Nikon Z8 Manual

Features Available with "C" Firmware Version 2.10

The Z 8 Reference Guide is for "C" firmware version 2.01 (the latest version of the Z 8 Reference Guide is available from the Nikon Download Center). This chapter details the new features and changes introduced with camera "C" firmware version 2.10. The two documents are to be read together.

"Firmware Version"
To view the camera firmware version or update the camera firmware, select [Firmware version] in the setup menu.

Changes Made with "C" Firmware Version 2.10

The features added or updated with camera "C" firmware version 2.10 are summarized below. More information is available on the pages listed.

Video Recording

• Hi-Res Zoom Available When the Image Area Is Set to "DX"
• New Custom Setting: g10 "Power/Hi-Res Zoom Collab"
• New Custom Setting: g13 "Shutter Mode"
• New Option for Custom Setting g15 "Zebra Pattern": "Zebra Pattern Color"
• New Options for Custom Setting g18 "Brightness Information Display"

Controls

• Separate Shooting Modes Now Configurable for Photo and Video Modes
• New Options for Custom Settings f2 "Custom Controls (Shooting)" and g2 "Custom Controls"
• New Custom Setting: f10 "Zoom Ring Control (PZ Lens)"
• Name and Feature Changes for Custom Settings f11/g9 "Assign Power Zoom Buttons"

Custom Settings Menu Numbers
Some Custom Settings menu numbers have been altered due to the addition and reordering of menus accompanying the version update. This document uses the numbers as they appear after these changes.

Hi-Res Zoom Available When the Image Area Is Set to "DX"

Starting with "C" firmware version 2.10, Hi-Res Zoom is available regardless of the [Image area] > [Choose image area] setting in the video recording menu. Hi-Res Zoom is now also available with a DX lens attached.

• The frame sizes and rates available when using Hi-Res Zoom vary with the selected image area option.
  • [FX]: [3840×2160; 30p] to [3840×2160; 24p], [1920×1080; 120p] to [1920×1080; 24p], [1920×1080; 30p ×4 (slow-motion)], [1920×1080; 25p ×4 (slow-motion)], and [1920×1080; 24p ×5 (slow-motion)]
  • [DX]: [1920×1080; 120p] to [1920×1080; 24p], [1920×1080; 30p ×4 (slow-motion)], [1920×1080; 25p ×4 (slow-motion)], and [1920×1080; 24p ×5 (slow-motion)]

New Custom Setting: g10 "Power/Hi-Res Zoom Collab"

A [Power/Hi-Res Zoom collab] item has been added to the Custom Settings menu at position g10. With a setting other than [Off], you can use the power zoom and Hi-Res Zoom in a single operation during video recording.

• This feature is available when a compatible power zoom (PZ) lens is attached and Hi-Res Zoom is enabled.
• To use power zoom and Hi-Res Zoom together, you can:
  • Rotate the zoom ring or slide the zoom lever on the power zoom lens,
  • Press or or tilt the sub-selector left or right,
  • Press the controls to which [Power zoom +] and [Power zoom −] have been assigned via Custom Setting g2 [Custom controls],
  • Press the controls to which [Hi-Res Zoom +] and [Hi-Res Zoom −] have been assigned via Custom Setting g2 [Custom controls], or,
  • Use the and (?) buttons after selecting [ON] for Custom Setting g9 [Assign power zoom] > [Use buttons].

Power/Hi-Res Zoom Collab
Selecting [On (extend)] or [On (synch)] displays a power zoom and Hi-Res Zoom collaboration icon and the current lens focal length in the shooting display. Adjusting the zoom also displays a bar indicating the current zoom position.

"On (Extend)"

• on the zoom positioning bar indicates where optical zoom switches to Hi-Res Zoom. There may be a delay in zooming when switching from optical zoom to Hi-Res Zoom.
• is displayed on PZ when zooming in the optical zoom range and on HR in the Hi-Res Zoom range.
• is displayed on the focal length display when zooming in the Hi-Res Zoom range.
• Within the Hi-Res Zoom range, the zoom position cannot be recalled by pressing the control to which [Save and load power zoom position] is assigned via Custom Setting f2 [Custom controls (shooting)] or g2 [Custom controls].

"On (Synch)"

• Optical zoom and Hi-Res Zoom are performed simultaneously for smooth zooming.
• is displayed on the focal length display in all zoom ranges. The zoom position cannot be recalled by pressing the control to which [Save and load power zoom position] is assigned via Custom Setting f2 [Custom controls (shooting)] or g2 [Custom controls].

Power/Hi-Res Zoom Collaboration

• Assigning [Hi-Res Zoom] to [Lens control ring] with Custom Setting g2 [Custom controls] does not enable zoom operations via the lens control ring when power/Hi-Res Zoom collaboration is enabled.
• Set the zoom speed in power/Hi-Res Zoom with the [Power zoom speed (zoom buttons)] or [Power zoom speed (zoom switch)] items in Custom Setting g9 [Assign power zoom].
  • The zoom speed selected for Custom Setting g8 [Hi-Res Zoom speed] is not used.
  • Zoom speed selection may not apply to some lenses.
• Note that selecting [On (synch)] for Custom Setting g10 [Power/Hi-Res Zoom collab] may cause the power zoom to move, but this does not indicate a malfunction.

