Nikon Z7 Best Video Settings and Hacks
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- Опубліковано 22 січ 2019
- A quick guide to setting up the Nikon Z7 for video recording including hacks and advanced tips.
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Thank you for making this! Very helpful! This is definitely the best video I have found for getting familiar with the video settings on the Z7
I'm thankful you took the time to post your kind words, thanks.
Excellent video delivered with panache and the topic is always explained in a simple, thorough and engaging way. My internal memory card (the ‘old grey matter’) is always full after watching your videos.
Love the promotional items. All the best Maarten for 2019.
Always a pleasure to see your avatar - and thanks for your kind words.
I have a Z 7ii and haven't been able to find any helpful videos for video, this helped me fix my issue! Thank you!!!
Glad it helped! Thanks for taking the time to comment.
This is so helpful. Your videos are always first rate.
Thank you, that's very kind of you to say.
Masterful presentation. You sir is a rare gem in the youtube universe.
What a pleasure to read your kind words, thanks for taking the time to comment.
Many thanks ! This video works much better for me than finding tricks & tips in the paper manual.
I'm so glad to hear that you found it useful, it's always great to know that my videos are helping.
I always learn a few lesser known settings I want to change after watching your videos ;-)
I am a champion for the lesser known settings - thanks for the kind words.
Thank you Maarten! This video helped me a lot to advance my knowledge on how to setup my Z6. I particularly enjoy you getting to the point without any trailers or lengthy graphics.
Thanks, always nice to have the small details recognized and appreciated. I do my best to provide information without unnecessary content - whether that's personal stories, promotion of other products or ads.
BTW, thanks for becoming a member, please do send me an email so I can white list you, and do feel free to correspond at any time.
@@MaartenHeilbron How can I send you an email? Sorry to ask
I found it! Sorry again!
@@jominkus Yes, received, thanks!
Thank you for making this video!
Always my pleasure. Thanks for your kind words.
I just had a video shoot last week and I wish Ive found your video before today. Very helpful. Thank you!
Sorry about that. Hope it went well, thanks for your kind words.
You are such a pro! Thank you for this!
Thanks, I appreciate the kind words.
Outstanding video for both detail and clarity. I've become much move picky over what I'm willing to watch on UA-cam. Good job, I just subscribed.
Thank you, always nice to hear from a discriminating viewer, and a new subscriber.
@@MaartenHeilbron I just picked up my 4th video camera, a Z7. But it is my 16th Nikon! My first was in 1977, an F2sb. I've fallen for a number... But rather hated my Panasonic video cameras... but--they paid for themselves a number of times so I can't complain.
But it feels very different, to have both my best video camera, and still, in my hands at the same time.
I have a gig tomorrow, we'll see how this goes. I have to cover two rooms, and have hired an assistant. I have them on the old camera I trust. It'll be a bit of an adventure for me with the Z.
I've been shooting poltitcs, and events the last decade or so. Everything has gone wrong once already, but that's what makes it fun and you roll with that. In politics, you have to plan on your plan, failing. I've also interviewed 5 Minnesota governors, and some national pols. I feel much more pull to shoot video than stills it seems. But for myself, I've also been the highest resolution kind of still guy since college. I shot zone and technical pan film back then. 45 megapixels doesn't scare me.
Later,
Craig
@@CraigStellmacher Thanks for the note and for sharing your experiences. Always nice to know what viewers are up to.
So informative. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful! Always a pleasure to read kind words.
such a helpful video, thanks!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for taking the time to comment.
What precise delivery! Planning to take inspo for a college math course I’m teaching.
Thanks. I aim for precision.
Thank you sir for your extremely useful information. Video is awesome. Many thanks.
So nice of you to say, thanks for taking the time to comment.
Outstanding presentation.
Many many thanks, your kind words are appreciated.
this was extremely informative
I'm very pleased to know that, thanks for commenting.
thank you -- very helpful.. some good tips there. cheers!
Thanks, always nice to know that my work is appreciated.
