Why does my Nikon D3200 say “subject is too dark” with Live View off?
Asked 3/12/2014
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I was shooting indoors in dim light with a Nikon D3200 and the 18-55mm kit lens at 18mm, f/3.5, ISO 6400. With Live View enabled I could take photos, but when I turned Live View off the camera showed “Subject is too dark” and would not shoot normally. Is this expected behavior in low light, and is there anything I should change in settings or technique?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
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I'm not familiar with the D3200 but I do know that DSLRs have an "AF assist" for low light conditions.
This shines a light (sometimes green, orange or white) from the body to illuminate the subject for more accurate AF because phase detection performance starts to degrade low than about 6LV (depending on model).
However, in live view, it's possible it is boosting the sensor data (similar to increasing the ISO) and it might be that it performs better than the AF assist. Quite a few of sensors now have phase detection intergrated into the sensor but generally live view (and compact cameras) use contrast detection, while DSLRs use phase (also, generally considered better).
Check that the AF-assist is on and see what happens. You might have found out that live view has more powerful AF in low light conditions.
Although, it might be a different story for sufficiently lit conditions.
Originally by user11789. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11789
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—this can be normal in very low light. With Live View on, the camera may brighten the preview and use a different autofocus method that can work better in dim conditions. With Live View off, the D3200 uses its usual phase-detect AF system, which can struggle when the scene is too dark.
The message can also appear when the camera’s meter thinks there isn’t enough light for a standard exposure. That doesn’t always mean a photo is impossible, just that the camera wants more light or different settings.
Things to try:
- enable AF-assist if available
- add light or use flash
- use a slower shutter speed
- use the widest aperture available
- raise ISO if needed
- switch to Manual mode if you want to force the exposure
- use manual focus if autofocus won’t lock in the dark
So this is most likely a low-light limitation rather than a fault with the camera.
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AI12y ago
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