Nikon Z8 autofocus help when shooting with flash, please!

[Gloor]

Hi,

I've rented a Nikon Z8 for the weekend as I wanted to test the camera (i'm on D750) and I've encountered an issue that I'm not sure how to solve (and if it actually needs solving)

I set up my scene with small light so I can see what I do in the room and I've pointed the flash at the model. Now, AF is set to recognise people and i have whole area of the display. That all works fine when I have the scene set incorrectly (overly bright and - ie, speed is 1/3s, ISO 100, 2.8). I can see the continuous autofocus doing its thing and it correctly recognises the eyes and focuses on that all the time. Exactly how I would expect it.

NOW, the issue is that this is not how i want to shoot as I'm doing a flash photography so for example, speed is 1/200, ISO 100, 2.8. In that setting when I press the shutter i get correctly exposed image and all works great except the fact that I can't see what i'm shooting as the viewfinder is super dark and i can only see silhouette of the model and its very faint. I have AF illumination assist on but it doesn't trigger. It seems that the autofocus is correct and focuses correctly (9 out of 10) so its ok but I would rather not shoot in completely dark viewfinder and i would love to see my composition etc. Is there a way that the viewfinder shows me a little more light (ie, compensates a bit for the flash so I can see where I'm pointing at etc.?)

I'm sure this is probably something basic and I just need to turn it on but i don't know how. Never used mirrorless so this is new to me.
Tomorrow I'm shooting during the day so i won't need it and i know i will appreciate to see the exposure etc. directly in the viewfinder but in the evening with the flash i would like to see something.

Any skilled person here who can tell me what settings i've forgotten, please?

I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you

 

[mollyc]

Typically Nikon is setup to have the live view/EVF show the end result of the photo on your screen, so when you are using flash the screen is dim because the flash isn't continuously on - it's previewing your camera settings but without the light of the flash. There is a setting called "Apply Settings to Live View" that you will want to turn OFF - if they are off, then your view will use the whole aperture of the lens as it would on a dSLR, and it will let in the ambient light.

I don't have a Z8, I use a Z6/ii, but google tells me this is custom function D8 for the Z8....so check there and adjacent custom settings to turn it off.

 

[Gloor]

Oh, thank you so much. Thats super helpful.

Btw, today I went to shoot during the day and I have to say this is the best camera I've ever had. Zero issues with AF and super easy to focus on the actually shooting rather than fiddling with AF that I have to do on my D750. Such a joy and massive difference in my enjoyment.

I was even shooting friends toddler running around and almost all pictures are super sharp. Something I would not be able to do on my D750. What a difference!

Typically Nikon is setup to have the live view/EVF show the end result of the photo on your screen, so when you are using flash the screen is dim because the flash isn't continuously on - it's previewing your camera settings but without the light of the flash. There is a setting called "Apply Settings to Live View" that you will want to turn OFF - if they are off, then your view will use the whole aperture of the lens as it would on a dSLR, and it will let in the ambient light.

I don't have a Z8, I use a Z6/ii, but google tells me this is custom function D8 for the Z8....so check there and adjacent custom settings to turn it off.