Z8 Self-timer and AE lock

[Steve Fiddle9]

I rarely use the self-timer on my Z8, so I might be missing something here. I have firmware 3.01.

I found when using the self-timer that AE-L is automatically applied. This caused a problem in changing light with a 20-second timer delay. The timer started, the sun came from behind a cloud, and I found the shot overexposed. The exposure was obviously locked at the moment I pressed the shutter to start the timer.

I have Custom Setting c1 = OFF, but that didn't help.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[Pierre Lagarde]

I rarely use the self-timer on my Z8, so I might be missing something here. I have firmware 3.01.

I found when using the self-timer that AE-L is automatically applied. This caused a problem in changing light with a 20-second timer delay. The timer started, the sun came from behind a cloud, and I found the shot overexposed. The exposure was obviously locked at the moment I pressed the shutter to start the timer.

I have Custom Setting c1 = OFF, but that didn't help.

Any advice appreciated.

I just checked and have the same behaviour, even with 2.10 firmware version. Can't see any reason though... but at least, if it's a bug, it's not a 3.0x bug.

We both may be missing something though...

I got the same question, then.

 

[curiousmike1300]

I have used the timer delay a LOT on the Z7 and Zf - maybe it's different.

But when I'm in manual mode ( including ISO ), and I use timer delay - they exposure values match what I set.

I also use interval timer shooting ( frequently to do a "selfie" with my wife / or family ) and follow the same procedure. Again, the exposure values stay locked.

I rarely use the self-timer on my Z8, so I might be missing something here. I have firmware 3.01.

I found when using the self-timer that AE-L is automatically applied. This caused a problem in changing light with a 20-second timer delay. The timer started, the sun came from behind a cloud, and I found the shot overexposed. The exposure was obviously locked at the moment I pressed the shutter to start the timer.

I have Custom Setting c1 = OFF, but that didn't help.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[jthomas39]

The useful Hogan Guide to the Z6 iii has more info:

He says that the Self TImer locks focus and exposure when you press the shutter to start the countdown. Both in AF-S and AF-C, so AF-C doesn't do continuous AF during the countdown.

Press the AF-On before or while you press the shutter if you have AF-On=only. (Interesting: focus can be modified by pressing AF-On during the countdown. I'm not sure why I'd do that.)

So this is a standard Nikon method across it's Z line.

~~~~~~~~~~

Exposure Delay Mode vs Self Timer:

I see the a5: Exposure Delay (with a range from 0.2s to 3.0s) doesn't lock exposure -- it changes correctly as I move the camera during the countdown from a dim area to a bright area. Focus isn't locked either, but holding AF-On during the 3 seconds kind of defeats the purpose of this setting! So, effectively, focus is set when the shutter pressed.

This Exposure Delay mode is designed for tripod use, to limit vibrations. Only one photo is taken, even when the camera is in a Continuous mode. And no green light blinking!

 

[Thom Hogan]

[Thom] says that the Self TImer locks focus and exposure when you press the shutter to start the countdown. Both in AF-S and AF-C, so AF-C doesn't do continuous AF during the countdown.

This is one of those things I have long had a pet peeve with Nikon about (decades!). Basically, what happens is that some engineer writes some code, in this case Self Timer, and that then gets iterated the same forever.

Meanwhile, the users of said code are constantly asking questions or complaining about the behavior of said code (e.g. why doesn't it keep focusing or changing exposure?), but somehow those never get back to Nikon Japan, so no engineer ever thinks to change the code.

I have a two-fold (somewhat self-contradictory) edict when it comes to code in the software organizations I've run: (1) don't change it if it isn't broken; and (2) all code needs to be sunset at some point. The reason for #1 is obvious. The reason for #2 is that both the underlying technology and the rationale behind the need for said code changes over time; better solutions can and will exist at some point. Nikon is executing #1 while ignoring #2.

And Nikon has been ignoring Self Timer code since somewhere late in the film SLR era. The same behavior an F100 made is still promulgated today. That's lazy-a** engineering in my book. Particularly when customers keep raising the same questions over and over.

 

[Steve Fiddle9]

Thanks to all for the replies to my question.

It seems to be a longstanding software bug, but I'm rather surprised it has persisted since I would call that unexpected behaviour for such a sophisticated camera. If I really wanted to lock exposure it's easy to set full manual with fixed ISO (although my normal setting is Manual and auto-ISO).

As a retired software engineer myself, I appreciate Thom Hogan's comment, but I would describe this as a bug which fails his Test #1.

Thanks.