Like most high-end digital cameras these days, the Nikon Z8 has a lot of options crammed into its menu system. And it’s very easy to experiment with a setting and forget what you’ve changed.
If you want to reset all the Nikon Z8’s settings back to their defaults, there’s a simple menu item for that. You can find it under:
SETUP MENU > Reset all settingsBut what if you want something more targeted? Maybe you’ve been messing with specific settings but want to roll them back without having to go through and set everything up again. Or you’re trying to troubleshoot something specific. It’s very easy to go down a frustrating rabbit hole trying to remember which settings changes to undo. I find myself in that situation frequently when I start messing with the settings.
So that’s where this comes in. It shows the default selection for each setting. So if you just want to roll back specific options rather than the nuclear option for a full reset, this should give you a good reference point.
Photo Shooting Menu
The photo shooting menu is the one with the stills camera icon.
| Setting | Options |
| Shooting menu bank | A |
| Extended menu banks | OFF |
| Storage folder | NCZ_8 100 |
| File naming | DSC |
| Primary slot selection | CFexpress/XQD card slot |
| Secondary slot function | Overflow – JPEG primary – JPEG secondary / MEDIUM |
| Image area | FX (36×24) – DX crop alert / OFF |
| Tone mode | SDR |
| Image quality | JPEG/HEIF normal |
| Image size settings | – Image size / Large – Enable DX image sizes / OFF – Image size (DX) / Large |
| RAW recording | ON High efficiency★ |
| ISO sensitivity settings | ISO sensitivity / 100 Auto ISO sensitivity control / ON Maximum sensitivity / 25600 Maximum sensitivity with flash / Same as without flash Minimum Shutter Speed / Auto (center on +/- on slider) |
| White balance | Auto – Fluorescent Cool-white / fluorescent – Choose color temperature / 5000K |
| Set Picture Control | Auto |
| Set Picture Control (HLG) | Standard |
| Color space | sRGB |
| Active D-Lighting | OFF |
| Long exposure NR | OFF |
| High ISO NR | NORMAL |
| Vignette control | Normal |
| Diffraction compensation | ON |
| Auto distortion control | ON |
| Skin softening | OFF |
| Portrait impression balance | OFF |
| Photo flicker reduction | OFF |
| High-frequency flicker reduction | OFF |
| Metering | Matrix |
| Flash control | – Flash control mode / TTL – Wireless flash options / OFF – Remote flash control / Group flash |
| Flash mode | Fill flash |
| Flash compensation | 0.0 |
| Focus mode | AF-S (Single AF) |
| AF-area mode | Single-point AF |
| AF subject detection options | Auto |
| Vibration reduction | Sport |
| Auto bracketing | AE & flash bracketing – Number of shots / 0 – Increment / 1.0 |
| Multiple exposure | – Multiple exposure mode / OFF – Number of shots / 2 – Overlay mode / Average – Save individual pictures (RAW) / ON – Overlay shooting / ON – Select first exposure (RAW) / (selection) |
| HDR overlay | – HDR Mode / OFF – HDR Strength / Auto – Save individual pictures (RAW) / OFF |
| Interval timer shooting | OFF – Choose start day/time / Now – Interval / 1 min. – Intervalsxshots/interval / 0001×1 – Exposure smoothing / ON – Interval priority / OFF – Focus before each shot / OFF – Options / OFF |
| Time lapse video | OFF – Interval / 5 s – Shooting time / 25 min. – Exposure smoothing / ON – Choose image area / FX – Video file type / H.265 8-bit (MOV) – Frame size/frame rate / 3840×2160; 30p – Interval priority / OFF – Focus before each shot / OFF – Destination / CFexpress/XQD card slot |
| Focus shift shooting | OFF |
Video Recording Menu
The video recording menu is the one with the movie camera icon.
