Exposure Simulation | Ask David Bergman

Today's question from JP is, "When I'm using flash outdoors during the day, do I turn off exposure simulation? If so, do I turn it back on after, or do I leave it off for the whole shoot? Thank you."

00:00 Intro
00:48 DSLR with live view
01:25 What is exposure simulation
02:14 How it works
03:16 Should you turn off the exposure simulation?
04:24 With third-party strobes
04:52 Using the DOF preview button
05:11 Do I enable or disable?
06:09 Outro

As Luke Combs' tour photographer since 2019, David Bergman has documented the historic rise of the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year both on stage and off. But that's only the latest in Bergman's own storied 30+ year career. He spent nearly a decade traveling the world with Bon Jovi and has toured with other artists including Barenaked Ladies, Sarah McLachlan, and Gloria Estefan. As a sports photographer, he covered numerous Olympics, Super Bowls, and World Series games, and has 13 Sports Illustrated covers to his credit. He's also photographed eight US Presidents, the Queen of England, and Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. However, his proudest accomplishment is his work as a photo educator, where he has given back to the industry that has treated him so kindly. Through his unique "Shoot From the Pit" live concert workshops, Bergman has taught hundreds of aspiring music photographers in a real-world setting. His work as a Canon Explorer of Light, Adorama YouTube host, and public speaker has also helped photographers around the world advance their photography skills.

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✘ PRODUCTS USED:

Canon R3 Mirrorless Camera Body

Canon ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmitter, Version 2

✘ PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT USED:

Canon EOS R Mirrorless Full Frame Digital Camera Body

Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Lens

Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 Black Aluminum Tripod with MVH502AH Pro Video Head

CLAR Illumi Max 500 High Power 5600K LED Light

Glow EZ Lock Octa Quick XL Softbox With Bowens Mount (48")

Prograde Digital 512GB SDXC UHS-II V90 Memory Card

All Prograde cards and readers

#exposuresimulation #photographytips #adorama

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THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!

[mattmarlett]

At events, i leave exposure simulation on. Then by just turning off the flash/trigger in the hotshoe, i can see the ambient exposure (shooting full manual) and once i am happy with ambient, i just turn on the flash/trigger in the hotshoe and then the exposure simulation allows camera to focus and for me to see my subjects. And then just have to adjust flash exposure to taste.

[chriss]

I love how easy everything is the way you explain it. Thanks

[katieromano]

THANK YOU! I just shot with studio lighting for the first time and had so much trouble seeing through the EV to even focus and couldn’t figure out how to solve it. Learning about this is a life saver!

[sastrydasigi]

Great choice of questions and clear explanations. Thanks, David!

[drtnrao]

I got he answer for the Mr.Mavens question, why the exposure simulation gives, brightening the screen, when flash is attached during exposure simulation enabled. Thanks, David for clearing the doubt.

[sconnie]

I don't photograph people often, so this was unknown to me when did some portraits for friends recently. That day I ended up using available light instead of flash, but I'll know better going forward! Thanks so much for the info!

[Brkz]

this was SUPER useful, I didn't know about this feature. I tried to take some photos before with a strobe but my settings were dark to compensate so my camera could NOT catch focus and the strobe didn't have a modeling light to help. So now I know if I turn this off during those shoots I can still catch focus while exposing correctly for the light, ty!!

[jlafoon]

Since I do not use TTL flash most of the time, I got a single-pin adapter for my trigger (or flash) to eliminate the TTL/Proprietary contacts. This keeps exposure simulation on when the flash or trigger is connected. This is especially useful for real estate flash/ambient blending, since you are constantly taking both an ambient and flashed frames to blend in post, and you need exposure simulation on for the flashed images to get a good live histogram/view to set shutter to minimize ambient light during the flashed frames.

[reflux]

This is the best video explanation for "Preview Exp/Wb in Manual Mode" on the Fujifilm X-Series.

[csc-photo]

This is the thing I struggled with the most when I moved from DSLR to mirrorless a few years ago. This is the best and most thorough explanation I've seen. Where was this vid in 2020?! 😆😉

[BruiserFL]

This happened to me last week using flash with exposure simulation turned on. Took me a long time to figure out the issue. Good info...

[JennaCee]

Really great question and explanation! Thank you!

[gregnielsen]

On Sony its called 'Live View Display' and the setting is 'Setting Effect ON' or 'Setting Effect OFF'. Thanks for the tips!

[barter]

Thank you David! Rapid and thorough explanation that answered my question. I'm using the FJ 400 and their trigger as well. I am anout to shoot at my sister in laws wedding, and my heart jumped a bit yesterday when trying exposure simulation out in the sun yesterday, and together with the strobe it did not work as I thought. I feared there was an error in my R5, but I now understand that it works well... P.S. my heart also now runs normal again... Jan Robert Bøe, Norway

[deborahkunnath]

Love the background you're using can you tell ua what it is?

[kirkdarling]

If I'm using flash as a fill-in or other addition to what is on balance an ambient light exposure, I will keep exposure simulation turned on.

[cessna]

I have a R5 and use Godox flashes and triggers. Exposure simulation does turn off, and that is great EXCEPT when I want to use the flash for fill. Normally, I would get an ambient exposure, then adjust the flash to fill in shadows or such. I've checked with Canon support CPS and they say there is no setting to allow the exposure simulation to stay on when a flash is attached. I kind of get around it by turning off the flash or trigger on the camera and doing the ambient exposure (I almost always shoot manual) then turning on the flash. Any thoughts about how to do it better? Love your videos.

[markshooter]

When I used a Sony, I could see the Aurora as clear as day in the EVF. Totally live and green, dancing in the sky. I sold the Sony and went back to Canon, since I´ve been a Canon shooter always. I bought the R5, and the first time I went to shoot the northern lights, the EVF is dark and can´t simulate anything.
Really frustrating that a camera that is 6 years more advanced can´t do this!

[isoawe]

I like being able to assign on/off to a button. I think Sony has this too, , unfortunately, Nikon does not. It’s a multi-step process. I use it when I’m blending flash with ambient light, and the ambient keeps changing.

[BillBooz]

I have an Olympus OM-D E-M5 II. When I attach my trigger my screen remains dark per my settings to get rid of all ambient. I just reviewed my manual and discovered if I press the “Preview” button on camera front, it brightens the screen…kind of the opposite of what you describe. Is this, perhaps, on purpose since I find nothing referred to as “exposure simulation?” I do realize this is an older mirrorless camera.