The Best Settings For Cinematic Nikon Z8 Video & Post Production Tips

[@sidneybakergreen]

Making titles can be hard when your balancing searchability vs. the content! But these are my methods to get most out of my Nikon Z8! Will I be seeing any of you at NAB?

[@gnkstudios6138]

I will not be but I'm excited to see more of your content. I'm going to be a new Nikon user soon. Excited for this next chapter. been a life long Canon shooter with a short detour to Sony way back but ended up coming back to canon. But I feel Nikon has woken up to video and they are making a big push for video shooters. Buying Red was just one of those choices.

[@sidneybakergreen]

@@gnkstudios6138 Awesome news! Getting into a new system is an exciting time. Can't wait to put out some NAB content. Nikon is making big pushes, if you have any questions you can feel free to dm me on IG!

[@wonderfullymademedia]

I was with Nikon before they were cool too 🤣. Im waiting to see if i’ll like the Z6III. If not, I may go ahead and get the Z8.

[@sidneybakergreen]

Another one of my friends is also waiting to see what the Z6 Mark III looks like! It's going to be an interesting camera for sure. I wonder how they're going to place it and what features it will have.

[@marekpetrovic2097]

i've had my z8 for 2 months now. What i'm really scared of is increasing ISO above 2000 in stills or video. It introduces so much noise, that at first I thought my camera was broken or sth. (coming from nikon D750) I'll be switching to Z6III if it turns out it has better low light performance. (provided that it has the n-raw capabilities 🙂)

[@sidneybakergreen]

@@marekpetrovic2097 The times I've had issues with noise and high ISO is when I was being too conservative and not pushing the ISO to the proper exposure. Also remember, RAW signatures will be noisier, and that you'll generally need to do a little NR in post. Also, your settings in lightroom could be affecting the stills.

[@marekpetrovic2097]

@@sidneybakergreen Yeah, I should probably get more familiar with the noise reduction tools in both Lightroom and Resolve... Thank you.

[@Olsson1994]

@@marekpetrovic2097native iso is 800 and 4000 so dont use any other than that in log profile

[@delanescott7872]

jesus christ i love the video but left feeling like i dont know shyt about nothing LMAO. instant sub, i going to have to learn some more from this guy!

[@oeildelynx8216]

Does the ninja v plus and ninja ultra do same as ninja v with z8

[@NMCWatkins]

Remember to not shoot in Nikon NRAW at 4.1k 24p as there is still something wrong with it. 4.1k 50/60 and 4.1k 120 work great. 4.1k 24 has something going on that still hasnt been fixed for almost 1 and a half years so it' sbest to say it may never be fixed so avoid it. I use 8k RAW and downscale it to 4k but I have 10 x 4tb CF Express cards so space is no issue but I also use PRORESS 422 HQ often and it's fantastic (I avoid proress raw) I use my z9 along with my RED V Raptor and the 8k matches incredible well with it with little hassle in post and the 4k oversampled proress hq 60fps is absolutely incredible. I film some pretty big stuff for the UFC and big wave surfers and everything I have delivered using the RED and Nikon combo only gets compliments. Now if I could have 16 stops of usable DR in a body the size of a z6iii I will be a happy man becasue filming with the V Raptor XL and z9 in water housing is a right pain!

[@andrewf.7813]

Got a ninja V myself cause back in the day I got my z6 converted for raw shooting. Have the z8 and want to shoot Raw to the ninja V. Do you have a video explaining setup, camera settings and ninja settings?

[@PatrickPutze]

Yes! I could use this too. I can’t seem to get my Ninja Ultra to record the RAW from the camera.

[@namelesscrx]

I just purchased a Z8 and very interested in getting into amateur videography with the Z8. This video helps me out and is putting me more into a comfort zone, thanks for the tips!

[@kingkrukgaming]

Thanks for sharing your workflow… it’s soops helpful to get the ball rolling on some post workflow 💪

[@sidneybakergreen]

Im glad I could help :)

[@edielayland8211]

Please add a link to your Ninja monitor. I am ready to order one, but I'm confused about which one to buy. Do I need the one with the accessories or just get the 5.2" and a battery. Should I buy the Angelbird SSD and record (is it mandatory?) or can I just stick to my usual practice of recording to my media card? Thanks so much in advance! Love your tutorials!!