| Setting | Options |
| Shooting menu bank | A |
| Extended menu banks | OFF |
| Storage folder | NCZ_8 100 |
| File naming | DSC |
| Destination | CFexpress/XQD card slot |
| Video file type | H.265 8-bit (MOV) |
| Frame size/frame rate | 2160p30 (3840×2160; 30p) |
| Video quality (N-RAW | High |
| Image area | FX – DX crop alert OFF |
| Extended oversampling | OFF |
| ISO sensitivity settings | – Maximum sensitivity / 25600 – Auto ISO control (mode M) / ON – ISO sensitivity (mode M) / 100 |
| White balance | Same as photo settings |
| Set Picture Control | Same as photo settings |
| Active D-Lighting | OFF |
| High ISO NR | Normal |
| Vignette control | Normal |
| Diffraction compensation | ON |
| Auto distortion control | ON |
| Skin softening | Same as photo settings |
| Portrait impression balance | OFF |
| Video flicker reduction | AUTO |
| High-frequency flicker reduction | OFF |
| Metering | Matrix metering |
| Focus mode | Full-time AF |
| AF-area mode | Single-point AF |
| AF subject detection options | – Subject detection / AUTO – AF when subject not detected / ON |
| Vibration reduction | Same as photo settings |
| Electronic VR | OFF |
| Microphone sensitivity | Auto |
| Attenuator | OFF |
| Frequency response | Wide range |
| Wind noise reduction | OFF |
| Mic jack plug-in power | ON |
| Headphone volume | 15 |
Custom Settings Menu
The custom settings menu is the one with the pencil icon.
The custom settings menu is organized slightly differently, with categories denoted by a letter.
| Category | Setting | Options |
| Custom Settings bank | A | |
| a Focus | a1 AF-C priority selection | Release |
| a2 AF-S priority selection | Focus | |
| a3 Focus tracking with lock-on | – Blocked shot AF response / 3 – Subject motion / Steady | |
| a4 Focus points used | ALL points | |
| a5 Store points by orientation | OFF | |
| a6 AF activation | Shutter/AF-ON | |
| a7 Focus point persistence | AUTO | |
| a8 Limit AF-area mode selection | Pinpoint AF | |
| a9 Focus mode restrictions | No restrictions | |
| a10 Focus point wrap-around | OFF | |
| a11 Focus point display | – Manual focus mode / ON – Dynamic-area AF assist / ON – AF-C in-focus display / OFF – 3D-tracking focus point color / White | |
| a12 Built-in AF-assist illuminator | ON | |
| a13 Focus peaking | – Focus peaking display / OFF – Focus peaking sensitivity / 2 (standard) – Focus peaking highlight color / Red | |
| a14 Focus point selection speed | Normal | |
| a15 Manual focus ring in AF mode | ON | |
| b Metering/exposure | b1 ISO sensitivity step value | 1/3 step |
| b2 EV steps for exposure cntrl | 1/3 EV steps (comp. 1/3 EV) | |
| b3 Easy exposure compensation | OFF | |
| b4 Matrix metering face detection | ON | |
| b5 Center-weighted area | Standard | |
| b6 Fine-tune optimal exposure | – Matrix metering / 0 – Center-weight metering / 0 – Spot metering / 0 – Highlight-weighted metering / 0 | |
| b7 Keep exp. when Æ’/ changes | OFF | |
| c Timers/AE lock | c1 Shutter-release button AE-L | OFF |
| c2 Self-timer | – Self-timer delay / 10 s – Number of shots / 1 – Interval between shots / 0.5 s | |
| c3 Power off delay | – Playback / 10 s – Menus / 1 min – Picture review / 4 s – Standby timer / 30 s | |
| d Shooting/display | d1 Continuous shooting speed | – Continuous high-speed / 20 fps – Continuous low-speed / 5 fps |
| d2 Maximum shots per burst | ∞ | |
| d3 Pre-Release Capture options | – Pre-release burst / OFF – Post-release burst / Max. | |
| d4 Sync. release mode options | Sync | |
| d5 Extended shutter speeds (M) | OFF | |
| d6 Limit selectable image area | DX (24×16) | |
| d7 File number sequence | ON | |
| d8 View mode (photo Lv) | Show effects of settings | |
| d9 Starlight view (photo Lv) | OFF | |
| d10 Warm display colors | OFF | |
| d11 LCD illumination | OFF | |
| d12 View all in continuous mode | ON | |
| d13 Release timing indicator | – Indicator type / Type B – Type A auto restore delay / 1/6 | |
| d14 Image frame | ON | |
