Z8 Settings Update Guide FW 2.01 June 2024

[@patrickmolloy6994]

for later viewers, I just went through Hudson's earlier videos on setting up the banks. They're still totally relevant today (July 19,2024). I wouldn't download your settings file initially - until you've been through all three of these videos. Once one is totally familiar, then go for it. I totally recommend going through these videos after a 6 month or year as a refresher - it's amazing what we forget !! Thanks again Hudson

[@pete1927]

Nice one Hudson, only had a Zed8 for a week and still working my through your menu setup vlogs and you pop this little sucker into the mix. Returning to Nikon after a 15 year hiatus so all your knowledge is priceless. Keep them coming pal they are appreciated. The Zed8 is a powerful beast!

[@bradorr6912]

I just got the z8 last week and have been practicing at the zoo.. I came across this channel and downloaded the settings file.. the first time out I was pressing F2, i-menu and was basically all over the place. I'm surprised I got any photos at all.. but after a few days of working through it, it's starting to make sense.. one thing I was wondering was setting AF-S vs AF-C via banks, and at 12:05 I think I've got it! thanks for these videos it's been super helpful. Coming from a D810 the z8 is quite a bit more machine than I was expecting.. before I would try to move the 51 auto focus points around to try and hit an eye, now all I do is point the camera at the subject and take a picture.. the technology is amazing. I think in terms of wildlife photography, the cameras will allow for us to come up with better compositions and more interesting photographs rather than spending all our effort in those fleeting moments trying to get an eye in focus. I can't wait.

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

I'm so last. It's true of people and vehicles too. Just wait till you try night sky or low lit landscape work. It's 10 times better. :)

[@davidshickle4072]

Hi Hudson, I get a huge amount from watching your videos - Not just gear specific content. Thank you for making the extra efforts!!

[@alaikens6353]

As always Hudson, thanks. As I watched this video, I walked through my settings and updated selected ones that seemed like darned good ideas for me. There are lots of settings and some with nuances to confuse the heck out of me. Your video helps to clear them up. I've downloaded your settings file for reference and tagged this video URL. It would be nice if there was a way to translate the bin file to a text file that we could save for reference. A muscle memory challenge that I am reprogramming myself from my Z6 is that I reach for the Fn3 button for playback. It is in such an awkward place on the Z6, but I got used to it. The top of the My Menu for the Fn3 button is so much better. Again, thanks for your help.

[@R.Hogarth]

Great video Hudson! Thank you! You have no idea how much these setting guides have helped in my transition from Sony to my Z8.

[@chrismwestwood]

Hello Hudson...thank you so much for taking the time to navigate and explain all the set up options for this camera! It takes me a few viewings to get everything, however, it at least gives me a solid foundaton to work from. You're the best!!

[@csc-photo]

This helps my never-ending quest for the ideal setup. The level of customization in modern bodies is amazing (sometimes overwhelming 😆). Thanks for all your super content! 👏🏻

[@richardwood6121]

Thanks so much for sharing the knowledge Hudson, hugely appreciated. This video along with the earlier ones on the menu banks have allowed me to understand and get so much more out of my now 3 months old Z8. I keep going back over the bank setup videos, they're an excellent learning resource. You have helped me to open new chapters in my photography journey. Way beyond cool!

[@x4g1706]

Thank you for taking the time to do this update. Very helpful and your assistance in getting full value from Z8 & Z9 is truly appreciated.

[@tdalton854]

Once again, a huge Thank You for taking the time to explain these settings and your thought process and use. That must take you some time. And the set up file too? wow

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

👍

[@TUGNACIOUS]

Thanks!

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

🙏

[@easy56wedge]

I’ve resisted updating from 2.0 due to so many horror stories I’ve read and vids I’ve seen. But i figure now that you’ve gone all-in, it must be ok to update. As much as I’d like to use your file, I think I’ll do mine manually. It helps me to see and remember what every button does and how to access the changes and / or edits. Thanks for the videos as always!

[@HerrLysen]

Greetings from Norway. Thank you so much for sharing! Just a little adjustment and I got what I wanted😇

[@michaelcibula9552]

Thx Hudson! Really cool you’re sharing your settings file.

[@russbarnesuk]

Your settings have clarified a lot for me, and now I've created my own backup file too which I've never actually done before. It's saved a lot of time downloading your file and I very much appreciate it. Just a reminder to others to check their time and date stamps afterwards because of course it over-rights absolutely everything, including copyright info, Hudson's Longitude World time position and so on :)

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

I left copyright blank. It merely states all rights reserved. Snapbridge is amazing for keeping your cameras time stamp locked to your phone. Automated that way. :)

[@russbarnesuk]

Yes sorry, wasn’t trying to suggest you were now claiming copyright over everyone’s images, 😅 merely of course that the existing info was over-written 😊

[@brando8440]

These are amazing! Thanks for sharing the file too! legend!

