Learning the Nikon Z9 Shooting and Custom Setting Banks

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Viathelens

Viathelens

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This is for people who have used or are learning to use the Nikon Custom and Shooting settings banks. I've never used the Setting Banks before but with this camera the focus settings are so specific I can see the benefit of using the Setting Banks. I've read up on the subject and watched a couple of videos but I still have a lot to learn about this subject. I realize this is a complex procedure as I've been going through the two different banks, Shooting and Custom, and have been trying to set them up. From what I read in the Z9 Reference Guide I can set the iMenu and the Fn buttons independently for each Custom Bank. I know that the Shooting Banks and the Custom Banks are independent of each other and need to be set for each type of shooting, landscape, wildlife, etc. I broke into a sweat trying to set up the eight different banks! I think my brain can only take so much at one time!! Any information or insight on this subject is appreciated.
 
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I'm also in the same spot. I have already watched Hudson Henry's YouTube series on this issue a couple of times and now, reading Jason Odell's eBook. It is a long and slow process and I am yet to start the set up. I'll be going out to do some bird photography on Tuesday but this time I'll just use the 3D Animal mode and see how things go. I would be interested to see others' comments and suggestions.
 
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I watched Hudson. He is generous with his sharing of information. I modified the names and my objectives for my Z9 based on how I use the camera. The Banks are PALM = People, Action, Landscape, Manual. My best tip is make a table in Word (or Pages) and set up Bank 1. write down what you do. Copy that to Bank 2 and make any changes from Bank 1 bold or red or Blue or something. Etc.
Remember to save the process after each Bank is set up.
Think of Banks as genres.
I set up the Microphone button to switch Shooting. You need to use the Info button to change to Custom. So I make sure that it is in the same spot on the info grid.
The hard part is to pause, and check settings and set up before you start pressing any shutter buttons.
  1. Pick your genre the moment you touch the camera
  2. Make new storage folder every time you begin using the camera at a location/event
  3. Take the time to check the set up is what you really need
  4. Check your first few shots
  5. Make changes to the set up of the Banks as you need to but have one card (small XQD?) as your settings main card. Don’t use it for shooting unless you have to, keep it on one side.
  6. Change the set up listing on your table and make sure you review how well the banks work every so often (I did an audit two nights ago - quite a few changes!)
  7. The Z9 is more fun if you can get your head around how many options it really has. 😜🤪☹️😀😀😎
  8. Use a cataloging system for Digital Rights Management (PhotoMechanic, Lightroom, Capture One). Use Keywords to record key bits of information and rate your best images
  9. Look at the images and see which AF mode the ones you rate with 5 stars are.
I am still not sure which AF mode is best for what. Firmware 2.1 has changed my mind, so I am still exploring how my RSF buttons help me for options within each genre. I don’t use Dynamic Area for anything except sometimes with people in Bank A.
 
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2 threads with more links. A more detailed post pending...

Shooting Banks setup for Z9

I have never setup banks on my D500, and would really like to setup those on my Z9 when it arrives. Is there a good video or other material that would explain setup and operation of shooting banks? The Z9 manual is a little lacking in detail of how to setup and use.
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If you use shooting banks, how do you use them?

I am hoping to set up shooting banks on my Z9 but wonder what is the best way? I was thinking A as general purpose B as action (high iso, high shutter speed) C as animal "portrait" (low to moderate iso, low to moder shutter speed) D as slow speed pan blur (low iso, low shutter speed) As I...
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As with D500, D850, D8 etc, the Z9 does allow 4 different setups for Custom Settings (including RSF) besides 4 different Photo Shooting Banks. Obviously, there are 16 combinations to use - if one ever goes that far. In practice, I've found the primary advantage is to have the Landscape Settings (PB D and CB D) ready in a pair of these Shooting banks from the primary wildlife Banks. The option to copy an menu bank of settings is a big jump forward for the Z9 (compared to the DSLR bank designs).

