book

David Busch's Nikon Z7 II/Z6 II Guide to Digital Photography

by David D. Busch

February 2021

Intermediate to advanced

544 pages

19h 12m

English

Rocky Nook

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First Things FirstIn the BoxOptional and Non-Optional Add-OnsInitial SetupMastering the Multi Selector and Command DialsSetting the ClockBattery IncludedFinal Steps

Choosing a Release ModeSelecting an Exposure ModeChoosing a Metering ModeChoosing a Focus ModeChoosing the Focus Area ModeAdjusting White Balance and ISOReviewing the Images You’ve TakenTransferring Photos to Your ComputerAttaching the MB-N11 Power Battery PackChanging Default SettingsResetting the CameraRecommended Default ChangesShooting TipsPhoto Shooting Menu RecommendationsCustom Setting Menu Recommendations
Front ViewThe Business EndPlaying Back ImagesZooming the Playback DisplayViewing ThumbnailsUsing the Photo Data DisplaysGoing TopsideLens ComponentsUnderneath Your CameraThe Viewfinder/Monitor DisplaysWhat’s the Fuss about BSI?About Low-Pass Filters
Getting a Handle on ExposureEquivalent ExposureCalculating ExposureCorrectly ExposedOverexposedUnderexposedMetering Mid-TonesChoosing a Metering MethodMatrix MeteringCenter-weighted MeteringSpot MeteringHighlight-weighted MeteringChoosing an Exposure MethodAperture-PriorityShutter-PriorityProgram ModeManual ExposureAdjusting Exposure with ISO SettingsDealing with NoiseBracketingWhite Balance BracketingADL BracketingWorking with HDRAuto HDRBracketing and Merge to HDRFixing Exposures with HistogramsTonal RangeHistogram BasicsUnderstanding HistogramsFine-Tuning Exposure
Autofocus or Manual Focus?How Focus WorksContrast DetectionPhase DetectionAdding Circles of ConfusionWorking with AutofocusBringing the AF System into FocusFocus Mode and PriorityAutofocus ModeFocus-Priority versus Release-PriorityChoosing an Autofocus Area ModeFace/Eye Detection and Subject TrackingFace/Eye DetectionSubject TrackingStore by OrientationAutofocus Activation . . . and MoreManual FocusUsing the Focus/Control RingTrap (Auto) FocusBack-Button FocusActivating Back-Button FocusFine-Tuning the Focus of Your LensesLens Tune-up OptionsEvaluating Current FocusChanging the Fine-Tuning SettingSplit-Screen Display Zoom
Continuous ShootingA Tiny Slice of TimeWorking with Short ExposuresLong ExposuresThree Ways to Take Long ExposuresWorking with Long ExposuresDelayed ExposuresSelf-TimerInterval/Time-Lapse PhotographyUsing Interval PhotographyTime-Lapse MoviesStar TrailsMultiple ExposuresGeotagging with the Nikon GP-1aFocus Shift ShootingConnecting to Your Smart Device or ComputerLinking Your Camera to a Smart DeviceUsing the SnapBridge AppCamera ScreenOther Connection Options
Sensor SensibilitiesChoosing Native Z-mount LensesNikon Lens OverviewIngredients of Nikon’s Alphanumeric SoupWide-to-Normal Zoom LensesNikkor Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 SNikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 SNikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 SNikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 SWide-Angle/Normal Prime LensesNikkor Z 20mm f/1.8 SNikkor Z 24mm f/1.8 SNikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 SNikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 SNikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 SNikkor Z 58mm f/0.95 S NoctTelephoto LensesNikkor 85mm f/1.8 SNikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S