Bought my Nikon Z7 today, i have a look at this video soon! :)
Thanks, it's always nice to hear from potential viewers.
Thanks for your tips
It's entirely my pleasure, thank you for your kind words.
Very informative. You have a very "easy to listen to" voice. I'm a professional still shooter, but seeing I acquired a Z7, why not start shooting video too!
Why not indeed ... the video world needs more photographers and fewer camera technicians.
Thank you Maarten for a very comprehensive coverage of the settings - well explained with no gimmicks.
Have you considered updating this 5 year old video, as many of the menu settings have now changed since firmware updates ?
Thanks, nice to hear you're fiinding it useful. Sadly, I no longer have a Z7 to do an update.
Dammit, how do you like the camera? What a great video leap for Nikon. My only thought, coming as I have from the old SD video days where white balancing before shooting was mandatory on those Sony betacams, I've now tried pre-white balancing several brands of video DSLRs and the results were mixed. Sometimes awful. I got better results using the cameras standard, bulb, outdoor, sunny options and then white balancing in post with a chip chart. Maybe that's a different video. Thanks as always.
This is not the video camera it could or should be (as I said in my review). Yes, I do always (thanks to DSC Labs) capture some colour reference chart in addition to custom white balancing - agreed, it's not always what I'd like. I'd say it's worse at low light levels (it is!) but depending on the manufacturer and model, it's also often greenish tinted at standard outdoor settings. I'm starting to think that just setting the standard outdoor kelvin setting is best.
Maybe that's a different video.
Thank you, great video! May I ask, is it possible to record 10 bit to an external recorder without using n log, and if so is the base ISO 100, or 800 as it is with n log?
Thanks, I appreciate the kind words. Good question! Yes, you can record 8 or 10 bit to an external recorder. Only when you switch to NLog does the ISO minimum change to 800.
Very informative Maarten, thank you. My question is regarding G6, highlight display. What settings should the camera be in to enable this option. Currently it is grayed out. Edit... seems you can use focus peaking or highlight display. One or the other, not both.
Right. It is only available in the PASM modes, and as you've discovered, you can't have both on. Interestingly, although highlight is greyed out when peaking is on. Peaking is not greyed out when highlight is on, but it disables highlight when it's turned on.
I hate those kinds of inconsistencies.
Great info video. i dont see the exposure meter on video mode any idea how i can adjust my exposure ?
There is no meter available in video mode. Use either the histogram or the highlight display/zebra.
Very great video, thanks for that!
I own a nikon z6 and shoot mainly video.
Can you tell me whats the „sport“ mode in the image stabilisation means and would you use the electronic vr as well?
Thanks for the kind words. Sport mode is for rapid and unpredictable movement (either your own or the subject). Yes, I would.
Have you had an opportunity to compare video focus on the Z6 to the competition? If so, would you please share your thoughts? Thank you.
I've not had them side by side, but informally I would judge the Z7 as better than average, but until the next firmware upgrade I would judge the Sony A6400 and Fujifilm X-T3 as slightly superior.
Thanks Maarten, wondering how best to synch video from my Z7ii when running it through a ATEM mini ISO. It always has a noticeable delay when shooting along side other cameras. Tried everything I can think of.
I don't have any experience with that, so if you've tried everything you can think of, not sure I have any suggestions.
It's the best video I've watched so far on how to this subject. As you said it's good to take video with Ninja V as well, do you have a tutorial video like this one on how to use Ninja V. Thanks in advance. :)
Thanks, always nice to hear from a viewer who appreciates quality content delivery at breakneck speed. Good suggestion (I'm using the Ninja Inferno), I'll consider that on my to-do list.
I was just asked to do a video today. It'd be nice were there a link to a cheat sheet PDF. :) Thank you for the quick start!! One nit, sometimes you refer to menu items and controls without reference to how you find them. In particular, I personally found it less than intuitive that I have to get out of the main menu before I can select the "i-menu". That button is disabled while in the main menu. An RFE for Nikon's next firmware update.
Anyway, thank you. Very helpful.
