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Can anyone explain why I get these lines when taking photos in bad/weak lighting? Here are some photos.

pic1

pic2

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Could you please include what settings you used, and also (if you know/can remember) what type of lighting was being used. \$\endgroup\$ Mar 4, 2015 at 11:59
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    \$\begingroup\$ Related: How can one correct intensity flicker due to AC line frequency? This is assuming it's taken under fluorescent lighting, but the pattern is pretty distinctive. \$\endgroup\$
    – Philip Kendall
    Mar 4, 2015 at 12:06
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    \$\begingroup\$ And also What causes the lines in these photos of a fluorescent tube? \$\endgroup\$
    – Philip Kendall
    Mar 4, 2015 at 12:07
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    \$\begingroup\$ In particular, we want to know a) what your shutter speed was, b) if the room was lit with flourescent lights, and c) if your camera was in an electronic shutter or silent shooting mode. \$\endgroup\$
    – inkista
    Mar 4, 2015 at 22:31
  • \$\begingroup\$ Was your exposure time around 1/10s ? I can measure it by counting the number of bands and supposing that your light is flickering at 60Hz \$\endgroup\$
    – Soleil
    Dec 10, 2017 at 0:08

1 Answer 1

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These lines are very likely there because of the frequency at which your light flickers. This is most notably the case with fluorescent lighting or led lighting, especially when you dim the light. Led are dimmed by switching them on/off rapidly. The dimmer the light the longer the off periods which our cameras capture easily (and not only the X-T1)

Another possible explanation is that you used the electronic shutter; which can also cause interferences with certain light frequency.

You will find this issue well documented by the guys photographing performance on stage with led lighting; especially on performances with low lighting budget.

Hope this helps

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  • \$\begingroup\$ This explains. I also have this issue and Led lighting all around the house. Next I have the idea that this effect is stronger when using the electronic shutter of the X-T1. \$\endgroup\$
    – user48281
    Jan 24, 2016 at 16:57
  • \$\begingroup\$ Yes true. Its very common. I get the same dark bars with my Fuji X-E2S when shot using ES in fluorescent light. \$\endgroup\$
    – user56813
    Sep 19, 2016 at 18:07
  • \$\begingroup\$ had the same problem with the Sony 7Rii indoors. I do have LED lights that are on a dimmer system. \$\endgroup\$
    – user57204
    Oct 4, 2016 at 15:35
  • \$\begingroup\$ With X-T1 I observed those stripes only with LED light an electroic shutter. With manual shutter they are gone. \$\endgroup\$
    – alfonx
    Nov 13, 2016 at 0:23
  • \$\begingroup\$ I got those same lines with an A7RII at a medium venue rock concert and I'm thinking it's the electronic shutter as well. \$\endgroup\$
    – Linda Wolf
    Oct 6, 2017 at 16:16

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