Q3 43 long EVF black out

[robgo2]

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I am testing a new Q3 43, and I have noticed that whenever I release the shutter, the EVF goes black for about 1/2 second. With my Q2, the black out time is infinitesimibly short. Is this normal behavior? I have set the camera on AF-S with Hybrid shutter, but the same happens with mechanical and electronic shutter.

Edited July 13 by robgo2

[Smogg]

38 minutes ago, robgo2 said:

I am testing a new Q3 43, and I have noticed that whenever I release the shutter, the EVF goes black for about 1/2 second. With my Q2, the black out time is infinitesimibly short. Is this normal behavior? I have set the camera on AF-S with Hybrid shutter, but the same happens with mechanical and electronic shutter.

Are you sure you have the latest firmware? Try setting the Continuous mode with the minimum number of frames per second.

[robgo2]

2 hours ago, Smogg said:

Are you sure you have the latest firmware? Try setting the Continuous mode with the minimum number of frames per second.

I am using FW 3.1.1 

In continuous shooting mode, there is no blackout in the EVF, but that doesn’t help me in single shot mode. 

[M Street Photographer]

There is a well-known trick to use.

Set the burst mode to two frames per second. If you then take your finger off the shutter button quickly enough after a photo has been taken, you won't have a blackout in the EVf. This is a way to turn off the blackout in single mode.

[robgo2]

Thanks, guys. I am puzzled why this workaround is necessary with the Q3 and not the Q1 or Q2. There’s probably a perfectly good reason that I would like to know. 

[M Street Photographer]

I think the Q1 and Q2 constantly experience blackouts, and a firmware update for the burst shots hasn't fixed it. Perhaps the hardware is too slow.

[Trankster]

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I shot my Q3 43 at single shot iaf, single and continuouse focus.  Yes there was a very short blackout probably less than half a second.  I assumed this is normal and never found it to be problematic with my current and prior Q cameras.  I also shot a image with a different camera brand (OM System) and there was a very brief blackout while the shutter actuated.  I don't see the problem if the blackout is minimal.  YMMV

[Le Chef]

I have not experience blackout lag with Q2, Q3, or Q3 43. But do not have things like iAF etc switched on which may make a difference. My approach is only switch it on if you really need it.

[jaapv]

It might help to set the auto review to hold shutter button (or whatever they call it on a Q)

[Tarekith]

I’m relatively new to photography so please bear with me, but why is this an issue?  I see a lot of people across various camera sites complain about EVF blackout when shooting, but it’s only like a 1/2 second and they are in AF-S mode so I don’t see the issue.  It would bother me if I was using say an A9 to capture high speed sports at 20FPS, but for a compact walk around camera I never understood the problem.

Again, not trying to downplay your frustrations, just can’t think of time where this would be a problem with something like the Q43 so thought I’d would ask.

[zlatkob]

9 hours ago, Tarekith said:

I’m relatively new to photography so please bear with me, but why is this an issue?  I see a lot of people across various camera sites complain about EVF blackout when shooting, but it’s only like a 1/2 second and they are in AF-S mode so I don’t see the issue.  It would bother me if I was using say an A9 to capture high speed sports at 20FPS, but for a compact walk around camera I never understood the problem.

Again, not trying to downplay your frustrations, just can’t think of time where this would be a problem with something like the Q43 so thought I’d would ask.

It depends on your subject matter. Many subjects change in an instant, a tenth of a second or less. When photographing people or animals, expressions and positions change. Add some wind, and hair and clothing move. Add several people to the scene, all walking, running or dancing, and body positions change constantly, sometimes one subject blocks the other. If you have a 1/2 second blackout, you don't know what is happening during that time, so you don't know whether to keep shooting or to stop. Instead of being aware of and perfectly tuned into your subject matter and changes in the scene, you are just waiting in the darkness, just guessing, and not quite ready when reality "resumes" in your viewfinder. Compare that 1/2 second of darkness to a traditional M camera which shows the subject in real time and has absolutely zero blackout.

[Tarekith]

Thanks, I can see why it would be annoying in those situations. 

[robgo2]

On 7/13/2025 at 12:16 PM, Smogg said:

 

I am happy to report that the blackout issue has been resolved, and I'm not totally sure why or how it happened, but here's what I think. As this was a new camera for me, I was actually shooting in manual mode at a very slow shutter speed, which produced a long blackout. When I figured out that I should be using aperture priority mode, the problem disappeared. I don't know if that information can help others who are experiencing similar problems, but maybe it will.