Glad to hear the video was useful. Let me know if you create a pdf, so I can put a link in the description.
I do assume that you are somewhat familiar with the camera, and for most cameras, transitioning from the main menu to the quick/overlay menu isn't a one-key thing.
Sir, don’t know if it’s intended but the grey suit, with grey striped shirt, in front of a mostly grey tinted color palette is absolutely reminiscent of oldschool tutorials from the 60s. I like it.
Thanks, I appreciate your kind words
Hi Maarteen, thank you for another interesting video!
If it doesn’t take too long to answer I have a question.
Which are pros and cons (apart of missing internal audio recording) to record slow motion in camera Vs. use a higher frame rate and then slow it down in post?
Thank you.
In camera means no work in post - it's already done. And depending on the camera you may end up with a higher data rate for the recording (more is always better). Some cameras (not the Z7) also have higher slow motion capability than the highest standard frame rate (which is usually 120).
For high frame rate, the data rate (but you have to do the math) may not be as high as the in camera rate once it's slowed down. You'll have a wider range of slow options, and can switch from real speed to slow at any time - or play the clip in real time and then use the slowed version as an instant replay.
@@MaartenHeilbron Thank you for the crystal-clear answer.
Always happy to help.
Hi Maarten. I have a question i hope you will be able to answer. I think about buying the Z6 . I Will shoot some slow motion and 24fps but what if I shoot ALL in 120fps and then convert some to 24fps and Some to slow motion. Would There be cons in qualiyy by shooting Everything in 120fps and convert to 24fps instead of flip back and forward on the fps setting. Thanks..
Yes, and the con is shutter speed. At 120fps, the Z6 will not allow a shutter speed lower than 1/125 - which is what you want if you're trying to do slow motion. However at 24 fps it will make movement look jumpy, not smooth as it would be at 1/60.
Hello Maarten, Great videos i must say. Learnt a lot fro your videos and you have a great way of presenting the information. I Nikon Z6 and I plan on using it for a live stream. The hardware I will; be using is the Slingstudio. I get an error when I connect o the the camera saying the the Slingstudio does not support the 98KHz that the camera supplies and it needs to be converted to 48Khz. I also mentions something about the Audio codec. Is there any way for me to change the audio to sample rate in camera? Also, I have an Atomos Ninja V...would I be able to change it there by running the signal from the camera into the Atomos Ninja and out to the Slingstudio...Hopefully you can help. Thanks in Advance.
I have not used and don't know anything about Slingstudio. That would be an audio issue, and Nikon has no direct way to control the audio output. Here's one thing you can try - change from MOV to MP4 - the only difference between these two is the audio encoding. I'm not sure this has any impact on HDMI out, but it's worth trying.
Hi Maarten! I start shooting with z72. and I would use a lens 35 1,4 tamron for stage dancer video! Is this the right one? Also I would need an external monitor. Can I use my cell phone for monitoring? Thank you very much ! Bye!
I don't know. Depending on how far away you are from the stage, you might need a longer focal length.
Can you control the camera remotely to do start/stop recording for video?
Yes, I should have made that more clear in the video.
I have the z 7ii and when I have an external monitor connected, and the settings at 4k60, it won’t start a recording when I press the record button. Any thoughts?
I don't have a Z7 II to check, but are there some modes that don't record internally, and are only capable of recording to an external connection?
Maybe you can help me. My Nikon 19mm tilt-shift lens suddenly stopped communicating with the camera. The aperture read F/2.8 which that lens does not have. Now, every time I put the lens on any Nikon camera, the F--- comes out. I'm thinking the lens is not sending out any electric pulse to the camera and so it is not detecting a lens. I have cleaned both contact points of the camera and the lenses, but still nothing. Any suggestions?
Sounds like a visit to the repair shop.
Thanks so much for this very helpful video. I have a question I haven't found the answer to. In video, if I set cam to manual I an set shutter/aperture. If I set to shutter priority why does the camera display 1/30th and I can't change that? If I am in shutter priority moving around outside in variable light would't that be the preferred mode over manual exposure? Thanks so much.
