NOTE: ANTI-FLICKER MUST BE TURNED OFF FOR THIS TO FUNCTION TO WORK AS DESCRIBED I watched this video shortly after it came out five years ago and nothing I did would allow me to see the results that everyone else was getting. For years each time I would come back from a shoot where I would have benefited from this feature, but didn't because it didn't work, I would come here re-watch this video and bang my head against the wall because I was doing everything described, yet it still wouldn't make a difference!!! I was convinced I was going crazy, but I knew I wasn't because there nearly 1,000 people in these comments talking about how helpful this was. Until today!!!!!!! I knew I couldn't be the only one dealing with this, it was just a matter of time before someone in the comments pointed out why it wasn't working for them and in-turn me, and that person was @Luc Sillen. I never encountered a reason to turn off Anti-Flicker so I have always had it on. Well now I know there is a reason. Rob, with this being a deal breaking variable in whether this works or not, highlighting this fact in the video description would likely help a lot of folks.
Thanks! got rid of the stupid flickering I was seeing. Just got an a7rv, learning flash. Thought to myself, do I really need to learn to live with this? lol.
My ant flickr is off and still no (Setting effect on) As soon as I turn on wireless flash Sony turns off settings effect assuming a flash is in the hot shoe
I'm a real estate photographer and just got my first Sony camera. I just encountered this problem as I always use flash for interior shots and this issue was driving me crazy! Thankfully I found your video. Thank God I can across this before my first pain shoot with this camera. Saved me a ton of aggravation!
I’ve been so many years watching videos about using a flash off camera with the very same sequence: 1. Expose for ambience with the trigger switched off 2. Then turn on the trigger 3. Focus and shoot I’ve stumbled with your video by chance and you have made my day. It had no sense that I had to do a trial and error shoot every time ambience light changed even a bit. I mostly shoot outdoors, and when you are outside ambience light changes all the time, and sometimes in a matter of minutes. Or what about if you want to place your modifier or your subject or model on a different position? Most useful video ever! Thanks man. This is for sure a game changer. Not to talk about all the time you save on a session.
Side note. I neglected to mention the one person that actually helped to find this function. Francisco Joel Hernandez (FJH Photography on TH-cam) is the one person who found info deep in a comments section about this feature, so without him this video wouldn’t be possible. And I probably would have switched to Fuji😂🤣😂
Robert - Thanks for both bringing the problem to our attention and also providing a workaround. There's nothing more productive than a person that has a problem with something, but also brings a solution. Great video!
Robert Hall Photography Hi, I wanna make a question about another problem I have with the XT1 flashpoint/godox trigger, it is a simpler thing but I have been unable to resolve this. Why the modeling lamp doesn't work on mi trigger, and Im sure it is not the trigger, I have more than one and none of the works? thanks so much on advance!
hi@@frankyvee1 yes I have the latest firmware on the camera and the trigger, and still give me like a 40% misfires, the reason why it is totally unknow to me. but thanks anyway for the help.
@@victormunoz7210 As for the misfiring first thing you can try is to hold down the Test button when powering on the X1T trigger. You will see the status light blink twice. When you do this it will put your trigger in close proximity mode and allow the trigger to work when it is closer to speed-light or strobe. With the Xpro trigger which is what I use there is an actual custom function setting for this and the setting will remain persistent. Since you are using the X1T you will need to do this every time you power on the X1T trigger if this works for you. The second thing to try to decrease misfires is to change channels to something in between 1 thru 32. I like using Channel 16 since it's half of the range of channels. The reason for the channel change is the R2/Godox triggers use the 2.4 Ghz band (Godox Wireless X System) which is the same frequency band that is used by most home wireless routers. This could be interfering with the wireless radio signal on the X1T trigger. Give it a try and let me know if any of this decreases your misfires.
I have only just come across this issue on my A7Rii and I fumbled around the net for a while trying to get the correct search term to find an answer... 30 mins or so and a tonne of wrong search terms, and I came across your video!! BANG on the money!! A great informative video for a very specific reason, great watch! I can confirm this fix works on the A7Rii as well.
This very problem drove me insane!!! Thanks so much for sharing this video. I made the custom button change as suggested and it works perfectly! This easy fix should be explained in the manual or possibly even created as a default setting. I used to always turn off my flash, set my ambient, then turn my flash back on..."Ain't nobody got time for that!"
"this overridde causes confusion" HELLL YESSSS IT DOES!!!! Every time I have this happen I feel like throwing the POS out a window. YES it does deserve a dedicated video. THANK YOU!
I can't thank you enough for this video. I came from video into professional stills career and for the last five years used the Sony A7rii and X Pro s trigger. I learned to use a flash with this setup not realising all flashes and cameras didn't meter this blind way. I have just tested your method and almost wept with realising how much harder I made it for myself. So many missed shots. Stu
Thanks Robert. I have the a6500 and literally just bought the ad 200 and ad600 yesterday, to be able to bring my flash-photography to the next level. I ran into the issue you mentioned and thought that the only solution was to turn the trigger on and off. Thank you for showing me this 😊👍
I just switched to sony from canon and i was loving the preview on the EVF. I was looking into research on how the godox system translates on sony and came across your video. No doubt i wouldve ran across this problem when i got whatever flash system i buy. Thank you sir! You earned yourself a subscribe!
Thanks so much ! i was going crazy recent times not sure what was my mistake was; after quick fire events i come home and see pictures underexposed but during the shoot the evf was displaying bright scenes! The workaround is a life saver ! 🙏 Also, the other thing i noted was: When you shoot in Aperture priority, and when you mount the flash and switch it on, the shutter speed automatically changes just by sensing the flash signal !
I shoot a lot of macro work. This simple work around just made a big difference in how I shoot now. Thank you for sharing this. I appreciate it more than you know.
I would say I like this feature. I guess Sony needs to add an option for people maybe to op-out. But to me, when I use flash, I needs to see where I can focus. Also, it's unavoidable to take test shots anyway because EVF cannot preview the effect of the flash. So, what you are suggesting is : effect-on -> preview ambient light -> effect off -> focus -> test shots -> effect-on; what Sony offers: automatic-effect-off -> test shots ambient light -> focus->test shots ->automatic-effect-on (or off) ... not sure what's the gain here.
Sony automatically adds gain when you attempt to focus if you need it. And if it ambient was accurately portrayed I need one initial test shot for light and that’s it. If I move my flash, I know the output change. If I change my mod, I know the output change. If I change the ambient, I know the output change. I don’t need to continue testing.
Got a flash for my Sony setup yesterday and have been confused as hell by what the EVF is doing. Thanks very much for this video and for providing a solution!
Thanks for the heads up on this. Regardless of whether someone views this as a problem or a feature, it is necessary information to know to effectively use these cameras with different transmitters.
This a great point! Another problem I’m have is the trigger doesn’t fire the flash every time I press the shutter! Have you ran into this problem? It’s driving me CRAZY!
cmbruno46 I have found if the flash/ trigger is not seated right it will miss, or at times if I plugged in the trigger already turned on it could have connection issues, I usually power off or reseat and then it is consistent, but can be frustrating at times when you are in a rush. That special hotshoe is my least favorite thing and are also weak and break easy on the flash itself if you are not careful.
Me too, it is very embarrassing when performing paid work around clients and your flash misfires repeatedly. Making me question the value of the godox/flashpoint gear...
Great catch just got the trigger and was planning on using it this weekend on a job. I’ve tested your scenario and boy what a problem. Thanks for the fix. button mapped and tonight I’m going to practice. Hopefully, this will be fixed in a firmware update soon!
but its not a problem at all, it is actually correct, and acting how mirrorless should. you need to understand mirrorless and go into your custom buttons and set a on off option, it will pretend as if a flash isnt attached, he is just didnt read or watch the sony tutorial on how to remove flash previews.
