that you know of have it?

Thanks,
Nick

 

[mscher]

Re: Camera lacks night vision

I've been out of the digicam world recently (obsessed for many years), so not sure what the little cameras now use, but my Nikon d40 DSLR, uses a "focus light" that actually slightly illuminates the subject, in low/no light.

The subject stays illuminated just enough, until autofocus is set, then turns off before the exposure is determined and the image is captured. Spot on every time.

Look for one that has a "focus lamp".

 

[levittownnick]

Re: Camera lacks night vision

Thanks for the tip. I think the Lumex has a focus light but I am not sure, it may just be a light that used to distract the eye to reduce red eye.

Nick

 

[mscher]

Re: Camera lacks night vision

Thanks for the tip. I think the Lumex has a focus light but I am not sure, it may just be a light that used to distract the eye to reduce red eye.

Nick

What model is the Lumex?

For everything digicams, this is the place to be. I used to practically live here.

http://dpreview.com/

 

[levittownnick]

Re: Camera lacks night vision

What model is the Lumex?

For everything digicams, this is the place to be. I used to practically live here.

http://dpreview.com/

DMZ-FZ20S S/N D5SF00140 purchased June 2005

Thanks
Nick

 

[mscher]

Re: Camera lacks night vision

DMZ-FZ20S S/N D5SF00140 purchased June 2005

Thanks
Nick

Not sure of the difference with the "S" but the FZ20 has an "AF assist lamp", which is what I was referring to.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz20/

It should come on in low light and shine on the subject up to about 10' away.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Camera lacks night vision

I think you'll find that most any decent newer model camera will focus much better in low light (or any other light) than your 5 year old one. They've come a long way with auto-focus technology in the last few years, as I found out about 6 months ago when I finally bought a new camera. What a difference and it will focus with or without the assist lamp almost every time very quickly compared to my old Canon. (Also was about 5 years old) Try some out at your local camera outlet...

 

[levittownnick]

Re: Camera lacks night vision

Thanks for the replies. It does have a light, but possibly I'm expecting it to focus beyound the design distance. I will look at a new model but I'm not sure if I will spring for the cash as I don't often need "night vision". I will need to see how much they have been improved.

Thanks again,
Nick

 

[mscher]

Re: Camera lacks night vision

Thanks for the replies. It does have a light, but possibly I'm expecting it to focus beyound the design distance. I will look at a new model but I'm not sure if I will spring for the cash as I don't often need "night vision". I will need to see how much they have been improved.

Thanks again,
Nick

Unless a camera has an AF illuminator, it still has to rely on contrast to autofocus and in low light, there is not much contrast.

Your camera actually has a manual focus mode, which is usually possible in low light if you have pretty good eyesight (I don't).

If the subject is somewhat far away, it won't really matter much anyway, as your flash will diminish.

Good luck.