Compatible Lenses
This feature is available with a NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ lens.

New Custom Setting: g13 "Shutter Mode"

A [Shutter mode] item has been added to the Custom Settings menu at position g13. Choose the shutter speed settings for video recording from [Shutter speed] and [Shutter angle].

Option	Description
[Shutter speed]	Set the shutter speed in seconds.
[Shutter angle]	Set the shutter speed by the shutter angle. The shutter angle can be set in mode M only. Shutter speeds can be viewed in the shooting display and control panel by angle, instead of by seconds. The shutter angle can be set in 15 steps (from 5.6° to 360°); the selected angle is not affected by the frame rate. You can use the same command dials as the seconds option to select the shutter angle.

"Shutter Angle"
Selecting [Shutter angle] for [Shutter mode] will disable the following functions:

• Video recording menu [High-frequency flicker reduction]
• Custom Setting g12 [Extended shutter speeds (mode M)]

New Option for Custom Setting g15 "Zebra Pattern": "Zebra Pattern Color"

[Zebra pattern color] has been added to Custom Setting g15 [Zebra pattern]. When the zebra pattern is enabled, select a pattern color from [Black], [Gray], [Red], [Green], and [Blue].

New Options for Custom Setting g18 "Brightness Information Display"

The size, transparency, and position items of the histogram or wave-form monitor displayed in the video mode shooting display can now be changed. Select [Histogram] or [Wave-form monitor] for brightness information and press 2 to select the display options.

Separate Shooting Modes Now Configurable for Photo and Video Modes

When [Extended menu banks] is set to [ON] in the photo shooting menu or video recording menu, separate shooting modes can now be set for photo mode and video mode.

• The shooting modes in all shooting banks "A" through "D" are set to P right after the firmware is upgraded.

New Options for Custom Settings f2 "Custom Controls (Shooting)" and g2 "Custom Controls"

[Save and load power zoom position] can now be assigned to camera controls using Custom Settings f2 [Custom controls (shooting)] and g2 [Custom controls].

• Pressing and holding the control assigned [Save and load power zoom position] while a power zoom lens is attached will display a t icon in the shooting display and save the current zoom position.
• Only one zoom position can be saved at a time. To choose a different zoom position, select that position and press the control again.
• Recall the saved zoom position by pressing the control assigned [Save and load power zoom position].
  • Pressing the control assigned [Save and load power zoom position] again while moving to the saved zoom position will stop zooming at the current position.
• Turning off the camera does not reset the saved zoom position. Attaching another lens will reset the saved zoom position.
• Pressing the assigned control has no effect when a lens other than a power zoom lens is attached.
• Set the speed at which power zoom lenses can be zoomed in and out in video mode with Custom Setting g9 [Assign power zoom] > [Power zoom speed (zoom buttons)].

Compatible Lenses
This feature is available with a NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ lens.

New Custom Setting: f10 "Zoom Ring Control (PZ Lens)"

A [Zoom ring control (PZ lens)] item has been added to the Custom Settings menu at position f10. Select the direction of rotation of the zoom ring and choose how far the zoom ring must be rotated to go all the way from maximum angle (WIDE) to maximum zoom (TELE) when a power zoom lens is attached.

Compatible Lenses
This feature is available with a NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ lens.

Name and Feature Changes for Custom Settings f11/g9 "Assign Power Zoom Buttons"

The name of f11 and g9 [Assign power zoom buttons] has been changed to [Assign power zoom]. In addition, the power zoom speed can now be set separately for the button controls and for using the zoom lever on the lens.

• [Power zoom speed] has been divided into two items: [Power zoom speed (zoom buttons)] and [Power zoom speed (zoom switch)].
  • [Power zoom speed (zoom buttons)]: Set the zoom speed when using the following controls.
  • the and (?) buttons
  • the controls to which [Power zoom +] and [Power zoom −] has been assigned via Custom Setting f2 [Custom controls (shooting)] or g2 [Custom controls]
  • [Power zoom speed (zoom switch)]: Set the zoom speed when using the zoom lever on the lens. This option is available only when a power zoom lens with a zoom lever is attached.
  • In video mode, you can choose one zoom speed for use during recording and another for preand post-recording.

"Power Zoom Speed (Zoom Switch)"
This feature is available with a NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ lens.

Tip: Adding to the Menu
[Power zoom speed (zoom buttons)] can now be assigned to the menu using Custom Settings f1 and g1 [Customize i menu].

• In video mode, you can select one zoom speed for recording and another for pre- and post-recording.
  • The zoom speed can be changed without interrupting the video recording.
  • If the zoom speed changes during a zoom operation (such as when recalling the power zoom position), the new zoom speed will be applied starting from the next zoom operation.