Fixing the Black Screen on the Nikon Z7II Viewfinder When Using Flash
If you’ve encountered a black screen in the electronic viewfinder of your Nikon Z7II while using a flash, don’t worry — very likely it’s a setting-related issue.
When shooting with flash, the camera previews the scene as it would appear without the flash—resulting in a very dark view, especially if the ambient light is low and the aperture is small (i.e. F number is high).
The Fix:
Go to the Custom Settings Menu.
Navigate to Shooting/Dispaly
Navigate to Apply Settings to Live View
Click on ON
Select Only when flash is not used
This disables the live preview of ambient exposure in the electronic viewfinder, allowing you to see a properly lit scene even when using flash.
Note 1: Disabling live preview means that changes to settings like shutter speed or aperture won’t be reflected in the viewfinder. Instead, the viewfinder compensates to ensure visibility in low light. The final image will only match your settings after you click the shutter and the flash fires.
Note 2: If you select the option “Only when flash is not used”, your electronic viewfinder will return to showing an accurate preview when shooting without flash. In this mode, the preview will reflect changes to settings like shutter speed or aperture, giving you a clear idea of your final image.
If you want to turn off this function entirely, follow step 4 above and select OFF.
Happy shooting!
