Do you have a Nikon Z6, Z7, or Z50? Wish you could get a little better action performance when you’re in the field? Looking for a way to crank up your keeper rate?
Well, now’s your chance!
In this video, I’ll reveal my top tips and tricks for getting the most from the Nikon’s Z series mirrorless cameras. Tons of tips and techniques that’ll help you get better results for all your action work.
Check it out – and fair warning. I really packed this one with info – you may have to watch it twice!
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Update – I now have the video for my button and control setup done:
https://backcountrygallery.com/nikon-mirrorless-button-control-setup/
PS – If you enjoyed this post, I think you’ll REALLY like my e-books and video workshops! Thousands of pages and hours of videos filled with tips, tricks, and techniques – all my best content! Check ’em out – click here (hey, it’s free to look).
Hello! please write how you think the Nikon z6+ nikon TC-1.4 e bundle will work well (2 or 3 versions)+ nikkor 200-500mm f5.6? if you have practice experience with such a bundle ? in your opinion, will autofocus work well with this combination ? all this I ask in relation to the photo mode
Great Tips Steve, Thank-You so much for sharing these! You are right that everybody should get your Exposure and Metering Book and the Nikon Autofocus Book, these are great books no matter how long you been using Nikon Cameras. Those books are the Best that I have seen and can really up your game! I have been a Nikon shooter for about 45 years and reading these books and tips I always find something I did not know. Again Thank-You Steve for putting all the hard work putting all this together. Very Very Much Appreciated!!!
Thanks again for these tips also.
Great tips and videop, thanks Steve, of course, would love to know how you program you buttons.
Just posted 🙂
https://backcountrygallery.com/nikon-mirrorless-button-control-setup/
Appreciate your work. Thank you.
Thanks. Great video with a lot of information. I would appreciate tips on programming the buttons with the Z6 camera vs D500.
Thanks for yet another “out of the park” presentation. I must admit that I will need go over this video again and again to get some of the points. Can’t wait for your upcoming ebook on the Z series cameras.
Nice presentation, Steve. Tips and explanations of AF modes are most helpful.
Yes, would appreciate tips on programming the buttons with the Z6 camera. If you can compare it with how the button programming compares with the 500/850, that would help a lot. I use the 850 top button for a single point metering and the bottom for single point focus.
Thanks,
Thanks for Video. I appreciate your work and have purchased your AF Nikon book already.
Yes, I would like a few suggestions on the “i” button.
Best Regards / Pierre
You will find my “under construction” sites only plus https://derumine.com
Hello Steve from sunny lock down Glasgow, Scotland. I can’t see myself getting to switch to mirrorless anytime soon, cost alone, but I am interested greatly in moving up to a D850 from my D500 which I love. The reason I have all your books, videos and the like and by the way I loved your podcasts, is that I always seem to come away with a nugget I had either forgotten or never new hence my watching and commenting here on this instructional video. Love your stuff please keep it coming.
Hello There,
I have both Nikon D500 and D850. My tip is if you strictly shooting wildlife don’t change to D850, the D500 blows the D850 in many ways but if you need more MP for other reason, go ahead.
Thank you for this. Can you explain more please? My reasoning was that fact the 850 is full frame with the bigger MPs and yes I really only do wildlife and small brown birds in particular.
The d500 has a focus set up the same as the d5, so you’re likely to get more keepers with the d5 than the d850 with fast moving targets.
I beg to disagree. I had the D500 and have upgraded to the D850, never to look back. Although the focus engine of the D500 is fantastic, the crop sensor tends to lead to very noisy images in low light. On the contrary, the FX sensor of the D850 is phenomenal -the only Nikon dSLR to achieve a 100 mark on dxomark.com. Moreover, if you get the battery grip and extra juice batteries for the D850 the shooting speed and focusing acuity are pretty much in par with the D500. Best of both worlds really.
Thank you Shane and Andre. My understanding concurs with Andre. I also can get noisy low light images on the D500.