For anybody who is still not able to make it work on A7III or any other sony camera, please turn off the anti flicker setting, it somehow seems to overrides the button.
The “Shot Review Preview” button. goes most of the way to fixing the problem BUT you lose your histogram !! - a bit of a bummer, especially if you shoot interiors! Tell me if i'm wrong please!
As a macro photographer, I kind of like this function because I shoot mostly at night, helping me to focus. I do find it also very useful to be able to turn on/off this function - hence why I’m here. Thanks!!
I had this problem on my last photoshoot and I was like what the hell is going? I finally just decided to rip the trigger off the camera. I was hesitant to mention this as a problem because I am only 2 months in using Sony so I don't know much about this system and I thought perhaps it was user error. Well thank you for this video, bloody helpful. It also serves as point of reference for me to point people to when I mention this problem in my recap video covering my experience.
Glad it helped you out. It made me feel like a complete noob. Funny enough the shot result preview is not mentioned to address this specifically but thankfully it helps!
Ernesto Sue Photography It’s very easy to work with flash by using the “Shot Review Preview” button. Go to custom key menu and choose which button you prefer and it works by showing you your ambient exposure. It’s the perfect way of seeing your subjects without turning off the live view.
i had this huge wedding with my a7sii and flash and boom all of sudden my flash doesnt work in the chapel omg so embarrassing i couldnt get the right shots with enough light :/ such a disappoint
I'm glad you're mentioning this, I follow many photographers on YT and it's like they refuse to acknowledge that. They all talk about how great it is...then show it changing and don't mention why/what's going on.
I 've been using Sony with EVF for years, it's always been like this (A77, A7II..). My solution is natural light = preview on, flash & ambient = preview off. My custom button is for setting preview on/off.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I just got my Xpro yesterday and have been searching for something to resolve this issue for me ever since I stuck it in the hot shoe. Appreciate it!
I move in to Sony ecosystem recently with the A7RIII, and I most said I love it. But I while ago I I found this problem, originally I think that was an user error from my part, so I star to looking in to it and I didn't found nothing, them I star to look al the reviews around youtube and none of then talk to these problem, one day looking a video of Manny Ortiz I notice how he turned on and off the xt1 tiger in other to expose correctly to the ambient and then use the flash, (here I dismiss user error) but pretty much he doesn't talk about the problem, ultimately I start to use the same method, turn off and on the flash trigger and it is annoying, more than once I had forgot that I turned off when I was ready to shoot! so ultimately thanks for the new way to go around this. I think that Sony should remove this feature or at least let me choose if I wanted that way or not. Thanks
Thanks a lot. I found this issue on a photoshooting for a hotel website. Everytime I needed to check the ambient light on the LCD I had to switch off the trigger. Now it's way easier.
I have this exact problem with the A7Rii. For me it is more of an annoyance than anything, but for wedding photographers I can only imagine how incredibly frustrating it must be. You’re definitely not alone and it is something that Sony needs to address.
This saved me for hours of searching and scraching my head. The strange thing is that the preview funcion work on my A1 but not on my R3. Thanks a ton for this video.
I suppose the reason for choosing that behavior is that flashes are supposed to be used in low light conditions and brightening the evf should be more useful that keeping it dark. Still, the solution you found I think is much better than to switch the preview on end off all the time. I noticed this issue, but shooting in studio it has never been a problem, I had no ambient light to control. Great in depth video as always, good job!
I can understand their reasoning a bit. I just think making something like this automatic / override on pro-level camera’s is only going to cause confusion. But I think that giving the option of a “toggle” control for the setting effect to be programmed to a button would have been better.
Thank you for this video. After watching this, I tried the solution (Shot Result Preview) with no luck. I ended up having to upgrade from firmware 2.0 to 2.1 and turn off anti-flicker to get this to work. Shot result preview now accurately represent the ambient exposure ignoring the flash. However, Shot Result Preview doesn't seem to display over exposure; only 0 or negative exposure which is a bit weird. In any case, thanks again for the video. Hopefully this comment helps someone else. Oh, I'm using an a7riii. Not sure if other models have the same issue or not.
I spoke with Sony about this issue specifically about a year and a half ago. They admitted this was stupid and that it should be changed. They said they would fix it in a firmware update. But apparently they fixed it with the simulated flash mode. That was stupid. They may have also decided to add the additional option you mentioned. I told them they should just have a third option called EVF preview mode with Flash on. I shoot with Canon. Same problem. Fuji is the only camera maker that does it right. But Canon fixed (kind of) by giving you the preview after four seconds. But as soon as you activate the meter it comes back to viewfinder mode. I think your fix is the best option available. I wish Canon Sony Sigma Panasonic and Nikon would get it together and fix this issue. Way to go Fuji.
Easy workaround; after attaching the flash/wireless trigger, just don't turn it on. Easy right? OR map the Shot Result Preview function to a button as you suggested. SERIOUSLY; I had to LEARN Sony's "different" UI system when transitioning from both Minolta AND Canon but you know what? IT WAS WORTH IT!!! ( ;-) )
That’s great the first time you turn flash on. But what about when you are in and out of different rooms in changing conditions using flash all day long. (Weddings, corporate events, some portrait sessions). It’s just an unnecessary barrier that you have to fight with all day.
Hey Robert glad to see I wasn’t the only one going through this, I thought I was doing something wrong. Great tip on using a custom button. When using a trigger on your camera do you experience a delay between holding the shutter button and when the actual shot actually occurs? It doesn’t happen when I have a flash mounted on the camera only when I have a trigger mounted.
No I don’t experience this but I’ve heard of it and seen it on my friends RII. Does it happen at all apertures? Or does it function normally at full stop apertures (2.8, 4, 5.6)?
Robert Hall Photography Sorry just saw your response. I tried it wide open and at higher apertures. But here is what I’ve discovered, when I use a non Sony specific flash / transmitter there is no delay. So looks to me as it affects that as well as the screen, but there isn’t hss.
I have a Godox TT685, somehow turning silent shooting of disables the flash, it just doesn't fire... I have to turn camera+flash off and on again to get the flash working again
Thank you for this video!! I recently bought my a7r2 and I was going crazy thinking it wasn't working and thinkingall the worst case scenarios. After many videos yours came up and i was able to get this thing working. Thanks again.
I wouldn't even know where to start with that, since I have no connection to them. But maybe if one of the ambassadors/collective members agrees they can push it their way.
Fast forward to 2024. Has Sony fixed this in R4 or R5?? Im currently shooting an R3 and have hated this for years! Thanks so much, your explanation was fantastic!
Haha thanks Juan! I’ll always look at things from the perspective of someone who has to shoot to make their living, so I hope that helps real photographers!
There is no way possibly to simulate flash exposure effects through an evf. Too many variables. Which flash/strobe, which modifier, light distance to your subject, are you using gels, ect. It makes sense to turn the feature off. And its not any more difficult or confusing to use than a DSLR with an optical viewfinder. Which many say are superior to mirrorless anyway.
Also Lanier posted a video on how to turn the evf settings off/on with a custom button (down button on the rear dial) shortly after the a7III was released.
It is confusing. A dSLR doesn't have the option to display settings, a mirrorless does. So when you override it on a mirrorless without detailing it, it's inherently confusing. No, it's not more difficult to create and image than a dSLR with this restriction, but it does sacrifice a feature that mirrorless owners are expecting.
I think Sony engineers design setting effect to be off while using flash is because camera/evf have to display the final image with a constant light, evwn bridge camera like Fujifilm Finepix had same thing its not issuse its logical correct, otherwise camera have pre flash & record those images to display. No offense bro.
Not logical at all. You are sacrificing an accurate representation of one light (ambient) to ATTEMPT to simulate another light (flash). It is inaccurate in both shape of light and brightness of light, so it fails to be an even tradeoff. On top of that it’s not logical how it’s presented. If it instead automatically switched you into settings effect “off”, it makes a bit more sense. But by overriding without explanation/displaying it creates confusion.