| d15 Grid type | 3×3 | |
| d16 Virtual horizon type | Type A | |
| d17 Custom monitor shooting display | Display 1 – (all other displays selected as available) | |
| d18 Custom viewfinder shooting display | Display 1 – (all other displays selected as available) | |
| d19 High fps viewfinder display | OFF | |
| e Bracketing/flash | e1 Flash sync speed | 1/200 |
| e2 Flash shutter speed | 1/60 | |
| e3 Exposure comp. for flash | Entire frame | |
| e4 Auto flash ISO sensitivity control | Subject and background | |
| e5 Modeling flash | ON | |
| e6 Auto bracketing (mode M) | Flash/speed | |
| e7 Bracketing order | MTR > under > over | |
| e8 Flash burst priority | Prioritize precise flash control | |
| f Controls | f1 Customize i menu | (various options on grid) |
| f2 Custom controls (shooting) | – Fn1 button / Shooting menu bank – Fn2 button / Choose image area – Fn button for vertical shooting (grip) / Exposure compensation – AF-ON button / AF-ON – Protect/Fn3 button / Set Picture Control – DISP button / Cycle live view info display – Sub-selector center / AE-AF lock – OK button / Select center focus point – Vertical multi selector center (grip) / AE-AF lock – AF-ON button for vertical shooting (grip) / Same as AF-ON button – Video record button / Live view info display off – Exposure compensation button / Exposure compensation – ISO sensitivity button / ISO sensitivity – Command dials / (various) – Lens Fn button / AE/AF lock – Lens Fn2 button / AF-ON – Lens Fn ring (counterclockwise) / Recall focus position – Lens Fn ring (clockwise) / Recall focus position – Lens memory set button / Save focus position – Lens control ring / Aperture | |
| f3 Custom controls (playback) | – Fn1 button / None – Fn2 button / None – Fn button for vertical shooting (grip) / None – DISP button / Cycle info display – Protect/Fn3 button / Protect – OK button / Zoom on/off – Main command dial / Frame advance / 1 – Main command dial / Video playback / 10 frames – Video record button / None – Sub-command dial / Frame advance / 1 – Sub-command dial / Video playback / 10 frames | |
| f4 Control lock | – Shutter speed lock / OFF – Aperture lock / OFF – Focus-point lock / OFF | |
| f5 Reverse dial rotation | (none selected) | |
| f6 Release button to use dial | OFF | |
| f7 Reverse indicators | -0+ | |
| f8 Reverse ring for focus | OFF | |
| f9 Focus ring rotation range | Non-linear | |
| f10 Control ring response | High | |
| f11 Switch focus/control ring roles | OFF | |
| f12 Full-frame playback flicks | – Flick up / OFF – Flick down / OFF – Flick advance direction / Left-Right | |
| f13 Prefer sub-selector center | ON | |
| g Video | g1 Customize i menu | (see screenshot below) |
| g2 Custom controls | – Fn1 button / Shooting menu bank – Fn2 button / Choose image area – Fn button for vertical shooting (grip) / Exposure compensation – Focus mode button / Focus mode/AF-area mode – Protect/Fn3 button / Set Picture Control – AF-ON button / AF-ON – Sub-selector center / AE/AF lock – DISP button / Cycle live view info display – Vertical multi selector center / AE/AF lock – OK button / Select center focus point – Video record button / Record videos – AF-ON button for vertical shooting / Same as AF-ON button – ISO sensitivity button / ISO sensitivity – Exposure compensation button / Exposure compensation – Shutter-release button / None – Command dials / (various) – Lens Fn button / AE-AF lock – Lens FN2 button / AF/ON – Lens Fn ring (counterclockwise) / Recall focus position – Lens Fn ring (clockwise) / Recall focus position – Lens memory set button / Save focus position – Lens control ring / Power aperture |
Screenshots of Custom Controls & Menus
Some of the custom menu and custom controls settings are hard to put in text form. So here are screenshots from the menu system.Â
f1 Customize i Menu
f2 Custom controls (shooting)
f3 (Custom controls (playback)
g1 Customize i menu
f2 Custom controls
Playback Menu
The playback menu is the one with the play button icon.
