Nikon Z7 II & Z6 II User's Guide & Tricks by Ken Rockwell

Nikon Z7 II & Z6 II User's Guide by Ken Rockwell

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[timbutler]

Happy St Patricks Day to you and yours.
My partner once thought Ken Rockwell was an alias for another woman but now she thinks I should invite you to tea because I'm constantly on your website.
Thank you so much for the info. If I had one criticism it would be that you speak so fast that I am constantly pausing and rewinding but thats how I learn..(and they say I talk fast) Other than that, Just thank you for the website and the reviews over the years. I have learned more from you than any classroom environment. So much so, that I have just bought my first full frame camera since the D7000 (which is still shooting after 500, 000 shots and no issues or replacement parts) I'm in love with my Z7ii but so thankful for your guidance. Love to you and your family.

[germanshepherdmom]

I want you to know, as our world is falling apart, your videos are keeping my mind occupied and happy. Thank you Sir.

[pasky]

Wow. Since I got my Z6 ii, I have not met anyone who has mastered this camera like you. I am gonna subscribe definitely.

[juansol]

Thank you very much for this video, Ken. I'm following you since several years ago, and your information is always the first reference for me, especially when I'm trying to buy a new Nikon product. Greetings from Madrid, Spain.

[rahulfilms]

Sir grateful for all your videos and blog posts. Thanks for your hardwork.

[jackbrumby]

Thanks Ken. U1/U2/U3 settings: I go with P.A.L. ie U1: People U2: Action U3: Landscapes. Cheers.

[Magnetron]

Hi Ken, many thanks! Due to your video about the Fringer adapter I purchased it for my Nikon Z6 and with my Canon EF lenses it works just fine. No issues. With the latest firmware update I even can use my old Canon EF 2.8/28-80 mm L USM with no problem. The Z6 is the best camera I've ever had. Have a nice day! Best wishes from nearby Stuttgart, Germany, Ralf

[BabyBoomerChannel]

I bought the SB-400 on eBay based on your recommendation. Great flash.

[gerhard]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:

00:00 📷 The video provides tips and tricks for using the Nikon Z7 II and Z6 II cameras, as well as older Z7 and Z6 models.
01:09 🔋 The camera's battery can be charged quickly using a USB-C cable and a power adapter, or even a power bank or computer with USB-C.
02:18 🔌 The camera can be charged while it's on, using USB power delivery, or while it's off, using the battery.
03:27 💡 The camera has various power-saving features, and it's recommended to leave the USB power delivery option enabled for convenience.
05:04 🎚️ The camera's buttons, including the function buttons, can be easily customized for quick access to various settings.
07:09 🚫 Using older Nikon AF lenses on the Z cameras might not provide full autofocus functionality and is generally not recommended.
09:16 🎯 The autofocus system can be optimized for better tracking by setting AFC mode and using the all-area AF mode.
11:07 🔍 The camera offers various manual focus aids, including focus peaking and a three-way null indicator.
12:04 🎛️ Setting the camera to auto mode for basic settings allows the photographer to focus on the subject while the camera handles technical aspects.
12:45 📷 The camera's base ISO is 64, which can be used for slightly better image quality compared to ISO 100.
13:28 🕰️ The electronic first curtain shutter can be used to minimize vibration and is suitable for specific shooting situations.
14:37 🔄 The camera offers various image crop modes, allowing photographersto compose shots according to their artistic preferences.
16:30 📸 The recommended external flash for Nikon Z cameras is the Nikon SB-400 for its compatibility and features.
17:12 🌓 The camera offers long exposure options, including a time setting for exposures beyond 30 seconds.
18:07 📌The U1, U2, and U3 modes allow photographers to quickly switch between pre-set configurations for different shooting situations.
18:21 📷 The speaker uses the U1, U2, and U3 modes to quickly switch between different shooting configurations for landscapes, portraits, and sports photography.
18:49 💾 User settings can be saved and loaded in the camera, making it easy to configure and recall preferred setups.
19:16 🔄 Editing the settings of U1, U2, and U3 modes involves recalling the mode, making changes, and then saving the updated settings.
19:45 💻 The speaker prefers using a card reader to download pictures from the camera, finding it faster and more convenient than connecting the camera directly to the computer.