Robert Hall Photography okay now I am confused, when flash/trigger is not attached & setting effect is turned on then EVF show accurate representation of ambient light, but when flash/trigger is attached & turned on, setting effect is turned off automatically and evf doesn't shows accurate representation of Ambient light hitting/filling the frame. Instead it EVF shows frame with increased brightness. Is this is what you want to say/getting?
Once again ... thanks for bringing this up again... I called my local camera store to get back my Nikon flashes ..(which I’ve always shot on Manuel mode for strobe work) and will keep them for these non TTL occasions... perhaps in the future if you can do on some sort of dedicated Sony brand flash that can somehow work in a TTL mode where the EVF played along in real time that would be great - by now they should be sending you loads of free stuff to test and help spread the Sony love -- especially because you have not sold your soul to them and actually still are a photographer ... cheers ! Joseph
Inused to have the opposite problem with Fuji. I was super happy to see how Sony handles this. At the end of the day, you r switching back to a (fake) OVF, for flash shooting. I hope the Sony engineers don’t listen to you 😂😂😂
Thank you so much for this! I'm using a Sony A7S II with a Godox trigger and speed light and I was going insane trying to understand why this was happening. You deserve a reward good sir!
Hi Robert! Unfortunately, this is old news... From the beginning of Godox making the X1 for Sony - this has been known. I don't necessarily see it as a screw up on their side rather a way of dealing with an evf and prioritizing studio shooters. What there should be is an option to choose between "studio" and "location" or something like that.
Old news! How come nobody could tell me a solution when I asked? The response suggests that it’s quite unknown. I don’t see why there’s any point to “prioritize studio shooters”...that’s what turning Settings Effect Off is for. There’s no need to add an automatic feature when the option to choose already exists.
that is a good thing infact. Love the way Sony release a new model camera every year and treat professional cameras like consumer devices like DVD player. this drops the camera prices significantly
Dude, I owe you a beer for this one if you're ever in Phoenix. Seriously, this was driving me up a wall at real estate shoots. The camera stores thought I was some crazy amateur. Thank you very much.
There is a simple solution to this: Assign "Shot. Result Preview" to one of the custom buttons. While you press and hold this button, the display changes and now shows you what the ambient will look like. Release the button and it goes back to the brighter view (this is for focusing purpose).
I like your solution to this problem of yours. I shoot event photography and this is absolutely necessary of a feature. When u turn the effects view to off you lose quality of picture. It is also harder to focus in low light situations that why the EVF is brighter. Thank you for the video though. Sony family is #1.
Another proof that these other artisans are working for Sony for money.If boy why till this time mr Lanier,Ortiz and Co haven’t told us about this issue.
Many are defending the feature citing its benefits in controlled scenarios, and there are people are aware of the fix that never saw it as a problem initially. For me I am so disgruntled by it because it affects me as a wedding and event shooter, but portrait photographers that face less changing conditions at find it to be less of a barrier.
Sony still will not just put a physical EVF control button for this particular application. Working with studio flashes, portables flashes and switching to regular mode was such a pain on a99. I sold all my Sony gear. I still miss and want some of it for fun, paid work is done on Canon
ugh. literally all i shoot are events - just bought my camera. i'm still a little confused by the video. I don't recall changing any setting on the camera when i used my flash. I suppose it was all just auto?? still learning my new a7iii, need to buy flash asap though (didn't know it wasn't built in!!) thanks for the tip
Built in flash, or 'pop-up flash', is garbage and has no place on a professional camera. My advice: practice the hell out of using it so that when you go to take pictures in a real world scenario, you won't get caught messing around with menu settings if you're met with a problem.
I think that I accidentally found a bug that deactivates this. I have an A7C and if I turn silent shooting on, and then off again, the ambient preview is normal as if you turned off the flash but it still works normally.
Robert you nailed it. I was having this issue today. I mapped mine to the C3 button and it works when the actual scene is darker, but when I slow down the shutter the screen will not get brighter than a certain point when holding down the button.
This video is perfect, thank you so much! I don't understand why more people don't talk about this problem and the fix. I'm using the a6500, mapped it to the C1 button, we will see if i like it there.
this feature is really frustrating. surprisingly no one talks about it. I face this problem of ambient light and flash very often. thank you for your nice video.
Great tip. Many Thanks. I wonder if you have any issue with EVF lag on the A7 III? EVF lag on mirrorless camera is the main reason I stay with my DSLR (more specifically Nikon 3Ds)for indoor sports event with fill flash. Machine gun approach (fast continuous burst) might somehow get round the infamous EVF lag but it won't work for me since the flash would not be able to catch up and the extra number of photos would also add much post processing time for high volume photos workflow. I have both Sony A7rII and A7 II. I don't use them for any indoor sports event because "What I see on the EVF is not what I get" for fast action. Love to hear your view.
Thank you for this!!!!!! You have no idea how much this resolves what I've been seeing/doing/thinking as someone who is new to OCF. The solution for the AEL mapped to Shot Result Preview really helps.
I am so thankful that I found this. I love my Sony A7Riii but couldn't work out why when using studio strobes I kept getting darker results than the image I viewed in the the viewfinder. When I was doing landscape I found the EVF so reliable to match the results so trusted the viewfinder. So, I was trusting the viewfinder for balancing strobe on location with ambient! Mistake!!! The only upside was no over exposures as I was finding the image about 1 stop under exposed in Lightroom which I could fix easily, but annoying. YES, I can take an ambient reading with the camera and then a reading with my flash meter (I even bought an expensive HSS meter as i thought it had something to do with that!). But sometimes in the field (read the pressure of a wedding) you can't employ quickly enough studio technique. So trusting your viewfinder, taking the photo, quick review and reset the strobe output is often easier and requires no explanation to the crowd! BUT, this is NOT the case. SONY - this is madness. What bothers me is big Sony users and Ambassadors have never mentioned this in TH-cam posts! Mystery solved - but still annoying.
I just wanted to add that this is not just a sony problem. The equivalent feature on canon is called exposure simulation and it is greyed out when using any e-ttl capable flash or trigger. If you don't need hss or e-ttl features, the solution is to block the four other contacts besides the centre pin on the camera's hot shoe. I used masking tape and the pins do not immediately take the tape off so I'm assuming this will work as a solution and I will only have to re-apply the tape periodically. It irritates me to no end that I have to have this ugly solution to bring back a software feature intentionally disabled for no good reason, but I'm relieved this solves the problem. If I ever need HSS or e-ttl I will remove the tape and live with the lack of exposure simulation. Needless extra information: I didn't even know this was an issue because I have been using a non e-ttl flash trigger from the beginning of my career. This is not an issue for many and there are workarounds to, at best, create a preview button that forces exposure simulation on for a moment. I am using flash as an accent light or as a background light. My portrait subjects are lit by natural light or video light which means seeing how the light is changing (esp. the sun) is something I have grown used to keeping an eye on and made the switch to mirrorless truly game changing for me. Fast forward ten years later and I decided to invest 2k on a fancy new lighting system from westcott (1 x fj400 and 2xfj80s w/ fj-x3m trigger). I don't need the e-ttl features, I just wanted battery power, led modelling lights and remote power control (I was using a basic trigger for an einstein e640 before this). I discovered today that I can't get exposure simulation turned back on no matter what. I can understand having a feature that switches exposure simulation off when using flash, but why did they go out of their way to make it so I can't use it at all? It's not just a very useful tool, but I also just like the experience of shooting whilst seeing the real exposure based on my settings. Now it's just some arbitrary exposure which means the skin can be washed out or underexposed... Honestly it made me want to switch camera systems... until I saw this video that is. I spent months and months researching what flash system I would invest in - had I known I would lose my favourite feature of mirrorless cameras in the process I would have saved the money. Sorry for the rant, I'm as close to being heartbroken as someone can be over a camera feature being lost. Again, the tape solved the problem but I'm psychotic and it will take my months to get over having a piece of tape on my (also) brand new camera to restore functionality I've enjoyed problem free since 2019.
