What Does Zebra Mean On A Camera

Camera Zebras | What Is It And How To Make The Most Out Of Them

July ii, 2019

Getting the exposure of an paradigm right is one of the most important and crucial things on which the final aesthetics of an image is quite heavily depended.

Even with the ever impressive image sensors in modernistic cameras and their awesome optical capabilities, sometimes some images which are either over or underexposed by more than a few stops maybe completely unsalvageable.

You cannot recreate details that the camera never recorded in the first place. All you lot tin do in post-processing is raise or reduce some details. It is that simple.

Shooting RAW may bail you lot out occasionally simply non ever. Like everything, this margin also has a limit.

In spite of all that hangs in the residual, nosotros, photographers, are quite happy to near always eyeball the exposure of an epitome. The most that nosotros do is accept a test shot and look it up on the back LCD. Guessing everything all the way.

Wouldn't it be squeamish if at that place was a way to check the exposure of the image which is existent-time, every bit unobtrusive as possible, and NOT based on pure guessing?

Well, there is. Its called the Zebras or formally, Photographic camera Zebra Patterning.

Zebra Design

Although we utilise the term 'Zebra', information technology has got nothing to do with the plant eater beast per se. We just use the beast's proper name considering the problematic areas of the paradigm are highlighted using a black and white pattern which is easily visible and identifiable.

Let me explain.

But kickoff, let'due south become on with the definition.

Camera zebra patterning is an exposure assistance tool that is used to identify and highlight areas of the image which are exposed beyond a set threshold limit. Diagonal, slanted stripes of black and white lines are overlayed over the identified parts of the image, highlighting the afflicted areas.

In simple words, photographic camera zebras are used equally a tool which helps avoid accidental overexposures in images and video.

Steps Involved

The application of the tool is every bit easy as it gets. All you lot have to do is activate it on your camera and set a threshold limit.

Say you set a limit of lxx% (most cameras use percentage values for this). And then at present when y'all point your camera towards a scene, any expanse of the scene which is brighter than the 70% value you fix volition be highlighted using a zebra blueprint overlay.

Easy enough?

Let's go with some other i.

Say you lot want to protect yourself from accidentally clipping the highlights of your images or video. In that instance, you tin theoretically set the threshold limit to 100% and keep it there.

Highlights Peaking Indicated by Zebra Patterns

Henceforth anytime the camera finds that a certain portion of your still epitome/video is getting so brilliant that NO detail in that expanse is existence recorded in the camera, it will highlight that area for you and warn you against it.

If you click an image similar the one above and if the zebras kick in when the threshold is gear up to 100%, it indicates all the parts of the sky which is currently highlighted is likewise brilliant and is being overexposed.

An easy, clear visualization of exposure. See, I told you this was easy.

Things You lot Should Know

Although the stripes announced on the affected images or video, they are NOT recorded when you lot press the shutter push. Camera zebras merely act as a warning against potential overexposure or highlight clipping. They are NOT a solution in themselves.
Most cameras produced in the last iii years take zebra peaking built in them. In DSLRs, you have to use the back LCD to utilise them only in mirrorless cameras, you can use the zebras even when using the electronic viewfinder (EVF).
You can employ the zebra exposure aid for capturing BOTH nevertheless photographs and videos.
Older Catechism bodies which practice non have zebra peaking congenital in tin can apply a software solution chosen Magic Lantern to enable zebras on their existing bodies. Here is a comprehensive post which will guide you through all the process, step by step: Magic Lantern | Unlock Your Canon Camera Full Potential For Free. If yous have an older Catechism torso and want zebras, you can definitely give this one a endeavor.
Most external monitors also have the zebras built in them. So if yous already own one, check information technology to run across if it has zebras. You can then connect any photographic camera to information technology and instantly use the zebras even when the camera body doesn't have the feature.
If you are still not sold on the Zebras, nevermind, you can ever use the humble Histogram for your exposure checks. It is every bit as powerful and simply equally proficient at finding exposure-related problems.

And then, that is all you demand to know about camera zebras. Hopefully, now you are in the know about this incredible tool and how to use it to its total potential.

Give it a try then and run into if you similar information technology. If you have any further question, please post them below and I will be happy to answer them.

This is at present a teeny tiny blog trying to compete with the big guys. If yous liked what you read, please have a second to share information technology. It would assistance me a lot. Cheers.

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