| Setting | Options |
| Delete | (this is a function, not a setting) |
| Playback folder | ALL |
| Playback display options | – Add info / (none selected) – Additional photo info / None (picture only) – Detailed shooting data / (all selected) |
| Delete pictures from both slots | Yes (confirmation required) – Default delete option / “Selected picture” |
| Dial-format recording PB slot | CFexpress/XQD card slot |
| Filtered playback criteria | (none selected) |
| Series playback | – Sub-selector displays first shot / ON – Auto series playback / OFF – List series as single thumbnail / OFF |
| Picture review | OFF |
| After delete | Show next |
| After burst, show | Last picture in burst |
| Auto-rotate pictures | ON |
| Copy image(s) | (this is a function, not a setting) |
SETUP Menu
The Setup Menu is the one with the wrench / spanner icon.
| Setting | Options |
| Format memory card | (this is a function, not a setting) |
| Language | English |
| Time zone and date | (user selectable) |
| Monitor brightness | 0 |
| Monitor color | (user selectable; should be centered by default) |
| Finder display size (photo Lv) | Standard |
| Limit monitor mode selection | (all selected) |
| Auto rotate info display | ON |
| AF fine-tuning options | AF fine-tune / OFF – (other menu items are functions, not settings) |
| Non-CPU lens data | No. 1 |
| Save focus position | OFF |
| Auto temperature cutout | Standard |
| Sensor shield behabior at power off | Sensor shield stays open |
| Clean image sensor | – Automatic cleaning / Clean at shutdown |
| Image Dust Off ref photo | (this is a function, not a setting) |
| Pixel mapping | (this is a function, not a setting) |
| Image comment | OFF |
| Copyright information | OFF |
| IPTC | (user selectable / default is blank) |
| Voice memo options | – Voice memo control / Press and hold – Audio output (playback) / 10 Speaker/headphones |
| Camera sounds | – Shutter sound / ON – Beep on/off / OFF – Volume / 2 – Pitch / Low |
| Silent mode | OFF |
| Touch controls | – Enable/disable touch controls / ON – Glove mode / OFF |
| HDMI | – Output resolution / Auto – Output range / Auto – Output shooting info / ON – Mirror camera info display / ON |
| USB connection priority | Upload |
| Wireless remote (WR options) | (options unavailable unless connected) |
| Assign remote (WR) Fn button | OFF |
| Conformity marking | (informational) |
| Battery info | (informational) |
| USB power delivery | ON |
| Energy saving (photo mode) | OFF |
| Slot empty release lock | Enable release |
| Save/load menu settings | (this is a function, not a setting) |
| Reset all settings | (this is a function, not a setting) |
| Firmware version | (informational) |
Network Menu
The Network Menu uses the globe icon.
Most of these are functions rather than settings, and many sub-settings aren’t available or selectable unless a specific type of connection is established. Several of these rely on network profiles (eg. wifi passwords and IP address) that are entered. There are no default network profiles—they should all be blank.
| Setting | Options |
| Airplane mode | OFF |
| Connect to smart device | – Pairing (Bluetooth) / OFF – Wi-Fi connection / OFF – Upload while off / ON |
| Connect to computer | OFF – Connection Type / PC |
| Connect to FTP server | OFF |
| Connect to other cameras | OFF – Synchronized release / ON – Group name / (blank) – Master/remote / Master |
| ATOMOS AirGlu BT options | OFF |
| USB data connection | MTP/PTP |
| Router frequency band | 2.4 GHz/5 GHz |
| MAC address | (informational) |
My Menu
The My Menu section uses the checklist icon.