When I got my D850 (and grip for 9FPS), I pretty much stopped using my D500. The pixel density is virtually the same and if you compare a DX cropped D850 image to the D500, you’ll discover the noise is about the same as well (technically the D500 enjoys about a quarter stop ISO gain on the D850 at higher ISO 6400+ if memory serves – and good luck seeing it in the field 😀 ). However, if you use the entire image area of the D850 and then view comparative outputs between it and the D500, you’ll find the… Read more »
Excellent feedback and detailed explanation Steve, really appreciate your input as it’s a fair cost for me to upgrade to the D850. I love my D500 and really enjoy using it. I do crop but not a lot so felt the full frame aspect would help me progress to better things, cheers and stay safe.
Would also love to see your configuration please
Steve,
Thank you for another useful and informative video.
Hi Steve, great clip with loads of useful insights. I left the Sony alpha system for the Nikon when Sony started to shift to mirrorless and IBS instead of in lens IS, and it is a bit amusing to see how many Canon shooters switched to the A9. Since you tested the A9, how do the Z bodies compare to it? I know how you feel about Macro, I am interested in your opinion as a long lens, midlife shooter.
Thanks, and keep up the good work!
Right now, Sony is better for wildlife / long lens work. The a9ii and 600 F/4 are a killer combo. I don’t think we’ll see Nikon competing with them in a meaningful way into the next generation. However, for non-action / light action work I’m just as happy with either system (at least as of firmware 3.0 – I wasn’t happy with things when the cameras first came out).
Is there that much of a difference. Is the Z7 absolutely unusable for wildlife and long lens work? I just ordered mine and expect it to be delivered this week. Currently, I’m using a D750 with 200 to 500 mm. – Thanks
It’s not unusable at all – it’s just that Sony is better at the moment for action work with wildlife. In fact, I’d put the a9ii against my D5 any day, they are neck and neck. The same can’t be said for the Z7 against the a9ii. Still, that doesn’t mean the Z7 becomes unusable. You’re just not going to have the same level of performance as with the Sony offerings. It’s a little like comparing your D750 to a D5 for action. The D750 can do it, the D5 does it at a higher level. Both can still get… Read more »
Thanks, hate to have a pig in the poke. I trust Nikon will release further updates to improve all. after all I think or believe its just software for now!
Some of it’s software, but some of it’s hardware too. I think one of the bigger problems with the current Z series is that they are a little underpowered in the processing department. I think that’s why, for example, we see a bit better performance when we turn off Apply Settings To Live View – and don’t need to do anything remotely like that in the Sony cameras to get maximum performance. Still, I think you’ll enjoy the camera. There are, at least in my opinion, a lot of positives that can help make up for any shortcomings. I LOVE… Read more »
Steve – Thanks again for another great video. I’ve given this overnight to think about the choice of frame rate between High and High Extended. I think for me I’m going to see a change in the mix depending on what I am photographing. There are situations with predictable action that need a fast frame rate for precise timing – horses going over jumps, sports like golf that have predictable action, large wading birds arriving at a nest, etc. – and for those I’ll probably still use High Extended. For fast erratic action – like shorebirds in flight, songbirds, tight… Read more »
Agree 100%. I find myself flipping between the two all the time where on my DSLRs I’d set it on CH when it came out of the box and that was pretty much it forever 🙂
I only wish the Z cameras offered a way to to assign drive modes to a function button or something.
Thanks for the video, would like to see how you have set up the buttons
Great video. Interested in your button configuration.
Hello Steve ,
Thanks for the tips and tricks on the Nikon Z series. I have a Z50 and it would be helpful if you can do a video for the settings. Thanks very much.
Thanks Steve for another super AF video. I immediately made 3 changes to my Z6 for shooting high school sports (when it resumes). I changed the Custom Function A8 to OFF, so that it will not apply settings to live view. I also switched my Continuous to H from the H+ setting because I was getting the slide show when I was tracking basketball drives to the basket–this will help me track more live views now. I also switched from 14 bits to 12 bits. Thanks for the tips!!
Thanks for another informative video. And yes, I’d love to see how you configured your Z camera.
would love to see you configuration! Thanks so much!
Steve another great video. Would love to see a video on how you configure your Z camera’s.
I would like to see a button configuration video for the Z6
Yes I would love the button configuration
yes would like to button configuration
Thank you for this video! I’d love to see more about your Z6 settings.
