The Ultimate Nikon Zf Setup Guide - Firmware 3.0 Edition
In this guide, I dive into my Zf’s setup on Firmware 3.0 and explain why I have changed particular settings or have avoided enabling certain items. It should be noted that this guide is just as valid for the Z5 II as well, as they are the same camera with only 2 disparate options as far as I know (Z5 II is missing film grain and Zf is missing Product Mode).
The video is the more contextual way to consume this, but below I will list out every setting on my camera if you want a quick-start setup for your Zf with optimized settings. I have organized this list in the order that the camera presents these options when you hit the Menu button.
PHOTO SHOOTING MENU
Storage folder: NCZ_F
File naming: ZFZ
Primary slot selection: SD
Secondary slot function: Backup
Image area: FX
Tone mode: SDR
Image quality: RAW + JPEG/HEIF fine (star)
Image size settings: Large - Enable DX image sizes: OFF - Image size (DX): Large
RAW recording : High efficiency (star)
ISO sensitivity settings: 100 - Auto ISO sensitivity control: ON - Maximum sensitivity: 25600 - Maximum sensitivity with flash: 25600 - Minimum shutter speed: 1/200
White Balance: Auto2
Set Picture Control: Rich Tone Portrait
Color space: sRBG
Active D-Lighting: OFF
Long exposure NR: OFF
High ISO NR: OFF
Vignette control: High
Auto distortion control: ON
Skin softening: OFF
Portrait impression balance: OFF
Film Grain: ON, Medium 2
Photo flicker reduction: OFF
Metering: Matrix
Release mode: Single
Focus mode: AF-S
AF-area mode: Single point AF
AF/MF subject detection options: OFF (turn on where appropriate but do NOT turn on while using manual focus)
Vibration reduction: ON, Normal
Link VR to focus point: OFF
Auto bracketing: OFF
Multiple exposure: OFF
HDR Overlay: OFF
Interval timer shooting: OFF
Time-lapse video: OFF
Focus shift shooting: OFF
Pixel shift shooting: OFF
VIDEO RECORDING MENU
Storage folder: NCZ_F
File naming: DSC
Destination: SD
Video file type: H.265 10-bit MOV SDR
Frame size/frame rate: 2160 P Star 30
Image area: DX - DX crop alert: OFF
ISO sensitivity settings: Maximum sensitivity: 51200 - Auto ISO control (mode M): ON - ISO sensititivity (mode M): 800
White balance: Auto2
Set Picture Control: Same as photo settings
Active D-Lighting: Normal to High
High ISO NR: NORM
Vignette control: High
Diffraction compensation: ON
Auto distortion control: ON
Skin softening: OFF
Portrait impression balance: OFF
Film grain options: OFF
Video flicker reduction: AUTO
Metering: Matrix
Focus mode: AF-F
AF-area mode: Area
AF/MF subject detection options: OFF (turn on where appropriate but do NOT turn on while using manual focus)
MF subject detection area: OFF
Vibration reduction: ON, Normal
Electronic VR: OFF
Microphone sensitivity: 7
Attenuator: OFF
Frequency response: Wide
Wind noise reduction: OFF
Mic jack plug-in power: OFF
Headphone volume: 15
Timecode: Use as appropriate
External rec. cntrl (HDMI): OFF
Hi-Res Zoom: ON
CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU
a1 AF-C priority selection: Release
a2 AF-S priority selection: Focus
a3 Focus tracking with lock-on: 3
a4 Focus points used: All points
a5 Store points by orientation: OFF
a6 AF Activation: Shutter/AF-ON
a7 Focus point persistence: AUTO
a8 Limit AF-area mode selection: keep your favorites checked, uncheck any you don’t use - I disable all dynamic areas
a9 Focus point wrap-around: OFF
a10 Focus point display: Manual focus mode: ON - Dynamic-area AF assist: ON - AF-C in-focus display: ON - 3D-tracking focus point color: White - Focus point border width: 2
a11 Built in AF-assist illuminator: ON
a12 Focus peaking: Focus peaking display: ON - Focus peaking sensitivity: 3 - Focus peaking highlight color: Red - Only during zoom: ON
a13 Maximum aperture Lv: OFF
a14 Focus point selection speed: NORM
a15 Focus limiter setting: Use as needed
b1 ISO sensitivity step value: 1/3
b2 Easy exposure compensation: OFF
b3 Easy ISO: OFF
b4 Matrix metering face detection: ON
b5 Center-weighted area: Standard
b6 Fine-tune optimal exposure: Matrix, center, and spot left to default 0 - Highlight set to +2/6
c1 Shutter-release button AE-L: OFF
c2 Self-timer: Self-timer delay: 5s - Number of shots: 1 - Interval between shots: 0.5s
c3 Power off delay: Playback: 10s - Menus: 1m - Picture review: 4s - Standby timer: 30s
d1 CL mode shooting speed: 5fps
d2 Maximum shots per burst: 200
d3 Pre-Release Capture options: Pre-release burst: OFF - Post-release burst: MAX
d4 Sync. release mode options: Sync
d5 Exposure delay mode: OFF, set to 1s for landscapes or tripod work with still subjects
d6 Shutter type: Auto
d7 Extended shutter speeds (M): ON
d8 Limit selectable image area: choose as needed
d9 File number sequence: ON
d10 View mode (photo Lv): Show effects of settings
d11 Starlight view (photo Lv): OFF
d12 Warm display colors: OFF, turn ON for astro/night shooting
d13 Display on during burst: ON
d14 Release timing indicator: Type B
d15 Image frame: ON
d16: 3×3 for rule of thirds composing or 4×4 for center composing
d17: Virtual horizon type: Type B
d18: Half-press to cancel zoom (MF): ON
d19: Custom monitor shooting display: set as desired, in general you should have one display with ALL info and a more minimal display with just exposure info
