Sony A7RV + Godox V1 flash with AF assist light?

[phrank]

Hi,
I have a Nikon Z8 mirrorless camera and probably want to switch to Sony, because the AF sucks in super low light – Sony seems much better.
Nikon doesn't support the AF assist light from system flashes anymore. So far I know, none of Canon, Sony or Nikon mirrorless will work because the technology and the AF assist light is deactivated. it's really essential for pitch black situations in event photography. Maybe there's a workaround with some camera and flash combinations?

Does the Sony A7RV support the AF assist light? A colleague has a Sony and the AF asssis light works somehow with the Godox V1, but iI can't remember the camera model.

Any experience with AF assist light on Sony cameras? I really wonder there's still no fix for this from any camera brand or 3rd party companies, since mirrorless are on the market.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

I don't think that any Sony [alpha ilc] camera supports the assist feature of any third-party flash. I am not even sure that they support their own.

Such a shame.

edit: One of those occasions when I am pleased to be WRONG!

 

[phrank]

Thanks for reply. i have borrowed a Sony A7RV from a friend, but he don't have a flash for it to test it. As said i saw another photographer there it worked, but don't know which sony camera he got. In really dark enviroinments even this A7RV got problems to focus, so it would be good to have an AF assist light.

 

[Tim Mayo]

I'm not a portrait shooter so rarely use a flash. I did just do a quick search and it seems that the Godox V1 has a modeling light thats works with mirrorless cameras, it just seems to be a button that you press on the flash. Apparently focus assist doesn't work on mirrorless camera's only DSLRs. It might of been what your friend was using. Here's a quick video:

Also Mark Galer has a very helpful video on focussing in low light with Sony cameras:

 

[Angus Cameron]

Hi,

The A7RV has a focus assist light front of camera.

The information on how this is in the manual under Focus Illuminator. The older DRSL cameras referred to this feature as AF assist.

See https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/2230/v1/en/contents/TP0002911177.html?search=af illuminator

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

I had meant to check out what Mr Busch says about this. According to him, some Sony flash units have a white LED which will act as a focus illuminator when the flash is mounted.

The A7RV has a focus assist light front of camera.

Yes. Don't know what models don't have it, but it seems ubiquitous. I just did a quick test with my a7iv, under the desk. There is a Sigma 50/f2 mounted, with lens hood. As I expected, this casts a heavy shadow. One would have to be using a very short lens for the lamp to be of any use at all.

It also only works in AF-S. Which makes sense: it would have to on all the time to support AF-C (or... activated by half-press, I suppose.)

Given these limitations, I always thought that these lights were a hangover from P&S/fixed-lens cameras, and I don't think it would be much missed if Sony cost-cut it. Sony: cut the red lamp and give us 3rd-party-unit support! Disagreements welcome!

I'm useless with flash. Or, to put that another way, I don't use it often enough to get the knack of it. If I need, say, the photograph something in the garden at night, assuming that it sits still long enough, I use a torch. For focusing and illumination. But basic flash technique: yes I should to grips with that.

 

[Angus Cameron]

Hi,

The Sony external flash units all have the AF Illumination on also, the size 60 has a maximum lens focal length of 300mm and an AF Illuminator operation range of 0.5m to 10m.
In terms of real life usability, you would be relying on the flash to stop motion so AF single shouldn’t be an issue if you keep your shutter speed raised.

I don’t see any mention of this feature in the Godox manual, it looks like they may have left it out, but you never know as the IR cover is present. I would test it in a darkened room and see if you can acquire focus.

 

[phrank]

Hi everybody, thanks for your feeback.

Well in situations, like shown in the Youtune video "Fast AF in Low Light", my Nikon works good, the Sony works even better to nail the faces and focus them properely. I was quite impressed.

I do a lot event photography mainly in clubs / discotheques. Dancers, Djs , often in a spot light, are not a big problem, but on the dancfloor in the middle of a pitch black club I need this AF assist light (red pattern).

I own a Godox V860III and V1pro for Nikon. There you have the funtion to turn on a kind of modelling light. It's like the build in Focus Illuminator at most cameras. At my new Nikon has a AF illuminator is green at Canon and Sony orange. It’s more subtle than a white light, but still to bright in super low light situations – and annoying if you point it in people’s faces.

I just ordered a Godox V860III for Sony to test it. As written above, one Sony photographer had the red AF assist light working – maybe a malfunction, but this would be the desired function I need for pitch balck situations for fast snapshots.

 

[phrank]

I don't think that any Sony [alpha ilc] camera supports the assist feature of any third-party flash. I am not even sure that they support their own.

Such a shame.

I got in touch with Nikon, they are aware of the problem, but can't tell if there will be any solution any soon. Godox and Yognuo doesn't have anything in development. Only ProFoto is working on a solution – probably super expensive. My guess is, it there won't be any new development / improvement any soon, because event photograpy in clubs is just a little niche of.

 

[phrank]

Hi,
a quick update. I just bought a Godox V860III flash for Sony – and it's working! ;-)

The internal AF Illuminator from my Sony a7R V has to be set in Auto and the camera to AF-A or AF-S.
The shutter has to be switched to Mechanical Shutter.
On the Godox flash the AF (assist light) has to be turned on.

Now you will get the red pattern to focus in pitch dark environments if the flash is attached.
Not as fast as my DSLR, but it's working and the light exposure is okay.
Unfortunately Auto ISO doesn't work properely, so I switched it to normal ISO.

Conclusion, this Godox flash and Sony camera combination with mechanical shutter is working.
Much better and more decent than the camera's built in AS Illuminator or Model Light on the flash.

I will test everything more on my next night event shooting.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

I owe Sony an apology! Sorry Sony!

I really thought that they were feature-restricting to boost their own-brand sales. Turns out this is not the case. At least, not for my combo.

I just bought a Godox V860III flash for Sony – and it's working! ;-)

Thank you very much for prompting me to give it a try.

Sony a7iv and Godox TT68Sii

It works!

In terms of real life usability, you would be relying on the flash to stop motion so AF single shouldn’t be an issue if you keep your shutter speed raised.

Good point. So when I'm really working in the dark I can go AF-S for the flash.

I'm useless with flash. Or, to put that another way, I don't use it often enough to get the knack of it. If I need, say, the photograph something in the garden at night, assuming that it sits still long enough, I use a torch. For focusing and illumination. But basic flash technique: yes I should to grips with that.

Having taken some really awful pics a week or so ago, I tried again yesterday, in a situation where I just needed to add a little bit extra light. No doubt, manual flash strength is the proper way to do it. But with my TT68Sii, TTL auto, and adjusting the flash compensation, I was getting better results. I'm beginning to make peace with on-camera fill-in flash

I suspect that it may all be model-combo dependent, and all combinations may not work for all people. But I am very happy to find that it does for my camera and (larger) flash. A tool I gave up hoping for ages ago has been within reach all this time

Thank you all!

 

[phrank]

I only wonder why, after so many years of mirrorless cameras, Sony or any other 3rd party company hasn't developed any flash system for these super low light situation. @all companies, if the mirrorless technology is blind in the red / IR spectrum use a meter light in blue or green, or like my workaround use the red AF assist light beam just milliseconds before the actual picture will be taken.