[@FairfieldFogey]

Thank you for your settings. I had watched your videos re FW2.01 changes & the changes you've made to your Z8 settings. I manually changed my settings, then formatted my Z8 before I uploaded the new firmware. Yup, I wiped out all my changes! Having your settings on a card saved the day! I am v. grateful. (Formatting cards in Z8 makes me quiver)! I notice that the Lens control ring settings (bottom of the Custom controls options), for CUSTOM B and CUSTOM D show M/A, whereas on your video it shows Aperture. Could you please verify which setting you use? My 2025 goal is to become comfortable with my Z8 camera! Thank you SO much.

[@RobWignell]

Hi Hudson. It almost feels like cheating using your settings file and your explanations make so much sense to me and my use of the Z8. The only hiccup was having my date preference changed from YMD to MDY and my time changed from +10 to -6. Trivial for me to change. The rest has saved me a huge amount of trial and error and then more error. Thanks heaps.

[@siddharthsharma9460]

Great video as always. I would like to suggest one setting for focusing precisely at infinity when shooting astro : turn "Save focus position" to OFF in System settings. This way, if you are using a Z lens, just turn the camera off and on once, and it will set the focus at exactly infinity.

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

Oh yeah. I preach that in all my Z camera milky way training. Works perfectly!

[@patrickmolloy6994]

thanks for the download! really useful

[@mariussaldunas4087]

Thank you for the video.

[@MrModerate_kane]

one thing to add for those on new firmware. Image rotation when loading to PC, set rotation on for setup and payback, otherwise images wont rotate on loading into computer, was introduced as an on/off on v2.

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

Thankfully that's a seperate setting. Record orientation needs to be on, but playback rotation tankfully does not. I hate the tiny previews that yields in camera. ;-)

[@michaeldemner222]

I wrote you before about a glich i am experiencing with my Nikon Z 8 starlight option. It is in all 4 banks and I can't seem to turn it off. I even went through your long and detailed a second time. It is beyond frustrating. Could I impose on you sending me the saved profiles you have in your bank. Either attached to mail or send me SD card. I will pay you whatever you want. Thank you for your time.

[@DownstreamV]

Thanks for all your videos! How do you get vibration reduction mode on when in video. it seems to not even give me the option

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

It's there. I keep it in the i-menu. ;-)

[@ViratShah]

Hey Hudson Thank you for the video and the guide.. A quick question Is it possible to have the information display to remain on during super long exposure like Z6II and Z7II? Like you, I do a lot of Astro Photography and I noticed that the Info Display turns off after 20 seconds that doesnt happen on Z6II and it is useful to see how long you left to go in 3 mins exposure.. Let me know

[@kenkolen]

I downloaded the BIN file, for some reason I cannot get it to upload and change the settings to my Z8, suggestions?

[@smkunder1]

Wow! Thanks so much

[@OzDoc-sp1lk]

Hi Henry, thank you for your excellent videos on Z8. I am a long time Sony user and now switching to Z8. One thing that I love Sony is the ability to store a lot of settings in one bank. Settings including priority mode, shutter speed or aperture or both depending on the mode, iso (or auto), fps, AF mode / area, display, jpeg/raw, the list goes on and on (pretty much every settings are saved to a particular bank with the exception of network). And I can also assign a button to activate the bank (custom hold) or use the mode dial to change to it. Is it possible with Z8?

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

@@OzDoc-sp1lk pretty much yes. You can lean more in my full setup guide linked in this video. First name is Hudson, but no big deal.

[@tectorama]

I find f1 to be the best option to cycle through focus area modes, as I use that all the time to switch from pinpoint focus to wide area. I have f2 set for reset. I've just updated to V.2.01

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

Yeah, I've got no need for cycle area with my control layout at all. I can grab every area mode I want for action with the single touch of a button without any cycling. What I would like is to be able to cycle subject type though. THAT would actually be useful. :-)

[@jayaramank9478]

Hi Hudson, I have learnt most of my photography from your videos. I would like to update the firmware to 2.01 in my Z8. But i have one question. Does updating firmware delete all my menu banks and take the camera back to factory default settings? Pls advice. Thanks a ton.

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

@@jayaramank9478 I've never had that happen with a firmware update. Settings are maintained. Just save your settings to the card beforehand.

