How I Make My 4K YouTube Videos with the Nikon Z6ii (How To Settings, Lens, Lighting, Audio, etc.)

[@IG2013Ind]

Thanks for this video Mike! I am 2 years late to the party - but this is so relevant, I doubt if it will get dated anytime soon. Learning so much : )

[@lumenlarry6197]

Thanks Mike, this is cool to see behind the scenes!! Your videos are top notch and I have a Z6ii so I'm learning a bunch from you...thank you

[@MikeMcGeePhotography]

Glad you enjoy these videos, and thanks for watching!

[@SovanoraHounKhin]

i really like your set up mode and studio, video creation.

[@jerianlewis1708]

Lovely video setup ... thanks for sharing ... really appreciated it

[@joseaqui]

Thank you for this video. I recently purchased a Nikon Z6ii and I'm a total beginner for video. Thank you!

[@winniduesseldorf]

Great review - clear and easy to understand. Additionally the images showing the entire scene with the positions of the lights

[@MDanceInc]

Hey Mike...Thanks for this video..!! It was really helpfull. I have the Z6 but just ordered the Z7ii as well....I subscribed to your channel and liked...

[@MikeMcGeePhotography]

Thanks so much, Mark and I'm glad you found this video helpful! Thanks for the like and sub as well. Cheers!

[@TheThinkersBible]

This is great. I never thought of up-rezzing 1080p to 4K. I'm a still photographer just starting with video (am working on my 4th video right now) and just sold my D850 and D500 to buy a Z6 II + FTZ adapter. Am VERY glad I did. Did my 1st 3 videos w the D850. My 4th video is being recorded with my new Z6 II. I too use AF-F. Also shoot 1/60 sec at F3.5 and 4K/30fps. Using Davinci Resolve Studio. Will try the 1080p after I publish this one. Thanks again for that tip!

[@MikeMcGeePhotography]

Thanks for your comment! I'm sure I am dramatically increasing rendering time by doing it this way, but for me, I typically just edit a video and the start the "export" (render) at night and woke up and my video is rendered, so in my particular case it works great with smaller files, and the end result seems to be nice and clear. Glad to hear this video may have assisted you, cheers.

[@TheThinkersBible]

@@MikeMcGeePhotography agreed re: rendering time. But that's a small price to pay for visibly increased visuals quality. I like the idea of smaller files because these 4K files are huge. 256 GB XQD card gets eaten up quickly, plus storing (and potentially retrieving) many videos over time would be much easier with 4x smaller files.

[@philipscourfield4585]

Nice video. Thanks!

[@jcam783]

Hey Mike ! A bit late to the party, but just diving into video and can use these great tips . More of a stills guy myself ,but have always been curious about video . Eventually hoping to learn how to shoot Cinematic Short Films .

[@mattcero1]

Did you mention what your frame rate was when you were setting up your aperture? Also can you select mic level and line level on your microphone menu settings for that camera?

[@KennethGreenCMP]

Great video

[@MikeMcGeePhotography]

Thanks, Kenneth

[@1eightynet]

Wireless Go II best investment I have made...records as well as transmits incase the audio on sd comes out bad.

[@thefaceexchange]

Hi Mike, watched your videos and now this one where you mention the Buff Digibees which I am seriously considering getting. One of my attractions to them is their bright LED's for video, so any video use limitations (or non) that you can share would be appreciated. Thanks,Joe

[@MikeMcGeePhotography]

Hey Joe, I have absolutely NO issues with DigiBees at all. I would highly recommend getting the DB800's (over the DB400) just because the price difference is so small, but more importantly, you can often find DB800s on the secondary markets (eBay, FB Marketplace, Craigslist) where used DB800s can be even cheaper. These are seriously the BEST strobes I've ever used, and my colored gel dome hack makes them more versatile than Einsteins. I sold all of my Einsteins and now use Digibees in-studio exclusively (and have LINK strobes when shooting remotely on occasion.) They're fantastic and the LED modeling lamps are BRIGHT and don't get as hot as Einsteins, and no bulbs to replace. Love them. Hope this helps.

