How to reduce camera flickering (e.g. horizontal banding, partial or total discoloration of an image)
There are several ways to reduce the flicker effect on your images.
Note: Some functions may not be available depending on your camera model. For details, refer to your camera's Help Guide (available on the Sony Support website).
Setting e-Front Curtain Shutter to Off, or Shutter Type to Mechanical Shutter (when shooting still images)
You can reduce the flicker effect by setting e-Front Curtain Shutter to Off, or Shutter Type to Mechanical Shutter if your camera is equipped with these functions.
Changing the shutter speed (when shooting still images or movies)
You can reduce the flicker effect by changing the shutter speed.
- The most effective shutter speed for your camera varies depending on the region where you are using it.
- In regions where the frequency of the power source is 50 Hz, the recommended shutter speed is 1/50 sec or 1/100 sec. In regions where the frequency is 60 Hz, the recommended shutter speed is 1/60 sec or 1/120 sec.
Shutter speed: 1/200 sec
Shutter speed: 1/50 sec
Using the Anti-flicker Shoot. function when shooting still images, or the Var. Shutter function when shooting still images or movies
Flicker issues appear as banding in images captured with a focal-plane shutter under flickering light sources, because moments when the lighting is bright and when it is dark are captured at different positions on the image sensor.
- For details, refer to this article: Partial or total discoloration of the image may occur, or horizontal banding may appear (flickering).
Two functions are available to reduce the effect of flickering – Anti-flicker Shoot. and Var. Shutter – and each is effective depending on the scene.
| Features and shooting conditions | Anti-flicker Shoot. | Var. Shutter |
|---|---|---|
| Features |
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| Still images/movies |
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| Shutter Type |
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| Exposure Mode |
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| Types of detectable flickering |
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- *1 The faster you set the shutter speed, the more likely there is to be a difference between the monitor display before shooting and the recorded image. Make sure the impact of flickering is reduced in the recorded image.
- *2 Even when Anti-flicker Shoot. is set to On, the camera cannot detect flickering frequencies other than 100 Hz or 120 Hz.
Details about the Anti-flicker Shoot. and Var. Shutter features are provided below. Learn more about the characteristics of each, and try suitable settings to reduce flicker issues in your shots.
Using the Anti-flicker Shoot. function when shooting still images
Under fluorescent lighting that flickers at 100 Hz or 120 Hz, you can shoot images with reduced flickering by operating the shutter curtains at the right moment. This is because the fluorescent light remains bright slightly longer than the movement of the mechanical shutter slit (or the running duration of the electronic shutter for the ILCE-1/ILCE-1M2).
- The function used for this automatic shooting adjustment is called anti-flicker shooting.
Differences in the slit movement speed
The camera can perform the anti-flicker shooting function when shooting with a mechanical shutter. For the ILCE-1/ILCE-1M2, it's also available when shooting with an electronic shutter.
Some interchangeable lens cameras offer two shutter methods: mechanical shutter and electronic shutter. Each moves the slit at a different speed. Attempting to use anti-flicker shooting with an electronic shutter, other than for the ILCE-1/ILCE-1M2, would not be effective because the slit movement is slower. No matter when the shutter movement begins, you cannot avoid the dark time during fluorescent light flickering.
| Mechanical shutter |
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|---|---|
| Electronic shutter (silent shutter) |
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Describing one type as an electronic shutter may make the movement seem faster, but this is not actually true.
- Movement by the front and rear curtains of a mechanical shutter is fast because it's simply intended to block out light. In contrast, an electronic shutter resets one line of the image sensor after another to achieve front curtain movement, after which the rear curtain reads the lines out one by one. As this readout takes time, several dozen milliseconds are required to read the entire image sensor line by line.
For this reason, slit movement by an electronic shutter takes longer. However, for the ILCE-1/ILCE-1M2, the slit movement of the electronic shutter and mechanical shutter are equally fast.
Concept image of the Anti-flicker Shoot. function for still images
- A: The flickering frequency (100 Hz = 1/100 sec, 120 Hz = 1/120 sec)
- B: The timing of bright light
- C: The timing of dark light
- D: In normal shooting, when the shutter operates in dark lighting, the timing of exposure differs between the top and bottom of the screen, resulting in changes in brightness and color between the top and bottom of the captured image.
- E: With anti-flicker shooting, the camera detects flicker and the shutter operates at the timing of bright light for better shooting results.
