"Apply Settings to Viewfinder" disabled when using flash?

[sirhawkeye64]

So I have option (d8) "Apply Settings to View Finder" turned ON on my cameras, so basically get a real-time preview of what the final image will look like in the view finder and LCD.

I noticed the other day (And maybe this is already known) but when I have my Godox ProN flash trigger attached, that feature becomes disabled. Now I am using flash in manual mode, and with HSS active (so I can use shutter speeds beyond 1/200s)

Assuming this isn't a bug in NIkon's firmware (i have v2.0 installed) the only thing I can think of is that the camera doesn't know what the ending image will look like, so it can't give me an accurate preview, so it simply disables the function. Immediately after I remove the trigger from the hotshoe, the d8 option gets re-enabled and I can see a preview of the image.

My workaround for now (for exposure purposes, along with using the exposure meter in the camera) is to detach the flash trigger, set my exposure and preview it (mainly for background purposes) and then re-attach the trigger and shoot.

Is there a setting I should be setting in the camera so it doesn't do this, or is this a known thing (and thus, perhaps a normal thing when using non-OEM, non-TTL flash)?

 

[RobertBetchel]

This is considered a feature, particularly if you are in a studio setting where your viewfinder would typically wind up being nearly black if d8 was not disabled. There is no need to remove your trigger. Merely turning it off will allow you to see your exposure preview (assuming you have d8 enabled). I agree it would be nice if this behavior could be configurable.

 

[sirhawkeye64]

This is considered a feature, particularly if you are in a studio setting where your viewfinder would typically wind up being nearly black if d8 was not disabled. There is no need to remove your trigger. Merely turning it off will allow you to see your exposure preview (assuming you have d8 enabled). I agree it would be nice if this behavior could be configurable.

I tried it both ways, and get the same result. The only time the exposure "preview" would change was when I would disconnect the flash trigger. I did have the flash on HSS. It's almost as if there is a trigger or flash attached, this function (d8) is disabled no matter what you actually set it to. I have to check though to make sure something else isn't messed up too (maybe in the flash settings on the camera).

I haven't used the Godox with the Z a whole lot, and I may try again with my Yongnuo triggers to see if the same thing happens (could be something just with Godox). (Technically Godox has not certified their equipment to work with the Z bodies, the last time I checked).

 

[pcorradophoto]

This is considered a feature, particularly if you are in a studio setting where your viewfinder would typically wind up being nearly black if d8 was not disabled. There is no need to remove your trigger. Merely turning it off will allow you to see your exposure preview (assuming you have d8 enabled). I agree it would be nice if this behavior could be configurable.

I tried it both ways, and get the same result. The only time the exposure "preview" would change was when I would disconnect the flash trigger. I did have the flash on HSS. It's almost as if there is a trigger or flash attached, this function (d8) is disabled no matter what you actually set it to. I have to check though to make sure something else isn't messed up too (maybe in the flash settings on the camera).

I haven't used the Godox with the Z a whole lot, and I may try again with my Yongnuo triggers to see if the same thing happens (could be something just with Godox). (Technically Godox has not certified their equipment to work with the Z bodies, the last time I checked).

I’ve assigned “flash on/off” to a function button. Pressing it temporarily disables flash and turns on live preview.

 

[aj_obx]

This is considered a feature, particularly if you are in a studio setting where your viewfinder would typically wind up being nearly black if d8 was not disabled. There is no need to remove your trigger. Merely turning it off will allow you to see your exposure preview (assuming you have d8 enabled). I agree it would be nice if this behavior could be configurable.

I tried it both ways, and get the same result. The only time the exposure "preview" would change was when I would disconnect the flash trigger. I did have the flash on HSS. It's almost as if there is a trigger or flash attached, this function (d8) is disabled no matter what you actually set it to. I have to check though to make sure something else isn't messed up too (maybe in the flash settings on the camera).

I haven't used the Godox with the Z a whole lot, and I may try again with my Yongnuo triggers to see if the same thing happens (could be something just with Godox). (Technically Godox has not certified their equipment to work with the Z bodies, the last time I checked).

I’ve assigned “flash on/off” to a function button. Pressing it temporarily disables flash and turns on live preview.

