Nikon D850 Dim viewfinder (battery charged and inserted)

[MoodyRuby]

Im aware that this is only my second thread and its another "complaint" about the D850. But understand that i spent a lot of my hard earned money on it and i just want to know everything is fine. Thanks .

When i mount my 500mm f5.6 PF on my d850, the viewfinder is CLEARLY dimmer than when the same lens is mounted on my D7200. When i mount my old 300mm f4 on my D850 and the new 500 pf on the D7200, the viewfinders' brightness is identical between the 2!! (The D850 is brighter with the 300 f4 than with the 500 pf)

Is this normal? it seems so odd. There's also a greenish tint to the whole image in the viewfinder of the d850 and the d7200 seems to have identical colors to my eye sight.

Other than that, the D850's viewfinder is sharp and nothing seems fussy other than the brightness.

Any ideas?

Thanks you..

 

[Martin Zimelka]

I cannot comment on the 500pf, but if you are seeing the image clearly then it sounds normal. the 500pf is one stop slower, meaning 1/2 the light is entering the camera. This will affect the viewfinder image. My 200-500 f/5.6 is darker than my f/4 lenses, but I cannot tell you if what you are seeing is the same.

Sometimes, rarely, the viewfinder LCD overlay (the one that shows the focus points) can be defective, but then the viewfinder is fussy, and nothing looks sharp ever. You can demonstrate this by viewing through the viewfinder but with the battery removed.

Try also look down the front of the lens when attached to the camera, to see if the aperture is by any chance stopped down a little. Perhaps also take a picture head on of the front of the camera, with no lens attached, and perhaps somehow we can compare it to our cameras and see whether your aperture lever is in anyway in a wrong position or bent.

 

[romfordbluenose]

FX is dimmer than DX, and faster lens are brighter than slower lens in the viewfinder.

Read more at https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3346362

 

[MoodyRuby]

FX is dimmer than DX, and faster lens are brighter than slower lens in the viewfinder.

Read more at https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3346362

Im gonna check it out, but i just wanna say that the D7200 with the 500 pf and the 300 f4 is identically bright.

btw, i checked the aperture and its wide open

 

[olyflyer]

the D7200 with the 500 pf and the 300 f4 is identically bright.

I think that's because you are fooled by the differences in FOV. The 300/f4 is much brighter than the 500/5.6 so the VF should also be brighter.

btw, i checked the aperture and its wide open

The aperture is always fully open until you take the picture, even if you select f22, so that is not changing the brightness of the VF.

 

[olyflyer]

FX is dimmer than DX,

That was definitely not my experience when I moved from the D300s to D800, but VF "brightness" is subjective and must be measured. Anyway, some DX cameras use cheap mirrors and not prism. so "FX is dimmer than DX" is a bit of a simplification.

 

[MoodyRuby]

the D7200 with the 500 pf and the 300 f4 is identically bright.

I think that's because you are fooled by the differences in FOV. The 300/f4 is much brighter than the 500/5.6 so the VF should also be brighter.

btw, i checked the aperture and its wide open

The aperture is always fully open until you take the picture, even if you select f22, so that is not changing the brightness of the VF.

obviously a 300mm f4 is brighter than 500mm f5.6. but Im telling you, the D7200 with the 500 pf is VERY bright and vivid, and the D850 is dim. side by side, when i stop down the 300 f4 on the d7200 to F10 its just as dim as the 500 pf on the d850 (of course i press the pv button on the d7200..).

im trying to figure out if its normal.

and btw, it has nothing to do with the size of the FX viewfinder. for the sake of it i limited the d850 to 1.5x crop factor and its not an illusion, the d850 is dimmer.

 

[MoodyRuby]

FX is dimmer than DX,

That was definitely not my experience when I moved from the D300s to D800, but VF "brightness" is subjective and must be measured. Anyway, some DX cameras use cheap mirrors and not prism. so "FX is dimmer than DX" is a bit of a simplification.

i just tried it with my d700. the D700 is clearly brighter and colors look a lot more vivid on it than on the d850. what is going on?

 

[DAVID MANZE]

FX is dimmer than DX,

That was definitely not my experience when I moved from the D300s to D800, but VF "brightness" is subjective and must be measured. Anyway, some DX cameras use cheap mirrors and not prism. so "FX is dimmer than DX" is a bit of a simplification.

i just tried it with my d700. the D700 is clearly brighter and colors look a lot more vivid on it than on the d850. what is going on?

Does the OVF get dimmer when the battery is removed?

 

[MoodyRuby]

FX is dimmer than DX,

That was definitely not my experience when I moved from the D300s to D800, but VF "brightness" is subjective and must be measured. Anyway, some DX cameras use cheap mirrors and not prism. so "FX is dimmer than DX" is a bit of a simplification.

i just tried it with my d700. the D700 is clearly brighter and colors look a lot more vivid on it than on the d850. what is going on?

Does the OVF get dimmer when the battery is removed?

Yes, a lot dimmer. just like any dslr ive ever used. Im starting to think it's normal and the reason it's darker is because more light goes to the demanding AF module. I really don't think my D850 is defective, but how didnt anyone else notice it? I have'nt found anything about it online.

 

[olyflyer]

for the sake of it i limited the d850 to 1.5x crop factor and its not an illusion, the d850 is dimmer.

Now... that is definitely the wrong way of comparing the two... I mean, the DX crop of the DSLRs is NOT the same as a full sized DX viewfinder image. The DX crop results in a narrow tunnel, so no wonder you find it dim.