Thank you (and Francisco). Just set my camera up with this setting. Just found out my off-camera brand flashes I used with the original Sony A7 don’t work in TTL. Watching your videos now for a suggested flash for the Sony A7 iii (with working TTL).
Hello Robert, thank you of this video. I returned the flash point flash because of this and spend the money for the newest, most expensive Sony Flash HVL_F60RM but it seems to being doing the same thing. Have you tested this new flash and have found the same issue.
Thank you 1000 times over. What I don’t understand, is Gary Wong, a Sony spokesman here on TH-cam has a snoot that he uses on his flash to cause special effects. As he explains how to use his item he has a flash connected to his Sony A7R2 and the viewfinder does indeed get dark as he adjust the shutter speed with the flash connected. I don’t understand why he didn’t have the same issue as everybody else.
Well, its possible he hasn't upgraded the firmware on the A7R2. Sony changed how the display operates between the A7R2 and the A9. It was a firmware change for the A7R2 and default on A9/A7R3/A73.
Duuuude. Holy crap i have been searching for a solution for this stupid problem for years since I bought an a6000, and was super annoyed to find the a7rii does the same exact thing when mounting a sony shoe flash. Great video! Thanks for the solution!
I just had this problem yesterday when I used a Nissin Air 1 (Remote Trigger) and a Nisssin i60A zoom 24-200mm off-camera flash for the first time when shooting. It was a family portrait session but it was not paid so not that level of seriousness, but still I had metering issues the entire time. I feel that I should have just left the flash at home and just went with the natural light. I'll give this workaround a shot and see if that actually fixes the problem! I assume not, however. I was using TTL and though there are Manual and zoom functions, I didn't want to bother with them. It looks like I will switch to Manual anyway to get the proper exposure. Thanks for the video!
Excellent video. I shot a wedding with the A7RIII for the first time this past weekend and was so annoyed with controlling flash both on and off camera. I'm definitely gonna try this on my next shoot.
OMG, Thank you! My friend and I have been dealing with this for over a month because we just got our cameras Sony A73 and very frustrated with the same situation happening and even a delay in the shot. I'm going to watch this again go back to my camera, change the settings and go shooting.... thanks again
Omg thank you so much for this tip. I've been banging my head against my new Godox setup on my A7riii because of this. This problem totally negates the beauty of using a mirrorless evf system, and it's totally silly they didn't add a disable option for it.
I noticed this issue the day after I received my A7RIII and now of course my newly acquired A7III. I usually use my flash as a fill to ambient and I’d like to see my ambient preview and then I can dial in my TTL Exposure comp. to taste. Complained about this to various blogs and the response usally was, live with it! Thanks for the suggestions!
This can also be setup on Sony's a6k! I'd suggest placing "shot. Result Preview" in the C1 button as that allows a user to hold the button while making any adjustments with their thumb. Great video and post!!
Thank you so much Robert, you have saved my day. I have been looking on a solution to this problem all over the web, until I got to your video. Just keep it up my friend, thumbs up.
Bravo my friend bravo👏👏👏👏. Now I have a problem, I’ve experienced a delay in the strobe when shooting with strobes in a studio setting. I’ve previously used an a99 and never had that problem. Do you know how to fix this?
Came here looking to solve the issue of having a black preview except for focusing while using flash. I now know this is solved by setting effect preview. Thank you.
Very grateful for your video. I can not reconcile how Sony made this choice. The philosophy of using flash (99% of the time) calls for ambient exposure to be handled in camera and for the flash(es) to expose the subject(s). Why would anyone prefer to have the camera guess about exposures instead of letting us see REAL conditions and make confident decisions? A9 shooter here. 7r2 before that. Same experience with off camera flash for about 2 years now.
"You screwed up. Fix it". I'm glad someone finally said it! lol. Bout time someone started this campaign that 'feature' drives me crazy! Thanks for the solution idea, going to try it out this arvo!!
THANKKKKK YOUUUUUUUU!!!! Man! This has been freaking me out for so long and making me so mad. I have searched and searched to find out what I was doing wrong and I always found myself at a dead end. THANK YOU!!! Another crazy thing that had me going in circles for so long; the a6600 does NOT have a “WF” (wireless flash) in its flash modes. Yes you can turn WF on or off, but I’m talking about where it is either auto flash, fill flash, etc… every where I searched everyone keeps saying to make sure it’s set to WF and mine just didn’t exist! Iol anyway, sorry for that rant. Thank you for the video!
hi,, just watched this video after purchased a godox system for Sony, my question is: can you just remove the little golden connectors that communicate with the camera?? you say you shoot manual so you be only using the center pin,, also does that happen when you set your godox trigger in Mode ( 1 )?? which only use the center pin. thank you
NOTE: ANTI-FLICKER MUST BE TURNED OFF FOR THIS TO FUNCTION TO WORK AS DESCRIBED
I watched this video shortly after it came out five years ago and nothing I did would allow me to see the results that everyone else was getting. For years each time I would come back from a shoot where I would have benefited from this feature, but didn't because it didn't work, I would come here re-watch this video and bang my head against the wall because I was doing everything described, yet it still wouldn't make a difference!!! I was convinced I was going crazy, but I knew I wasn't because there nearly 1,000 people in these comments talking about how helpful this was.
Until today!!!!!!!
I knew I couldn't be the only one dealing with this, it was just a matter of time before someone in the comments pointed out why it wasn't working for them and in-turn me, and that person was @Luc Sillen.
I never encountered a reason to turn off Anti-Flicker so I have always had it on. Well now I know there is a reason.
Rob, with this being a deal breaking variable in whether this works or not, highlighting this fact in the video description would likely help a lot of folks.
Thanks! got rid of the stupid flickering I was seeing. Just got an a7rv, learning flash. Thought to myself, do I really need to learn to live with this? lol.
My ant flickr is off and still no (Setting effect on) As soon as I turn on wireless flash Sony turns off settings effect assuming a flash is in the hot shoe
I'm a real estate photographer and just got my first Sony camera. I just encountered this problem as I always use flash for interior shots and this issue was driving me crazy! Thankfully I found your video. Thank God I can across this before my first pain shoot with this camera. Saved me a ton of aggravation!
I’ve been so many years watching videos about using a flash off camera with the very same sequence:
1. Expose for ambience with the trigger switched off
2. Then turn on the trigger
3. Focus and shoot
I’ve stumbled with your video by chance and you have made my day. It had no sense that I had to do a trial and error shoot every time ambience light changed even a bit. I mostly shoot outdoors, and when you are outside ambience light changes all the time, and sometimes in a matter of minutes. Or what about if you want to place your modifier or your subject or model on a different position?
Most useful video ever! Thanks man. This is for sure a game changer. Not to talk about all the time you save on a session.
Side note. I neglected to mention the one person that actually helped to find this function. Francisco Joel Hernandez (FJH Photography on TH-cam) is the one person who found info deep in a comments section about this feature, so without him this video wouldn’t be possible. And I probably would have switched to Fuji😂🤣😂
Robert - Thanks for both bringing the problem to our attention and also providing a workaround. There's nothing more productive than a person that has a problem with something, but also brings a solution. Great video!
Robert Hall Photography
Hi, I wanna make a question about another problem I have with the XT1 flashpoint/godox trigger, it is a simpler thing but I have been unable to resolve this. Why the modeling lamp doesn't work on mi trigger, and Im sure it is not the trigger, I have more than one and none of the works? thanks so much on advance!
@@victormunoz7210 Make sure you have the latest firmware on the trigger.
hi@@frankyvee1 yes I have the latest firmware on the camera and the trigger, and still give me like a 40% misfires, the reason why it is totally unknow to me.
but thanks anyway for the help.