Thanks for your kind words.
Why not set the aperture and shutter you prefer and let ISO set the overall exposure? Not sure why your shutter speed might be locked. Have you tried to reset the settings?
@@MaartenHeilbron The z7 sets a specific shutter speed itself if you select shutter priority. It matches the fps. I selected 1080 120 fps and it sets shutter to 1/125 and you can't change it. If I select 2160 30 fps it set shutter to 1/30. Must be some secret reason because the rule's always been twice the fps for the shutter speed, right? Many have comment on this online. Apparently Nikon believes those shutter speeds work best. I can still set everything in manual. I wonder if tests have been done comparing results? I'm quite new to video so not the person to really judge this.
@@scottweaverphotovideo Since I only shoot manual, I didn't notice that - but limiting the shutter duration for high frame rate is quite usual. but you're correct - 1/30 for 30 fps doesn't seem right.
Thanks for the presentation and tips. I recently went to Japan (last year fall) and wanted to try out the video function on the Z7, only to find out all my footage (especially moving shots) were all ruined from electronic VR being enabled causing major jellowing effect. Even when turning EVR off and shooting with the Nikkor 14-30 Z at wider settings, I find it to be very distorted and wobbly looking and not so much when shooting with the Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 F mount at wider settings on the Z7. I'm starting to think the 14-30 isn't such a good choice. Have you seen similar results and do you have any tips? Thanks in advance.
Are you shooting 4K? HD1080 will be less affected by rolling shutter. The VR setting will not affect rolling shutter, although it may improve it.
I suspect that in most cases, either you are not steady enough - are you using the EVF or the LCD? - or you are moving the camera too quickly.
Shutter/frame settings could also be an issue - I recommend 30fps at 1/60.
Hope this helps.
Maarten Heilbron Thanks! Yeah shooting 4K 24 and 30 FPS with 1/50 and 1/60 shutter respectively and using evf. Maybe it’s moving too fast. I had a scenario where I was shooting on a train in Tokyo through the front window with the camera on a tripod and, even though the camera was locked and secure, the rolling shutter of jellowing effect was horrible and ruined the shot. Not sure there’s a fix in post for rolling shutter. Or maybe it’s more pronounced the wider you go? I’ll take your suggestions and give it a shot or zoom in more. Thanks again!
Maarten Heilbron Also, are certain lenses better or worse for rolling shutter? The 14-30 isn’t my favorite for video so far but I’m a rookie, so not sure this is normal for wide lenses with video.
@@NRGRX It's the movement more than the lens. stick with 30 and 1/60.
@@MaartenHeilbron Much thanks!
Thank you for the video. I think you may haven answered my question at 9:30 when you say no menu overlay is available in video mode. This is the problem we are having with display options using an external monitor on the Z6 for video recording. The external monitor shows the normal monitor data if we have the Z in photo mode, but once switching to video it loses all of it. The external monitor then does not show any of the camera display data such as record status, focus point, or focus peaking, that we need to have, and which is still visible on the camera's monitor. Because our setup is often on a tripod/c-stand above looking down at food preparation there is a lot of climbing involved as the back monitor does not articulate well in this direction (if only it articulated down as far as it does up we would be OK!). I have been having a hard time finding an answer for this and thought I just need a more expensive monitor, but I would like to find out for sure. Thank you very much!
Thanks for your kind words, appreciated. Yes, that’s right, there no menu or screen overlay in video mode, only a clean output. Most cameras have a switch to select clean or overlay. My captures from video mode are with a second camera mounted behind the Z7.
Maarten Heilbron thank you for clarifying-perhaps Nikon could give us the overlay option in a future firmware update.
@@jesseelliott56 That's certainly something to wish for.
Hi great video, I’m wondering if you’ve figured out how to trigger the recorder when not in NLOG. For some reason I cannot trigger the Atomos in regular 10bit unless I take out the XQD card from the camera. HDMI trigger is set, tried timecode trigger as well to no avail.