Thanks for another friendly and professional video Steve. I am interested in customising my Z7. Having changed from D5 to Z7 I have started using the shutter focus and sub joystick very happily after years of BB. I have custom set the BB focus button to Zoom which is handy for my spare thumb but one problem is that I can only do that by assigning the button to a User setting, not a great problem as I do use all three Us anyway. Just cant see why it will only hold the setting if locked into a User position.… Read more »
I don’t use the user settings, but I just tried it and it seems to stick on my AF-On button. I turned off the camera, removed the battery, tried again, still set. The only thing I can think of is that it’s not set when the camera is in normal operating mode (non-user setting). Maybe just go into one of the regular mode (M, A,S,P) and then set it and see if it sticks. It did for mine.
I would like to receive your Z50 button settings. Thanks.
Would like to see your settings for the Z6
Yes Steve, hearing your key camera settings would be great. Especially how you program the buttons on the front of the camera. Thanks, John Howard
Would like to see your button setup for the Z series. Thanks
Would definitely like to see your button set up for the Z series.
Excellent Video, Steve… Let me know when the book is available, it’ll be an instant Fav !!
Great tips. A video on your Z camera button settings would be great. Looking forward to your upcoming SZ camera auto focus boot. Your earlier books have helped a lot and are kept on my iPad so that I have them when I travel. Keep up the good work.
Steve, Please do the Z camera button config. even though there are no covies of covids in the woods, you should probably stay home and do the Z button video!
LOL, will do 🙂
Great tips for the Z cameras. Looking forward to your upcoming book
Thanks!!
Hi Steve:
You are a very gifted teacher. I look forward to your Z autofocus book.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks Steve. This video of Z camera tips is helpful. I would definitely like your recommendations on setting button controls. As you mentioned there is not yet a full line of Z lens options. I am using rental lenses as needed until the Z mount versions are released. In Africa I used a Nikon 200 to 500 mm zoom and had great results. I will purchase the 200 to 600 mm Z mount zoom when released. Renting will save money if you don’t need the lens frequently.
Yup. planning on the video – lots of requests 🙂
Steve, just watched your Z camera focus video. It really helped! I just got my first mirrorless camera, the Z50, so I’ve got a lot to learn. Here’s a topic I haven’t seen addressed yet: The Z50 has a menu setting that allows me to to turn on/off VR for the camera body. In addition, most of my Nikon lenses have VR on/off settings. If I do want to use VR, do I turn it on for both the Z50 body and the lens or ?? I’ve currently got them both turned on and frankly don’t see VR kick in… Read more »
Ahh, this one’s easy 🙂
When the lens is attached that has a VR switch, you control VR from there – ignore the menu. If the lens doesn’t have a VR switch, you control it from the menu.
Thank you. That clear up the confusion that was caused when I called Nikon with the same question a few weeks ago and they told me I had to turn VR on for both the lens and the body.
LOL that’s funny – I wish I was surprised. Yeah, when you have a VR lens with a switch on it attached, the VR menu is actually disabled. It’ll tell you if the VR switch is on or off, but it won’t allow you to change it.
Hi Steve! I would like to a tutorial on the controls and your settings for the Z cameras. Thanks always, Rick Farrell
Will do 🙂
sorry- double post.
Thanks Steve! Concise and useful. I for one would like to see a future video on your recommended steins.
Will do 🙂
Another excellent video Steve… While not up to the abilities of the A9 series bodies, the Z6 is a much better camera with firmware 3.0. I am so glad that you have stuck with your Z7 so that you can offer suggestions like these on how to maximize performance. Changing the live view settings is one of the tips that I never considered, so I appreciate this one! Finally, I would be interested in hearing about two things with respect to your Z-bodies.. 1: How do you configure your buttons 2: Which telephotos do you feel benefit from the Z6/Z7… Read more »
Thanks Bruce!
I’m going to do a video with the button settings – turns out it was in higher demand than I thought!
That’s incredibly interesting about the 200-400 as well – and good to hear. I can say from my experience that if the Z does have a lock, it tends to have a good one – and it’s really consistent.
Hi Steve – Another great video. The one surprise for me was the difference between High and High Extended – I’ve typically been choosing Extended for the frame rate, but the success has always been with predictable moving subjects.
I’ve had the same experience with the 200-400 – and with the 200-400 + TC14E III. Not only is focus more accurate, images are much sharper both with and without the teleconverter.
Looks like the Zs are breathing new life into the 200-400!