A key Custom option made possible for the Red Record button is another important difference using Zed MILCs, compared to the D850 and D5 (AFAIK the D6 fixes this). I rely on this to switch AF modes with right-hand fingers only. In contrast, it takes only a few thumb-hand clicks in i-Menu (also possible with MyMenu set to a button). A respective pair of PS and CS banks instantly returns to all the settings for its designated Task/Genre (image, shutter and Custom controls etc) cf my attempt to capture the relationships in Z9 setups in this horrendogram.

I tend to use the pair of PS & CS Banks (both A) most of the time, changing key settings on the fly. Almost all these quick changes are for wildlife subjects. I shoot the Z9 much like my DSLRs. My main reason to switch to Action Settings (PB & CB B) is for different Custom Area configurations. Much wider expanse of CA1 in CS Bank B uses Subject Detection; and RSF [Hold] on Fn3 in CS Bank B drops from 20 to 12fps, and toggles Subject Detection Off*.

The release of RSF (Recall Shooting Functions) in D5 firmware 1.30 update (2018) expanded the scope of Custom settings possible for action shooting; and the D6 has taken the scope of RSF further. I've found the settings that work best in practice for wildlife use one's Right Hand only. True to his style :) Canadian Wildlife Pro, Brad Hill, has quite a lot to say about Shooting Banks. There are links to his recent blog posts here.
The RSF on Fn3 is easy to toggle shooting vertical as well as horizontal: especially to toggle Subject Detection Off*.

*Note: Z9 owners still await the Z9 firmware upgrade to fix the glaring bug - the Custom Settings (f2) option to assign a Function button(s) to toggle Subject Detection Off. This will then free up the scope of RSF for worthier tasks.
 
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fcotterill said:
2 threads with more links. A more detailed post pending...

Shooting Banks setup for Z9

I have never setup banks on my D500, and would really like to setup those on my Z9 when it arrives. Is there a good video or other material that would explain setup and operation of shooting banks? The Z9 manual is a little lacking in detail of how to setup and use.
bcgforums.com bcgforums.com

If you use shooting banks, how do you use them?

I am hoping to set up shooting banks on my Z9 but wonder what is the best way? I was thinking A as general purpose B as action (high iso, high shutter speed) C as animal "portrait" (low to moderate iso, low to moder shutter speed) D as slow speed pan blur (low iso, low shutter speed) As I...
bcgforums.com bcgforums.com
Click to expand...
This post links into earlier BCG threads on Z9 setup and Shooting banks..... see earlier posts, including by @Tibor Hrnko . These threads also cover a useful tactic of some shooters, who reserve Banks C and/or D as 'Backup Memories' to save and recover the original settings in the A or B banks.

Shooting Banks setup for Z9

One guideline is the Photo bank controls the core exposure settings and image specifications, including White balance etc.... while the Custom bank can be set up to fine tune how one captures images, AF controls, metering, fps etc If I may - I would like to clarify something. The 2 “banks”...
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Here's another introductory video - Nikon Europe [and fyi several other Z9 videos]:

The Z9 banks setup has much in common with Nikon's Pro DSLRs, which I started relying on circa 2016 after switching to the D500 [see this thread].
 
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I can’t agree that using the Z9 for wildlife is similar to using a Nikon DSLR. You may think that, but similar is a stretch. It is also very different: 20 fps, 45mpx, subject detection, live no blackout viewfinder, more accurate AF, faster AF but lots of little quirkiness and personality thrown in. Yes there are some similarities some of the time but it is in many ways quite different.
The primary AF modes on the DSLR (D500 in my case) were Dynamic Area modes. On the Z9, dynamic area is still there but not something one should use as a first choice if at all.
AF area wide is sort of similar to Group Af on the DSLR but with subject detection added in combined with RSF to drop into 3D tracking picking up on the last established AF point.
It is different.
 
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I also feel Hudson Henry does a very good job sharing his method for using the shooting banks. I use his method with some changes to suit my style
I really like Griffym's PALM naming convention and may have to adopt that arrangement and naming convention - thanks Griffym.
 
