Why is Live View black in Manual mode on a Canon T3i until I half-press the shutter?
Asked 4/21/2013
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On a Canon Rebel T3i, Live View appears black in Manual mode unless I half-press the shutter. After taking a photo, the screen goes black again except for a white rectangle in the center. I need to rely on Live View while using the camera in an underwater housing. What causes this, and how can I make the Live View image visible before taking the shot?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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The Live View screen will by default try to 'mimic' the exposure you're likely to get with the settings you have dialled in. So in dim light with ISO 100, a fast shutter speed, and a small aperture, you will likely just see a black screen. When you half press the shutter the camera brightens it up while it meters the scene and so you can see what you're focussing on.
Next time you have this issue just try increasing the shutter speed up through 1 sec, 4 secs, 10 secs etc and you should see the brightness of the image on the lcd display increase.
In a way it's just telling you that your image will be seriously underexposed!! As you say, when you take the picture, it's just showing you a black screen again (the image preview).
So boost your ISO, use a larger aperture, use a longer shutter speed....whatever it takes to get the correct exposure for the environment you're shooting in :-)
Originally by user7566. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user7566
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
In Manual mode, the T3i’s Live View usually simulates the exposure you’ve set. If your settings would produce a very dark image—such as low ISO, fast shutter speed, or a small aperture—the LCD can appear black because the camera is showing that the shot is heavily underexposed.
When you half-press the shutter, the camera brightens the display for metering/focusing, which is why you can suddenly see the scene.
To make Live View visible before shooting, use settings that allow more light:
- raise ISO
- use a wider aperture
- use a slower shutter speed
If changing to longer shutter speeds makes the Live View image brighten, that confirms the issue is exposure simulation, not a screen fault. The black display after capture is consistent with the camera returning to the same underexposed Live View preview.
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AI13y ago
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