@@victormunoz7210 As for the misfiring first thing you can try is to hold down the Test button when powering on the X1T trigger. You will see the status light blink twice. When you do this it will put your trigger in close proximity mode and allow the trigger to work when it is closer to speed-light or strobe. With the Xpro trigger which is what I use there is an actual custom function setting for this and the setting will remain persistent. Since you are using the X1T you will need to do this every time you power on the X1T trigger if this works for you. The second thing to try to decrease misfires is to change channels to something in between 1 thru 32. I like using Channel 16 since it's half of the range of channels. The reason for the channel change is the R2/Godox triggers use the 2.4 Ghz band (Godox Wireless X System) which is the same frequency band that is used by most home wireless routers. This could be interfering with the wireless radio signal on the X1T trigger. Give it a try and let me know if any of this decreases your misfires.
I have only just come across this issue on my A7Rii and I fumbled around the net for a while trying to get the correct search term to find an answer... 30 mins or so and a tonne of wrong search terms, and I came across your video!! BANG on the money!! A great informative video for a very specific reason, great watch! I can confirm this fix works on the A7Rii as well.
This very problem drove me insane!!! Thanks so much for sharing this video. I made the custom button change as suggested and it works perfectly! This easy fix should be explained in the manual or possibly even created as a default setting. I used to always turn off my flash, set my ambient, then turn my flash back on..."Ain't nobody got time for that!"
"this overridde causes confusion" HELLL YESSSS IT DOES!!!! Every time I have this happen I feel like throwing the POS out a window. YES it does deserve a dedicated video. THANK YOU!
Thank you for this. It seems so easy to fix this in a firmware update. Come on Sony!!!
0:25 0:25 0:25
I can't thank you enough for this video. I came from video into professional stills career and for the last five years used the Sony A7rii and X Pro s trigger. I learned to use a flash with this setup not realising all flashes and cameras didn't meter this blind way. I have just tested your method and almost wept with realising how much harder I made it for myself. So many missed shots. Stu
glad it was so helpful!
This is why I love your channel. Tell us what's real and not what we want to hear. Thanks and keep up the great work!
Thanks man that’s what I set out to do so I appreciate it when it’s noticed!
Thank you this helps so much 😍 Custom photo key > SHOT RESULT PREVIEW (pg17/23) + ANTI-FLICKER OFF
Thanks Robert. I have the a6500 and literally just bought the ad 200 and ad600 yesterday, to be able to bring my flash-photography to the next level. I ran into the issue you mentioned and thought that the only solution was to turn the trigger on and off. Thank you for showing me this 😊👍
Hey, you’re the exact reason I made the video! This is 1 confirmed person it helped so it was already worth making :)
try binding shot result preview to a button and use that to check ambient light.
Your suggestion is exactly what my video says.
Jesper, what brand trigger you using? Thanks man.
I just switched to sony from canon and i was loving the preview on the EVF. I was looking into research on how the godox system translates on sony and came across your video. No doubt i wouldve ran across this problem when i got whatever flash system i buy. Thank you sir! You earned yourself a subscribe!
to bad he is wrong
Thanks so much ! i was going crazy recent times not sure what was my mistake was; after quick fire events i come home and see pictures underexposed but during the shoot the evf was displaying bright scenes! The workaround is a life saver ! 🙏
Also, the other thing i noted was: When you shoot in Aperture priority, and when you mount the flash and switch it on, the shutter speed automatically changes just by sensing the flash signal !
Dude I just moved to Sony I thought I was going mad thank you so much for posting this video
I shoot a lot of macro work. This simple work around just made a big difference in how I shoot now. Thank you for sharing this. I appreciate it more than you know.
So happy to hear that Aaron!
I would say I like this feature. I guess Sony needs to add an option for people maybe to op-out. But to me, when I use flash, I needs to see where I can focus. Also, it's unavoidable to take test shots anyway because EVF cannot preview the effect of the flash. So, what you are suggesting is : effect-on -> preview ambient light -> effect off -> focus -> test shots -> effect-on; what Sony offers: automatic-effect-off -> test shots ambient light -> focus->test shots ->automatic-effect-on (or off) ... not sure what's the gain here.
Sony automatically adds gain when you attempt to focus if you need it.
And if it ambient was accurately portrayed I need one initial test shot for light and that’s it. If I move my flash, I know the output change. If I change my mod, I know the output change. If I change the ambient, I know the output change. I don’t need to continue testing.
Got a flash for my Sony setup yesterday and have been confused as hell by what the EVF is doing. Thanks very much for this video and for providing a solution!
Thanks for the heads up on this. Regardless of whether someone views this as a problem or a feature, it is necessary information to know to effectively use these cameras with different transmitters.
Definitely. I think at minimum it should be an option to better give users control.
Agreed. I hate the thought of dedicating a button for something I may only need occasionally.
Finally!!!! Thank you so much! I've been battling this problem for few months now... Great video, man. Keep it up.
Thank you for this video, you are the only person I know of that has covered this.
Casey Jay Benson that's the truth
Casey Jay Benson ....nope manny ortiz was first.
This a great point! Another problem I’m have is the trigger doesn’t fire the flash every time I press the shutter! Have you ran into this problem? It’s driving me CRAZY!
cmbruno46 I have found if the flash/ trigger is not seated right it will miss, or at times if I plugged in the trigger already turned on it could have connection issues, I usually power off or reseat and then it is consistent, but can be frustrating at times when you are in a rush. That special hotshoe is my least favorite thing and are also weak and break easy on the flash itself if you are not careful.
I have had a couple issues myself but only when I have two triggers on two cameras right next to each other.
Me too, it is very embarrassing when performing paid work around clients and your flash misfires repeatedly. Making me question the value of the godox/flashpoint gear...
Great catch just got the trigger and was planning on using it this weekend on a job. I’ve tested your scenario and boy what a problem. Thanks for the fix. button mapped and tonight I’m going to practice.
Hopefully, this will be fixed in a firmware update soon!
Woof, good timing. Happy to hear you can avoid the confusion that I faced being unprepared for this!
but its not a problem at all, it is actually correct, and acting how mirrorless should. you need to understand mirrorless and go into your custom buttons and set a on off option, it will pretend as if a flash isnt attached, he is just didnt read or watch the sony tutorial on how to remove flash previews.
I experienced this within 30 min after trying my flash on the Sony a7R iii. Many thanks for the workaround!
For anybody who is still not able to make it work on A7III or any other sony camera, please turn off the anti flicker setting, it somehow seems to overrides the button.
Yeah, thanx for the tip ! If not disabled, anti flicker will still brighten the EVF or display further
Oh mate I thank you sooo much!!! I was working on this for hours
The “Shot Review Preview” button. goes most of the way to fixing the problem BUT you lose your histogram !! - a bit of a bummer, especially if you shoot interiors! Tell me if i'm wrong please!
I thought I was going crazy when I switched over to Sony and bought a godox 860, thanks for this
As a macro photographer, I kind of like this function because I shoot mostly at night, helping me to focus.
I do find it also very useful to be able to turn on/off this function - hence why I’m here. Thanks!!
I had this problem on my last photoshoot and I was like what the hell is going? I finally just decided to rip the trigger off the camera.
I was hesitant to mention this as a problem because I am only 2 months in using Sony so I don't know much about this system and I thought perhaps it was user error.
Well thank you for this video, bloody helpful. It also serves as point of reference for me to point people to when I mention this problem in my recap video covering my experience.
Glad it helped you out. It made me feel like a complete noob. Funny enough the shot result preview is not mentioned to address this specifically but thankfully it helps!
Ernesto Sue Photography It’s very easy to work with flash by using the “Shot Review Preview” button. Go to custom key menu and choose which button you prefer and it works by showing you your ambient exposure. It’s the perfect way of seeing your subjects without turning off the live view.