I had trouble with that feature also, I should have mentioned that, I assumed it was a problem with my cable or something. This isn't the first time I've had trouble triggering an external recorder. Interesting observation on the XQD card, I'll have to try that.
Maarten Heilbron Yeah so far removing the XQD card is the only way I’ve found to do it. It seems like it occurs because the camera tries to record onto the card, which it can’t do in 10 bit, and so that stalls the whole thing. Hopefully it can be fixed in firmware.
@@fromthebackseat4865 Thanks for sharing your "bug report" with us. Hopefully it will be fixed in firmware. Or 10 bit recording will be enabled to XQD cards.
Great video Maarten. I do have a question on how do you set up the Atomos protocol for the Ninja V?
I'm traveling and don't have that info at my fingertips, I also had some issues ... I think someone else addressed this in the comments, or try a google search.
Thanks. The wireless trigger had to be turned on in the Input menu on the Atomos.
Thanks for the tip.
Hi Maarten!
Looks like you are a specialist when comes to video so I have a question. I have a Nikon z7 and recently bought a atomos ninja V based on so many rave reviews...Well my question why is the Nlog so noisy!? Is this normal? Indoor shooting is almost unbearable especially in dark areas. The dark areas are flickering a lot at the steady rate. Nothing really works.... Is there a trick to it? How do you expose Nlog? I'm close to returning the ninja because internal recording was soon much better when comes to noise.... Is it due to lack of illumination? Is lighting important when shooting indoor with Nlog? Any help highly appreciated!!! Thanks
Ah, the danger of stepping into an advanced technique and expecting it to be a silver bullet instead of a voyage of exploration and discovery.
The danger is, of course, that using Log (here or on other models) requires a fairly high ISO. And it lifts the black level. The solution to both of these is generally the techniques employed in post production exposure balancing and colour grading.
My general recommendation is that you don't use (either the provided or other LUTs). Instead, while referencing a waveform, first adjust the overall response to vertically centre the display . Then lower the darkest areas to 0, and raise (or lower) highlights to properly expose the scene. (I rarely let anything get to 100) Then adjust the mid-tones as required - my goal with that adjustment is to get skin tones right.You can do this experiment either with a real scene, or test with a colour/luminance chart.
Now you will see the mistakes you may have made when you set the exposure. Record again, with the exposure set higher or lower as required.
And yes, you will see that some amount of contrast is lost in the middle tones of the image, but you should not see an undue amount of noise.
A few more trials back and forth should get you to the results you prefer.
But why do this at all? If you are satisfied with the in-camera recording, why go to all this trouble?
@@MaartenHeilbron Thank a lot but how do you adjust blacks , highlights and midtones independently? By adjusting iso only? I feel like I'm missing a small puzzle piece here.
By the way you must be the most original person I've seen and heard...Great are also your presentation skills. Thanks a million Maarten
@@PortBurwell8 Those settings are adjusted in your video editing software - the most comprehensive controls are offered in Blackmagic Davinci (which is free in HD, costs for 4K), but Premiere and Final Cut also have good controls for colour grading.
Thanks for your kind words.
Wouldn't it just be so awesome if the Nikon Z gets a FW update that would allow it to use either an external battery or a power supply to extend shooting-time? I think a feature like that will be truly a game-changer. :)
Nikon does include an external power supply USB charger with the Z7 (optional accessory for the Z6), but it charges and does not power the camera. It would certainly be useful if the camera could be powered from an outlet in addition to the battery.
Hey maarten
I am having a problem
How do I record to the External Atomos recorder without Nlog
i can only trigger my NINJA V when in NLOG
when I turn NLOG off I can no longer trigger or record
what am I doing wrong, please
regards, Ric
Thanks for the note. I'd not been able to get it to start with any combination of settings, but attributed this to the cable I'm using. I thought that as long as the remote record icon was on-screen that it was sending the trigger - but maybe that was a bad assumption. I'll contact Nikon today and ask.
