Every Nikon Zf Menu Default, Setting by Setting

Updated for Firmware C:v3.01

Like most high-end digital cameras these days, the Nikon Zf 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 Zf’s settings back to their defaults, there’s a simple menu item for that. You can find it under:

SETUP MENU > Reset all settings

But 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 setting changes to undo.

So that’s where this comes in. It shows the default selection for each setting. If you just want to roll back specific options rather than the nuclear option of a full reset, this should give you a good reference point.

Nikon has since released firmware v3.01. It’s a maintenance update rather than a feature release: it changes the way the aperture is adjusted on a lens when the standby timer expires, and it fixes the i menu touch control sometimes being unavailable in the Prioritize viewfinder (1) and (2) monitor modes. It doesn’t add or remove any menu items, so the defaults below apply whether you’re on 3.00 or 3.01.

PHOTO SHOOTING MENU

The photo shooting menu is the one with the stills camera icon.

You can reset all of the photo shooting menu (but only this menu and leave other settings untouched) using the function:

PHOTO SHOOTING MENU > Reset photo shooting menu

Setting	Options
Reset photo shooting menu	No
Storage folder	NCZ_F 100
File naming	DSC
Primary slot selection	SD card slot
Secondary slot function	Overflow
Image area	FX (36×24) – DX crop alert / OFF
Tone mode	SDR
Image quality	JPEG/HEIF normal
Image size settings	Large (6048×4032; 24.4 M)
RAW recording	High efficiency✭
ISO sensitivity settings	100 – Auto ISO sensitivity control / OFF – Maximum sensitivity / 64000 – Maximum sensitivity with flash / 64000 – Minimum shutter speed / 100
White balance	Auto / AUTO1 Keep overall atmosphere
Set Picture Control	Auto
Manage Picture Control	[function]
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
Metering	Matrix metering
Flash mode	Fill flash
Flash compensation	0
Release mode	Single frame
Focus mode	AF-S Single AF
AF-area mode	Single-point AF
AF/MF subject detection options	Auto
MF subject detection area	MF subject detection off
Vibration reduction	Normal
Link VR to focus point	On
Auto bracketing	– Auto bracketing on/off / Off – Auto bracketing set / AE & flash bracketing – Number of shots / 3F – Increment / 1.0
Multiple exposure	– Multiple exposure mode / Off – Number of shots / 2 – Overlay mode / Average – Save individual pictures (RAW) / On – Overlay shooting / On
HDR Overlay	– HDR Mode / Off – HDR strength / Auto – Save individual pictures (RAW) / Off
Interval timer shooting	– Choose start day/time [user input] – Interval / 00:01’00” – Intervalsxshots/interval / 1×1 – Exposure smoothing / On – Electronic shutter options / On / 0 – Interval priority / Off – Focus before each shot / Off – AE bracketing / 3F / 1.0 – Increment / 1.0 – Time-lapse video – – H.265 8-bit (MOV) – – 2160p30 3840×2160; 30p – – SD card slot – Starting storage folder / [both unchecked]
Time-lapse video	– Interval / 00:00’05” – Shooting time / 00:25’00” – Exposure smoothing / On – Electronic shutter options / On / 0 – Choose image area / FX – – H.265 8-bit (MOV) – – 2160p30 3840×2160; 30p – Interval priority / Off – Focus before each shot / Off – Destination / SD card slot
Focus shift shooting	– No. of shots / 100 – Focus step width / 5 – Interval until next shot / 0″ – First-frame exposure lock / On – Electronic shutter options / Off / 0 – Focus position auto reset / Off – Starting storage folder / [both unchecked]
Pixel shift shooting	Off – Number of shots / 8 – Delay / 2 s – Interval until next shot / 0″

VIDEO RECORDING MENU

The video recording menu is the one with the movie camera icon.

You can reset all of the video shooting menu (but only this menu and leave other settings untouched) using the function:

VIDEO RECORDING MENU > Reset video recording menu

Setting	Options
Reset video recording menu	No
Storage folder	NCZ_F / 100
File naming	DSC
Destination	SD card slot
Video file type	H.265 8-bit (MOV)
Frame size/frame rate	2160p30 3840×2160; 30p
Image area	FX (36×24) – DX crop alert / Off
ISO sensitivity settings	– Maximum sensitivity / 51200 – Auto ISO control (mode M) / On – ISO sensitivity (mode M) / 100
White balance	Same as photo settings
Set Picture Control	Same as photo settings
Manage Picture Control	[function]
Active D-Lighting	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
Metering	Matrix metering
Focus mode	AF-F Full-time AF
AF-area mode	Single-point AF
AF/MF subject detection options	Auto / On
MF subject detect area	Off
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
Timecode	Off – Count-up method / Record run – Timecode origin / Current time – Drop frame / On
External rec. cntrl (HDMI)	Off

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. I’ve broken them out here into individual sections.

