In order to get the best image quality from your Nikon Z Mirrorless Camera it is so important to nail the exposure of the image. The exposure essentially depends on the following settings.
ISO Setting
Shutter Speed
Lens Aperture
When you look into the camera Menu there are quite a number of options to select. The example below is for the Nikon Z8 camera but it will vary slightly from camera to camera.
If we go into the camera Custom Settings Menu and then select Metering/Exposure we have the following settings.
- ISO Sensitivity Step Value – This allows you to choose the changes in ISO sensitivity in steps of either
- 1/3 EV step
- 1 EV step
- EV Steps for Exposure Control – Here the increments are selected for adjustments to shutter speed, aperture, bracketing, exposure and flash compensation
- 1/3 EV steps (comp. 1/3 EV)
- 1/2 EV steps (comp. 1/2 EV)
- 1 EV streps (comp. 1/3 EV) Where 1EV steps (comp. 1/3 EV) is selected changes to shutter speed, aperture, bracketing will be made in increments of 1 EV but changes to the exposure and flash compensation will be made in 1/3 EV increments
- Easy Exposure Compensation – This enables you to choose if the +/- button is used for exposure compensation
- On (Auto reset) – Exposure compensation is adjusted only using command dial. It will be reset when the camera turns off and on.
- On – Exposure compensation is adjusted only using command dial. It is not reset when the camera turns off and on.
- Off – Exposure compensation will be set by pressing the +/- button and rotating command dial.
- Matrix Metering Face Detection – Selected if metering of human faces is required
- ON
- OFF
- Center-weighted area – Greatest weight is assigned to the area selected
- Small – Area of 8 mm selected
- Standard – Area of 12 mm selected
- Average – Average of the entire frame
- Fine-tune Optimal Exposure – Fine tunes the exposure
- YES
- Matrix Metering
- Center-weighted metering
- Spot metering
- Highlight-weighted metering
- Each one can be set to 0, + or – 1 EV in 1/6 EV steps.
- No
- YES
- Keep exposure when f/ changes – This setting mauntains the exposure by varying the following options
-
- Shutter Speed
- ISO sensitivity
- Exposure maintenance off
-
As you can see from the above options there is a multitude of different settings available to choose from, to get the optimum exposure possible.
If you do not cut it with all of the possible settings in camera then there is also the possibility of fine tuning the exposure in post processing, but best results ar always obtained by getting it right in camera.