@@MaartenHeilbron
i got it worked out
i forgot to set the "Trigger" option on the Ninja V
now all is good
thanks for all you do
regards, rick
Here's the update after exchanging messages with my Nikon contact (and purchasing a new cable). The Atomos recorder should be in HDMI trigger on mode. The Z7 should be HDMI advanced external record control on. The external record icon should appear as STBY.
In this configuration at 8 bit, HD and 4K output sends the trigger, the display changes to REC.
In 10 bit NLOG off, HD triggers properly, 4K does not (the icon stays at STBY.
In 10 bit NLOG on, HD and 4K trigger properly.
I hope this helps.
Here's the update after exchanging messages with my Nikon contact (and purchasing a new cable). The Atomos recorder should be in HDMI trigger on mode. The Z7 should be HDMI advanced external record control on. The external record icon should appear as STBY.
In this configuration at 8 bit, HD and 4K output sends the trigger, the display changes to REC.
In 10 bit NLOG off, HD triggers properly, 4K does not (the icon stays at STBY.
In 10 bit NLOG on, HD and 4K trigger properly.
Not that the HD 100 and 120 frame as well as the slo mo settings don't send HDMI output that my Ninja Inferno recognizes, so they were not tested. I also did not test the 25/50 (PAL) frame modes, but assume they work properly.
I hope this helps.
@@MaartenHeilbron thank you for all of your efforts
i really appreciate it
best regards, rick
Nice video..so how many cameras you own??
In general, the cameras that I review are on loan from the manufacturer, their media representative or B&H photo.
For some reason my movie settings “g6 Highlight display” is grayed out. I get a message that says “This option is not available at current settings or in the cameras current state” any suggestions as to why i can’t cat access this setting? I’m using the Z6. Thanks!
You are the second person to ask this question - and although I suggested some exclusions (as they're not specified in the manual) I'm not sure if he found a solution. I will have the Z6 back next week - I'll do my best to remember this issue and reply again. In the meantime, try resetting.
Maarten, I figured it out and I think you actually mentioned it in your video. If you have focus peaking turned on then the “Highlights Display” option gets disabled.
Glad to hear you found a solution. I thought you'd already watched the video and were aware of that limitation.
I did watch the video, thanks for the good information.
@@EricTobiasPhotography I'm always happy to help.
Hello Sir. Did I get this right? If I am recording with external recorder I cannot shoot in 1080p 120 for slow motion? The camera will not output slow motion?
That is correct.
@@MaartenHeilbron Sir would you know if there are external recorders that will record slow motion or is this the issue with the camera itself?
@@CristianArmen Although there are some cameras that are capable of recording at a high frame rate and then playing at a slower one to create an in-camera slow motion effect, I'm not aware of an external recorder that does this.
If an external recorder supports a higher frame rate (say 120fps) then you would create the slow motion in editing, by reducing the playback speed - conforming a 120 recording to 30 frames would create a 25% slow motion clip without any loss of frames.
@@MaartenHeilbron Thank you for taking your time to answer my questions, I really appreciate it!
@@CristianArmen Always happy to help.
Isn’t there any highlight information available past the 224 threshold ? What about the 224-255 range ? Isn’t 255 supposed to be 100% exposure (or 235 if you consider only legal values) ? I’m a bit confused here.
The G6 highlight warning (zebra) threshold can be set from 180-255. These are RGB levels, appropriate for stills. For video, the important reference is the 100% level on a waveform. Broadcast recordings cannot exceed this level and remain "broadcast legal". That corresponds to 224 RGB. I cross checked this with the waveform on my Atomos recorder (the HDMI output) and in Final Cut (from the XQD card recording.
Maarten Heilbron oh okay thanks ! I always thought broadcast legal was 235 and not 224 which seems really odd to me.
In this case, it seems to be 224, which may, or may not, be odd. Would be nice to have a standard video measurement, as this feature is implemented in the video section.
Maarten Heilbron thanks again for your answer Maarten, really appreciate it. Just for information, have your forced the setting "Output range" to "Full" under the menu HDMI / Advanced ?
