How are you programming your Z camera controls?

My customization of FN buttons is limited.

Fn1
I've set the FN1 button to Zoom. With the Z6, I started with zooming to 100% and have backed off to 50% as my standard setting. I use this button before the shot to check focus or watch for critical action, after the shot to check focus or details, and as "electronic binoculars" when birding.

I'm zooming to 50% to just provide a closer look at the subject. For example, I might look closer to observe a catchlight or precisely time an exposure.
When I change the setting to 100%, I am usually checking for accurate focus or sharpness. For birding, I'm using the 100% view in place of binoculars. I have led several bird walks and not carried binoculars at all. Being able to capture a photo - even if focus is not perfect - has allowed us to record 1-2 additional species on each outing and provide documentation for later reference.

Fn2
I leave the default setting for the Fn2 button which is Focus settings. On the Z cameras I am much more likely to change AF on the fly through the viewfinder, so while I have experimented with other settings, this is one I frequently use to make quick changes.

Edited to add:

AF-On button - used for Back Button Focus on all my cameras.

Joystick Center - used to center the AF point - I use this often as well

Video Shutter Release in Stills mode - Exposure Delay Mode - this makes it easy to turn off or on the mode when something unexpected happens

U1 - Aperture Priority - f8 - ISO 100 - AFS - Pin Point.

U2 - Manual - 1/40 - f5.6 - Auto ISO - AFS - Pin Point.

U3 - Aperture Priority - f8 - ISO 100 - AFS - Pin Point - Bracketing 3 Shots @ 1 Stop.

Still fiddling!

DG

In addition to several of these already listed, I've also set up the video record button for bracketing and found it to be pretty useful.

Z50 for me.

FN1 - grid on/off. I use this a lot for orienting many types of shots

FN2 - AF modes. Trying to decide which AF mode I like the best for default.

Fn1 turns the grid on when I want to use it to help with leveling or composition

Fn2 gives me quick access to metering modes

Back button focus

Center (OK) button is set to switch to 100 percent when shooting, and brings up the histogram on playback

U1 is programmed to my favorite settings for action and sports photography

U2 is programmed to my favorite night photography settings

U3 is programmed for tripod use and landscapes

Kevin
Aka Grandpa Parazi

On my Z7:

AF-On - BBF
FN1 - Zoom 100%
FN2 - My menu
Movie button - Bracketing
Selector button centre - Centre focus point

U1 - General use - 125 / f8 / auto ISO / AFC / Single Point
U2 - Tripod use - 125 / f8 / ISO 64 / AF-S / Single Point / Silent / delay 2s / IBIS off
U3 - Moving subject use - 1000 / f5.6 / auto ISO / AFC / Wide small

I’d not used the memory banks on my D800 and D850 so am new to the use of custom banks. What I learnt today (which should have been obvious) is that every time you power off then on, the settings are restored to whatever the U1/U2/U3 settings were assigned as. As it has been my habit to power off whenever I can, I must now get used to letting the camera go into standby to avoid having to keep resetting any temporary changes.

Geoff

Z7
Function control 1: subject tracking.
Function control 2: metering

Informative and useful post, Eric. Thanks.

The settings for my Z6 are as follows:

FN1 - AE-L
FN2 - Focus settings as set in default.
Video record - since I only shoot stills, I reset this to 50% zoom. I use it often, both before shooting and afterward to check focus.

U1 - for landscapes. ISO 100, AF-C, single-point AF, WB Ao, SD picture control, matrix metering.
U2 - for wildlife and action. ISO floating 400-1600, AF-C, wide-area AF (I often switch to single-point for perched birds) WB Ao, SD picture, matrix metering.
U3 - still tinkering.

A few other points:

AF-ON - set to BBF, always.
I only shoot RAW.
I generally shoot aperture preferred or manual.

Well, That was an interesting exercise! And it pointed out some inconsistencies, redundancies, and bad decisions in my configuration!

So this is where I am at right now. It needs changing, but I will share it anyway. Looks like I will be reviewing all your settings, Steve Perry’s book, and maybe some Hudson Henry videos. On the other hand, to many resources may have gotten me and my Z 6II into this mess.

M/A/S
 Fn1: Preview
 Fn2: Bracketing

U1 - Landscape, Aperture priority, f8, Auto ISO
 Fn1: Preview
 Fn2: Subject tracking

U2 - Moving Subjects, Shutter priority, 1/1250s, f4, Auto ISO
 Fn1: Focus mode/AF-area mode
 Fn2: Subject tracking

U3 - Bracketing for HDR, Aperture priority, f8, Auto ISO
 Fn1: Preview
 Fn2: Subject tracking

All modes
 AF on BBF
 Subselector Center: Reset to focus point to center
 OK button: 100% zoom
 Movie record button: Bracketing

I will note that Preview does not feel nearly as useful as on my Nikon DSLRs (or on my F3 for that matter). I don’t need so many ways to get at bracketing, and I use it less on my Z6II than on my D750 & D700.

I certainly need to give this some more thought. Thanks for the nudge Eric. :blush:

Brett

This is a good post. Here is how I have my Z50 set.

F1 - Exposure lock
F2 - Depth of field preview

U1 (photo) - Tripod shots (3 second delay, no VR)
U2 (photo) - Hand held shots (no delay, VR on)

Eric,

Great question.
I posted the same question last September - https://www.nikonians.org/forum/topic/477-9576/custom-setting-f2-for-z-6-z-7
Maybe you can get a better response than I did.
I thought it would be really helpful (and educational) to see how others use the gear.

I’m finding that my settings change over time - and perhaps even by task.
For instance, if I’m doing flash-heavy work, I need FV Lock. But if not, it’s a waste of a button.
The one drawback to this is having to remember what I’ve put where.

- Ford