Highlight Display in Still Mode

**BackdoorArts** · 01-12-2021, 02:28 PM

Anyone know if Highlight Display (zebra stripes) are available in still mode on any of the mirrorless cameras, or their 'ii' alternatives? Seems like this would be a nice-to-have in the EVF when shooting stills and not just for video.

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**Danno** · 01-12-2021, 08:01 PM

Jake, in the Z6 and 7 it is only available in movie mode. It would be handy in the photo mode, but it is not offered. Seems kind of strange that it is not included. It seems it could be a simple firmware update to activate it.

**BackdoorArts** · 01-12-2021, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by Danno

Jake, in the Z6 and 7 it is only available in movie mode. It would be handy in the photo mode, but it is not offered. Seems kind of strange that it is not included. It seems it could be a simple firmware update to activate it.

I don't shoot movies so I was watching a video on dynamic range to see if it helped a friend understand what that was and all of a sudden it goes into "zebra stripes" and I started thinking, "Dang, that would be a nice to have on a mirrorless!!"

Putting in my request. LOL

**Whiskeyman** · 01-12-2021, 11:58 PM

Is this a feature for exposure or focus?

WM

**Danno** · 01-13-2021, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by Whiskeyman

Is this a feature for exposure or focus?

WM

It is for exposure. It shows where you are blowing out the highlights. I honestly had not thought about it until Jake mentioned it, but when he did I went looking.

It would be a handy tool and much quicker than the histogram if you could see if and/or what you are over exposing. They have it for video... seems like a easy enough thing to add on a firmware update. Now to figure out how to offer suggestions....

**BackdoorArts** · 01-13-2021, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by Whiskeyman

Is this a feature for exposure or focus?

WM

Yes, for exposure. We have always been able to see blowouts in review mode, and it was added to Live View on DSLRs for video so you could see it in real time. With mirrorless since the EVF is reading off the sensor it makes sense that it could be made available in it, but I guess we're not there yet. I shoot a lot against gray skies and to be able to see in the viewfinder when those skies are unrecoverable would be great. Same thing when a bright blue sky has blown out highlights in clouds. When shooting landscapes you can always check the histogram and reshoot, but when tracking a bird it would be great to know I need to ramp down the EV value.

**Danno** · 01-15-2021, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by BackdoorArts

Yes, for exposure. We have always been able to see blowouts in review mode, and it was added to Live View on DSLRs for video so you could see it in real time. With mirrorless since the EVF is reading off the sensor it makes sense that it could be made available in it, but I guess we're not there yet. I shoot a lot against gray skies and to be able to see in the viewfinder when those skies are unrecoverable would be great. Same thing when a bright blue sky has blown out highlights in clouds. When shooting landscapes you can always check the histogram and reshoot, but when tracking a bird it would be great to know I need to ramp down the EV value.

I really believe they could do this Jake. They have the Histogram in the viewfinder that shows blowouts now. It would be nice to have the Zebra Stripes. You would know with certainty where the overexposure was and if it really mattered so you could choose to adjust for it.

**Dawg Pics** · 01-15-2021, 11:37 PM

Zebra stripes? Is that different than the blinky feature?

**BackdoorArts** · 01-17-2021, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by Dawg Pics

Zebra stripes? Is that different than the blinky feature?

It's essentially the "blinky feature" before you take the photo. With an electronic viewfinder reading off the sensor you can get blowout information in real time and it's a feature that's available currently on all Nikon mirrorless and most DSLRs in Live View video mode. As as said you can see it in a histogram display (in Live View for DSLRs) but you can't see where it's blowing out only that it is.

Sony appears to have them available in the EVF. You can see the difference between blinkies and zebras in this video. https://youtu.be/qSOkVKYLvyU