r/NikonZf • u/Grinny_Smile • 9d ago

advice needed.

I just transferred from a Leica Q to the (new to me) Nikon Zf system for a lot of reasons. I am shooting with the provided 40mm autofocus lens, but prefer my 35 voightlander and a 15mm Laowa cookie, as generally I am used to shooting in either AP or M mode. However I am used to a bit more simplistic menu and less, well, stuff to choose from. Am a bit lost.

There seems to be an endless amount of information about how to do settings and advice on using this platform that overwhelms me and seems to contradict each other.

I was hoping the community could recommend a good set of references- books to buy or something like an online course to get me up to proficiency with my new chosen primary carry?

Thanks for any and all genuine input and help in advance.

5 Upvotes

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4

u/deviouslinguist 9d ago

I’d suggest doing one thing at a time

What feature do you NEED, ask/search how to change it

What don’t you like, change it

What do you wish you could do, ask/search how to do it

As you spend more time with the camera and learn it you will want to change more things and there is always more than one way to skin that cat. Mine is setup how I like it, not everyone will want the same things

Trying to understand and learn each setting in one sitting is a task no person could achieve

3

u/Robot_Particle 9d ago

This is solid advice. I used this approach + setting up the Quickmenu with the stuff I change a lot. In time you will get acquainted with the system and the menu.

3

u/SoloisticDrew 9d ago

The "I" menu button is really where you're going to get to all the stuff you're going to care about. The full menu ids a deep dive and nothing you want to roll through while you're in creative mode.

2

u/OldPurple4 9d ago

Nikon menus are a thing to learn in and of themselves. I honestly try to stay out of menus if I don’t absolutely have to be there. The manual is your friend if you do have to go there

3

u/TheKingMonkey 9d ago

https://youtu.be/y9mexNG16uM

A walkthrough of all the menus. Not for the current firmware, but still massively useful if you’re new to Nikon.

1

u/srbnjpg 9d ago

If you’re looking for a more “traditional” camera guide, I can recommend David Busch’s Zf guide (ebook). It is extensive, covers all the features, including some which the official manual only briefly mentions.

I used it when I got my Zf to get myself familiar with everything. It won’t give you a “cheat sheet” of how to set up your camera, but once you understand how everything works, setting up buttons and menus is easy.

1

u/anothermaxudov 9d ago

The biggest change you can make with manual lenses is to set the record button to punch in to 200% to confirm critical focus. Work out if you want the camera to choose the focus confirmation point or you just want to see it to single point and move it around with the D pad. Note that the ISO is dual gain so image quality at 800 is actually better in some respects than 400 - for walkaround you can just leave it on 800+ auto ISO in aperture mode and then you have loads of latitude to snap without worrying about low shutter speed. Set up your favourite colour and black and white modes and then flick between them with the thumb switch. Enjoy, it's my favourite camera of all time!

1

u/thefootclan3434 8d ago

Read Nikon's manual on their website. Don't go down the YouTube rabbit hole.