EVF and monitor auto switch malfunction?

LateHunter · Oct 22, 2018

The first few days it worked well on my Z7. Then sometimes. Now it’s almost dead. For example, when I turn the camera on, monitor is off though it’s set to auto switch. Now I have to resort to only EVF, even for review. I’ve looked into the eye sensor, it’s clean, unobstructed. I vaguely recall someone else has also complained about it. Is there any setting/workaround? Thanks. (With 24-70S lens)

AZSeth · Mar 5, 2019

galetter said:
Hey guys. Same issue here. I noticed it probably 1 or 2 times inside but two days ago i was in -5 (Celsius) weather for a couple hours and it was TERRIBLE. Couldn't get the auto switch to work for the life of me.

I literally have 2 days to decide whether I should return it to Amazon Refurb or not.

Now that I'm thinking of returning it, of course it's working amazingly....

My guess is it's more of a firmware thing but what are your thoughts?

G

It's mildly aggravating that I have to use the "blow on the sensor" or button-push workaround, but the Z7 is otherwise so awesome that I'm willing to suffer this little quirk. I don't think that returning it would do any good if you still want the same camera, since it seems like a weakness in the design, so I'd guess most of them do it. My personal opinion is that this is regrettable, but not deal-breaking. I personally wouldn't send it back over something like this, given workarounds exist.

Vince P · Apr 12, 2019

AZSeth said:
galetter said:

Hey guys. Same issue here. I noticed it probably 1 or 2 times inside but two days ago i was in -5 (Celsius) weather for a couple hours and it was TERRIBLE. Couldn't get the auto switch to work for the life of me.

I literally have 2 days to decide whether I should return it to Amazon Refurb or not.

Now that I'm thinking of returning it, of course it's working amazingly....

My guess is it's more of a firmware thing but what are your thoughts?

G

Click to expand...

It's mildly aggravating that I have to use the "blow on the sensor" or button-push workaround, but the Z7 is otherwise so awesome that I'm willing to suffer this little quirk. I don't think that returning it would do any good if you still want the same camera, since it seems like a weakness in the design, so I'd guess most of them do it. My personal opinion is that this is regrettable, but not deal-breaking. I personally wouldn't send it back over something like this, given workarounds exist.

Kernrsn · Apr 15, 2019

Removing eyecup and cleaning worked for me too.

kybruno · Apr 17, 2019

Hi I had this same problem then my husband noticed that I had one tiny hair lodged across the viewfinder eye sensor I got a pair of tweezers and pulled it out has been working perfectly since.

BobHartung · May 11, 2019

Make sure the sensor next to the eyepiece is pristine. ANY tiny foreign body can alter the function. Personal experience.

smeth · May 17, 2019

I honestly cleaned the EVF proximity sensor. That fixed my issue. Take the EVF Eyepiece cover off, take your shirt and wipe it across the proximity sensor, put the cover back on and then it should work again.

Make sure the Automatic Display Switch toggle is on (button to the left of the EVF). My settings are:

x - Automatic Display Switch Checked

- - Viewfinder Only Not Checked

x - Monitor Only Checked

- - Prioritize viewfinder Not Checked

I hope this helps.

quattro88 · May 20, 2019

I wanted to add my experience with this issue. I was shooting in the art gallery this morning when suddenly the monitor went black. Tried pushing the little EVF control button, no help. Checked the battery level by viewing the menu in viewfinder and it was 35%. I decided that it was probably a feature in the setting that would save battery when it gets low. I returned home and put a fully charged battery in - same problem, monitor is dark. Then I googled the question and found this thread. Wiggled the rubber eyecup and suddenly it was cured. No problem. Thank you all posters for your help. I was really worried as I hate when my stuff breaks or mulfunctioning. BTW, I love the camera and 24-70 it came with. I was shooting in the gallery at f4 and 1/20" by holding the camera in one hand. I am 70 and no muscles to speak of. Got tack sharp images. Amazing.

Joseinphoto · Jun 25, 2019

I also had the same problem with my Z6. I cleaned de sensor with a blower, and cleaned carefully the viewfinder with a soft tissue. Th problem disapeared! Be carefull with the rubber of the viewfinder, because it’s very delicate

Joseinphoto · Jun 25, 2019

LateHunter said:
The first few days it worked well on my Z7. Then sometimes. Now it’s almost dead. For example, when I turn the camera on, monitor is off though it’s set to auto switch. Now I have to resort to only EVF, even for review. I’ve looked into the eye sensor, it’s clean, unobstructed. I vaguely recall someone else has also complained about it. Is there any setting/workaround? Thanks. (With 24-70S lens)

auditdata · Jun 27, 2019

So is there a summary about what to do about the EVF monitor auto sensing not working.