This is what I've done as well, 100% carryover from my dslrs but with the benefit of letting me check ambient exposure.

D8 being "off" with a ttl flash or trigger hooked up is the only way it can work as the live preview can't preview what the flash is going to do.

My only qualm with the implementation is the histogram changes when I hit the flash kill assigned fn button. I'm in manual exposure mode so the histogram (expected recorded scene brightness) shouldn't change one bit. I use the histogram to adjust shutter/aperture/iso to get the background the way I want so I have to regularly hit fn2 to adjust.

 

[Horshack]

My only qualm with the implementation is the histogram changes when I hit the flash kill assigned fn button. I'm in manual exposure mode so the histogram (expected recorded scene brightness) shouldn't change one bit. I use the histogram to adjust shutter/aperture/iso to get the background the way I want so I have to regularly hit fn2 to adjust.

This is a bug in the Z firmware. Normally when you turn d8 OFF the camera hides the histogram because the histogram is based on the viewfinder image data and that data is only valid when 'apply settings to viewfinder' is on. However, when d8 is ON but its functionality is effectively disabled (ie, the camera configuration can't support applying the settings to the viewfinder, such as a flash being attached and on), then the camera will still allow the histogram to displayed but its contents will be invalid.

 

[sirhawkeye64]

This is considered a feature, particularly if you are in a studio setting where your viewfinder would typically wind up being nearly black if d8 was not disabled. There is no need to remove your trigger. Merely turning it off will allow you to see your exposure preview (assuming you have d8 enabled). I agree it would be nice if this behavior could be configurable.

I tried it both ways, and get the same result. The only time the exposure "preview" would change was when I would disconnect the flash trigger. I did have the flash on HSS. It's almost as if there is a trigger or flash attached, this function (d8) is disabled no matter what you actually set it to. I have to check though to make sure something else isn't messed up too (maybe in the flash settings on the camera).

I haven't used the Godox with the Z a whole lot, and I may try again with my Yongnuo triggers to see if the same thing happens (could be something just with Godox). (Technically Godox has not certified their equipment to work with the Z bodies, the last time I checked).

I’ve assigned “flash on/off” to a function button. Pressing it temporarily disables flash and turns on live preview.

OK I'll try that. That's much easier than my other solution (disconnecting the flash/trigger each time).

 

[RobertBetchel]

This is considered a feature, particularly if you are in a studio setting where your viewfinder would typically wind up being nearly black if d8 was not disabled. There is no need to remove your trigger. Merely turning it off will allow you to see your exposure preview (assuming you have d8 enabled). I agree it would be nice if this behavior could be configurable.

I tried it both ways, and get the same result. The only time the exposure "preview" would change was when I would disconnect the flash trigger. I did have the flash on HSS. It's almost as if there is a trigger or flash attached, this function (d8) is disabled no matter what you actually set it to. I have to check though to make sure something else isn't messed up too (maybe in the flash settings on the camera).

I haven't used the Godox with the Z a whole lot, and I may try again with my Yongnuo triggers to see if the same thing happens (could be something just with Godox). (Technically Godox has not certified their equipment to work with the Z bodies, the last time I checked).

Very strange. I use the flashpoint xpro-n Trigger and simply turning off the trigger allows d8 to function for me.

 

[sirhawkeye64]

This is considered a feature, particularly if you are in a studio setting where your viewfinder would typically wind up being nearly black if d8 was not disabled. There is no need to remove your trigger. Merely turning it off will allow you to see your exposure preview (assuming you have d8 enabled). I agree it would be nice if this behavior could be configurable.

I tried it both ways, and get the same result. The only time the exposure "preview" would change was when I would disconnect the flash trigger. I did have the flash on HSS. It's almost as if there is a trigger or flash attached, this function (d8) is disabled no matter what you actually set it to. I have to check though to make sure something else isn't messed up too (maybe in the flash settings on the camera).

I haven't used the Godox with the Z a whole lot, and I may try again with my Yongnuo triggers to see if the same thing happens (could be something just with Godox). (Technically Godox has not certified their equipment to work with the Z bodies, the last time I checked).

Very strange. I use the flashpoint xpro-n Trigger and simply turning off the trigger allows d8 to function for me.

