Understanding the Zebra

One of the most useful tools present in the Sony a7R II and a7SII for video exposure is the Zebra. Here’s how to use it:

Note to a7S II users: The customizable Zebras C1 and C2 have a separate lesson.

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Takeaways

• If you’re coming from a photography background, stop using the histogram for video.
• For the a7R II, Zebras start at 70 IRE and go up to 100+ IRE (anything above 100 IRE).
• Zebras are not precise tools. They don’t replace a waveform, but are a handy way to quickly judge levels in part of your image.
• Zebras do not get recorded in the video.
• For the a7S II, you can customize the Zebras for more precise use. We’ll cover that in another lesson.