The autofocus "working range" for the new Canon EOS 3 and the new Nikon F100 are as follows -

Canon EOS 3: 0 - 18 EV (at ISO 100) Nikon F100: -1 - 19 EV (at ISO 100)

This tells me (technically) that the Nikon can still autofocus when it's 1 EV darker and 1 EV lighter than the Canon. Is this true? Will the Nikon actually focus better/quicker than the Canon in lower light levels? Is this a moot point or is 1 EV quite a bit. I know how exposure works, but is this the same as autofocus?

Thank you.

-- Bill Meyer (william_meyer@stortek.com), May 03, 1999

Answers

1 EV is 1 stop, (half the light, or twice the light).

-- Ron Shaw (shaw9@llnl.gov), May 03, 1999.

yes this is what this means.

-- Ellis Vener (evphoto@insync.net), December 08, 1999.

The EV level required for autofocus is only part of the equation. From experience, I've found that the Nikon cameras seem to need much more subject contrast to focus on than the EOS cameras do.

-- Cliff LeSergent (cliff_l@telusplanet.net), August 10, 2000.

For the Nikon F100, if you use the SB28 flash, it has focus assist and shoots an IR beam out there to help the camera focus.

As for low light, if I have the option, I turn on additional lights, put the camera on a tripod, manually focus, then turn off the additional lights, and take my shot. (artsy stuff, not retirement parties)

Sorry, no first hand Cannon experience, however, technically speaking, Cannon is way ahead of Nikon.

-- Les (1fatcat@usa.com), January 28, 2002.