You can reset all of the custom settings (but only the custom settings) with the function:

CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU > Reset custom settings

Some of these settings are best explained with screenshots. I’ve included those at the bottom of this section.

a Focus

Setting	Options
a1 AF-C priority selection	Release
a2 AF-S priority selection	Focus
a3 Focus tracking with lock-on	3
a4 Focus point 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	[all checked]
a9 Focus point wrap-around	Off
a10 Focus point display	– Manual focus mode / On – Dynamic-area AF assist / On – AF-C in-focus display / Off – 3D-tracking focus point color / White
a11 Built-in AF-assist illuminator	On
a12 Focus peaking	Focus peak / Off Focus peaking sensitivity / 2 (standard) Focus peaking highlight color / Red
a13 Focus point selection speed	Focus point selection speed / Normal

b Metering/exposure

Setting	Options
b1 ISO sensitivity step value	1/3 step
b2 Easy exposure compensation	On
b3 Matrix metering face detection	On
b4 Center-weighted area	Standard
b5 Fine-tune optimal exposure	[function]

c Timers/AE lock

Setting	Options
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

Setting	Options
d1 CL mode shooting speed	5 fps
d2 Maximum shots per burst	200
d3 Pre-Release Capture options	– Pre-release burst / None – Post-release burst / Max.
d4 Sync. release mode options	Sync
d5 Shutter type	Auto
d6 Extended shutter speeds (M)	Off
d7 Limit selectable image area	[all checked]
d8 File number sequence	On
d9 View mode (photo Lv)	Show effects of settings
d10 Starlight view (photo Lv)	Off
d11 Warm display colors	Off / 0
d12 View all in continuous mode	On
d13 Release timing indicator	Type B
d14 Image frame	On
d15 Grid type	3×3
d16 Virtual horizon type	Type B
d17 Custom monitor shooting display	[see screenshot below]
d18 Custom viewfinder shooting display	[see screenshot below]

e Bracketing/flash

Setting	Options
e1 Flash sync speed	1/200 s
e2 Flash shutter speed	1/60 s
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

Setting	Options
f1 Customize i menu	[see screenshot below]
f2 Custom controls (shooting)	[see screenshot below]
f3 Custom controls (playback)	[see screenshot below]
f4 Touch Fn	Off – Assign touch Fn / Move focus point – Touch Fn area / Top right quadrant / Same as wide orientation
f5 Focus-point lock	Off
f6 Reverse dial rotation	[both unchecked]
f7 Release button to use dial	Off
f8 Reverse indicators	-0+
f9 Reverse ring for focus	Off
f10 Focus ring rotation range	–
f11 Control ring response	High
f12 Switch focus/control ring roles	Off
f13 Power zoom (PZ) button option	Off – Power zoom speed / +3
f14 Full-frame playback flicks	– Flick up / None – Flick down / None

g Video

Setting	Options
g1 Customize i menu	[see screenshot below]
g2 Custom controls	[see screenshot below]
g3 Focus-point lock	Off
g4 Limit AF-area mode selection	[all checked]
g5 AF speed	0
g6 AF tracking sensitivity	4
g7 Power zoom (PZ) button option	Off – Power zoom speed / +3 / 0
g8 Fine ISO control (mode M)	Off
g9 Extended shutter speeds (S/M)	Off
g10 View assist	Off
g11 Zebra pattern	Zebra pattern off – Pattern / Pattern 1 – Highlight threshold / 250 – Mid-tone range / 160
g12 Limit zebra pattern tone range	Zebra pattern off
g13 Grid type	3×3
g14 Brightness information display	HIST
g15 Custom monitor shooting display	[see screenshot below]
g16 Custom viewfinder shooting	[see screenshot below]
g17 Red REC frame indicator	On

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.

Some of these, such as the viewfinder and monitor displays, have further sub-displays that can be further customized. I haven’t included all of those but rather included just the initial top-level display to give an overview of the standard display.

d17 Custom monitor shooting menu

d18 Custom viewfinder shooting display

f1 Customize i menu

f2 Custom controls (shooting)

f3 Custom controls (playback)

g1 Customize i menu

g15 Custom monitor shooting display

g16 Custom viewfinder shooting display

PLAYBACK MENU

The playback menu is the one with the play button icon.

Settings	Option
Playback folder	All
Playback display options	[user selection]
Delete pictures from both slots	Yes (confirmation required)
Dual-format recording PB slot	SD card slot
Filtered playback criteria	[none selected]
Series playback	– Auto series playback / Off – List series as single thumbnails / Off
Picture review	Off
After delete	Show next
After burst, show	Last picture in burst
Auto-rotate pictures	On

SETUP MENU

The Setup Menu is the one with the wrench / spanner icon.

