Aperture and Shutter Priority Exposure preview not metered

[BJBBJB]

Greetings. I am knew to the Fuji world and thought I had this answered in another forum a while ago (was told that's the way it is) but now I am getting conflicting info from Fuji users. I am not complaining, just trying to understand as I love this camera which I will use as my second carry around and travel camera. 😀

My DSLR Liveview or non-fuji  mirrorless cameras always give a true LCD or EV  exposure preview of what type of image your exposure settings would generate. A true advantage of mirrorless.

But no matter what menu settings I choose I only get this on my new X-T30 in either priority (not manual) mode: In aperture or shutter priority mode the preview always look good......even if your chosen shutter/F-stop/ISO settings do not generate an actual  image even close to the preview. I don't mean off a little......You can be looking at a gorgeous pre-shot preview and get an extremely over or under exposed image.  Now obviously these settings would be way off....and an experienced shooter would not do this on purpose. But who doesn't take a quick shot now and then?  In aperture or shutter priority,  you get no meter chart, just exposure comp, so if you can't trust the preview you are flying blind.  Ironically exposure comp makes the preview brighter and darker but starting from the false perfect preview. It has nothing to do with exposure comp. from the settings you chose or the actual image. Manual mode with the exact same settings shows a valid preview of the image and of course a metering chart. 

I cannot believe this is really the only option for all Fuji cameras. Some say it is a "Fuji way thing". Other excellent and knowledgeable Fuji shooters do not seem to have this issue.

So what setting or combination of menu settings do I have wrong? I cannot believe this is a "feature".  Or is it only certain Fuji cameras?

Thanks,

BJBBJB

 

Edited April 11, 2020 by BJBBJB

[jerryy]

On my X-T30,

1) set it to aperture mode, then half-press the shutter button (as in getting focus lock) -- both the viewfinder and the lcd screen adjust to the actual exposure conditions -- they get dark or bright depending on the exposure conditions, the shutter speed adjusts as the camera seems fit to set it for your given aperture setting (and ISO). Let up on the shutter button and the screen goes back to the default. This can be affected by having the iso set to auto mode, depending on the minimum and maximum ISO settings for your auto ISO adjustment. If it is set so that you have it very narrow (say, 160 to 400) your images may turn out very dark under dark conditions; if you have it set wide (160 - 12800) the result will be different. If you have the ISO set to a given value (auto ISO is turned off) the resulting viewfinder image shows that in conjunction with the other settings taken into account -- dark to bright.

Once these are set, The half-press on the shutter button does the trick.  Note: The the display tells you the shutter speed for a given aperture, if you see 8" show up there, then that will be tricky to handhold. If the shutter speed is red, then the camera is telling you things are very dicy as far as getting a shot.

2) set to shutter priority mode, pay very close attention to the aperture setting in the display; if it is in red, the camera is telling you the image will not be exposed correctly.

or just leave it in manual mode. Yes, I know this does not completely answer what you are wanting, but it is a start.

 

Edited April 12, 2020 by jerryy

[BJBBJB]

On 4/12/2020 at 2:57 PM, jerryy said:

On my X-T30,

1) set it to aperture mode, then half-press the shutter button (as in getting focus lock) -- both the viewfinder and the lcd screen adjust to the actual exposure conditions -- they get dark or bright depending on the exposure conditions, the shutter speed adjusts as the camera seems fit to set it for your given aperture setting (and ISO). Let up on the shutter button and the screen goes back to the default. This can be affected by having the iso set to auto mode, depending on the minimum and maximum ISO settings for your auto ISO adjustment. If it is set so that you have it very narrow (say, 160 to 400) your images may turn out very dark under dark conditions; if you have it set wide (160 - 12800) the result will be different. If you have the ISO set to a given value (auto ISO is turned off) the resulting viewfinder image shows that in conjunction with the other settings taken into account -- dark to bright.

Once these are set, The half-press on the shutter button does the trick.  Note: The the display tells you the shutter speed for a given aperture, if you see 8" show up there, then that will be tricky to handhold. If the shutter speed is red, then the camera is telling you things are very dicy as far as getting a shot.

2) set to shutter priority mode, pay very close attention to the aperture setting in the display; if it is in red, the camera is telling you the image will not be exposed correctly.

or just leave it in manual mode. Yes, I know this does not completely answer what you are wanting, but it is a start.