Interesting question, as I'd only used the "Auto" Output range. With "Full", the 224 highlight setting shows the highlight at 100 on my Atomos Ninja Inferno waveform. If I increase the setting, and increase the ISO to trigger the highlight, the brightest rectangles on my CamAlign chart blow out, but there seems to be some internal clipping that limits the output to about 105 on the waveform. The effect is the same with limited, however with that setting the clipping starts at 95, and 224 highlight alert appears at 95.
This suggests that for video, and this seems to be a setting designed for video, 224 should be used as the brightest reference regardless of the setting of the Output.
Hope this helps.
Great tutorial. I’m having little trouble following along. Hard to keep up. 😞
Thanks for the kind words. Sorry about that - however, UA-cam has tools to slow down playback and it's pretty easy to replay any section.
Still enjoyed the video. Watched 3 times.
I'm glad to hear that, thanks for the views.
Were you following along with your camera in hand? I found the information I was looking for and now have my Z6 set thanks to Maarten and a few others. Good luck, Joel.
There are many learners and many learning styles. I'm glad to hear you've found a system that works for you. And thanks for the kind words, always nice to hear that my videos are helpful.
Anyone know how to see camera information on external monitor? It only shows the image, no info, we can’t see that the camera is rolling etc and have to constantly go back to camera back to Check.
Nikon does not have an option to display the menu and overlay in video mode.
What? That sounds ridiculous, I thought this was a good option for a DSLR to use for small scale shoots etc. today it was a real pain as no one could simply look at the monitor to see status etc. do you know why they deleted this functionality?
Thxs
@@MisterChips2012 Not deleted. Never enabled. Their fairly reasonable rationale is likely that one connects to an external device to make a recording and somehow they didn't anticipate that an external monitor might also be useful. I'm not clear why they felt it was hard to implement - although most have this feature, even Sony doesn't output overlay in 4K.
Maarten, it seems I always come to you for the answers to questions no one else is able to answer. But here goes--it's an important one:
When I put the Z6 in photo mode I see the exposure meter on the right side of the screen. Fine. When I put the camera in video mode the exposure meter vanishes. BOLLOX! No other camera manufacturer does this: Sony, Panasonic, Fuji, Canon, Olympus, etc: when you set the camera in video mode you retain the exposure meter--it's very important. Is there a menu setting that will correct the case of the vanishing exposure meter?
It's an interesting omission. I haven't found it and don't much miss it. In general, I don't find an exposure meter a very useful tool for either manual shooting in stills or video.
I generally judge exposure by eye using the viewfinder, and verify my judgement with the histogram. In some situations the highlight alert is useful, but not always.
I know what part of the image is most important and expose accordingly.
I understand. I do the same most of the time, but shooting log is somewhat a horse of a different color.Then I find the meter helpful for quick reference to help eliminate noise in shadows in the final grade.
thanks, as always for your thoughtful replies.
@@MaartenHeilbron
Of course. I do think I'm better able to judge the highlights and shadows with the histogram, which lets me tradeoff which I feel is more important. I should do a video.
I agree. Included with that I think there might be some interest in looking closely at Nikon's Flat profile--to see how flat it is, how much dynamic range you can get from it, and how well it grades. Not even sure what LUTS would be best.
I'm trying to get some footage together to compare the flat profile with Andrew Reid's Z log gamas (3 of them) I have loaded into the Z6. Reid's Z-logs seem to be pretty good, and he provides LUTS as well.
Not to extend this line of commentary, but the Nikon is a really, really fine video cam--better than the A7III in almost every way.. Yet, the amount of discussion and attention it is given on youtube is really anemic. On a Nikon FB page I asked if anyone was interested in starting a FB page for Z6 video shooters. The next thing I knew I was kicked off the list--no warning, nothing. Don't understand this animus Nikon stills shooters have for video folks.
So much Z6 video shooters could learn from one another in a platform for free exchange.
Sad.@@MaartenHeilbron
@@avarmadillo I"ve added your notes to my prep page - and am getting more pressure from other viewers ... stay tuned (but no promises).