That's the one thing I didn't try actually--just turning it off. But it would be nice if it could give you a preview anyway, even though it wouldn't be as accurate when you factor in the flash (the main reason I like this preview is so that I can set my exposure for the background much easier and faster and get a good sense of what the background will be like, etc).

 

[Gosman]

This is considered a feature, particularly if you are in a studio setting where your viewfinder would typically wind up being nearly black if d8 was not disabled. There is no need to remove your trigger. Merely turning it off will allow you to see your exposure preview (assuming you have d8 enabled). I agree it would be nice if this behavior could be configurable.

I tried it both ways, and get the same result. The only time the exposure "preview" would change was when I would disconnect the flash trigger. I did have the flash on HSS. It's almost as if there is a trigger or flash attached, this function (d8) is disabled no matter what you actually set it to. I have to check though to make sure something else isn't messed up too (maybe in the flash settings on the camera).

I haven't used the Godox with the Z a whole lot, and I may try again with my Yongnuo triggers to see if the same thing happens (could be something just with Godox). (Technically Godox has not certified their equipment to work with the Z bodies, the last time I checked).

Very strange. I use the flashpoint xpro-n Trigger and simply turning off the trigger allows d8 to function for me.

That's the one thing I didn't try actually--just turning it off. But it would be nice if it could give you a preview anyway, even though it wouldn't be as accurate when you factor in the flash (the main reason I like this preview is so that I can set my exposure for the background much easier and faster and get a good sense of what the background will be like, etc).

This is an old thread that I'm bringing back to see if there are any updates. I just got the new Godox XProII trigger for my Nikon Z6 and when turned on it does deactivate D8 "Apply settings to Live View". Did they fix this with any of the other versions of the Z camera including the Z9?

 

[sirhawkeye64]

This is considered a feature, particularly if you are in a studio setting where your viewfinder would typically wind up being nearly black if d8 was not disabled. There is no need to remove your trigger. Merely turning it off will allow you to see your exposure preview (assuming you have d8 enabled). I agree it would be nice if this behavior could be configurable.

I tried it both ways, and get the same result. The only time the exposure "preview" would change was when I would disconnect the flash trigger. I did have the flash on HSS. It's almost as if there is a trigger or flash attached, this function (d8) is disabled no matter what you actually set it to. I have to check though to make sure something else isn't messed up too (maybe in the flash settings on the camera).

I haven't used the Godox with the Z a whole lot, and I may try again with my Yongnuo triggers to see if the same thing happens (could be something just with Godox). (Technically Godox has not certified their equipment to work with the Z bodies, the last time I checked).

Very strange. I use the flashpoint xpro-n Trigger and simply turning off the trigger allows d8 to function for me.

That's the one thing I didn't try actually--just turning it off. But it would be nice if it could give you a preview anyway, even though it wouldn't be as accurate when you factor in the flash (the main reason I like this preview is so that I can set my exposure for the background much easier and faster and get a good sense of what the background will be like, etc).

This is an old thread that I'm bringing back to see if there are any updates. I just got the new Godox XProII trigger for my Nikon Z6 and when turned on it does deactivate D8 "Apply settings to Live View". Did they fix this with any of the other versions of the Z camera including the Z9?

It's not necessarily a bug or an issue, so nothing really to fix. It actually I believe has more to do with adding flash to the exposure equation so it cannot provide an accurate rendering when you factor in flash (on/off camera). So no, it hasn't been "fixed" and probably won't be, since it's not really a "problem" in the sense of a bug. I suspect it could have something to do with using third party flash triggers (I have Godox and get the same result, running the latest firmware on everything). Now, perhaps (and I don't have one to test) with a Nikon flash in TTL it MIGHT be able to work in TTL but not with third party flash units/triggers that I've seen.

--1
NOTE: If I don't reply to a direct comment in the forums, it's likely I unsubscribed from the thread/article..

 

[Gosman]

Yep checking with a friend with a Leica and Panasonic, the same appears to be!

 

[j_photo]

This is an old thread that I'm bringing back to see if there are any updates. I just got the new Godox XProII trigger for my Nikon Z6 and when turned on it does deactivate D8 "Apply settings to Live View". Did they fix this with any of the other versions of the Z camera including the Z9?

There is nothing to fix. It's by design.