Anti-flicker shooting is only effective under lighting that flickers at 100 or 120 Hz, such as fluorescent lights.
Because LED light sources flicker at several hundred to thousands of Hz – a shorter interval than rapid shutter movement of 4 milliseconds – the slit cannot move from one edge to the other during the brief period when this lighting is bright, even if the camera could detect the flickering cycle. For this reason, the anti-flicker shooting function is not effective in reducing these particular flickering issues.
- Concept video of when anti-flicker shooting is performed under fluorescent lighting
Shutter movement occurs during the period (cycle) when fluorescent lights are bright, which makes the function effective when shooting under this lighting.
- Concept video of when anti-flicker shooting is performed under LED lighting
The flickering cycle is faster than any timing of shutter movement, which may result in images affected by banding.
Using the Var. Shutter function when shooting still images or movies
Occasionally you may prefer to shoot silently (with an electronic shutter) at stage performances under LED lighting, or you may want to use high-speed continuous shooting for sports events at venues with LED lighting and signage. In these cases, the high-resolution shutter function may help reduce the flicker effect.
This function reduces flicker issues by precisely matching the shutter speed to the flickering cycle.
- It's difficult to match the flickering cycle with normal shutter speed increments (1/3 or 1/2 step). However, this function enables even finer adjustment of shutter speed to match the cycle and reduce flicker issues.
Why matching the flicker frequency and shutter speed reduces the flicker effect
The following figures show how images formed on the image sensor are gradually acquired as the shutter moves.
- A: Top edge of the screen
- B: Bottom edge of the screen
- C: Path of front curtain
- D: Path of rear curtain
- E: Shutter speed
- F: Time
Exposure takes place gradually, starting at the top edge of the image, indicating that exposure happens later for the bottom edge of the image.
Consider the next figure, which shows flickering as the shutter moves.
Note: Time is shown horizontally, with light source flickering indicated as vertical bands.
- When the shutter speed does not match the flickering cycle
Moments during exposure when the lighting is dark or bright appear as banding.
- Illustration of flickering placed above the diagram of the shutter slit movement
- A: Top edge of the screen
- B: Bottom edge of the screen
- C: Shutter speed
- D: Time
- E: Sample image
- Example: The banding appears in the image or movie if it's seen on the monitor
Screen
Captured still image
- Illustration of flickering placed above the diagram of the shutter slit movement
- When the shutter speed is adjusted to match the flickering cycle
At a shutter speed that coincides with the flickering cycle, any exposure timing provides consistent brightness, from when the light source is bright to when it is dark. This eliminates banding.
- Illustration of flickering placed above the diagram of the shutter slit movement
- A: Top edge of the screen
- B: Bottom edge of the screen
- C: Shutter speed
- D: Time
- E: Sample image
- Example: The banding disappears in the image or movie if it's not seen on the monitor
Screen
Captured still image
- Illustration of flickering placed above the diagram of the shutter slit movement
Reduce the flicker effects using the Var. Shutter function
Step 1: Set Var. Shutter to On and check the flicker effect.
Set the camera as follows, and if the flicker effect appears on the Var. Shutter Set. screen, fine-tune the high-resolution shutter speed so that the effect is reduced.
Note: It may be difficult to check the flickering effects even when Var. Shutter is set to On. We recommend shooting and checking in advance.
- Configure the camera. When using the ILCE-9M2 Note: For the ILCE-9M2, this function can be used when the camera's system software (firmware) is Ver. 2.00 or later.When using the ILCE-1, ILCE-1M2, ILCE-7M4, ILCE-7M5, ILCE-7RM5, ILCE-7CM2, ILCE-7CR, ILCE-6700, or ILME-FX2
- Set the exposure mode to S (Shutter Priority) or M (Manual Exposure).
- Adjust the shutter speed to the desired setting.
- Focus on the subject.
- MENU →
(Camera Settings1) → Hi Frequency flicker → Var. Shutter → On
- MENU →
When using the ZV-E1 or ZV-E10M2- Set the exposure mode to S (Shutter Priority), M (Manual Exposure), or Flexible Exp. Mode.
- Adjust the shutter speed to the desired setting.
- Focus on the subject.
- MENU →
(Shooting) or
(Shooting) → Shutter/Silent → Anti-flicker Set. → Var. Shutter→ On
- MENU →
- Set the exposure mode to S (Shutter Priority) or M (Manual Exposure).
- Adjust the shutter speed to the desired setting.