[@thefaceexchange]

Thanks Mike, yes, your comments are very helpful. I've been a Buff lights user for years and have never had a issue. One more thought; I just stumbled across the Interfit Honey Badger. This looks good too. Any thoughts? Thanks again, JOe

[@CuriouZteacher]

for a year now i've been using my sony zv e10. but i still have my very first camera nikon d5600 that i hope i could start using soon. it was my veryfirst camera and it's a dslr so as someone new to actual cameras i had difficulty learning to use the d5600 effectively. i appreciate your (this) video because you make it feel simple. kit lens will work. no need for expensive lens with wider apperture. camera distance. simple settings. i love this tutorial. the only problem i have with my own setup is that i only have a cheap 45watt soft box. can you make a tutorial about using cheap lighting for youtube vids. thanks. btw... just a couple of questions: 1. you already gave the camera distance at 6 ft. how about the height and angle? i love how you and your background are framed. and 2. what could be the best camera setting if the key light is only 45 watts? can you please do an experiment how to get a good enough looking indoor night time talking head video with a 45 watt key? thanks

[@MikeMcGeePhotography]

Hey there, thanks for your kind words about the video. One option you could try would be to use your 45watt soft box as a key light in a room with lots of natural light. You should shoot during the day and utilize the best free light available which is the sun. Otherwise, there are inexpensive light boxes that I would invest in as light is something relatively cheap these days (with LEDs, etc.) and it will vastly improve the look of all videos. You'll just need to play around with natural light and/or your filming to see what works best for you. I hope this helps.

[@AbelKayode]

Hi Mike....thank you for the information in this video. How did you set your white balance and what Picture profile

[@MikeMcGeePhotography]

Hi Abel, thanks for your kind words. I actually just set the white balance to Auto and it looks fine. Thanks for watching!

[@mpactdesignmedia]

@@MikeMcGeePhotography - Which picture profile do you use? And, as everyone else has stated - thank you for this. My video work consists almost exclusively of interview style videos and I've been leery of this camera (even though I am a Nikon stills shooter), because of that. But, I see ZERO fluttering or hunting in your videos - it seems pretty safe to me to rely on for my work.

[@MikeMcGeePhotography]

@@mpactdesignmedia Hey there. I just have my Picture Profile set to Standard. I did this to avoid any fluctuation or differences in an "Auto" setting, and just wanted a consistent look for my KZbin videos, especially since I personally edit in Final Cut Pro and could apply any adjustments in post if need be, but that is unnecessary. The "Standard" picture profile works well for me. Hope this info helps.

[@mpactdesignmedia]

@@MikeMcGeePhotography - It does! Thank you.

[@lawrencebraun99]

thanks mike! Why does my z7ii shut off between 13-17 seconds every-time I do a take? Is there a setting to keep the camera from going to sleep mode?

[@Campbellteaching]

Do you think the Z6 would be as good for video as the Z6ii ?

[@MichaelSeneschal]

Yes

[@kevinoneill4850]

Excellent explanation Mike, one question though. Youère shooting at 1/60th therefore I presume youère frame rate is 30 fps or around 25, if so why do you save your project at 60 p and not 30?

[@MikeMcGeePhotography]

Hi Kevin, thanks for your kind words about the video and I hope you like it. Excellent question since I failed to mention the shooting frame rate. I actually shoot everything in 1920x1080; 60fps, so I just matched the export setting to the same frame rate I'm shooting. Why 60fps? I think my reasoning behind this *originally* was to reduce motion blur in video, (or perhaps I read this is ideal for optimal video quality,) but me being primarily a still photographer, I don't have an exact reason why I shoot at let's say 60fps over 30fps. This might fall into the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" type scenario and everything seems to work, so I just left it. This is probably a terrible answer but that's what my settings are to create these videos.

[@kevinoneill4850]

@@MikeMcGeePhotography very well explained, thank you

[@Grimm3r]

Hi do you get z6ii to stay on? battery in/out? just usb? thanks

[@MikeMcGeePhotography]

I just keep the USB power plugged in while filming. Check for any audio buzz when doing this as one of my cheap previous microphones would cause a buzz when plugged in. Replacement works great.