[@olssons__521]

Soo good! More color grading with the nikon log :D love this

[@mitiamaharo]

Immedialtely subscribed ! I love your vibe how you explain everything and the results + quality. This is the type of content I'm looking for.

[@dir.othman]

Why this camera didn't have true 24 frames per second

[@MichaelSeneschal]

Instant sub. This is such a great and informative video. Thanks for making this!

[@sidneybakergreen]

Thank you man! I really appricate it :)

[@philsviewsfilm]

Ive been a die hard Nikon guy for years now and I loved what you said in the beginning. Also, very professional, didnt skip a beat. Great run down of everything. :)

[@ryanschneebaum1297]

Just want to say thank you for making this video, am new to filmmaking so this is super helpful to try to get the best quality footage. Thank you!

[@rajdeepchakraborty3259]

do we have exposure meter in nikon z8

[@marqman05]

Much need info, thank you. You are helping me understand my Nikon z8. I have a question, you recommend an external monitor, would I need a monitor with external recording features using the Nikon z8? Also Nikon needs more positive KZbin influencers such as yourself. Thank you again.

[@Olsson1994]

No you dont need a monitor with external recording since the z8 shoots 8k raw internally :) i use the godox gm6s monitor. Very good monitor and a fairly good price :)

[@tony_ellis]

What a fantastic video - thank you so much

[@kaczorefx]

Do NOT use 4k AND RAW in Z8 or Z9 if you're shooting 24,25,30 fps. There is some kind of bug during resampling and both NRAW and Prores RAW get some weird splotchy green shadows. At 50 and 60 fps it doesn't happen because these framerates are not resampled - they are line skipped.. Shoot NRAW 8k or normal Prores 422 4k to get best image quality from these cameras. As till now (June 2024) this has not been fixed - maybe future firmware upgrade.

[@sidneybakergreen]

Personally, I haven’t encountered this problem while grading. In fact, much of the footage praised on this channel for its color has been shot in 4K 24fps, including a lot of the low light footage. This isn't to say the issue doesn’t exist, but in my experience, it hasn’t been compromising. Suggesting avoiding the 4K 24fps option entirely might make certain projects more challenging than necessary. And if I am being honest, I think the multiple comments with such strong absolutes are irresponsible, especially when there's an audience of new filmmakers out there. Some cinema cameras, for example, show a slight color shift towards green or magenta at higher dual native ISOs. Blackmagic Design cameras sometimes exhibit this when using their second ISO. Yet, we don’t avoid these ISOs; instead, we work around these shifts in post-production. Similarly, if storage is an issue, then using the lower resolution is the option that will give you more longevity within your budget for your project. Perhaps my experience is different because I always process my footage, which is why I shoot in RAW. Having the color information allows me to fix any issues that arise. For instance, I added blue-green into the shadows of the clip mentioned because I found them too neutral and lacking separation. While it's important to be aware of potential issues, I believe with proper post-processing, these challenges can be effectively managed. I appreciate the creators out here pushing NRAW to its limits. That being said, what you do in a stress test in Resolve does not equate to most properly exposed images in real-life scenarios. It also helps if we use our CSTs correctly because in no world would you use wide gamut footage in a Rec. 709 working color space timeline, regardless of what your output is going to be if you're serious about getting the best results out of your footage. If you want SDR working color space, then shoot SDR.

[@kaczorefx]

@@sidneybakergreen Really? I can see it clear as day when comparing same shot in Prores RAW 4k and Prores 4k. The difference disapears when you go 50 fps and above. In Prores I have clean shadows with pixel noise that I can easily remove, in Prores RAW I get large green splotches in the shadows.

[@sidneybakergreen]

​@@kaczorefx I think you missed my main point: while I haven't seen it, even if does exist, this problem doesn't ruin your footage. It's not useless. With proper post-processing, these issues can be fixed. Telling people to avoid 4K 24fps entirely is extreme and unnecessary. You would have no idea what this what shot on, or the Arles footage, unless I told people. And it was all low light. Granted there's a grade on it, but even then, it was clean when starting. While I appreciate creators doing deep teardowns of NRAW and pixel peeping, it's important to ensure we're processing the footage correctly. To be frank, the test that I have seen showing this problem off, go against the main standard on how we process wide gamut footage. PERIOD. Your advice to use higher frame rates or different codecs is valid, but not the only solution. Effective post-processing can manage these challenges.