- Focus on the subject.
- MENU →
- MENU →
- Check on the monitor for flicker issues (banding) caused by LED lighting.
Example:
You can check the flicker effect seen as banding in the video below. In this video, the ILCE-9M2 is used for the explanation.
Tip: Learn how to turn captions on or off when watching Internet videos from YouTube
Step 2: Fine-tune the high-resolution shutter speed so that the flicker effect is reduced.
A shutter speed where flicker will have less of an impact can be selected either automatically or manually.
- Setting the shutter speed automatically (on cameras supporting the auto-setting function)
Press the center of the control wheel to automatically select a shutter speed where the flicker will have less of an impact. - Setting the shutter speed manually When using the ILCE-1, ILCE-1M2, ILCE-7M4, ILCE-7M5, ILCE-7RM5, ILCE-9M2, ILCE-7CM2, ILCE-7CR, ILCE-6700, or ILME-FX2 When using the ZV-E1 or ZV-E10M2
On the Var. Shutter Set. screen, you can fine-tune the shutter speed with the front or rear dial or control wheel.
With Var. Shutter set to On, the shutter speed denominator is displayed as a decimal (indicating fine adjustment).- Example: When the exposure mode is M (Manual Exposure)
Rear dial (Tv):
- Turn the rear dial to fine-tune the shutter speed to one of these settings: 250.6 → 253.3 → 256.0 → 258.8.
(Actual values may vary.) Front dial (Tv STEP):
- Turn the front dial to fine-tune the shutter speed to either an integral multiple of the initial value or to 1/[integral multiple].
Example: 125.3 (times 1/2) ← 250.6 → 501.3 (times 2)
(Actual values may vary.) - Control wheel:
- Turn the control wheel to fine-tune the shutter speed just as it's set using the dial assigned to Tv.
- Control wheel up/down:
- Press and hold the control wheel to fine-tune the shutter speed value more quickly.
- Fine-tune the shutter speed.
Continue to adjust the shutter speed with the rear dial (Tv) or control wheel until the flickering effects are less noticeable. - Fine-tune the shutter speed by changing it to an integral multiple of the initial value.
If the flickering effects are still noticeable despite adjusting the shutter speed, try turning the front dial (Tv STEP) to reduce the fine-tuned shutter speed.
After reducing the fine-tuned shutter speed with the front dial (Tv STEP), continue adjusting the speed until the flickering effects are less noticeable.
Example: Flicker issues (banding) caused by LED lighting that were reduced by fine-tuning the shutter speed.On the Var. Shutter Set. screen, you can fine-tune the shutter speed with the control dial or control wheel.
With Var. Shutter set to On, the shutter speed denominator is displayed as a decimal (indicating fine adjustment).- Example: When the exposure mode is M (Manual Exposure)
- Control dial (Tv):
- Turn the control dial to fine-tune the shutter speed to one of these settings: 250.6 → 253.3 → 256.0 → 258.8.
(Actual values may vary.) - Control wheel (Tv STEP):
- Turn the control wheel to fine-tune the shutter speed to either an integral multiple of the initial value or to 1/[integral multiple].
Example: 125.3 (times 1/2) ← 250.6 → 501.3 (times 2)
(Actual values may vary.) - Control wheel up/down:
- Press and hold the control wheel to fine-tune the shutter speed value more quickly.
- Fine-tune the shutter speed.
Continue to adjust the shutter speed with the control dial (Tv) until the flickering effects are less noticeable. - Fine-tune the shutter speed by changing it to an integral multiple of the initial value.
If the flickering effects are still noticeable despite adjusting the shutter speed, try turning the control wheel (Tv STEP) to reduce the fine-tuned shutter speed.
After reducing the fine-tuned shutter speed with the control wheel (Tv STEP), continue adjusting the speed until the flickering effects are less noticeable.
Note: The camera screens are from the ILCE-9M2.You can check how the flicker effect seen as banding is reduced in the video below. In this video, the ILCE-9M2 is used for the explanation.The shutter speed does not match the flickering cycle, resulting in banding caused by LED lighting to be visible on the screen.
As the shutter speed is adjusted, the appearance of banding changes.
When the shutter speed matches the flickering cycle, banding caused by LED lighting is no longer visible.
Tip: Learn how to turn captions on or off when watching Internet videos from YouTube
- Example: When the exposure mode is M (Manual Exposure)
Step 3: Shoot.
Press the shutter button to shoot.
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