VRNikkor Z 24-200mm f4-6.3 VRNikkor Z Teleconverter TC-1.4x/TC-2.0xDX LensesNikkor Z 16-50mm DX f/3.5-6.3 VRNikkor Z 50-250mm DX f/4.5-6.3 VRLenses to ComeUniversal VRHow It WorksUsing the FTZ AdapterOther AdaptersCategories of LensesUsing Wide-Angle and Wide-Zoom LensesAvoiding Potential Wide-Angle ProblemsUsing Telephoto and Tele-Zoom LensesAvoiding Telephoto Lens ProblemsTelephotos and BokehUsing F-Mount LensesMacro LensesThe F-Mount Magic ThreeWide AnglesWide-to-Medium/Long ZoomsTelephoto and Normal Lenses
Light That’s AvailableContinuous Lighting BasicsLiving with Color TemperatureDaylightIncandescent/Tungsten/Halogen LightFluorescent Light/LEDsOther Lighting Accessories
Electronic Flash BasicsThe Moment of ExposureA Tale of Two ExposuresMeasuring ExposureGuide NumbersChoosing a Flash Sync ModeGhost ImagesHigh-Speed SyncUsing External FlashUsing Flash Exposure CompensationSpecifying Flash Shutter SpeedPreviewing Your Flash EffectFlash ControlWorking with Nikon Flash External UnitsNikon SB-300Nikon SB-400Nikon SB-500Nikon SB-700Nikon SB-R200Nikon SB-910Nikon SB-5000Light ModifiersUsing Zoom HeadsFlash ModesRepeating Flash
Elements of Wireless FlashMaster FlashChannelsGroupsLighting RatiosSetting Your Master FlashSetting Commander Mode for the SB-5000Setting Commander Modes for the SB-910 or SB-900Setting Commander Modes for the SB-700Setting Commander Modes for the SB-500Setting Remote ModesRadio Control
Menu AnatomyPlayback Menu OptionsDeletePlayback FolderPlayback Display OptionsDual-Format Recording PB SlotImage ReviewAfter DeleteAfter Burst, ShowRotate TallCopy Image(s)Slide ShowRatingPhoto Shooting Menu OptionsReset Photo Shooting MenuStorage FolderFile NamingPrimary Slot SelectionSecondary Slot FunctionChoose Image AreaImage QualityImage SizeNEF (RAW) RecordingISO Sensitivity SettingsWhite BalanceSet Picture ControlManage Picture ControlColor SpaceActive D-LightingLong Exposure NRHigh ISO NRVignette ControlDiffraction CompensationAuto Distortion ControlFlicker Reduction ShootingMeteringFlash ControlFlash ModeFlash CompensationFocus ModeAF-Area ModeVibration ReductionAuto BracketingMultiple ExposureHDR (High Dynamic Range)Interval Timer ShootingTime-Lapse MovieFocus Shift ShootingSilent PhotographyMovie Shooting MenuReset Movie Shooting MenuFile NamingDestinationChoose Image AreaFrame Size/Frame RateMovie QualityMovie File TypeISO Sensitivity SettingsWhite BalanceSet Picture ControlManage Picture ControlActive D-LightingHigh ISO NRVignette ControlDiffraction CompensationAuto Distortion ControlFlicker ReductionMeteringFocus ModeAF-Area ModeVibration ReductionElectronic VRMicrophone SensitivityAttenuatorFrequency ResponseWind Noise ReductionHeadphone VolumeTimecode
Custom Settings Menu LayoutReset Custom Settingsa. Autofocusa1 AF-C Priority Selectiona2 AF-S Priority Selectiona3 Focus Tracking with Lock-ona4 Focus Points Useda5 Store Points by Orientationa6 AF Activationa7 Limit AF-Area Mode Selectiona8 Focus Point Wrap-Arounda9 Focus Point Optionsa10 Low-Light AFa11 Built-in AF-Assist Illuminatora12 Manual Focus Ring in AF Modeb. Metering/Exposureb1 EV Steps for Exposure Cntrl.b2 Easy Exposure Compensationb3 Center-Weighted Areab4 Fine-Tune Optimal Exposurec. Timers/AE Lockc1 Shutter-Release Button AE-Lc2 Self-Timerc3 Power Off Delayd. Shooting/Displayd1 CL Mode Shooting Speedd2 Max. Continuous Released3 Sync. Release Mode Optionsd4 Exposure Delay Moded5 Shutter