This is as old as the sony a99.
i had this huge wedding with my a7sii and flash and boom all of sudden my flash doesnt work in the chapel omg so embarrassing i couldnt get the right shots with enough light :/ such a disappoint
I'm glad you're mentioning this, I follow many photographers on YT and it's like they refuse to acknowledge that.
They all talk about how great it is...then show it changing and don't mention why/what's going on.
I 've been using Sony with EVF for years, it's always been like this (A77, A7II..). My solution is natural light = preview on, flash & ambient = preview off. My custom button is for setting preview on/off.
Wait what?
@@jessicasearcy9118 you can turn the light preview off when it's not helping
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I just got my Xpro yesterday and have been searching for something to resolve this issue for me ever since I stuck it in the hot shoe. Appreciate it!
I move in to Sony ecosystem recently with the A7RIII, and I most said I love it. But I while ago I I found this problem, originally I think that was an user error from my part, so I star to looking in to it and I didn't found nothing, them I star to look al the reviews around youtube and none of then talk to these problem, one day looking a video of Manny Ortiz I notice how he turned on and off the xt1 tiger in other to expose correctly to the ambient and then use the flash, (here I dismiss user error) but pretty much he doesn't talk about the problem, ultimately I start to use the same method, turn off and on the flash trigger and it is annoying, more than once I had forgot that I turned off when I was ready to shoot! so ultimately thanks for the new way to go around this. I think that Sony should remove this feature or at least let me choose if I wanted that way or not. Thanks
It’s very easy to make your own solution and quickly adapt. But whenever there is something annoying to me I can’t stop till I find the fastest fix.
Thanks a lot. I found this issue on a photoshooting for a hotel website. Everytime I needed to check the ambient light on the LCD I had to switch off the trigger. Now it's way easier.
Glad it helped!
I have this exact problem with the A7Rii. For me it is more of an annoyance than anything, but for wedding photographers I can only imagine how incredibly frustrating it must be. You’re definitely not alone and it is something that Sony needs to address.
Yes every time I was in a new space I was getting frustrated. Made me want to not use flash.
This saved me for hours of searching and scraching my head. The strange thing is that the preview funcion work on my A1 but not on my R3. Thanks a ton for this video.
I suppose the reason for choosing that behavior is that flashes are supposed to be used in low light conditions and brightening the evf should be more useful that keeping it dark. Still, the solution you found I think is much better than to switch the preview on end off all the time. I noticed this issue, but shooting in studio it has never been a problem, I had no ambient light to control.
Great in depth video as always, good job!
I can understand their reasoning a bit. I just think making something like this automatic / override on pro-level camera’s is only going to cause confusion. But I think that giving the option of a “toggle” control for the setting effect to be programmed to a button would have been better.
Same thing happened on my a6500, and it's very annoying, how can I disable it from my a6500? Help please, thanks in advance!!!
Thank you for this video. After watching this, I tried the solution (Shot Result Preview) with no luck. I ended up having to upgrade from firmware 2.0 to 2.1 and turn off anti-flicker to get this to work. Shot result preview now accurately represent the ambient exposure ignoring the flash. However, Shot Result Preview doesn't seem to display over exposure; only 0 or negative exposure which is a bit weird. In any case, thanks again for the video. Hopefully this comment helps someone else. Oh, I'm using an a7riii. Not sure if other models have the same issue or not.
СПАСИИИБО!!!!!!!!!!
I spoke with Sony about this issue specifically about a year and a half ago. They admitted this was stupid and that it should be changed. They said they would fix it in a firmware update. But apparently they fixed it with the simulated flash mode. That was stupid. They may have also decided to add the additional option you mentioned. I told them they should just have a third option called EVF preview mode with Flash on.
I shoot with Canon. Same problem. Fuji is the only camera maker that does it right. But Canon fixed (kind of) by giving you the preview after four seconds. But as soon as you activate the meter it comes back to viewfinder mode.
I think your fix is the best option available. I wish Canon Sony Sigma Panasonic and Nikon would get it together and fix this issue.
Way to go Fuji.
Do all Canon cameras do this or which one are you shooting with? I was wondering if the R5 does it
Easy workaround; after attaching the flash/wireless trigger, just don't turn it on. Easy right? OR map the Shot Result Preview function to a button as you suggested.
SERIOUSLY; I had to LEARN Sony's "different" UI system when transitioning from both Minolta AND Canon but you know what? IT WAS WORTH IT!!! ( ;-) )
That’s great the first time you turn flash on. But what about when you are in and out of different rooms in changing conditions using flash all day long. (Weddings, corporate events, some portrait sessions). It’s just an unnecessary barrier that you have to fight with all day.
It slows you down. As a photographer trying to get shots in real time, it's going to suck.
Hey Robert glad to see I wasn’t the only one going through this, I thought I was doing something wrong. Great tip on using a custom button. When using a trigger on your camera do you experience a delay between holding the shutter button and when the actual shot actually occurs? It doesn’t happen when I have a flash mounted on the camera only when I have a trigger mounted.
No I don’t experience this but I’ve heard of it and seen it on my friends RII. Does it happen at all apertures? Or does it function normally at full stop apertures (2.8, 4, 5.6)?
Robert Hall Photography Sorry just saw your response. I tried it wide open and at higher apertures. But here is what I’ve discovered, when I use a non Sony specific flash / transmitter there is no delay. So looks to me as it affects that as well as the screen, but there isn’t hss.
Another workaround i found is simply switch on and off „silent shooting“. After it shows you correctly ambient..
Woah, that's crazy. Idk how you figured that one out.
Creative workaround! I like it!
I have a Godox TT685, somehow turning silent shooting of disables the flash, it just doesn't fire... I have to turn camera+flash off and on again to get the flash working again
Thank you for this video!! I recently bought my a7r2 and I was going crazy thinking it wasn't working and thinkingall the worst case scenarios. After many videos yours came up and i was able to get this thing working. Thanks again.
How did you get it to work on a A7rii ?
And that’s why I am so glad Robert that you have come over to Sony. Thank you so much for a great video. Keep keeping it real
TerryJ Photography I plan on it!
Robert Hall Photography somebody somewhere has GOT TO bring this attention to Sony
I wouldn't even know where to start with that, since I have no connection to them. But maybe if one of the ambassadors/collective members agrees they can push it their way.
I'm sure Sony will see it, now that it's on DPReview.
Fast forward to 2024. Has Sony fixed this in R4 or R5?? Im currently shooting an R3 and have hated this for years! Thanks so much, your explanation was fantastic!
Robert, you are at fault here. I am switching to Sony, you tell it like it is, no sugar or honey to sweet things up for anybody. thanks
Haha thanks Juan! I’ll always look at things from the perspective of someone who has to shoot to make their living, so I hope that helps real photographers!
I just noticed this the other day!! It was very irritating but glad u made the video to help! Made my day way easier lol
There is no way possibly to simulate flash exposure effects through an evf. Too many variables. Which flash/strobe, which modifier, light distance to your subject, are you using gels, ect. It makes sense to turn the feature off. And its not any more difficult or confusing to use than a DSLR with an optical viewfinder. Which many say are superior to mirrorless anyway.
Also Lanier posted a video on how to turn the evf settings off/on with a custom button (down button on the rear dial) shortly after the a7III was released.
Setting effect preview option is a good suggestion for a quick on/off toggle.
That doesn't help in the situation of using flash. It would show preview off in both.
It is confusing. A dSLR doesn't have the option to display settings, a mirrorless does. So when you override it on a mirrorless without detailing it, it's inherently confusing. No, it's not more difficult to create and image than a dSLR with this restriction, but it does sacrifice a feature that mirrorless owners are expecting.
Ahh didn't realize the effects preview didn't work with the flash trigger. Glad the shot preview setting works.
You are the best! I've had this problem for 2 months and never knew you could do this! cam in the right time as im shooting all week this week!