[@shutterbug77]

I love your videos and have learned so much. I've hit a bit of a road block. I have downloaded your BIN file onto my CFexpress card, it shows it's on there. When I put the card back in my z8, it will not load your settings at all. Any ideas because I can't figure it out of the life of me, I know it's got to be something easy. UPDATE: not sure what the issue was but finally got it loaded. :) thanks again for all of your informative videos. They have been such a huge help for my new adventure.

[@realsteviem]

Hi Hudson, Just a note on your settings update. You seemed to start your Action bank updates in 'Video Recording Menue' not 'Photo Shooting Menu', was this a fuax pas, as I didn't recall setting up for video's in your original ABCD Banks video?

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

@@realsteviem I think if your watch it through it will track fine. ;)

[@carljarvinen1189]

Thanks Hudson…

[@hhingle]

How do I copy these banks I have created and saved to CF card to my SD card and if need be restore from my SD card

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

@@hhingle simple. Just take the CF card out and save settings. Without a card in slot one, save and load goes to slot two.

[@kenpeterson3414]

Hudson as a Nikon Ambassador can you at least make a recommendation for saving the Bank settings to camera memory, Talk to R&D or anyone that might listen? Current setup is okay but easy to get messed up if formatting Cards..Thanks for Videos, they help a lot.. Ken in AZ🌵

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

@@kenpeterson3414 way ahead of you to no avail so far...

[@corneliaortmaier-mehls]

Hello Hudson, wow thank you so much for comprehensive explanations - I fully agree with pete1927 (I am finding nothing similar here in Europe). I am still trying to wrap my head around how to best set up the AF and function buttons, especially for birds. I did some test shots, but cannot find the details I am looking for per picture even using Nikon's NX Studio. Sorry "to bother you", but here's my question regarding turing subject detection On/Off. Will the camera (Z8) keep the settings regarding subject detection whilst pressing the LensFn (configured as you showed, with 3D and AF-ON)? That means only via your shown approach of the Fn2 will turn the subject detection Off? And, yep, another question, do you have any plans to conduct workshops here on Continental Europe?

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

I tested that and was pleasantly surprised that hitting Fn2's RSFH to deactivate subject detection with 3D on the main (AF-On) button. Also deactivates subject detection on the Lens function button. You have to hit the Fn2 button to get it back. It's really slick. Ah, beyond Scotland... Well It's not exactly mainland, but we are planning to do the 2026 Eclipse with a small group in Majorca and I'm dailing in the Dolomites as a location in the next couple of years. :-)

[@corneliaortmaier-mehls]

@@HudsonHenryPhoto Thank you so much your answer & testing it out !! Actually the Dolomites sound cool

[@b34k97]

I’m a bit confused on the benefit of the Fn1 button update (recall shooting functions hold). Didn’t you have more flexibility before? Because using the AF-ON used single point autofocus, but the lens Fn button made it 3D tracking… now you’re always 3D tracking no matter what button you hit.

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

It's 100% to remove subject detection in tricky situations where it's trowing you off, but to have all the intelligence of 3D tracking instead of single point if your chosen subject moves. You have to try it to apprecaite it in tricky situations. A second press and you have wide area and 3D back in a heartbeat on those buttons with your chosen subject detection.

[@umesht.s6387]

Namaste SIR I Am using NIKON Z8 FOR BIRDING WHAT IS THE FOCUSING POINT ????????

[@barryinny]

Hi. Brand new to Z8. Your download has 2 .bin files but they are named the same. Are they different files or dups? Thank you.

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

No, just one. There is just one file in each download. :)

[@kevinwilson2268]

I'm having trouble saving the bin file to my XQD card. I even bought a card reader to transfer the file, but my computer would not or could not recognize the card. I even connected my Z8 directly to the computer and tried to save the bin file to the ZQD card to no avail. What am I doing wrong? Please help!

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

I wish I knew Kevin. If you're using XQD you do need an XQD reader, not the newer CF-Express card readers. They are not backwards compatible to the old slower XQDs. That's all I can think of. It should just pop up as a drive on either windows or mac

[@madhatterbakery-artisanmad7631]

Bank C - Landscape The auto bracketing burst function is assigned to the FN1 button and this button needs to be depressed whilst all the shots are taken. But, when shooting landscape on a tripod, we don't really want to introduce any vibration by depressing the shutter release - so we assign a 0.5 shutter delay to avoid any shake, when taking any shots. However, having assigned the bracket burst to the F1 button, we actually need to hold it down during the burst ....... as such this seems counterintuitive, since we need to avoid any vibration/shake when taking the images for the sequence of auto bracketing. It seems like the FN1 needs a 'hold' option (as in 'recall function hold'), but this doesn't seem to be an option unfortunately. Perhaps I missed something or misunderstood the reason for burst bracketing being assigned to the FN1 button for Landscape in Bank C, but I can't see the benefit? Other than that, everything in the video set up is simply amazing and way better than anything I could create. Thank you so much for all your awesome guidance and support, which is very much appreciated 😀😀😀😀