I never held the D850 or that lens, but had the D300s and from that I moved to the D800 but I haven't really noticed any dimmer VF. On the other hand, I never found in camera DX cropping useful, I have only tested it, but if I'd intend to use an FX camera as a DX then I'd buy a DX because the FX is really poor and that solution is only for emergencies. First with the arrival of Z6 and Z7 becomes in camera cropping useful because in those cameras the VF image is still 100%.

 

[MoodyRuby]

for the sake of it i limited the d850 to 1.5x crop factor and its not an illusion, the d850 is dimmer.

Now... that is definitely the wrong way of comparing the two... I mean, the DX crop of the DSLRs is NOT the same as a full sized DX viewfinder image. The DX crop results in a narrow tunnel, so no wonder you find it dim.

I never held the D850 or that lens, but had the D300s and from that I moved to the D800 but I haven't really noticed any dimmer VF. On the other hand, I never found in camera DX cropping useful, I have only tested it, but if I'd intend to use an FX camera as a DX then I'd buy a DX because the FX is really poor and that solution is only for emergencies. First with the arrival of Z6 and Z7 becomes in camera cropping useful because in those cameras the VF image is still 100%.

this is not the point of what i am saying... holding the 2 cameras side by side, switching lenses, CLEARLY the d850 is dimmer. when i put the d7200 + 300 f4 VS d850 + 500 pf, i need to stop the 300 F4 down to F10 (and press the pv) to match the same brightness as the d850.

 

[romfordbluenose]

this is not the point of what i am saying... holding the 2 cameras side by side, switching lenses, CLEARLY the d850 is dimmer. when i put the d7200 + 300 f4 VS d850 + 500 pf, i need to stop the 300 F4 down to F10 (and press the pv) to match the same brightness as the d850.

Although I can't exactly measure the differences as I don't have the cameras, having read various post and articles the difference in brightness between the D7200 and D850 is about 1 stop. The difference between the 500pf and the 300 is also one stop so you end up with about a 2 stop difference.

The difference between f4 and f10 is about 2.6 stops which could explain what you see in this instance.

 

[MoodyRuby]

this is not the point of what i am saying... holding the 2 cameras side by side, switching lenses, CLEARLY the d850 is dimmer. when i put the d7200 + 300 f4 VS d850 + 500 pf, i need to stop the 300 F4 down to F10 (and press the pv) to match the same brightness as the d850.

Although I can't exactly measure the differences as I don't have the cameras, having read various post and articles the difference in brightness between the D7200 and D850 is about 1 stop. The difference between the 500pf and the 300 is also one stop so you end up with about a 2 stop difference.

The difference between f4 and f10 is about 2.6 stops which could explain what you see in this instance.

1. So you're saying the D850 is actually 1 stop dimmer than the D7200?

2. when I mount my 300mm f4 on the D850, close it down to F5.6 and press the pv button, the D850 + 300mm f4 is still brighter than the 500 pf on the D850. it just doesnt make sense to me.

but i just have the feeling that everything is perfectly fine and im just paranoid. i hope im right about that one, lol.

 

[romfordbluenose]

but i just have the feeling that everything is perfectly fine and im just paranoid. i hope im right about that one, lol.

I would suggest everything is fine. It is easy to get paranoid about new kit. e.g. the rattle in the on board flash (obviously not on the D850), the click and whirr of VR, the viewfinder jump when using VR, the fact some lens are tighter than others, the fact that different lens give slightly different exposures, as do camera bodies, your camera suddenly gets a lot noisier in quiet places....

The list is rather endless.

Of course you may have a problem, the way of fixing this is to send it to Nikon under warranty and they will check it out, you should get professional level service as you have a D850.

 

[MoodyRuby]

Any other thoughts? i went out today to shoot wildlife, AF is amazing, cought a running gazelle, but HOW DARK the viewfinder was is just so annoying to me.. if it is what it is im fine, but i still havent figured out if its working as it should..

 

[romfordbluenose]

Any other thoughts? i went out today to shoot wildlife, AF is amazing, cought a running gazelle, but HOW DARK the viewfinder was is just so annoying to me.. if it is what it is im fine, but i still havent figured out if its working as it should..

Perhaps you could take your camera into a friendly camera shop and compare it with another D850, or even send it into Nikon service if they think it is a problem. I don't think anyone on this forum can help you anymore as we've given you reasons why it may be as it is and you're still saying you're unhappy and repeating your question.

If your comparison in the shop shows your camera has a fault then you need to send it into Nikon, if not then you need to decide whether you can live with it or not.

 

[MoodyRuby]

Ok then i will refine my question - Did anyone notice a difference in viewfinder brightness between the D850 and the D700\D7200 when F5.6 glass is attached?

 

[olyflyer]

Any other thoughts? i went out today to shoot wildlife, AF is amazing, cought a running gazelle, but HOW DARK the viewfinder was is just so annoying to me.. if it is what it is im fine, but i still havent figured out if its working as it should..

I think something must be wrong with your camera, your experience, expectations or the way you compare cameras. Surely the D850 VF can't be dim. It is used under dark conditions and f5.6 is more than enough to see clearly through the VF. ...but... are you or are you not using it in DX mode when you complain about dimness?

 

[MoodyRuby]

Any other thoughts? i went out today to shoot wildlife, AF is amazing, cought a running gazelle, but HOW DARK the viewfinder was is just so annoying to me.. if it is what it is im fine, but i still havent figured out if its working as it should..

I think something must be wrong with your camera, your experience, expectations or the way you compare cameras. Surely the D850 VF can't be dim. It is used under dark conditions and f5.6 is more than enough to see clearly through the VF. ...but... are you or are you not using it in DX mode when you complain about dimness?

The viewfinder is dim weather or not i use it in DX mode or not. im gonna go to the store and see what's going on.. too bad the store is freaking 2 hours away