The Setup Menu on Your Nikon Z Mirrorless Camera

Besides setting up your camera, there are also some maintenance issues which you should be aware of to ensure reliable operation of your camera.  This blog essentially refers to the Nikon Z8 but should be applicable for most of the Nikon Z Mirrorless cameras.  So here are the essentials of the Setup Menu.

• Language – Simple to select your local language.

 

• Time Zone and Date – Make selections.
  • Time Zone
  • Date and Time
  • Date Format
    • Year/Month/Day
    • Month/Day/Year
    • Day/Month/Year
  • Daylight Saving Time
  • Off/On

 

• Monitor Brightness – Adjust to Taste.

 

• Monitor Colour Balance – Adjust to suit.

 

• Viewfinder Brightness – Can only be adjusted when it is set for Monitor Only not when it is set for Automatic Display switch.
  • Auto
  • Manual

 

• Viewfinder Colour Balance – Adjust as required.

 

• Viewfinder Display Size – Set as required.
  • Standard
  • Small

 

• Limit Monitor Mode Selection – Select as required.
  • Automatic Display Switch
  • Viewfinder Only
  • Monitor Only
  • Prioritize Viewfinder (1) Placing eye at viewfinder turns it on
  • Prioritize Viewfinder (2) Placing eye at viewfinder turns it on, also for some seconds after camera is turned on, also for some seconds after a half press of shutter or AF-ON button is pressed.

 

• Auto Rotate Info Display – Displays rotated to match camera orientation.
  • Off
  • On

 

• AF Fine-tuning Options -Use as Required.
  • On –
    • Fine-tune and Save Lens
      • Adjust Fine-tune – Current Lens
      • Default – Lenses not previously saved
  • Off 

 

 

• Non-CPU Lens Data – Settings to be inputed for non CPU lenses.
  • Lens Data
  • Focal Length (mm)
  • Maximum Aperture
  • Lens Name

 

• Distance Units – Select as required.
  • Meters (m)
  • Feet (ft)

 

• Save Focus Position – Select as required.
  • On
  • Off

 

• Save Zoom Position (PZ Lenses) – Select as required.
  • On
  • Off

 

• Auto Temperature Cutout – Select as required.
  • Standard
  • High – Camera may get hot.

 

• Sensor Shield Behavour at Power Off
  • On – Sensor Shield Closes
  • Off – Sensor Shield Stays Open

 

• Clean Image Sensor – Select as required.
  • Start
  • Automatic Cleaning
    •  Clean at Shutdown
    • Cleaning Off

 

• Image Dust Off Ref Photo
  • Start
  • Clean Sesor and then Start

 

• Pixel Maping
  • Start

 

• Image Comment – As required.
  • No
  • Yes, include comment

 

• Copyright Information – As required.
  • Attach Copyright Information
    • No
    • Yes
      • Artist, include details
      • Copyright, include details

 

• IPTC – Use as required
  • Edit/Save
    • Select Preset to Edit or Save
  • Delete
  • Auto Embed During Shooting
    • Off
    • On
  • Load/Save
    • CFexpress/XQD Card Slot
    • SD Card Slot

 

• Voice Memo Options –
  • Voice Memo Control
  • Audio Output (Playback)
    • Speaker/Headphones, Volume 4 to 15,
    • HDMI
    • Off

 

• Camera Sounds – Select as required
  • Shutter Sound
    • On
    • Off
  • Volume – Adjusts the beep volume of the shutter release. Select volume 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
  • Type
    • Type A
    • Type B
    • Type C
    • Type D
    • Type  E
  • Beep – Sounds with Self timer count down, interval timer, time lapse video, end of focus shift,
    • On
    • Off – for touch controls only.
  • Volume, 1, 2 or 3
  • Pitch
    • High
    • Low

 

• Silent Mode – Select as required
  • On
  • Off

 

• Touch Controls
  • Enable/disable Touch Controls
    • Enable
    • Playback Only
    • Disable
  • Glove Mode
    • On/Off

 

• HDMI
  • Output Resolution
    • Auto
    • 4320p (progressive)
    • 2160p (progressive)
    • 1080p (progressive)
    • 1080i (interlaced)
    • 720p (progressive)
  • Output Range
    • Auto
    • Limited Range
    • Full Range

• Output Shooting Info
  • On/Off

 

• Mirror Camera Info Display
  • On/Off

 

• USB Connection Priority
  • Upload
  • Shooting

 

• Wireless Remote (WR) Options – Accessory dependant

 

• Assign Remote (WR) Fn Button
  • On/Off
    • AF-ON
    • AE Lock (Reset on Release
    • AE Lock Only
    • AE/AF Lock
    • FV Lock
    • Flash Disable/Enable
    • Switch FX DX
    • Photo Flicker Reduction
    • Preview
    • Recall Shooting Functions
    • High-Frequency Flicker Reduction
    • + RAW
    • View Mode (photo Lv)
    • None

 

• Conformity Marking 

 

• Battery Info
  • Charge %
  • Number of Shots Left
  • Battery Age

 

• USB Power Delivery
  • On/Off

 

• Energy Saving (Photo Mode)
  • Off/On

 

• Slot Empty Release Lock
  • Release Locked
  • Enable Release

 

• Save/Load Menu Settings
  • Save Menu Settings
  • Load Menu Settings 

 

• Reset All Settings – Two options.
  • Reset
  • Do Not Reset

 

• Firmware Version – Camera will list the installed firmware
  • C is the camera firmware
  • LF is the lens firmware
  • MA is the mount adapter firmware

 

• Format Memory Card – It is good to get into the habit of formatting the memory cards every time you download images.  Download the Bin file from the Nikon site and install it on your flash card.  Select the CFexpress/XQD Card Slot or SD Card slot to install the update file.