[@kaczorefx]

@@sidneybakergreen Interesting you say that. It seems not all Z8s have the same problem or at least not as large. I don't think you'd be saying all that if you saw what I'm seeing. It's not a green cast, it's large (10% of frame) splotches of solid dark green, flickering on and off from frame to frame. There is no way to remove it in post. You can crush the blacks to hide it but then you're loosing probably 2 stops of DR - not a great solution. You can see it in normal daylight shots, your shadows just keep flickering. I'm seeing people showing a similar thing on the new Z6III now - which is weird as it has a completely different sensor.

[@kaczorefx]

@@sidneybakergreen So basically - if you don't see your shadows flickering in RAW 4k shots - consider yourself lucky :)

[@iNardy]

I love my z8

[@scuba-people]

hey would love to know what did you use to make your build on the z8 i can you used nitze handle , shogun frame, rocketfish hdmi but what cam frame and handle?

[@sidneybakergreen]

@@scuba-people I have a z8 build video on the channel

[@EugeneMaynard]

👏🏾👍🏾🙏🏾 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇸🇪🇹🇹

[@nickdual]

I subscribed

[@triluxcreative]

The Nikon Z8 is pretty crazy... i wonder if they will make a box style camera hahaha

[@goodfriendscreations]

Bro would u suggest z8 for film making purposes will it give cinematic experience

[@Cinema-Pictures-YouTube]

I have a Z9, and using it with a Ninja or any other monitor is not enjoyable at all. Often, the picture has an error, it turns green, or the camera freezes. But even worse are the blackouts when pressing the record button. The picture disappears for 2-3 seconds, which is very annoying. Also, the format is not optimally utilized. It's a square image in the corner of the display, which wastes space.

[@EL_N0IR_2201]

hey Sidney I wanted to ask you an off topic question about the lg c2 tV please if its ok, so I did just got done watching the video and it was all good but I wanted too ask specifically. so its safe too say the pattern generator in this models are now good to go as in it works? because this had been the biggest issue with them for such a long time. appreciate all the videos.

[@rodthomas_visuals]

Morning Sidney Thanks for taking the time to do these videos.. A quick question. I have my Ninja V set up the same as yours, on PQ etc but it will only let me record PRORES to it ( in Nlog - I am suing the Z9 ) Do you use the monitor just as a MONITOR and still record the N-RAW file direct to the Z8 / Z9 or is there any easy way to set it up so the Ninja v will in fact record N-RAW to it Thanks in advance mate

[@sidneybakergreen]

I use my monitor as just a monitor. I record in camera In camera. You can record NRAW externally

[@nunoacacio]

​@@sidneybakergreen I can't record NRAW externally on my Ninja as the Z8/Z9 are not supported by Atomos

[@PatrickPutze]

@@sidneybakergreenhow do we set up the Ninja Ultra to record the RAW please?

[@CMALRA]

Have you had problems with overheating?

[@sidneybakergreen]

@@CMALRA no

[@sidneybakergreen]

@@CMALRA I use prograde cards. Their top of the line cards

[@Docphotogs]

I cannot for the world of me monitor or Record my N-Raw on my Ninja V. It just says No input. Can you help

[@thedavidalvarado]

If you're on a Z8, all raw is handled internally and will not output to an external recorder.

[@sidneybakergreen]

Thanks for getting to this before I did :)

[@Cinema-Pictures-YouTube]

I have a Z9, and using it with a Ninja or any other monitor is not enjoyable at all. Often, the picture has an error, it turns green, or the camera freezes. But even worse are the blackouts when pressing the record button. The picture disappears for 2-3 seconds, which is very annoying. Also, the format is not optimally utilized. It's a square image in the corner of the display, which wastes space.

[@sidneybakergreen]

If you’re getting incorrect colors, that is user error. I would recommend double checking your settings with respect to input color. The issues with feed cutout is an issue for upon ending recoding. That said, despite that and the format it’s 100% better and safer to use a monitor. You just have to make sure your settings are correct.