d20 Custom viewfinder shooting display: set as desired, in general you should have one display with ALL info and a more minimal display with just exposure info
e1-e8: I don’t use flash, so these are all still defaults
f1 Customize i menu: Top row, left to right: AF-area mode/subj. detection, Focus mode, Release mode, White balance, Multiple Exposure, Silent mode - Bottom row, left to right: Metering, Set Picture Control, Focus Peaking, Active D-Lighting, Vibration Reduction, Monitor/viewfinder brightness
f2: Custom controls (shooting): Fn button: Playback - Playback button: MY MENU - OK button: select center focus point - Video record button: Cycle AF-area mode - Lens Fn button: OFF - Lens Fn ring (counterclockwise): recall focus position - AE-L/AF-L Button: AE lock (reset on release) - DISP button: Cycle live view info display - Lens Fn2 button: OFF - Lens Fn ring (clockwise): recall focus position - Lens memory set button: OFF
f3 Custom controls (playback): Fn button: NONE - Playback button: resume shooting - OK button: Zoom on/off - Lens Fn button: OFF - AE-L/AF-L button: Protect - DISP button: Cycle info display - Video record button: OFF - Lens Fn2 button: OFF
f4 Touch Fn: Enable/disable touch Fn: OFF - Assign touch Fn: Move focus point - Touch Fn area: Wide (top right quadrant), Tall (same as wide)
f5 Focus-point lock: OFF
f6 Reverse dial rotation: both unchecked
f7 Release button to use dial: OFF
f8 Reverse indicators: -0+
f9 Reverse ring for focus: OFF
f10 Focus ring rotation range: Defaults
f11 Zoom ring control (PZ lens): Reverse zoom ring rotation: OFF - Zoom ring rotation range: Default lens rotation angle
f12 Assign power zoom: defaults
f13 Control ring response: HIGH
f14 Switch focus/control ring roles: OFF
f15 Full-frame playback flicks: Defaults
g1 Customize i menu: Top row, left to right: AF-area mode/subj. detection, Focus mode, ISO sensitivity settings, White balance, Frame size/frame rate, Active D-Lighting - Bottom row, left to right: Metering, Set picture control, Microphone sensitivity, wind noise reduction, zebra pattern, monitor/viewfinder brightness
g2 Custom controls: Fn button: White balance - Playback button: Playback - OK button: select center focus point - Video record button: record videos - Lens Fn button: AE/AF lock - Lens Fn ring (counterclockwise): recall focus position - Lens memory set button: save focus position - AE-L/AF-L button: AE/AF lock - DISP button: Cycle live view info display - Shutter release button: OFF - Lens Fn2 button: AF-ON - Lens Fn ring (clockwise): recall focus position
g3 Focus-point lock: OFF
g4 Limit AF-area mode selection: choose as needed
g5 AF Speed: 0
g6 AF Tracking sensitivity: 4
g7 Hi-Res Zoom speed: -4
g8 Assign power zoom: Defaults
g9 Fine ISO control (mode M): OFF
g10 Extended shutter speeds (S/M): OFF
g11 View assist: OFF
g12 Zebra pattern: Pattern tone range: OFF - Pattern: 1 - Highlight threshold: 250 - Mid-tone range: 160
g13 Limit zebra pattern tone range: No restrictions
g14 Grid type: 3×3
g15 Brightness information display: HIST
g16 Half-press to cancel zoom (MF): ON
g17: Custom monitor shooting display: set as desired, in general you should have one display with ALL info and a more minimal display with just exposure info
g18 Custom viewfinder shooting display: set as desired, in general you should have one display with ALL info and a more minimal display with just exposure info
g19 Red REC frame indicator: ON
PLAYBACK MENU
Playback folder: All
Playback display option: choose as needed
Delete picture from both slots: Yes (confirmation required)
Dual-format recording PB slot: SD
Filtered playback criteria: choose as needed
Series playback: Auto series playback: OFF - Auto series playback options: Loop playback OFF, Wait before playback NORM, Auto series playback speed 30 - List series as single thumbnails: OFF
Picture review: OFF
After delete: Show next
After burst: Last picture in burst
Record camera orientation: Photos: ON - Video - OFF
Auto-rotate pictures: ON
SETUP MENU
Language: choose as needed
Time zone and date: choose as needed
Monitor brightness: +2
Monitor color balance: defaults
Viewfinder brightness: +3
Viewfinder color balance: defaults
Viewfinder display size: Standard but Small if wearing glasses
Limit monitor mode selection: choose as needed
Automatic monitor display switch: ON (when monitor docked)
Auto rotate info display: ON
AF fine-tuning options: OFF
Non-CPU lens data: fill out as needed
Distance units: choose as needed
Save focus position: OFF
Save zoom position (PZ lenses): OFF
Auto temperature cutout: Standard
Image comment: OFF
Copyright information: ON
IPTC: Defaults
Voice memo options: Defaults
Camera Sounds: Shutter sound: OFF - Beep: OFF
Silent mode: OFF
Touch controls: OFF
Self-portrait mode: OFF
HDMI: defaults
USB connection priority: Upload
USB power delivery: ON
Energy Saving (photo mode): OFF
Slot empty release: LOCK
NETWORK MENU
Airplane mode: ON
Nikon Imaging Cloud: OFF
Connect to smart device: ON
Connect to computer: OFF
Connect to FTP server: OFF
Connect to other cameras: OFF
USB: MTP/PTP
Router frequency band: 5G
MY MENU
Format memory card
Non-CPU lens data
Film grain options
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-Scott