@jerryy,

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this up!!!!  I just wanted to understand how this works with Fuji and yours was the first accurate representation of what I am seeing.  I do shoot manual the majority of the time, but also use the priority modes.

I had already gotten (kind of) used to not seeing my true ISO if on auto-ISO unless I half pressed the shutter.  This is the case in all modes as far as I can tell which is different than my prior kit.  I do find that I take some images by mistake just trying to see the ISO it is picking.  😃

Thanks for the half shutter press tip on aperture priority.   No one else mentioned this and that does work.  Although strangely the AE lock button does not do the same thing as a half shutter press.  I was hopeful I could use that button for an exposure preview but it appears not.

As far as shutter priority, it does seem like the only option is to look for the "red" F stop indicator as you really don't seem to get a preview of the actual exposure in shutter priority mode. Do I have that right?  So shutter priority is a bit different than aperture priority as far as showing exposure preview with a half button push?

Now that I know what it is doing, I can adjust.  If I am using auto-ISO in any mode, I get to see the ISO with a half press.  In aperture priority I get a true preview of exposure, and in shutter priority I don't, but camera will do its best.  Does that sound about right?

And finally, there are no settings in the menus that impact the above?  It seems that is the behavior no matter what you choose for settings?  For example Natural Live view only impacts filters etc. and not exposure.

One additional really odd thing......No matter what mode you use, exposure comp actually makes the preview screen brighter or darker whether the starting point is your true exposure or not in all modes.    

Thanks again!
BJBBJB

 

 

 

Edited April 14, 2020 by BJBBJB

[jerryy]

1 hour ago, BJBBJB said:

@jerryy,

...

As far as shutter priority, it does seem like the only option is to look for the "red" F stop indicator as you really don't seem to get a preview of the actual exposure in shutter priority mode. Do I have that right?  So shutter priority is a bit different than aperture priority as far as showing exposure preview with a half button push?

As far as I know right now. I do not use that option very often, so I cannot give you much in the way of 'how to'.

Quote

Now that I know what it is doing, I can adjust.  If I am using auto-ISO in any mode, I get to see the ISO with a half press.  In aperture priority I get a true preview of exposure, and in shutter priority I don't, but camera will do its best.  Does that sound about right?

Yup!

There is some history about auto-iso that you may like. It use to be that lots of people using mainly aperture priority or shutter priority would take to the forums (not just Fujifilm users, but Canon, Nikon, etc. etc.) and complain about not having the option because they only wanted to worry about making adjustments to the aperture or shutter as need be. Manual mode folks (and film folks) would laugh at them, but eventually the camera manufacturers added auto-iso.

Keep in mind that auto iso will only 'be valid' for that shot, so to speak. A cloud passing overhead will wildly change what the camera uses as appropriate. You can use the image review to display all of the shot settings data for that image if you wish to see what the camera chose for the settings.

Quote

And finally, there are no settings in the menus that impact the above?  It seems that is the behavior no matter what you choose for settings?  For example Natural Live view only impacts filters etc. and not exposure.

From the manual:

Natural Live View

ON
The effects of camera settings are not visible in the monitor, but shadows in low-contrast, back-lit scenes and other hard- to-see subjects more visible. Colors and tone will differ from those in the final picture. The display will however be adjusted to show the effects of advanced filters and of monochrome and sepia settings.

OFF
The effects of film simulation, white balance, and other settings can be previewed in the monitor.

 

I am not certain I understand which settings you are wanting to see how they impact in the monitor. ???

Quote

One additional really odd thing......No matter what mode you use, exposure comp actually makes the preview screen brighter or darker whether the starting point is your true exposure or not in all modes.    

Thanks again!
BJBBJB

As far as I know, this is true. But it does affect the actual exposure as well, even if you are shooting in full manual mode. Be careful.

HTH.

Edited April 14, 2020 by jerryy

[BJBBJB]

@jerryy

Thanks again. Makes sense. As far as monitor menu settings, I was just asking if any particular setting changed any of the above.  It appears not. 

I cut my teeth on occasional auto-ISO use with Nikon.  Saved me during quick change lighting scenes where I wanted a certain shutter speed, like a concert. Rarely use outdoors...

And I get of course that exposure comp will indeed change your exposure and image, even if preview has no real relationship unless starting with a good exposure.

Thanks again!

@BJBBJB