[@Cinema-Pictures-YouTube]

@@sidneybakergreen It's a bug not an application or user error Just wanted to let you know that there was no question (#Nikon)

[@sidneybakergreen]

@@Cinema-Pictures-KZbin if you are getting colors that are incorrect, which is something I cannot replicate and have not had an issue with over the course of two years with both of the Z8 & Z9. I feel more inclined to lean on the aspect of user error. Especially if you’re saying it’s with any monitor. Furthermore if you’re doing internal recording and you’re getting messed up colors, then there probably a camera issue at that.

[@VictoryVictoryMusic]

im actually on the tube great vid

[@sidneybakergreen]

Thanks for the support 🫶🏾

[@cameraramblings4107]

Thanks for the video! Really helped.

[@philsviewsfilm]

Please make a video on how to use the Nikon RED luts!

[@sidneybakergreen]

@@philsviewsfilm it’s already out 🥹

[@philsviewsfilm]

@@sidneybakergreen 😮

[@sidneybakergreen]

@@philsviewsfilm first embargo release 🥹

[@tebnuhotep217]

You’re A Beast Broski

[@sidneybakergreen]

I really appricate that! And I found someone else who uses Broski!

[@ryanowen1118]

Hi Sydney, Love your stuff, but I need help.. I have watched almost all of your videos (and a bunch of other colorists) and my stuff still looks like mud. Do you know of anybody I can pay for tutoring? I just need somone who can look at my stuff and help me figure out where I am going wrong. I have been working on this for 3 years now and I still suck. Using a z9 so it isn't the gear. It is affecting my income. PLEASE help me!!!

[@sidneybakergreen]

Dm me on IG

[@raybailey1651]

I am a cannon guy but wanting to make the switch to Nikon. I am having a toss up between Canon R5C vs Nikon R8. I wished Nikon Z8 had more video assist tools like False Color. Watching your video is pushing me towards Nikon Z8 🙂

[@sidneybakergreen]

@@raybailey1651 as a former canon shooter, z8 all the way :)

[@cinemaheist8]

Some really great info in this video !

[@CLARKEIMAGERY]

Great info as always. Regarding n-raw vs ProRes raw, when PRR is converted to CDNG it bumps up to a 16 bit file. So is it better to work in CDNG? Thanks

[@sidneybakergreen]

It's a 16 bit container, but I believe it's still 12 bit

[@CLARKEIMAGERY]

@@sidneybakergreengood to know. Keep up the great work!

[@poikatiikeri]

So there’s no zebras in z8 to see if the footage is over exposed?! just ordered the camera and now i need an external monitor to know if i shoot it all wrong?

[@sidneybakergreen]

There are zebras, and there are way form, I just choose not to use any of the internal features, because I feel like a monitor is more accurate regardless of the camera

[@jamesmcpherson297]

So, it would be good to show how to expose n log correctly in camera for people who dont use a monitor or are run and gunning at say a wedding or events.

[@sidneybakergreen]

I am going to be honest with you. I think it’s irresponsible to be shooting log and not using a monitor. There are so many options that are not that big. This is coming from somebody who is also a wedding photographer. I get it, I get the gear load. But even in documentary film, making situations most cinematographers have a good means of seeing their footage. Generally, it’s an electronic viewfinder on cinema cameras. These are Mirrorless cameras. Invest in the monitor. At the end of the day it’s not about your comfort it’s about your client.

[@jamesmcpherson297]

@sidneybakergreen there are so many situations where having a monitor mounted or rigged up shooting weddings and events is impossible. Im also going to be honest, I think if you are a Nikon ambassador you should not be pushing using a external monitor for every situations and shooting and showing results with the built in viewfinder and rear screen. But aside from us having different opinions, we'll made and we'll explained video. I wish there was more people shooting nikon video too.

[@sidneybakergreen]

@@jamesmcpherson297 I am not an ambassador. I'm not part of the program. I'm a cinematographer. I'm also a wedding photographer and I've shot weddings as filmmaker as well. My thoughts are my own and will remain that way.

[@jamesmcpherson297]

@sidneybakergreen apologies, I thought you were a Nikon Ambassador. Still, I think.you have made a good video and maybe you should be a Ambassador 😁. It's better than Nikon's production or information!