[@hervedelnorte7928]

Given that the Z6ii does not have a flip out rear screen, how do you go about ensuring you are nicely framed? Just trial and error? How much do you wish this camera had a flip out screen? Thanks.

[@RTReview.]

well, the app helps you seeing yourself while recording :)

[@andystandys]

I'm surprised the modelling lights in those Digibees are bright enough to light your set so nicely. I have some of the older alien bees strobes, and I don't think the modelling lights in them would be that powerful.

[@alejandrogoizuribe7765]

Do yo shoot at 30fps? Thank you. Excellent insight btw.

[@MikeMcGeePhotography]

Hey there, I shoot at 1080p/60fps. Hope this helps, and glad you like the video. :)

[@alejandrogoizuribe7765]

@@MikeMcGeePhotography thanks for the clarification.

[@Digmen1]

I enjoyed the video. But you did not tell us what frame rate you used.

[@MikeMcGeePhotography]

Hi DigNap, thanks for your kind words about the video and I hope you like it. Excellent question since I failed to mention the shooting frame rate. I actually shoot everything in 1920x1080; 60fps, so I just matched the export setting to the same frame rate I'm shooting. Why 60fps? I think my reasoning behind this originally was to reduce motion blur in video, (or perhaps I read this is ideal for optimal video quality,) but me being primarily a still photographer, I don't have an exact reason why I shoot at let's say 60fps over 30fps. This might fall into the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" type scenario and everything seems to work, so I just left it. This is probably a terrible answer but that's what my settings are to create these videos.

[@brookemurray]

Hey Mike this might be a silly question but on my z6ii when I’m in the movie shooting menu my settings are set to auto iso even when my control dial is on M for manual? Am I missing something? This is a new camera for me so I’m still trying to play with it and learn it better. Would love to get more into video. Thanks for the video!

[@MikeMcGeePhotography]

Hi Brooke, I'm not sure I follow your question. If you're in Manual mode ("M" on the dial) and in video then you can turn on/off Auto ISO in the settings. Hold down the ISO button and turn the front slider to adjust on/off. If you're in Aperture Priority ("A" on the dial) in video, then you can't turn on/off Auto ISO. Just let me know if this helped or if I botched your question. :)

[@MichaelSeneschal]

Got me thinking. If you’re upscaling to 4K, why not choose the resolution 4,096 x 2,160, which is true 4K. I think I’m going to start doing that! :)

[@MikeMcGeePhotography]

Much much smaller files that are easier to manage the way IU do it, and I don't mind the extra processing time in upscaling. Again, just my take on this approach that works for me. :)

[@beysan_tasci]

382. 😀Thanks from Istanbul.

[@EK1Gaming]

Great video but please stop clapping your hands together 😂 the mic is picking it up and I had to take a break from watching. All jokes aside thanks for the tips! I am starting to use a Z6 so really helpful

[@alexshdvideo]

I prefer 24p for video acquisition in case I go to physical media. A big advantage with 24p in most recording formats is you will have less frames but same bandwidth so it will be less compressed. (Look at frame rate and mbps in camera manual. Some systems are the same and 24p is just a smaller file. So my statement may not be valid for your camera system. Especially talking heads, I don’t think frame rate matters much. 24/25/30/50/60. Audio? Yes. Huge importance. Best thing about getting good mics is that they outlast your next 3 cameras. Cheap poor audio won’t last a month. Meaning a cheap shotgun gets left on a shelf. A decent lav wired mic is great to get going. Then maybe if you don’t mind seeing it, shure sm58 for $100 and xlr to digital recorder converter adapter. But audio can be it’s own rabbit hole of finishing returns. I would say Rode is a safe minimum. Thank you sharing. Thinking of a z6 used or z6ii…. Though honestly hoping Nikon announcements later this month for z8 or fabled and unlikely video cine centric Nikon.

[@Digmen1]

And at 21 feet, your studio is not small !!!

[@vincenzo7957]

ᑭᖇOᗰOᔕᗰ ?