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

No, you don't have to hold it down during the burst. That's the point. You hold it as you touch the shutter button once and it auto fires all frames even if you let go of both. If you have exposure delay active, then it still fires all frames after you let go and it waits the set exposure delay time. If you are holding that button when you tap the shutter it fires all the frames.

[@madhatterbakery-artisanmad7631]

@@HudsonHenryPhoto Thanks Hudson. Tried it again and unless the FN1 button is held down (with DLY 0.5 set) continuously, it will only shoot a single shot in the sequence. However, I've now found that using the self timer instead (e.g. 2 secs), it works perfectly as you describe with just a single press of FN1 and fires the full burst sequence, without any further need to touch the camera controls. As such, maybe it (single press of FN1) doesn't work with the delay mode activated and the self timer should be used instead (to commence the burst with single press of FN1). Not sure if this is intentional (Nikon) or a small bug in the system - but at least the self timer option works great (just not in DLY 0.5 sec etc) Thanks again for all your help 😀

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

Ooops, yep you're 100% right. My bad. You're right. Bracketing burst is for faster shutter speeds. It's really best in bank A for handheld. You hold both down. For tripod bracketing, set the timer. It'll fire em all.

[@madhatterbakery-artisanmad7631]

@@HudsonHenryPhoto Thanks so much for confirming...... and for the amazing support 😀😀

[@bobp.8108]

Bank C- Thanks for the input, but I'm having a couple issues with the download. One, when I hit the F1 for bracketing, it doesn't bracket. It just takes the one picture as normal. From what I understand, it should take all three bracketed shots with one press. What setting am I missing? (I used the downloaded settings you gave). Second, did you intend the picture control to be monochrome? It is set that way and I can't find where you mentioned it. Thank you for your time.

[@alexcd9886]

Are they still available? The link appears to be dead.

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

We've been tweaking the site a bit. Try it again now.

[@alexcd9886]

@@HudsonHenryPhoto Thanks!

[@kyslim111]

I want to save my custom A, so if I download your free file will it wipe out my custom A, or can I make your file my custom B? We really appreciate your help and if my question is dumb, please excuse my ignorance because I'm learning the Z format. I do have my settings saved. Thank you so much.

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

You can save your settings to a card and back it up on your computer from the card. There is no way to "Save" a bank. It's only camera wide settings. All the banks. Also, banks are really only bookmarks. They keep track only of where you left them last. The only way to "save" a bank is to save all the banks and camera settings via the Save Settings menu option. I am offering my version of that camera-wide saved settings file.

[@kyslim111]

@@HudsonHenryPhoto TY So much. Totally understand.

[@easy56wedge]

I’ve resisted updating from 2.0 due to so many horror stories I’ve read and vids I’ve seen. But i figure now that you’ve gone all-in, it must be ok to update. As much as I’d like to use your file, I think I’ll do mine manually. It helps me to see and remember what every button does and how to access the changes and / or edits. Thanks for the videos as always!

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

No one I know has had any issue at all with the firmware. Always keep a grain of salt in hand reading forum posts. ;) I actually prefer folks do it themselves for the reasons you state. The issue I've encountered on workshops is that people wind up adrift as the banks don't actually save a reference point. I wind up sharing settings files to those who use mine to just put things back on track. It's good to do your own and save them in multiple places. Update them as your settings evolve. I keep them on my NAS my laptop and both memory cards. Before I format a card I load settings, then format, then save settings.

[@csc-photo]

For me 2.0 has been rock-solid from launch, haven’t heard of any fw issues. I definitely recommend updating 👍🏻

[@_Just_Some1]

Your problem is reading too much on forums. Haha

[@russbarnesuk]

@@HudsonHenryPhoto I only got hold of my Z8 recently direct from Nikon and needless to say they sent it with the very latest Firmware. They absolutely wouldn't be shipping anything with known Firmware faults in my view...

[@REAPERx1315]

@@russbarnesuksame brother, I recently purchased one 2 months ago and sure enough the firmware was updated from factory as well as the lens. I thought to myself “hm maybe 2.1 is the old firmware and I should get 2.0” because I didn’t expect it to be already updated to its newest firmware