Sony a1 zebra setup issue: For any Sony A1 users (or other bodies) who use zebras to help exposure management. I am having an issue setting up my zebras in my recently acquired a1.

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

For any Sony A1 users (or other bodies) who use zebras to help exposure management.

I am having an issue setting up my zebras in my recently acquired a1. Most recommendations I have read suggest when shooting raw, the zebra setup should be "lower limit" 107 to 109. When I set the zebras as this value, the zebra lines do not show up when I increase the exposure, even extensively. If, on the other hand, I set the value to 99, zebra lines show appropriately, however images are under exposed, by a stop or so. This is my 2nd a1 body, and the first one works perfectly. As best I can tell, the cameras are set up identically. Suggestions or thoughts? Thanks in advance.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Nalu wrote:

For any Sony A1 users (or other bodies) who use ze... (show quote)

You have two of the same model cameras set up identically but behaving differently? Might be worth a call or email to Sony Support.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Nalu wrote:

For any Sony A1 users (or other bodies) who use ze... (show quote)

I do not shoot with this camera. But from what I understand, the zebra pattern is a warning the the highlights are at the overexposure point. Like what we call blinkies in Nikon. The areas that show the lines are close to being blown.

If you take a photo of a white flower, you set the zebra so the lines appear on the flower. The flower will be exposed right, but the treat of the photo might be underexposed.

I did find this article that I understood. Maybe it will help.

https://www.sony-asia.com/electronics/support/articles/00077788

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

Thanks for your feedback. I think I found the issue. I has to do with the "creative look" option (pink menu-6-creative look). I had set it to something other than "ST" and when I set it there, the zebras are now operating normally. Thanks again, am quite relieved that I found a fix.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Nalu wrote:

Thanks for your feedback. I think I found the issue. I has to do with the "creative look" option (pink menu-6-creative look). I had set it to something other than "ST" and when I set it there, the zebras are now operating normally. Thanks again, am quite relieved that I found a fix.

Ah HA!! Very good you solved the issue. Good job. ;)

There are lots of "knobs" on modern cameras, if one of those knobs gets "bumped" then suddenly things are different and we spend time trying to figure out what happened.

gwilliams6

Nalu wrote:

Thanks for your feedback. I think I found the issue. I has to do with the "creative look" option (pink menu-6-creative look). I had set it to something other than "ST" and when I set it there, the zebras are now operating normally. Thanks again, am quite relieved that I found a fix.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Nalu wrote:

Thanks for your feedback. I think I found the issue. I has to do with the "creative look" option (pink menu-6-creative look). I had set it to something other than "ST" and when I set it there, the zebras are now operating normally. Thanks again, am quite relieved that I found a fix.

Fyi, when you respond to someone, click the "quote reply" as I did here and earlier, then we can tell for sure who you are responding to.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

frankraney wrote:

I do not shoot with this camera. But from what I u... (show quote)

FYI I didn't read op's post as questioning the operation of the zebras, but rather he was questioning why they were behaving differently on two identical cameras.

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

frankraney wrote:

Fyi, when you respond to someone, click the "quote reply" as I did here and earlier, then we can tell for sure who you are responding to.

fyi, i was responding to everyone.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Nalu wrote:

fyi, i was responding to everyone.

Ah ok. But the first reply generally one doesn't need to use "quote reply". Sometimes the context will also suffice. In this thread there were three people so not too hard to figure it out. LOL

Yes your point is valid, in general, given a post with multiple replies, please use "quote reply".

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

JD750 wrote:

FYI I didn't read op's post as questioning the operation of the zebras, but rather he was questioning why they were behaving differently on two identical cameras.

I read it that he was having problems with one camera. I explained to him that zebras let you know an area that is blown/overexposed. He was trying to set the settings basically at one spot. I would think that one should set them where there are very few lines. They let your know when the bright areas are getting overexposed.

Canisdirus

FYI...the zebra does not change your exposure...it's just a warning signal.
Your exposure is shown to you in the evf...

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Canisdirus wrote:

FYI...the zebra does not change your exposure...it's just a warning signal.
Your exposure is shown to you in the evf...

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

Canisdirus wrote:

FYI...the zebra does not change your exposure...it's just a warning signal.
Your exposure is shown to you in the evf...

I agree. Zebras help you set your exposure as far to the right as possible. When properly set, when they show up they are warning you are, or close to (depending on set point) blowing out your highlights. They are a great tool. I never use my histogram any longer because it represents a jpeg version of your image. I shoot raw extensively which allows you to push your exposure further to the right than JPEG files. Greater dynamic range. Raw vs jpeg zebra set points are therefore different.

DEBJENROB Loc: DELRAY BEACH FL

Nalu wrote:

For any Sony A1 users (or other bodies) who use ze... (show quote)

David Busch(wrote several camera guides) suggests it be set a 80. My a7R4 is set at 80 ....