This section of the Z8’s menu is user-defined. In other words, it’s blank until the user adds items to My Menu.
Nikon Z8 Manual & Firmware Updates
- You can find the Nikon Z8 manual here [PDF]. There’s also an online reference guide.
- You can find the latest Nikon Z8 firmware and related software updates here. Nikon released an updated version (C:Ver.1.01) on August 23, 2023.
Nikon Z8 Price & Availability
The Nikon Z8 was released in May 2023. For good reason, it has been highly sought after, so it might be worth getting on a waitlist sooner rather than later.
The Z8 It packs many of the features of the flagship Z9 into a smaller form factor and is touted by Nikon as the true successor to the Nikon D850 DSLR (and also as “the ultimate hybrid camera”).
It’s sold in various configurations, including:
- Body only (MSRP $3999)
- With 24-120mm Æ’/4 zoom lens (MSRP $5099)
Check the current availability and price at:
- 45.7MP FX-Format Stacked CMOS Sensor
- 8.3K 60p N-RAW, 4.1K 60p ProRes RAW
- Lightweight Design, 30% Smaller than Z9
- Up to 20 fps Raw, 30 fps JPEG Shooting
- 493-Point AF, AI-Based Subject Detection
- with NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S Zoom Lens
- 45.7MP FX-Format Stacked CMOS Sensor
- 8.3K 60p N-RAW, 4.1K 60p ProRes RAW
- Lightweight Design, 30% Smaller than Z9
- Up to 20 fps Raw, 30 fps JPEG Shooting
- 493-Point AF, AI-Based Subject Detection
Essential Accessories for the Nikon Z8
Some accessories are optional, but these are pretty much essential. And they don’t come with the camera as standard.
FTZ II Lens Mount Adapter
If you’re upgrading from a Nikon DSLR and have F-mount lenses you want to use on the Z8, don’t forget to pick up an FTZ II lens mount adapter. This lets you use Nikon / NIKKOR F-mount lenses on Nikon Z mirrorless camera bodies while retaining autofocus, stabilization, and other features. And because there’s no glass, there’s no impact on image quality or light loss.
Memory Cards for the Nikon Z8
The Nikon Z8 has two memory card slots. One takes CFexpress Type B or XQD memory cards. The other takes SD cards. I’ve put together a more detailed post on Nikon Z8 memory card recommendations, but here are some quick recommendations.
Slot 1: CFexpress Type BÂ
- ProGrade Digital Cobalt CFexpress Type B
- SanDisk Extreme Pro (SDCFE) CFexpress Type B
- Lexar Professional GOLD Series CFexpress Type B
- Nikon MC-CF660G CFexpress Type B
- Type: CFexpress Type B
- Write Speed: 1200 MB/s
- Read Speed: 1700 MB/s
- Type: CFexpress Type B
- Write Speed: 1500 MB/s
- Read Speed: 1700 MB/s
- Type: CFexpress Type B
- Write Speed: 1500 MB/s
- Read Speed: 1750 MB/s
- Type: CFexpress Type B
- Write Speed: 1500 MB/s
- Read Speed: 1700 MB/s
Slot 2: SDXC UHS-II V90
- ProGrade Digital V90 UHS-II SDXC
- SanDisk Extreme Pro V90 UHS-II SDXC
- Lexar Professional 2000x Gold V90 UHS-II SDXC
- Type: SDXC UHS-II V90
- Write Speed: Up to 250 MB/s
- Read Speed: Up to 300 MB/s
- Type: SDXC UHS-II V90
- Write Speed: Up to 260 MB/s
- Read Speed: Up to 300 MB/s
- Type: SDXC UHS-II V90
- Read Speed: Up to 300 MB/s
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Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2023-09-28 at 13:22. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