[@sidneybakergreen]

@@jamesmcpherson297 I appricate that, and I will be screenshotting this. And just so you know, I have voiced my opinion on having better assist tools in camera. I do have a point of contact. I would personally like to see a better rec 709 conversion lut in camera becuase I feel that proper exposure tends to be over exposed in camera.

[@Lowridersdoggs]

Does film convert support Nikon z8 now or is it still only z9?

[@sidneybakergreen]

N log is available in FC, but I don’t use any of the color Profiles I just use the SRGB profile

[@ethanburmeister]

great overview...

[@therealroblay2617]

What are the best focus settings

[@sidneybakergreen]

If I’m not using manual, focus, then I’m using continuous auto focus with subject tracking

[@freepeace9067]

Great work!

[@RalphRaphaelPhotog]

I dont suppose you can do this with zlog lol

[@sidneybakergreen]

I'd use the same node tree but you could use prores raw then my color management settings

[@sidneybakergreen]

The ones in my ProRes Raw video

[@straight-out-of-camera]

It took me 4 months to get Nikon to acknowledge this N-RAW SDR bug. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYSvfmmui52ar5Y I'm curious if the Z8 has the same bug. Yes log is cool, but there is a place for nraw sdr.

[@sidneybakergreen]

That's interesting. I don't shoot NRAW SDR so I'm not sure. I'll take a look later. That being said, I have a really hard time finding a place for shooting N-RAW in SDR. For the simple fact that resolve will automatically bring NLOG into whatever output you want with color management set up. Shooting N-RAW requires you bring it into an NLE, and all cinema cameras default to LOG when in RAW and brought into an NLE. The only time you'd be saving is 3 clicks at the beginning of the project and no one is that pressed for time

[@redpillrider]

@@sidneybakergreen Yeah i definitely understand there's almost no use for it. But WOW this exposure jumping bug!! I can't believe how long it took for Nikon to acknowledge it. From their last email to me: "Thank you for your patience. I received word from our engineers in Japan this morning that they have identified an issue with the camera firmware and have decided to correct it with a future update. I can't offer a time frame for the update, but I can say your specific issue is scheduled to be corrected." That's after me hammering them with about 25 emails spanning months. No company on earth is harder to get through to, and their HUBRIS reaches heaven.

[@sidneybakergreen]

@@redpillrider Just wanted to circle back with you. I did record a 30 second clip with NRAW SDR, and I didn't have any jumping. So it must've been patched. And that is very frustrating. I do know a couple of companies big in the industry are the same way. I think we need better channels for being able to report bugs and have them taken seriously for sure!

[@redpillrider]

@@sidneybakergreen OK, note that it must not be in Manual exposure. I know it happens in Aperture prio, with auto iso. But maybe you were in that. Good to hear that the Z8 doesn't do it.

[@redpillrider]

and oops, I'm accidentally using two youtube accounts to comment, lol

[@ALMAR-Music-Ltd.]

what lens are you using for your videos because I attempted to use the one 80-600 mm and it appears to have issues making videos not fast enough with the focusing scrolling left to right or right to left.

[@sidneybakergreen]

I used 35,50, and 85mm primes

[@ALMAR-Music-Ltd.]

@@sidneybakergreen I meant 180-600mm Nikkor. so can we say that the telephoto lenses can be very slow on focusing and I should stick to a lower focal range may like a 24 to 120 Z lens. or a 24 to 70 F lens. 2.8

[@sidneybakergreen]

@@ALMAR-Music-Ltd. are you using an S line Lens?

[@ALMAR-Music-Ltd.]

@@sidneybakergreen No the 180-600mm is not. but if I throw on a 24-70 mm Nikor lens with no VR, I noticed that the VR inside the Z8 is available for normal or sport even thoughit's an "F" lens. it takes beautiful videos on the Z8. Thank you for your ongoing help

[@sidneybakergreen]

Can you DM me a video on what exactly you're experiencing on IG

[@rodneyturnerphoto]

Now we need some DR19 videos from you. lol. The new color slice looks interesting.

[@sidneybakergreen]

Yes as soon as I land and get settled at NAB I'm diving in. Color slice is gonna be so helpful. Kinda rolling my eyes at the film look creator 😭