Once again a great video. Love to see how your set up the Z7 but also could you save and share the setting file you have. I know that you change these on the fly but at least that would give us a starting point. Better to load a setting file than to listen to the video camera in hand and make adjustments as you talk about each time.
Thanks!
Maybe…It’s tricky because I’m worried that if people don’t set it themselves, they may find the camera is doing something they don’t want and have no idea why or how to change it. So, I’ll have to think about it – maybe put a lot of warnings or something…
I understand . Just looking for a way to jump setting up my camera. Or perhaps a written cheat sheet??? with some sort of importance / personal taste guide. Like AF-C is always set, but tracking speed is variable
I look forward to all of your videos and have been particularly interested in everything you have to say about the Z series. I have a Z6 and a D5 and have seperated them in my mind to Z6 for landscape work and D5 for wildlife. I’ld love to see that change. In the mean time I would love to see have you have set up your z controls. Thanks for all the insight.
Thanks – and I think I’ll do the control video soon 🙂
Great job, very useful, as always!
Please do the buttons.
Thanks – will do 🙂
Would very much like to see how you have your Z set up. I’m struggling with the inconsistency of the AF system compared to my D500. Really enjoy your videos.
Will do 🙂 The tips in this video will help with the AF problems, but they won’t get the Z cameras to D500 level for action.
Which SLR Nikon is best for small birds in flight, large birds in flight and wildlife? I have a D500 and 850 and was thinking D6 for better AF. Since no D6 should I get a used D5 (prices are coming down)?
If you can, I’d hold off for the D6. Honestly, that new AF module with all cross-type sensors is making me drool. I think it may blow everything else out of the water – even the Sony a9ii (mirrorless are only line sensors).
Great job Steve on explaining the way you are using the Z7 for wildlife. One question I have though is how to use the custom buttons like I do on my D850/500. On the DSLR’s I configure the buttons to switch focus modes instantly between say single point and group i.e. backbutton single and preview button group. I tried a friends Z7 but could not find a way to do that on the Z cams. Is there a similar way to switch modes on the Z cams or an alternate way to switch modes fast?
Nope, they currently don’t support that feature. I wish they did, but as of Firmware 3.0, it’s a no-go.
Steve–when shooting birds with my D500 with attached 200-500mm f5.6, I’ll have the camera in AF-C, BBF, usually CL or CH, and single point focus for stationary birds (group area for BIF). What I find almost always is that in a sequence of shots some of the photos are in focus while 2 or 3 are out of focus. If I’ve taken a sequence, say, of 12 shots of a stationary bird, the first few are in focus, then 2 or 3 are out of focus, then back in and then sometimes out of focus again. All the while I… Read more »
Honestly, I run into the same thing. I think it a combination of shutter lag (things aren’t exactly where they look like they are, even in CH standard) and simply that the AF system isn’t up to what we get with DSLRs. We can do things to improve the situation, but even with all the advice in the video, I still don’t get the same high keeper rate I get with my D850, D500, and D5 (or even D7500 and D780).
I have had the same experience. Would the Z cameras be better in this regard?
Actually, as I stated, the problem is with a DSLR (the D500)–I know you’re really high on these cameras for wildlife photography so that’s why I’m asking.
So sorry about that, I think I was answering a different question or my skimming got the better of me. That is odd. I’d try blowing off the AF sensors. I had a D500 with a little dust bunny on the AF sensors and I thought the camera was in need of repair. A rocket blower to the AF sensors and it was perfect again. Check out 2:24 on this video:
https://backcountrygallery.com/solving-autofocus-problems-8-common-af-problems-and-solutions/
Would love to see your Z camera settings for Wildlife shooting. My understanding is that with the Z camera you can have several sets of setting that you can switch to.
Will do 🙂 And yes, you can do a lot with the customizations.
Great video Steve. Helpful in trying to maximize performance on the z bodies, which need some help. They aren’t terrrible, but they aren’t all that good for action shooting. Personally I would love to see your button setup. I can always use more tips on how to get better performance out of my z6. I love the camera for most things, but for action I’m still using my 850 and 500.
Thanks 🙂 Turns out there was more interest than I figured for the button setup – so it’s coming. And yup – I agree – for general wildlife action, you can’t beat a D850 and D500.