Format memory card	[user selection]
Language	[user selection]
Time zone and date	[user selection]
Monitor brightness	0
Monitor color balance	[centered]
Viewfinder brightness	Auto
Viewfinder color balance	[user selection]
Finder display size (photo Lv)	Standard
Limit monitor mode selection	[all selected]
Auto rotate info display	On Off
AF fine-tuning options	AF fine-tune / Off – Fine-tune and save lens / [function] – Default / 0
Non-CPU lens data	No.1
Save focus position	Off
Save zoom position (PZ lenses)	Off
Auto temperature cutout	Standard
Clean image sensor	Automatic cleaning / Clean at shutdown
Image Dust Off ref photo	[function]
Pixel mapping	[function]
Image comment	Attach comment / Off Input comment / [user selection]
Copyright information	– Attach copyright information / Off – Artist / [user selection] – Copyright / [user selection]
IPTC	Auto embed during shooting / Off
Voice memo options	– Voice memo control / Press and hold – Audio output (playback) / 10
Camera sounds	Beep on/off / Off – Volume / 2 – Pitch / L
Silent mode	Off
Touch controls	Enable/disable touch controls / Enable
Glove mode	Off
Self-portrait mode	[informational]
HDMI	– Output resolution / Auto – Output range / Auto – Output shooting info / On – Mirror camera info display / On
USB connection priority	Upload
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	[informational]
Reset all settings	[informational]
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.

Settings	Option
Connect to smart device	– Pairing (Bluetooth) / Off – Wi-Fi connection / [function]
Wireless remote (ML-L7) options	– Wireless remote connection (ML-L7) / Off – Save wireless remote control / [function] – Assign Fn1 button / Play – Assign Fn2 button / Menu
Connect to computer	– Network settings / [user input] – Connection type / Picture transfer
Connect to FTP server	[user selection]
Connect to other cameras	– Synchronized release / On
ATOMOS AirGlu BT options	– Connect to ATOMOS AIrGlu BT / Off
USB	MTP/PTP
Router frequency band	2.4 GHz/5 GHz
MAC address	[informational]

New menu items in Firmware v3.00

Firmware v3.00 (released October 2025) didn’t just add features; it physically added new lines to the menu system. Here are the specific items you will now find in your Zf menus that weren’t there before:

Photo Shooting Menu additions

• [Film grain options]: A completely new photo shooting menu item, where you set the intensity and the size of the grain to simulate the look of film. (Default: Off)
• [Skin softening]: (Previously limited, now expanded with more granular options).
• [High ISO NR mode]: A new separation for noise reduction processing modes.
• [Release mode]: Added [C15] (15 fps) to the high-speed frame capture options.
• [Flexible Picture Control]: Support added for custom cloud-based color profiles.

Video Recording Menu additions

• [Hi-Res Zoom]: Added option to enable digital zoom with no loss in resolution (Default: Off).
• [Grid type]: Added a 9:16 aspect ratio grid for shooting vertical social media content.
• [Image area]: Added support for DX crop alert in more modes.

Custom Settings Menu additions

• a11 [Focus point border width]: Added option to thicken the focus point outline for better visibility.
• a13 [Maximum aperture Lv]: New item. Setting this to On keeps the lens wide open during Live View to assist with focus in low light. (Default: Off)
• a15 [Focus limiter setting]: New item. Allows you to restrict the focus range (Near/Far) electronically for any lens. (Default: Off)
• a12 [Focus peaking] > [Only during zoom]: New option to hide peaking outlines until you magnify the image. (Default: Off)
• d5 [Exposure delay mode]: This popular DSLR feature has finally returned as a dedicated menu item! (Default: Off)
• d16 [Grid type]: Added a 4:3 grid option for still photography composition.
• d18 / g16 [Half-press to cancel zoom (MF)]: New item. Allows you to exit magnified view simply by half-pressing the shutter button. (Default: On)

Setup & Network Menu additions

• [Automatic monitor display switch]: New item. Includes a smart “monitor docked” option that prevents the EVF from waking up if the screen is flipped out.
• [Camera sounds]: Expanded options to enable artificial shutter sounds for silent modes (C15/C30/C60 and Pixel Shift).
• [USB]: Added [USB streaming (UVC/UAC)] option for using the Zf as a high-quality webcam without extra software.
• [Connect to smart device] > [Wi-Fi connection (STA mode)]: Allows the camera to connect to your home Wi-Fi router (Station Mode) rather than just connecting directly to a phone.