I have had my Z7 for 2 weeks and it has happened several times. Blowing on the sensor seems to work sometimes and brushing the area also sometimes works. Is there an official Nikon response to this?

Vince P · Jun 27, 2019

Try removing the eyecup. If this fixes the problem then it's just the rubber deforming. There is not really enough clearance. Once you know what the problem is, a quick squeeze of the eyepiece rubber every few weeks seems to keep it at bay on my cameras now.

Sounds more complicated than it is once I realised what was wrong.

qodeshi · Jul 5, 2019

Fat Finger said:
I've found this happens on my Z7 if even a small piece of dust or similar settles on the evf sensor. A quick blow usually sorts it out. It seems quite sensitive

I have had this issue with my Z6 for a few weeks now and came here looking for answers. A quick blow on the eyepiece solved the issue. Thanks for posting this!!

Rog139 · Jul 30, 2019

Hi Guys

I have the same problem with my Z6 which I purchased a few months ago. What happened to me were:

1. When I switch to automatic display switch mode, I press the play button the monitor does not display anything, It only shows the photo on EVF.

2. When I switch prioritise viewfinder mode. the monitor does not display photo after I press the play button. It only display in the EVF.

I Liaise with Nikon technical support and they told me that it is not the EVF malfunction. Simply it was due to the viewfinder sensor has dust and it needs to be cleaned up. What needs to do is to remove the viewfinder cover (push the rubber viewfinder cover up to remove it). then clean a small viewfinder sensor just above the viewfinder. once done clean up the back of the viewfinder cover as well. After all done put the viewfinder cover back on.

I follow the instruction to do the clean up. Once done the EVF and monitor auto switch function back to normal and works perfectly.

Try this trick yourself before you send you camera back to Nikon for service.

MrWinnieThePooh · Jul 30, 2019

I use a D850/Z6 combination (which I really like) but the unreliability of the EVF/Monitor automatic switch is perhaps my top operational annoyance with the Z6. Most of the time I just want to use the monitor for reviewing images (in the same way as I do on the D850), rather than holding the camera to my face and peering through the EVF.

My experience has been that the EVF/Monitor automatic switch just cannot be relied on - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I have been aware of the suggestions in this thread and whenever I have a problem I try blowing the sensor or wiggling the rubber eyecup. Again, sometimes this will resolve the problem, sometimes it won't (at least not immediately). Quite often I have to resort to switching to "Monitor only" on the EVF selector, but then have to switch back to the EVF when I want to look through the viewfinder (which is a real pain).

It seems that the sensor may be affected by moisture or dust (which is inevitable outside), or just by putting an eye in contact with the rubber eyecup. My instinct is that this is not a hardware problem on my specific camera, but rather a general design issue - that the eye sensor is simply not resilient enough for practical use.

BJN · Aug 8, 2019

I started having the automatic display switch quit working on my Z6 and found this thread. I just removed the eyecup, wiped off the sensor (which wasn't visibly dirty) and wiped the eyepiece with a microfiber cloth. Now the switch is working. Marginal design? Sensitivity set too high? The sensor looks like it must see IR since the surface appears opaque and black.

I've used Lumix mirrorless cameras with lots of dust and dirt for years and have never had the proximity sensor act up like this.

MJT1951 · Aug 14, 2019

LateHunter, when your Monitor went black were you still able to view pics or was it dark for all functions?

maljo@inreach.com · Aug 24, 2019

with the Z7. Used a blower bulb to blow dust out of the eye proximity sensor and seems to have fixed the problem.

maljo

jiho · Aug 27, 2019

My Z7 EVF-monitor switch failed about two days into a photo safari in southern Africa, where it is warm and very dusty. (Wife's also.) Removed eye cups and cleaned them and the EVF sensors with rubbing alcohol and they're working again.

whmorack · Oct 21, 2019

Fixed the same issue with a q-tip and a drop of lens cleaning solution. Pop the viewfinder cover off and lightly clean the eye sensor area. Problem fixed.

Martin Korec · Jan 3, 2020

Hello

just clean dust from sensor close the EVF ..

I set up to originall setting, updated firmware but as last one I tried blow to this sensor above EVF..

BR

MK

EVF and monitor auto switch malfunction?

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