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[marc]

Ken, that is a good review. Straight to the point and speaking about what users mostly care about

[KeesRecourt]

Thank you for your great review Ken. I was looking for a flash light, followed your advice and bought a second hand Nikon SB-400 for 79 euro (82 US dollar). It works perfect!

[gerhard]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:

00:00 📷 In the video, the speaker shares tips and tricks for operating the Nikon Z7 Mark II and Z6 Mark II cameras, including some features that may also apply to older Z7 and Z6 models.
01:09 🔌 The camera's battery can be charged using the USB-C port, either from a computer, power bank, or wall adapter. Using a USB-C PD power delivery adapter can provide faster charging.
02:18 🔋 The camera can be set to charge only when powered off or only from the battery, which can be adjusted in the settings to conserve power or prioritize the battery.
03:40 💾 The camera has two card slots, one for CFexpress Type B or XQD cards and the other for SD cards, giving users options for storage preferences.
04:51 📸 The speaker recommends using Nikon Z lenses or AF-S lenses with the FTZ adapter for autofocus performance, cautioning that older AF and manual focus lenses may not work as expected.
09:02 🎯 To improve autofocus tracking performance, the speaker suggests setting the camera to AF-C mode with the all-area AF focus area option.
10:09 🔲 Manual focus aids, including focus peaking and focus magnification, can be utilized to achieve precise focus when needed.
11:49 🔢 The speaker prefers shooting in auto mode for exposure settings, letting the camera handle most settings, and only making manual adjustments when necessary.
13:13 🔒 The electronic first curtain shutter can be beneficial for minimizing vibrations, especially useful when shooting with studio strobes or in certain situations.
14:37 🖼️ The camera offers various image crop modes, allowing users to crop images in-camera with different aspect ratios, such as DX, square, or 5:4 crops.
15:06 📸 The speaker recommends using an external flash, such as the Nikon SB-400, for better flash performance and usability, especially when shooting in low light conditions.
16:30 🌈 The auto white balance settings on the camera have multiple options, including Auto 0, Auto 1, Auto 2, and Auto Natural Light, which can be chosen based on shooting conditions and preferences.
17:12 ⏰ The camera provides timed exposures through the "Time" setting in manual exposure mode and supports exposures longer than 30 seconds by enabling extended shutter speeds in custom settings.
17:53 🎬 The camera features user-programmable settings U1, U2, and U3 for quickly switching between different shooting configurations, useful for various shooting scenarios.
18:21 📸 The speaker uses custom user settings (U1, U2, U3) to quickly switch between different shooting configurations for various shooting scenarios, such as landscapes, people shots, or sports.
19:01 🔄 Users can save and load their preferred camera settings into U1, U2, and U3 modes using the camera's menu, allowing for easy customization and quick access to preferred configurations.
19:45 💻 The speaker prefers using a card reader to download pictures from the camera's memory card, finding it faster and more convenient than connecting the camera directly to the computer. However, when necessary, they use the Apple Image Capture app to transfer images via USB.

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[donkeybizle]

Ken you are the man with a plan. Excellent video!

[trfisher]

As long as I get metering with the older lenses I'm happy. Focus peaking is awesome for focusing manual lenses.

[sarajitsil]

Fantastic!! Very helpful video. Thanks for creating this 👍

[adrianvanleeuwen]

The best thing I learned from you today is that I can order a EF to NZ adapter to connect a Z camera to my EF lenses with full autofocus. That is great! Your website mentions the Fringer Lens Mount Adapter. Thanks.

[mcndev]

You remind me a lot of my dad, which is a good thing. His last camera was a Nikon D750, he also had several F3s. Thanks for this review very much, candid and to the point.

[jefflastofka]

Nice tips, thanks. You mentioned U1-U3 not being enough. I want Nikon to give us user named custom settings we can scroll through by holding a button and spinning a dial. As many as we want. When you create them in the camera, they're default named, but you could rename them on your computer over USB or with an SD card load perhaps. If you have Nikon's ear through a rep or somehow, please get them going on this. It's just firmware. I think it could be added to the Z50, Z5, Z as is.

[tiedgear]

You just covered all my questions to my camera, thank you, definitely like and subscribe

[mjordan]

That depends on how you define "properly". I still have my F - FTn with manually coupled aperture lenses. Do they work? Yes. Are they a PITA to use? Also yes.