... with the lens front cap on, the image in the monitor/EVF is noisy. This doesn't occur with my Z6.
Is it normal?
The monitor looks less contrasty than Z6's.
Normal. It'll look like that because, im assuming, you opened the box up, put the battery in and turned it on only to see a very noisy magenta look. That's because its in Auto, so its bumping the ISO to max.
PixiPhotography wrote:
Normal. It'll look like that because, im assuming, you opened the box up, put the battery in and turned it on only to see a very noisy magenta look. That's because its in Auto, so its bumping the ISO to max.
I wonder if you ever used a Z6.
My Z6 behaves differently (and better, IMHO). The Z6III shows noise even if I set 100 ISO (no AutoISO)!
Ripolini wrote:
I wonder if you ever used a Z6.
My Z6 behaves differently (and better, IMHO). The Z6III shows noise even if I set 100 ISO (no AutoISO)!
I've owned every single Z camera ever. But I remember this was the case when started up my Z6 III, and because it was in Auto mode, it maxed out everything beause the cap was on. But, maybe we're talking about different things here, can you send us a photo so we can see?
Does it really matter if your EVF is cranking the gain to try to display an image when no light is entering the lens?
It's trying to make out an image so you can compose, which it can do even in very dark conditions. I think you will find in real world use the EVF is quite clean and quite beautiful. In dark conditions it will up the sensor gain during composition so you can see an image...and this will lead to some noise in very dark situations - with a cap on, it's literal pure darkness, so it's upping the gain to its maximum to try to see something.
This is the definition of a 'problem' that has literally zero impact in actual camera usage.
PixiPhotography wrote:
... I remember this was the case when started up my Z6 III, and because it was in Auto mode, it maxed out everything beause the cap was on.
OK. You confirm that Z6III behaves differently. Thanx.
Jman13 wrote:
Does it really matter if your EVF is cranking the gain to try to display an image when no light is entering the lens?
I ask because my Z6 behaves differently. Is there any technical reason why the Z6III shows noise in the LCD/EVF when the Z6 doesn't?
My assumption would be that the Z6 doesn't have the ability to show the same view in very dark conditions. Though, for what its worth, both my Z50 II and Zfc also both show a noisy image when viewed through the EVF with a lens cap on. They're doing the same thing as the Z6 III. I don't have anything older than the Zfc in Nikon at the moment.
Jman13 wrote:
I don't own the Z8 any more, and I couldn't tell you, because I didn't make a habit of trying to look through the EVF with a cap on.
You see the same in the monitor. If you put the cap on and the camera is on, you see noise in the LCD.
I've just tried with my D780 (in live view), which has the same Z6 sensor and Expeed 6. It behaves like Z6III.
I guess Z6 does switch off the sensor when the intensity of the light hitting it is below a given (extremely low) value. This could prolong sensor life, probably.
I’m assuming you are taking about live viewing, not image review. I owned a Z6, rented a Z6 II a couple times and now have owned a Z6 III since they were first released. I only see a noisy EVF if I have a very high ISO. I also have a Z8 and both camera EVF’s are not noisy at reasonable ISOs.
Edit - Sorry, I forgot to mention that I looked through the Z6 III EVF with the cap on and did not see any noise until over ISO 5000. In practice, I’ve never had a noise issue with the EVF unless I underexpose something and I do a lot of night and low light photography.
If you’re seeing a noisy EVF at low ISO, I would contact Nikon support.
story_teller wrote:
First, I’m assuming you are taking about live viewing, not image review. I owned a Z6, rented a Z6 II a couple times and now have owned a Z6 III since they were first released. I only see a noisy EVF if I have a very high ISO. I also have a Z8 and both camera EVF’s are not noisy at reasonable ISOs. I would recommend contacting Nikon.
This is not something to contact Nikon about. It’s working exactly as intended. I am sure once he takes the lens cap off the EVF will look as good as it is supposed to.
story_teller wrote:
First, I’m assuming you are taking about live viewing, not image review.
Correct
story_teller wrote:
I owned a Z6, rented a Z6 II a couple times and now have owned a Z6 III since they were first released. I only see a noisy EVF if I have a very high ISO. I also have a Z8 and both camera EVF’s are not noisy at reasonable ISOs. I would recommend contacting Nikon.
I just checked my Z6iii and it behaves just like my Z7, Z8 and Z9: no significant noise with lens cap on up to ISO 26500. I hope the OP has checked settings since his observations could easily be due to factors like AUTO ISO with no upper limit, long shutter speed (either from manual setting or P or A modes), starlight view.
Peter
Thanx all.
Update.
If I frame a very dark scene in A mode (lens cap off), with Z6III I can see something in the LCD screen, i.e., a noisy and rather dark scene, and camera says 1.6" @ f/4 (24-120 @ 24 mm w/open) and 20000 ISO (with blinking data).
Nothing changes if I set d7 (exposure times > 30 s) on or off.
Differently, with Z6 (& 24-70/4 @ 24 mm w/open) I see a much much darker scene in EVF/LCD, and - by framing the same scene - camera says 1/2 s @ f/4 & 20000 ISO (with blinking data).
So it seems that Z6III has a higher gain in the dark, and this causes the noise that Z6 doesn't/can't show.
In M mode LCD/EVF is black.
The Z6III does have an option where, in low light situations, the EVF amplifies the signal to aid with easier focus, scene composition, etc. That may be what you are referring to. The Z6 III has the ability to vary the brightness of the viewfinder. Look in the setup menu and you can adjust to your taste. Since the signal can be amplified above the actual light level of the scene, you may see some noise in the viewfinder.
If you want more contrast, darken the viewfinder in the Setup Menu.
story_teller wrote:
The Z6III does have an option where, in low light situations, the EVF amplifies the signal to aid with easier focus, scene composition, etc. That may be what you are referring to. The Z6 III has the ability to vary the brightness of the viewfinder. Look in the setup menu and you can adjust to your taste. Since the signal can be amplified above the actual light level of the scene, you may see some noise in the viewfinder.
If you want more contrast, darken the viewfinder in the Setup Menu.
Thanks for the reply.
I was referring to the flip screen, not the EVF.