I think Sony engineers design setting effect to be off while using flash is because camera/evf have to display the final image with a constant light, evwn bridge camera like Fujifilm Finepix had same thing its not issuse its logical correct, otherwise camera have pre flash & record those images to display. No offense bro.
Not logical at all. You are sacrificing an accurate representation of one light (ambient) to ATTEMPT to simulate another light (flash). It is inaccurate in both shape of light and brightness of light, so it fails to be an even tradeoff.
On top of that it’s not logical how it’s presented. If it instead automatically switched you into settings effect “off”, it makes a bit more sense. But by overriding without explanation/displaying it creates confusion.
Robert Hall Photography okay now I am confused, when flash/trigger is not attached & setting effect is turned on then EVF show accurate representation of ambient light, but when flash/trigger is attached & turned on, setting effect is turned off automatically and evf doesn't shows accurate representation of Ambient light hitting/filling the frame. Instead it EVF shows frame with increased brightness. Is this is what you want to say/getting?
Yes
It should give you an option. Setting effect on, see ambient light even with flash. Setting effect off, see screen based on meter selection.
Once again ... thanks for bringing this up again... I called my local camera store to get back my Nikon flashes ..(which I’ve always shot on Manuel mode for strobe work) and will keep them for these non TTL occasions... perhaps in the future if you can do on some sort of dedicated Sony brand flash that can somehow work in a TTL mode where the EVF played along in real time that would be great - by now they should be sending you loads of free stuff to test and help spread the Sony love -- especially because you have not sold your soul to them and actually still are a photographer ... cheers ! Joseph
Inused to have the opposite problem with Fuji. I was super happy to see how Sony handles this. At the end of the day, you r switching back to a (fake) OVF, for flash shooting. I hope the Sony engineers don’t listen to you 😂😂😂
Lol. Well I think they should just give users the option on how it’s handled.
Thank you so much for this! I'm using a Sony A7S II with a Godox trigger and speed light and I was going insane trying to understand why this was happening. You deserve a reward good sir!
Hi Robert! Unfortunately, this is old news... From the beginning of Godox making the X1 for Sony - this has been known. I don't necessarily see it as a screw up on their side rather a way of dealing with an evf and prioritizing studio shooters. What there should be is an option to choose between "studio" and "location" or something like that.
Old news! How come nobody could tell me a solution when I asked? The response suggests that it’s quite unknown.
I don’t see why there’s any point to “prioritize studio shooters”...that’s what turning Settings Effect Off is for. There’s no need to add an automatic feature when the option to choose already exists.
Robert Hall Photography I'm with you on this man! Don't get me wrong. And, yes, I didn't know the proposed solution. Solid video in any case ;)
Yeah I just think it’s a silly approach. Well hopefully more people will be happy with this workaround.
I just bought my flash kit and encountered this issue. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS SOLUTION. Sony should definitely fix this.
Glad it helped you out!
Excellent video. Sony will fix it by introducing a brand new model rather than a firmware fix. Lol
Lol, yup!
that is a good thing infact. Love the way Sony release a new model camera every year and treat professional cameras like consumer devices like DVD player. this drops the camera prices significantly
Until pro camera's flood the market and everyone and their brother is trying to do photography/videography/youtube.
Until? Dude the market is already oversaturated.
Man, I really hope they fix this with firmware. It really hurts professional photographers.
Dude, I owe you a beer for this one if you're ever in Phoenix. Seriously, this was driving me up a wall at real estate shoots. The camera stores thought I was some crazy amateur. Thank you very much.
There is a simple solution to this: Assign "Shot. Result Preview" to one of the custom buttons. While you press and hold this button, the display changes and now shows you what the ambient will look like. Release the button and it goes back to the brighter view (this is for focusing purpose).
Bruh did you even watch the video? He gives the same solution
I like your solution to this problem of yours. I shoot event photography and this is absolutely necessary of a feature. When u turn the effects view to off you lose quality of picture. It is also harder to focus in low light situations that why the EVF is brighter. Thank you for the video though. Sony family is #1.
Another proof that these other artisans are working for Sony for money.If boy why till this time mr Lanier,Ortiz and Co haven’t told us about this issue.
Many are defending the feature citing its benefits in controlled scenarios, and there are people are aware of the fix that never saw it as a problem initially. For me I am so disgruntled by it because it affects me as a wedding and event shooter, but portrait photographers that face less changing conditions at find it to be less of a barrier.
Sony still will not just put a physical EVF control button for this particular application. Working with studio flashes, portables flashes and switching to regular mode was such a pain on a99. I sold all my Sony gear. I still miss and want some of it for fun, paid work is done on Canon
ugh. literally all i shoot are events - just bought my camera. i'm still a little confused by the video. I don't recall changing any setting on the camera when i used my flash. I suppose it was all just auto?? still learning my new a7iii, need to buy flash asap though (didn't know it wasn't built in!!) thanks for the tip
Okwy Ugonweze ....wrong my brother, Manny Ortiz explained this issue long ago
Built in flash, or 'pop-up flash', is garbage and has no place on a professional camera.
My advice: practice the hell out of using it so that when you go to take pictures in a real world scenario, you won't get caught messing around with menu settings if you're met with a problem.
I think that I accidentally found a bug that deactivates this. I have an A7C and if I turn silent shooting on, and then off again, the ambient preview is normal as if you turned off the flash but it still works normally.
Robert you nailed it. I was having this issue today. I mapped mine to the C3 button and it works when the actual scene is darker, but when I slow down the shutter the screen will not get brighter than a certain point when holding down the button.
This video is perfect, thank you so much! I don't understand why more people don't talk about this problem and the fix. I'm using the a6500, mapped it to the C1 button, we will see if i like it there.
I felt your frustration. I spent an hour going through all the settings to get away from that auto exposure trash. Thank you
this feature is really frustrating. surprisingly no one talks about it. I face this problem of ambient light and flash very often. thank you for your nice video.
Thank you so much for the solution. As a new Sony user, I have had a big surprise with this mistake.
Great tip. Many Thanks. I wonder if you have any issue with EVF lag on the A7 III? EVF lag on mirrorless camera is the main reason I stay with my DSLR (more specifically Nikon 3Ds)for indoor sports event with fill flash. Machine gun approach (fast continuous burst) might somehow get round the infamous EVF lag but it won't work for me since the flash would not be able to catch up and the extra number of photos would also add much post processing time for high volume photos workflow. I have both Sony A7rII and A7 II. I don't use them for any indoor sports event because "What I see on the EVF is not what I get" for fast action. Love to hear your view.
Thank you for this!!!!!! You have no idea how much this resolves what I've been seeing/doing/thinking as someone who is new to OCF. The solution for the AEL mapped to Shot Result Preview really helps.
I am so thankful that I found this. I love my Sony A7Riii but couldn't work out why when using studio strobes I kept getting darker results than the image I viewed in the the viewfinder. When I was doing landscape I found the EVF so reliable to match the results so trusted the viewfinder. So, I was trusting the viewfinder for balancing strobe on location with ambient! Mistake!!! The only upside was no over exposures as I was finding the image about 1 stop under exposed in Lightroom which I could fix easily, but annoying. YES, I can take an ambient reading with the camera and then a reading with my flash meter (I even bought an expensive HSS meter as i thought it had something to do with that!). But sometimes in the field (read the pressure of a wedding) you can't employ quickly enough studio technique. So trusting your viewfinder, taking the photo, quick review and reset the strobe output is often easier and requires no explanation to the crowd! BUT, this is NOT the case. SONY - this is madness. What bothers me is big Sony users and Ambassadors have never mentioned this in TH-cam posts! Mystery solved - but still annoying.
That’s just saved me hours of frustration no doubt, big thanks Robert and to FJH. Keep the tutorials coming!
