A tip about using focus shift on Z6 and Z7, both I & II, with manual flash

[Ellis Vener]

A friend of mine was trying to do a focus shift series with a Z 6 and Z7 II. The lights he is using are Einstein E640 monolights, using a basic, center pin trigger (PocketWizard X model) connecting to MC2 receivers in the Einsteins.

The camera was in manual exposure control modality.

The problem he ran into was the flash would fire for the first frame in the series but not in subsequent ones.

We did some testing using his cameras, my Z 6 and Z 7II bodies, his lenses, my lenses, and also with my Pocketwizard IIIE and Raven remotes. We double checked to make sure our settings were identical.

We were were able to duplicate the problem using all configurations of cameras, lenses, and triggers, basically a 3x4x3 matrix for those of you who like charts.

Here’s the solution: Turn off the First-frame exposure lock setting in the Focus Shift Shooting submenu

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Ellis Vener
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“It's not about the f-stop." -Jay Maisel
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[jdoman]

Great tip! Info copied locally!

 

[Ellis Vener]

A friend of mine was trying to do a focus shift series with a Z 6 and Z7 II. The lights he is using are Einstein E640 monolights, using a basic, center pin trigger (PocketWizard X model) connecting to MC2 receivers in the Einsteins.

The camera was in manual exposure control modality.

The problem he ran into was the flash would fire for the first frame in the series but not in subsequent ones.

We did some testing using his cameras, my Z 6 and Z 7II bodies, his lenses, my lenses, and also with my Pocketwizard IIIE and Raven remotes. We double checked to make sure our settings were identical.

We were were able to duplicate the problem using all configurations of cameras, lenses, and triggers, basically a 3x4x3 matrix for those of you who like charts.

Here’s the solution: Turn off the First-frame exposure lock setting in the Focus Shift Shooting submenu

 

[michaeladawson]

A friend of mine was trying to do a focus shift series with a Z 6 and Z7 II. The lights he is using are Einstein E640 monolights, using a basic, center pin trigger (PocketWizard X model) connecting to MC2 receivers in the Einsteins.

The camera was in manual exposure control modality.

The problem he ran into was the flash would fire for the first frame in the series but not in subsequent ones.

We did some testing using his cameras, my Z 6 and Z 7II bodies, his lenses, my lenses, and also with my Pocketwizard IIIE and Raven remotes. We double checked to make sure our settings were identical.

We were were able to duplicate the problem using all configurations of cameras, lenses, and triggers, basically a 3x4x3 matrix for those of you who like charts.

Here’s the solution: Turn off the First-frame exposure lock setting in the Focus Shift Shooting submenu

PLEASE NOTE: you shouldn’t turn off First-frame exposure lock setting when using TTL controlled flash (unless you are using it in manual control mode.)

I have never done focus shift so I'm obviously voicing an opinion with nothing to back it up. But it seems to me that you would want to be in complete manual exposure mode, including flashes, when shooting focus shift.

 

[rumple]

Here’s the solution: Turn off the First-frame exposure lock setting in the Focus Shift Shooting submenu

Ran across this while doing some jewellry recently. It's a great tip, and had I done the jewellry _after_ seeing your post it would have saved almost an hour of messing around.

With menu touch-screen enabled, it is really easy to accidentally flip a toggle and not know why the camera has a different behaviour. So my tip is to disable the menu touch-screen to manage that risk.

 

[Ellis Vener]

I have never done focus shift so I'm obviously voicing an opinion with nothing to back it up. But it seems to me that you would want to be in complete manual exposure mode, including flashes, when shooting focus shift.

quite right. But with a TTL controlled flash it sets the exposure with First Frame exposure lock turned on, the flash exposure is set with first shot and stays consistent through out the sequence unless the flash doesn’t have enough time to recycle the capacitors.

 

[Ellis Vener]

Here’s the solution: Turn off the First-frame exposure lock setting in the Focus Shift Shooting submenu

Ran across this while doing some jewellry recently. It's a great tip, and had I done the jewellry _after_ seeing your post it would have saved almost an hour of messing around.

With menu touch-screen enabled, it is really easy to accidentally flip a toggle and not know why the camera has a different behaviour. So my tip is to disable the menu touch-screen to manage that risk.

 

[astirusty]

Here’s the solution: Turn off the First-frame exposure lock setting in the Focus Shift Shooting submenu

Ran across this while doing some jewellry recently. It's a great tip, and had I done the jewellry _after_ seeing your post it would have saved almost an hour of messing around.

With menu touch-screen enabled, it is really easy to accidentally flip a toggle and not know why the camera has a different behaviour. So my tip is to disable the menu touch-screen to manage that risk.

Good idea. It took me about a day to think “let me try turning off this setting” to solve the problem.

Wording of Shift Shooting sub-menu setting is counter-intuitive. No wonder it took you a day. Good job working through problem and warning others.

 

[michaeladawson]

I have never done focus shift so I'm obviously voicing an opinion with nothing to back it up. But it seems to me that you would want to be in complete manual exposure mode, including flashes, when shooting focus shift.

quite right. But with a TTL controlled flash it sets the exposure with First Frame exposure lock turned on, the flash exposure is set with first shot and stays consistent through out the sequence unless the flash doesn’t have enough time to recycle the capacitors.

I understand the TTL part. But I'm saying that I wouldn't use TTL. I wouldn't want my flash output to vary. Are you saying that this is an issue even if you use a TTL capable flash in fully manual mode?

 

[astirusty]

I have never done focus shift so I'm obviously voicing an opinion with nothing to back it up. But it seems to me that you would want to be in complete manual exposure mode, including flashes, when shooting focus shift.

quite right. But with a TTL controlled flash it sets the exposure with First Frame exposure lock turned on, the flash exposure is set with first shot and stays consistent through out the sequence unless the flash doesn’t have enough time to recycle the capacitors.

I understand the TTL part. But I'm saying that I wouldn't use TTL. I wouldn't want my flash output to vary. Are you saying that this is an issue even if you use a TTL capable flash in fully manual mode?

In my years of experience with TTL, I have not had problems with flash output varying when taking a static scene**. Unless, multiple flash outputs, exceeds energy stored. But that would still be an issue in full manual mode.

Dynamic scene with sufficient change is going to result in needed adjustments by TTL. But it would also require manual adjustments too.

** Except in one case, and that was result of defective TTL controller inside the not-Nikon / not-Sony camera.