My Biggest Problem (and solution) with Sony Cameras Flash EVF issue on A7R III, A7 III, A9, A7R II

In this video I detail why a Sony alpha default of their mirrorless cameras (sony a7r ii, sony a7r iii, sony a7 iii, and sony a9) is problematic when using flash.

When you attach a flash or flash trigger onto a sony camera, it attempts to simulate extra lighting on your subject by increasing the brightness in the viewfinder and live view. This is the opposite of what many people using off camera flash want. The biggest perk of the Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) is that it can show you how your exposure settings impact the image live. Many are annoyed to find that automatically overridden when using flash.
There is a workaround however. Programming the "Shot Result Preview" function to a button allows you to see your ambient settings, even when a flash is attached.

[JustinKaseConder]

NOTE: ANTI-FLICKER MUST BE TURNED OFF FOR THIS TO FUNCTION TO WORK AS DESCRIBED

I watched this video shortly after it came out five years ago and nothing I did would allow me to see the results that everyone else was getting. For years each time I would come back from a shoot where I would have benefited from this feature, but didn't because it didn't work, I would come here re-watch this video and bang my head against the wall because I was doing everything described, yet it still wouldn't make a difference!!! I was convinced I was going crazy, but I knew I wasn't because there nearly 1, 000 people in these comments talking about how helpful this was.

Until

I knew I couldn't be the only one dealing with this, it was just a matter of time before someone in the comments pointed out why it wasn't working for them and in-turn me, and that person was @Luc Sillen.

I never encountered a reason to turn off Anti-Flicker so I have always had it on. Well now I know there is a reason.

Rob, with this being a deal breaking variable in whether this works or not, highlighting this fact in the video description would likely help a lot of folks.

[GeraldBertramPhotography]

I'm a real estate photographer and just got my first Sony camera. I just encountered this problem as I always use flash for interior shots and this issue was driving me crazy! Thankfully I found your video. Thank God I can across this before my first pain shoot with this camera. Saved me a ton of aggravation!

[robhallphoto]

Side note. I neglected to mention the one person that actually helped to find this function. Francisco Joel Hernandez (FJH Photography on YouTube) is the one person who found info deep in a comments section about this feature, so without him this video wouldn’t be possible. And I probably would have switched to Fuji😂🤣😂

[franciscojaviergarcialima]

I’ve been so many years watching videos about using a flash off camera with the very same sequence:
1. Expose for ambience with the trigger switched off
2. Then turn on the trigger
3. Focus and shoot
I’ve stumbled with your video by chance and you have made my day. It had no sense that I had to do a trial and error shoot every time ambience light changed even a bit. I mostly shoot outdoors, and when you are outside ambience light changes all the time, and sometimes in a matter of minutes. Or what about if you want to place your modifier or your subject or model on a different position?
Most useful video ever! Thanks man. This is for sure a game changer. Not to talk about all the time you save on a session.

[philindeblanc]

"this overridde causes confusion" HELLL YESSSS IT DOES!!!! Every time I have this happen I feel like throwing the POS out a window. YES it does deserve a dedicated video. THANK YOU!

[AlanMohring]

This very problem drove me insane!!! Thanks so much for sharing this video. I made the custom button change as suggested and it works perfectly! This easy fix should be explained in the manual or possibly even created as a default setting. I used to always turn off my flash, set my ambient, then turn my flash back on..."Ain't nobody got time for that!"

[JohnBelknap]

Thank you for this. It seems so easy to fix this in a firmware update. Come on Sony!!!

[Lordkakarotsama]

For anybody who is still not able to make it work on A7III or any other sony camera, please turn off the anti flicker setting, it somehow seems to overrides the button.

[nyborgnoer]

Thanks Robert. I have the a6500 and literally just bought the ad 200 and ad600 yesterday, to be able to bring my flash-photography to the next level. I ran into the issue you mentioned and thought that the only solution was to turn the trigger on and off. Thank you for showing me this 😊👍

[CaseyJayBensonwedding]

Thank you for this video, you are the only person I know of that has covered this.

[mdelahoussaye]

I have only just come across this issue on my A7Rii and I fumbled around the net for a while trying to get the correct search term to find an answer... 30 mins or so and a tonne of wrong search terms, and I came across your video!! BANG on the money!! A great informative video for a very specific reason, great watch! I can confirm this fix works on the A7Rii as well.

[MarkLargo]

This is why I love your channel. Tell us what's real and not what we want to hear. Thanks and keep up the great work!

[jianwei]

I would say I like this feature. I guess Sony needs to add an option for people maybe to op-out. But to me, when I use flash, I needs to see where I can focus. Also, it's unavoidable to take test shots anyway because EVF cannot preview the effect of the flash. So, what you are suggesting is : effect-on -> preview ambient light -> effect off -> focus -> test shots -> effect-on; what Sony offers: automatic-effect-off -> test shots ambient light -> focus->test shots ->automatic-effect-on (or off) ... not sure what's the gain here.

[SuperLitherland]

Dude I just moved to Sony I thought I was going mad thank you so much for posting this video

[rajramachandran]

Thanks so much ! i was going crazy recent times not sure what was my mistake was; after quick fire events i come home and see pictures underexposed but during the shoot the evf was displaying bright scenes! The workaround is a life saver ! 🙏
Also, the other thing i noted was: When you shoot in Aperture priority, and when you mount the flash and switch it on, the shutter speed automatically changes just by sensing the flash signal !

Thank you this helps so much 😍 Custom photo key > SHOT RESULT PREVIEW (pg17/23) + ANTI-FLICKER OFF

[mfryworld]

Great catch just got the trigger and was planning on using it this weekend on a job. I’ve tested your scenario and boy what a problem. Thanks for the fix. button mapped and tonight I’m going to practice.

Hopefully, this will be fixed in a firmware update soon!

[cliflowry]

Thanks for the heads up on this. Regardless of whether someone views this as a problem or a feature, it is necessary information to know to effectively use these cameras with different transmitters.

[JaredPlattPhotography]

I spoke with Sony about this issue specifically about a year and a half ago. They admitted this was stupid and that it should be changed. They said they would fix it in a firmware update. But apparently they fixed it with the simulated flash mode. That was stupid. They may have also decided to add the additional option you mentioned. I told them they should just have a third option called EVF preview mode with Flash on.

I shoot with Canon. Same problem. Fuji is the only camera maker that does it right. But Canon fixed (kind of) by giving you the preview after four seconds. But as soon as you activate the meter it comes back to viewfinder mode.

I think your fix is the best option available. I wish Canon Sony Sigma Panasonic and Nikon would get it together and fix this issue.

Way to go Fuji.

[benjaminhanson]

I just switched to sony from canon and i was loving the preview on the EVF. I was looking into research on how the godox system translates on sony and came across your video. No doubt i wouldve ran across this problem when i got whatever flash system i buy. Thank you sir! You earned yourself a subscribe!