Typed6 Extended Shutter Speeds (M)d7 Limit Selectable Image Aread8 File Number Sequenced9 Apply Settings to Live Viewd10 Framing Grid Displayd11 Focus Peakingd12 View All in Continuous Modee. Bracketing/Flashe1 Flash Sync Speede2 Flash Shutter Speede3 Exposure Compensation for Flashe4 Auto Flash ISO Sensitivity Controle5 Modeling Flashe6 Auto Bracketing (Mode M)e7 Bracketing Orderf. Controlsf1 Customize i Menuf2 Custom Controlsf3 OK Buttonf4 Shutter Spd & Aperture Lockf5 Customize Command Dialsf6 Release Button to Use Dialf7 Reverse Indicatorsf8 Reverse Ring for Focusf9 Assign MB-N11 Buttonsg. Movieg1 Customize i Menug2 Custom Controlsg3 OK Buttong4 AF Speedg5 AF Tracking Sensitivityg6 Highlight Displayg7 Assign MB-N11 Buttons
Setup Menu OptionsFormat Memory CardSave User SettingsReset User SettingsLanguageTime Zone and DateMonitor BrightnessMonitor Color BalanceViewfinder BrightnessViewfinder Color BalanceControl Panel BrightnessLimit Monitor Mode SelectionInformation DisplayAF Fine-Tuning OptionsNon-CPU Lens DataSave Focus PositionClean Image SensorImage Dust Off Ref PhotoPixel MappingImage CommentCopyright InformationBeep OptionsTouch ControlsHDMILocation DataWireless Remote (WR) OptionsAssign Remote (WR) Fn ButtonAirplane ModeConnect to Smart DeviceConnect to PCWireless Transmitter (WT-7)Conformity MarkingBattery InfoUSB Power DeliveryEnergy Saving (Photo Mode)Slot Empty Release LockSave/Load Menu SettingsReset All SettingsFirmware VersionRetouch MenuNEF (RAW) ProcessingTrimResizeD-LightingRed-Eye CorrectionStraightenDistortion ControlPerspective ControlMonochromeImage OverlayTrim MovieSide-by-Side ComparisonUsing My Menu
Quick Start ChecklistLean, Mean, Movie MachineCapturing VideoSlow-Motion MoviesShooting Your MovieUsing the i ButtonStop That!Viewing Your MoviesTrimming Your MoviesSaving a Frame
Using an External RecorderGamma, Gamma Ding DongN-logHLG/HDRBut Wait! There’s More: RAW VideoRefocusing on FocusLens CraftDepth-of-Field and VideoZooming and VideoKeeping Things Stable and on the LevelShooting ScriptStoryboardsStorytelling in VideoCompositionLighting for VideoIlluminationCreative LightingLighting StylesAudioTips for Better AudioExternal MicrophonesSpecial Features
Upgrading Your FirmwareHow It WorksWhy Multiple Firmware Modules?Updating from SnapBridgeUpdating from a Card ReaderStarting the UpdateUpdating Other AccessoriesProtecting Your LCDTroubleshooting Memory CardsAll Your Eggs in One Basket?Preventive MeasuresWhat Can Go Wrong?What Can You Do?Cleaning Your SensorDust the FAQs, Ma’amIdentifying and Dealing with DustAvoiding DustSensor Cleaning

Content preview from David Busch's Nikon Z7 II/Z6 II Guide to Digital Photography

Capturing Video

14

Shooting movies is as easy a flipping a switch—the Photo/Movie mode switch located to the right of the viewfinder. If you’re looking for no-fuss, casual video, after you’ve selected Movie mode, just rotate the mode dial to the green Auto position and press the red Movie button located on top of the camera, just southwest of the shutter release button. Capture will start; press the Movie button again to stop recording. That’s all there is to grabbing good video clips.

But if you want to go beyond “good” to “excellent,” you’ll want to read this chapter and the next one, which will introduce you to the full range of the camera’s sophisticated movie-making capabilities. While I listed and briefly described all the options ...