Tip: Enabling both focus peaking + exposure zebras: Nikon Z Mirrorless Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review (2024)

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I stumbled onto a hack today while attempting to shoot a move. The Z support focus peaking in both stills and movie mode and exposure zebras in movie mode only. I wanted to use both together today when recording a movie but the camera wont let you turn on exposure zebras if focus peaking is enabled. The workaround I discovered is to first disable focus peaking, then turn on exposure zebras, then enable focus peaking. In other words, the camera prevents you from enabling zebras if peaking is enabled but Nikon forgot to disable the alternate case of preventing you from enabling focus peaking if zebras are enabled (assuming they really want to prevent both from being used simultaneously, otherwise it's a bug that's disallowing the enabling of zebras when peaking is enabled).

Normally focus peaking only works in MF mode. When in MF mode with peaking enabled the exposure zebras wont display, which brings us to the second part of this hack. Switch to AF-S mode, then hold down AF-ON and start turning the focus ring (or start turning the ring first and press AF-ON while still turning) - the camera will temporarily switch to MF mode, enabling focus peaking while you focus. Exposure zebras will temporarily disappear while you're manually focusing, but will reappear as soon as you release AF-ON to return to AF-S mode.

Terminology note: Nikon calls their focus peaking "Peaking highlights" (Custom Setting a9), and their exposure zebras "Highlight display" (Custom Setting g6).

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I did a quick video demonstrating this tip/hack:

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Horshack wrote:

... The workaround I discovered is to first disable focus peaking, then turn on exposure zebras, then enable focus peaking. In other words, the camera prevents you from enabling zebras if peaking is enabled but Nikon forgot to disable the alternate case of preventing you from enabling focus peaking if zebras are enabled ...

Hopefully they won't decide it is a bug and "fix" it in the next firmware release.

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Hello

I dont do video with my new Z6 but wonder why we cant have highlight zebras in the photo mode ?We have blinking highlight after the photo is done in replay ..but would be nice with during the shot like in my Sony RX 100 III ..photo, not only video

Freecall wrote:

Hello

I dont do video with my new Z6 but wonder why we cant have highlight zebras in the photo mode ? We have blinking highlight after the photo is done in replay .. but would be nice with during the shot like in my Sony RX 100 III .. photo, not only video

I agree.

I had it on my former mirrorless cameras and used it often for stills.

I am a professional Cameraman and I have been using zebras to expose since the early betacam days. Zebras are much more useful to me. I have also noticed I get no metering in the viewfinder while shooting video. I have just been winging it, but I want zebras and a meter while in video.

Thanks for the tips.

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Horshack,

It would appear that Nikon maybe have reverted back or disabled your hack because with firmware 3.10, I am unable to enable your suggestion.

If disable peaking and then select zebras, that works but when you go back and then re-enable peaking, display highlights greys out again.

Anybody have more information or ideas?

It would appear that in Z6 II, they have fixed this as you can have both enabled.

Jabs767 wrote:

Horshack,

It would appear that Nikon maybe have reverted back or disabled your hack because with firmware 3.10, I am unable to enable your suggestion.

If disable peaking and then select zebras, that works but when you go back and then re-enable peaking, display highlights greys out again.

Anybody have more information or ideas?

It would appear that in Z6 II, they have fixed this as you can have both enabled.

Just tested with Z 6II:

You can indeed enable both with the menus, however, focus peaking will override highlight display. You only see the zebras once you turn off focus peaking.

I understand and indicated that this has been fixed in the Z6 II as I have one already and it works so much better than the Z6. I still wish they had exposure waveform available as one of the display screen options instead of just histogram in the window.

What I was replaying to was the original thread which stated;

"The workaround I discovered is to first disable focus peaking, then turn on exposure zebras, then enable focus peaking. In other words, the camera prevents you from enabling zebras if peaking is enabled but Nikon forgot to disable the alternate case of preventing you from enabling focus peaking if zebras are enabled (assuming they really want to prevent both from being used simultaneously, otherwise it's a bug that's disallowing the enabling of zebras when peaking is enabled)."

Which was for the Z6 which I have as well.

This hack no longer works as Nikon have through obviously firmware updates (latest 3.12) have disabled the backwards way of doing it. You can only get one or the other.

One advantage of the Z6 II for video shooters.

Horshack wrote:

...

The Z support focus peaking in both stills and movie mode and exposure zebras in movie mode only. I wanted to use both together today when recording a movie but the camera wont let you turn on exposure zebras if focus peaking is enabled. The workaround I discovered is to first disable focus peaking, then turn on exposure zebras, then enable focus peaking. In other words, the camera prevents you from enabling zebras if peaking is enabled but Nikon forgot to disable the alternate case of preventing you from enabling focus peaking if zebras are enabled (assuming they really want to prevent both from being used simultaneously, otherwise it's a bug that's disallowing the enabling of zebras when peaking is enabled).

...

Terminology note: Nikon calls their focus peaking "Peaking highlights" (Custom Setting a9), and their exposure zebras "Highlight display" (Custom Setting g6).

I tried your hack on my Z50 but It doesn't work with firmware 2.0.

Pity !

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