How to focus in dark conditions???

I was able tonight to get several shots of American Woodcocks. Unfortunately, all the shots were out of focus. I just had to guess on the focus. I was able to barely make out the woodcock in the finder but couldn't tell focus. Here is the best I was able to do. ( I darkened the eye, it was white from the flash.

Thanks, LG

Firtst it would help to said what you are shooting with.
It doesn't have auto-focus?
If it does, why aren't you using that?

If you were using a Nikon camera, the flash has a built in focus aid. It's a red light that projects a grid for the camera to focus on.


Kent in SD

Use a flashlight to illuminate the subject. See my post here

thanks for replies, here are the stats. I had to turn off the autofocus, it was too dark, it would just hunt.
There was a small tree at about the same distance that I could make out in the finder. I focused on the tree and hoped for the best. All I could see of the woodcock in the finder but a faintly lighter spot. I wasn't even sure I was aiming at him or a tuft of grass.

woodcock shot details
Nikon D70 340mm FL
ISO 320
1/500s (that's what you get with flash)
F4.8 - I need to figure out how to control this with flash. I admit, I haven't read enough about using the flash effectively.
Exposure Comp - +.7EV ( this was a mistake)
front curtain flash
auto-flash mode - Balanced i-TTL
autoflash comp - (-.3) ev

The secret is a BIG FLASH! For my cave shots I do focus a lot in the dark, sometimes total darkness. Use the distance scale and aperture as your guide. Select a big enough aperture to cover your entire subject and then some wiggle room. That's great for long exposures, but to get anything that might be moving, requires a lot of light to get a fast enough shutter speed and a high ISO.

Some cave photographers use a laser pointer that projects a pattern. Their autofocus can lock on to the pattern, or use it for manual focus.

- Use manual settings on your camera. Use the max synch speed of your flash for shutter speed, ISO 400, and stop down about a stop from wide open on your lens.

- Set the flash to -1/3 EC. You need a good flash with long range, and sometimes a Better Beamer really helps if the subject is somewhat distant (long lens photography).

- Use a large flashlight to light up your subject. If autofocus can't lock (it should if you have a good flashlight), then manually focus.

Look forward to your woodcock shots, Cindy! Haven't been able to get out again at night. Hope to try again in the next day or two. Wish I had a big latern with a remote control!