What is Zebra Pattern and what does it do?

IMPORTANT: The Zebra Pattern is a highlight warning indicator that is common in video cameras. It does not control exposure but just warns you that your highlights are blown out. It is not recorded into the image.

Zebra Pattern is a camera feature that overlays some stripes into the image that indicate exposure levels. It is a function that aids exposure by showing a striped pattern over areas that are close to overexposure. If the maximum brightness that can be expressed in shooting is defined as 100, use the Zebra function to check the amount of brightness to which the subject has been exposed.

NOTES:

• The Zebra Pattern will appear over the part of an image if the brightness level exceeds the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE) that you set (IRE level can be set between 70 to 100). IRE is the measure of the video signal level that is used as the basis of brightness.
• Not all cameras have the Zebra Pattern function. For further details, check the instruction guide that came with the product. Manuals are posted on your model support page.

To set the Zebra function, check the following.

• How to set a photo with less flare.

  To set a photo with less flare, set the Zebra setting to 100+, then adjust the exposure so that the Zebra pattern does not appear anywhere in the photo composition. To prevent flare when shooting an image like the one below, check the following.

  

  1. On the camera, launch the Zebra function.
     • ILCE-6000
       1. On the MENU screen, select Custom Settings.
       2. Select Zebra.
  2. Set the Zebra setting to 100+.

     Adjust the exposure so that the Zebra pattern does not appear anywhere in the photo composition. Below is an example of a photo that has a Zebra pattern.

     

  3. Make sure that there are no Zebra pattern appearing on the camera screen and the flare is reduced. Then, shoot an image.

     

     NOTE: Shoot an image with less flare.

     

• How to avoid a white object become dark (underexposed).

  Set the Zebra setting between 90 and 95, and adjust the exposure so that the Zebra pattern appears on the white subject you want to shoot.

• How to take a photo of people with optimized brightness.

  Set a Zebra setting between 70 and 80, and adjust the exposure so that the Zebra pattern appears on the face of the subject.

  NOTE: It is recommended that you adjust the setting according to the photo subject, or to the brightness you want to capture.