The camera cannot predict the exposure before the flash fires. Meanwhile, the viewfinder has to be bright enough for you to see what you are shooting and for the focus system to be able to focus. If you want to see the ambient exposure, simply turn of the flash or trigger that is mounted on the camera.

 

[Horshack]

This is an old thread that I'm bringing back to see if there are any updates. I just got the new Godox XProII trigger for my Nikon Z6 and when turned on it does deactivate D8 "Apply settings to Live View". Did they fix this with any of the other versions of the Z camera including the Z9?

There is nothing to fix. It's by design.

The camera cannot predict the exposure before the flash fires. Meanwhile, the viewfinder has to be bright enough for you to see what you are shooting and for the focus system to be able to focus. If you want to see the ambient exposure, simply turn off the flash or trigger that is mounted on the camera.

There are two configurable exposures for flash photography, flash and ambient. Both are represented in Nikon's interface. Live View is supposed to preview ambient exposure when configured via d8; it's failing to do so when the flash is attached.

 

[j_photo]

This is an old thread that I'm bringing back to see if there are any updates. I just got the new Godox XProII trigger for my Nikon Z6 and when turned on it does deactivate D8 "Apply settings to Live View". Did they fix this with any of the other versions of the Z camera including the Z9?

There is nothing to fix. It's by design.

The camera cannot predict the exposure before the flash fires. Meanwhile, the viewfinder has to be bright enough for you to see what you are shooting and for the focus system to be able to focus. If you want to see the ambient exposure, simply turn off the flash or trigger that is mounted on the camera.

There are two configurable exposures for flash photography, flash and ambient. Both are represented in Nikon's interface. Live View is supposed to preview ambient exposure when configured via d8; it's failing to do so when the flash is attached.

Yes, by design.

 

[Horshack]

This is an old thread that I'm bringing back to see if there are any updates. I just got the new Godox XProII trigger for my Nikon Z6 and when turned on it does deactivate D8 "Apply settings to Live View". Did they fix this with any of the other versions of the Z camera including the Z9?

There is nothing to fix. It's by design.

The camera cannot predict the exposure before the flash fires. Meanwhile, the viewfinder has to be bright enough for you to see what you are shooting and for the focus system to be able to focus. If you want to see the ambient exposure, simply turn off the flash or trigger that is mounted on the camera.

There are two configurable exposures for flash photography, flash and ambient. Both are represented in Nikon's interface. Live View is supposed to preview ambient exposure when configured via d8; it's failing to do so when the flash is attached.

Yes, by design.

Photographers don't stop caring about previewing ambient exposure just because they're using flash. The feature is there to provide it. It's failing to do so.

 

[sirhawkeye64]

This is an old thread that I'm bringing back to see if there are any updates. I just got the new Godox XProII trigger for my Nikon Z6 and when turned on it does deactivate D8 "Apply settings to Live View". Did they fix this with any of the other versions of the Z camera including the Z9?

There is nothing to fix. It's by design.

The camera cannot predict the exposure before the flash fires. Meanwhile, the viewfinder has to be bright enough for you to see what you are shooting and for the focus system to be able to focus. If you want to see the ambient exposure, simply turn off the flash or trigger that is mounted on the camera.

There are two configurable exposures for flash photography, flash and ambient. Both are represented in Nikon's interface. Live View is supposed to preview ambient exposure when configured via d8; it's failing to do so when the flash is attached.

I wouldn't necessarily call it a "failure" though (that sounds like a problem with the camera). but I think "by design" is suitable as that's what it is.... by design.

 

[Horshack]

Please point me to where Nikon documented their ambient exposure preview feature is not available when a flash is attached.

 

[j_photo]

Photographers don't stop caring about previewing ambient exposure just because they're using flash. The feature is there to provide it. It's failing to do so.

I didn't say that. And when I'm using flash, I too care about ambient exposure, duh. All I'm saying is that this behavior is by Nikon's design. You and others may not like it, that's your prerogative. And maybe in the future you will get what you want from Nikon--I would be happy for you if you do.

My only point in my original post was that this behavior is not broken. It's intended by Nikon.

 

[Gosman]

Please point me to where Nikon documented their ambient exposure preview feature is not available when a flash is attached.

I wish I could. But seems to happen on most cameras.