I just wanted to add that this is not just a sony problem. The equivalent feature on canon is called exposure simulation and it is greyed out when using any e-ttl capable flash or trigger. If you don't need hss or e-ttl features, the solution is to block the four other contacts besides the centre pin on the camera's hot shoe. I used masking tape and the pins do not immediately take the tape off so I'm assuming this will work as a solution and I will only have to re-apply the tape periodically. It irritates me to no end that I have to have this ugly solution to bring back a software feature intentionally disabled for no good reason, but I'm relieved this solves the problem. If I ever need HSS or e-ttl I will remove the tape and live with the lack of exposure simulation.
Needless extra information:
I didn't even know this was an issue because I have been using a non e-ttl flash trigger from the beginning of my career. This is not an issue for many and there are workarounds to, at best, create a preview button that forces exposure simulation on for a moment. I am using flash as an accent light or as a background light. My portrait subjects are lit by natural light or video light which means seeing how the light is changing (esp. the sun) is something I have grown used to keeping an eye on and made the switch to mirrorless truly game changing for me. Fast forward ten years later and I decided to invest 2k on a fancy new lighting system from westcott (1 x fj400 and 2xfj80s w/ fj-x3m trigger). I don't need the e-ttl features, I just wanted battery power, led modelling lights and remote power control (I was using a basic trigger for an einstein e640 before this). I discovered today that I can't get exposure simulation turned back on no matter what. I can understand having a feature that switches exposure simulation off when using flash, but why did they go out of their way to make it so I can't use it at all? It's not just a very useful tool, but I also just like the experience of shooting whilst seeing the real exposure based on my settings. Now it's just some arbitrary exposure which means the skin can be washed out or underexposed... Honestly it made me want to switch camera systems... until I saw this video that is. I spent months and months researching what flash system I would invest in - had I known I would lose my favourite feature of mirrorless cameras in the process I would have saved the money. Sorry for the rant, I'm as close to being heartbroken as someone can be over a camera feature being lost. Again, the tape solved the problem but I'm psychotic and it will take my months to get over having a piece of tape on my (also) brand new camera to restore functionality I've enjoyed problem free since 2019.
Thank you (and Francisco). Just set my camera up with this setting. Just found out my off-camera brand flashes I used with the original Sony A7 don’t work in TTL. Watching your videos now for a suggested flash for the Sony A7 iii (with working TTL).
Hello Robert, thank you of this video. I returned the flash point flash because of this and spend the money for the newest, most expensive Sony Flash HVL_F60RM but it seems to being doing the same thing. Have you tested this new flash and have found the same issue.
Dude Rob, THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!! Glad to see someone finally discuss this topic. It’s been driving me crazy!
Thank you 1000 times over. What I don’t understand, is Gary Wong, a Sony spokesman here on TH-cam has a snoot that he uses on his flash to cause special effects. As he explains how to use his item he has a flash connected to his Sony A7R2 and the viewfinder does indeed get dark as he adjust the shutter speed with the flash connected. I don’t understand why he didn’t have the same issue as everybody else.
Well, its possible he hasn't upgraded the firmware on the A7R2. Sony changed how the display operates between the A7R2 and the A9. It was a firmware change for the A7R2 and default on A9/A7R3/A73.
Duuuude. Holy crap i have been searching for a solution for this stupid problem for years since I bought an a6000, and was super annoyed to find the a7rii does the same exact thing when mounting a sony shoe flash. Great video! Thanks for the solution!
Dude!!! You just saved me so much time on my workflow! As a full time real estate photographer this is huge for my business! Thank you!
I just had this problem yesterday when I used a Nissin Air 1 (Remote Trigger) and a Nisssin i60A zoom 24-200mm off-camera flash for the first time when shooting. It was a family portrait session but it was not paid so not that level of seriousness, but still I had metering issues the entire time. I feel that I should have just left the flash at home and just went with the natural light. I'll give this workaround a shot and see if that actually fixes the problem! I assume not, however. I was using TTL and though there are Manual and zoom functions, I didn't want to bother with them. It looks like I will switch to Manual anyway to get the proper exposure. Thanks for the video!
I am so glad I ran across this video before shooting tonight with my brand new A7iii. Thank you for saving me time and frustration.
Thanks!!! I've been looking for a simple solution for ages now.
Excellent video. I shot a wedding with the A7RIII for the first time this past weekend and was so annoyed with controlling flash both on and off camera. I'm definitely gonna try this on my next shoot.
Thanks and good luck!
OMG, Thank you! My friend and I have been dealing with this for over a month because we just got our cameras Sony A73 and very frustrated with the same situation happening and even a delay in the shot. I'm going to watch this again go back to my camera, change the settings and go shooting.... thanks again
So glad it helped you!
If you have a flash delay, there is a good chance it is caused by having 'red eye reduction' set to 'on' which I think it is by default.
Omg thank you so much for this tip. I've been banging my head against my new Godox setup on my A7riii because of this. This problem totally negates the beauty of using a mirrorless evf system, and it's totally silly they didn't add a disable option for it.
I noticed this issue the day after I received my A7RIII and now of course my newly acquired A7III. I usually use my flash as a fill to ambient and I’d like to see my ambient preview and then I can dial in my TTL Exposure comp. to taste. Complained about this to various blogs and the response usally was, live with it! Thanks for the suggestions!
Thanks for the video Robert! Makes life easier! If you guys find that it don't work, be sure to (( turn off Anti-flicker)) it doesn't work with it on!
This can also be setup on Sony's a6k! I'd suggest placing "shot. Result Preview" in the C1 button as that allows a user to hold the button while making any adjustments with their thumb. Great video and post!!
Thank you so much Robert, you have saved my day.
I have been looking on a solution to this problem all over the web, until I got to your video.
Just keep it up my friend, thumbs up.
Thank you!!! Just got a new trigger got my a7rv and couldn’t believe they really had this flaw
Bravo my friend bravo👏👏👏👏.
Now I have a problem, I’ve experienced a delay in the strobe when shooting with strobes in a studio setting. I’ve previously used an a99 and never had that problem. Do you know how to fix this?
Thanks for the advice, Robert. I am buying an A7RIII in a couple of weeks and your video helps me decide yea or nay.
Came here looking to solve the issue of having a black preview except for focusing while using flash. I now know this is solved by setting effect preview. Thank you.
Very grateful for your video. I can not reconcile how Sony made this choice.
The philosophy of using flash (99% of the time) calls for ambient exposure to be handled in camera and for the flash(es) to expose the subject(s). Why would anyone prefer to have the camera guess about exposures instead of letting us see REAL conditions and make confident decisions?
A9 shooter here. 7r2 before that. Same experience with off camera flash for about 2 years now.
"You screwed up. Fix it". I'm glad someone finally said it! lol. Bout time someone started this campaign that 'feature' drives me crazy! Thanks for the solution idea, going to try it out this arvo!!
Thank you so much. I got the a7riv and lights for Father’s Day and this was driving me crazy.
THANKKKKK YOUUUUUUUU!!!! Man! This has been freaking me out for so long and making me so mad. I have searched and searched to find out what I was doing wrong and I always found myself at a dead end. THANK YOU!!!
Another crazy thing that had me going in circles for so long; the a6600 does NOT have a “WF” (wireless flash) in its flash modes. Yes you can turn WF on or off, but I’m talking about where it is either auto flash, fill flash, etc… every where I searched everyone keeps saying to make sure it’s set to WF and mine just didn’t exist! Iol anyway, sorry for that rant. Thank you for the video!
hi,, just watched this video after purchased a godox system for Sony, my question is: can you just remove the little golden connectors that communicate with the camera?? you say you shoot manual so you be only using the center pin,, also does that happen when you set your godox trigger in Mode ( 1 )?? which only use the center pin. thank you
Thank you Robert! This was driving me crazy and I was taking way too many test shots... have mapped the shot result to my center button!
Do you ever have problems with color balance with a godox trigger ?
Robert Hall Photography you just got subbed. Execellent solution.