I noticed that if you shoot video in DX mode it is a lot noisier in darker scenes. In good light you can't see any difference thought.
Good observation.
Bought a Nikon d7200 spending $1000. Now regretting my decision. Don't know what to do? Please help.
What aspect of the D7200 are you unhappy with? How is that impacting your photography? There will always be something nice and new with a slightly better specification, but the features rarely have a significant impact on your photos. As David Crosby said "Love the one you're with".
@@MaartenHeilbron That is the mistake I made sir. I own a point and shoot which takes pretty good pictures. I thought a good camera would change my photography. Now I realised that its not the camera but the photographer who creates the pictures. I only wasted my family's money on something that I didn't even need,to change my photography. My family has been very supportive with me and especially my mother. I learned a lesson the hard way. I was so upset I lost my love for photography altogether. From now on in every aspect of my life I will try to be a better judge. Thank you sir for taking the time to reply to my comment.
In that case, I suggest you find a book that will inspire you to take photos - there are many from technical to artistic that will help you uncover the many capabilities that you (and your camera) have. Go out and take pictures - try, experiment, play.
Very comprehensive, but a little quick at times.
Always my pleasure. Feel free to pause, use UA-cam's slow plan feature, or simple replay.
Hi I’m Rick Steve. That’s how you should start your video lol
Rick: Thanks for your kind words.
Civil comments 🙂
Well done, thanks!!
our Z 7ii has many more options in menu.
Seems right. This video was recorded with the Z7.
It's hard to make a civil comment about facing the reality of not being able to use peaking and zebras simultaneously on my Z6.
Of course, when you are shooting snap shots this is fine, but video demands fluid control of these two factors. No other camera on this level I know of forces an 'either/or" condition on the use of these two critical features. Which do you want? Blurry but well exposed? or Sharp but poorly exposed?
I've asked Nikon to ditch the histogram in video and enable us to activate a waveform. THAT would be optimum. They run the histogram continually, even during shooting, so IMO it should be a mere firmware update to accomplish the same with waveforms.
And, for video, use video terminology---ZEBRAS, and IREs.
Give us video shooters a little respect.
Lots of other capabilities, like being able to punch in to check focus while shooting, are denied.
When your scene is changing and fluid continuously throughout the clip (as in video) you need those and other capabilities continuously.
Fuji does it. Come on Nikon. Give us video shooters the proper tools we need--and label them with video terms! That, IMO, will improve usage for video and draw more video shooters.(I list a lot more of these shortsighted decisions on my video review of the Z6).
As always, Maarten, the clearest of the clear, and most concise of the concise of presentations. I really love how you respect your viewers by not wasting their time with a lot of non-informational verbosity.
Thanks so much.
Always a pleasure to read your kind words, I greatly appreciate your participation in the comments.
Agreed, however, zebra isn't the only exposure measurement tool. Waveform would be very nice, great suggestion. There's (as I said in my review) work to be done to bring this camera up to the video level I expected from Nikon at this price. As for terminology - how about gain instead of ISO?
Gain would be fine--less confusing than photoshop light measurement, but ISO is the term almost all camera manufacturers use--reserving gain only for camcorders (like my CF400).
In any case, in video Nikon should use video terminology. "Highlights," for instance---that has a completely different meaning for videographers, related primarily to grading in one's NLE. And look at those stripes! What else can you justly call them? Zebra stripes.
By the way, limiting ISO and making corrections with exposure compensation when needed is a great trick. Very helpful in serendipitous shooting! I do that all the time on the XC-15. Don't know why I didn't think of it with these hybrid cams.
I'm assuming I could do this on the X-H1 as well. Am I wrong?@@MaartenHeilbron
Yes, the only point is that it's consistent with what Nikon called this feature (which didn't have the numerical setting) in the past. I don't think anyone has a copyright claim on "zebra". Any why two directions if not two settings?
That does work with the X-H1 also - but that is my novice shooter advice, for those who don't really want to be bothered with adjusting the exposure, or are just "candid" shooting. For any kind of video production work, I'd use manual.