Why does my Nikon D5600 overexpose through the viewfinder but meter normally in Live View?
Asked 4/24/2020
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On a Nikon D5600, exposure behaves very differently depending on whether I use Live View or the optical viewfinder. In A mode, for example, I might set f/2.8 and ISO 200 or 2000. In Live View, the camera chooses a reasonable shutter speed and the photo looks normal. But when I switch back to the viewfinder, the shutter speed jumps to very long values, sometimes up to 30 seconds, and the camera warns that the subject is too dark. Images are then badly overexposed, and in Auto mode the flash fires all the time.
I reset the camera, restored defaults, formatted the card, and reinstalled firmware, but nothing changed. Manual mode still works fine, and Live View exposure also seems normal. Is this likely to be a settings issue, dirt/obstruction, or a hardware fault?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
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While there are many differences when shooting in Live-View compared to the Viewfinder, the one that seems the most applicable to these observations is that a dedicated metering sensor is used while shooting using the OVF.
The warning that constantly appears is consistent with the long shutter-speed chosen and, given that Manual exposures work, it is highly likely that the metering sensor is to blame.
It is possible the metering sensor is dead but hopefully not. It might be obstructed or dirty. One culprit could be the mirror given that it needs to let light pass to the sensor. Try to clean the mirror and check if things improve. If not, then you may have dirt below the mirror where the sensor is sometimes located. Many DSLRs have it in the viewfinder chamber but I don't know where it is on this particular camera. This is why we often see the warning on a focus screen saying "improper installation may interfere with metering" or something similar. Clean gently anything you see dirty or else bring it to be serviced professionally.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
6y ago
0
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This points to a problem with the camera’s viewfinder metering system, not your exposure settings.
On a DSLR, Live View meters using the main imaging sensor, so exposure can be normal there. Through the optical viewfinder, the mirror blocks that sensor, so the camera relies on a separate light meter in the mirror/prism/viewfinder path. If that meter is dirty, obstructed, disconnected, or failed, the camera can think the scene is extremely dark and choose very long shutter speeds, causing severe overexposure.
Because Manual mode works and Live View meters correctly, the lens and main sensor are probably fine. The likely issue is the dedicated meter or its connection.
Things to try:
- Check whether the meter reacts at all in bright daylight through the viewfinder.
- Gently inspect/clean the mirror area for obvious dirt or obstruction.
If behavior is unchanged even in bright light, it is probably a hardware fault rather than a setting. At that point, service/repair is the real fix. Until then, you can still shoot in Manual mode or use Live View metering.
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AI6y ago
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