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Griffym said:
I can’t agree that using the Z9 for wildlife is similar to using a Nikon DSLR. You may think that, but similar is a stretch. It is also very different: 20 fps, 45mpx, subject detection, live no blackout viewfinder, more accurate AF, faster AF but lots of little quirkiness and personality thrown in. Yes there are some similarities some of the time but it is in many ways quite different.
The primary AF modes on the DSLR (D500 in my case) were Dynamic Area modes. On the Z9, dynamic area is still there but not something one should use as a first choice if at all.
AF area wide is sort of similar to Group Af on the DSLR but with subject detection added in combined with RSF to drop into 3D tracking picking up on the last established AF point.
It is different.
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I agree, and your's above is wise advice. There are certainly major differences between the AF of the Z9 and Nikon's pro DSLRs and more with other quirks additional to your examples. Obviously my prose is not clear. I was referring to overall design of the Shooting Banks and particularly the haptics with emphasis on controls accessible with the right hand shooting.

I continue to shoot the Z9, D850 and D5 side by side, and I'm in the process of trading the D5 for a D6.

Both DSLRs deliver very well shooting with GroupArea or Single-Point, with AutoAF on Lens-Fn. In most cases BBF on the Z9 is 3D with custom area modes on Fn1 and Fn2. CA1 is effectively a single-point mode with Subject Detection; AutoAF on Lens-Fn.

EDIT: Actually, compared to their primary uses for animals - with their different AF systems, the respective shooting banks for Macro and Landscape in my D850 and Z9 share much in common.
 
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fcotterill said:
I agree, and your's above is wise advice. There are certainly major differences between the AF of the Z9 and Nikon's pro DSLRs and more with other quirks additional to your examples. Obviously my prose is no clear. I was referring to overall design of the Shooting Banks and particularly the haptics with emphasis on controls accessible with the right hand shooting.

I continue to shoot the Z9, D850 and D5 side by side, and I'm in the process of trading the D5 for a D6.

Both DSLRs deliver very well shooting with GroupArea or Single-Point, with AutoAF on Lens-Fn. In most cases BBF on the Z9 is 3D with custom area modes on Fn1 and Fn2. CA1 is effectively a single-point mode with Subject Detection; AutoAF on Lens-Fn
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Thanks. I took a burst of Spoonbill taking off with the Z9. It captured much more than the D500 would have done. It wasn’t just the 15fps. The focus point wasn’t always where it should have been when I checked it but the bird was definitely in focus anyway. I was too close, so my panning was a bit wayward. I was sing Wide area AF.
I am now interested in experimenting with Auto-area AF, something I have avoided up til now.
 
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Thanks, all, and please keep the comments coming. Learning all this "geek" gear talk might push my older brain over the edge...Ha!...Ha! Actually, I'm amazed I comprehend it all but can I remember it all may be the question. I think writing down the banks on paper as well as the button settings is a good thing to do. Who would have thought that setting up a camera would require a class on it? Actually I did take a workshop in the beginning with my Nikon, from Steve Simon "The Passionate Photographer" and it was very helpful. I fear that a camera this complex may be even more difficult for some as it sort of takes a right-brain approach to get it all. I never set up my dSLR because I could quickly figure out what was needed, but with this new approach to focus...tracking, etc....I think setting up the banks is the way to go. I'll be working on this project all week.
 
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I wonder why Nikon has not created an app that helps to set, organize, and catalog all of the camera settings. It would be nice to be able to "dump" bank settings into a viewable format to compare and analyze the settings. Bank sets could be shared and swapped in and out when necessary. I know they have Camera Control Pro, but an app seem like a better solution.
 
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What would be better, is an APP to change all the settings from a computer. A bit like Nikon's Camera Control.

Personally, for events that need rapid changes in fixed setups, nothing beats the U (user setting dial, or C1,C2 etc which is still in use by Sony, Canon and OM. Instant setting change, and they are sticky.
 
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Parfumeur said:
What would be better, is an APP to change all the settings from a computer. A bit like Nikon's Camera Control.

Personally, for events that need rapid changes in fixed setups, nothing beats the U (user setting dial, or C1,C2 etc which is still in use by Sony, Canon and OM. Instant setting change, and they are sticky.
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This is why I made Folders on my PC named what the saved settings .bin file is for. This way you can have multiple saved settings .bin files on the PC, just put on on your card and load it. There only a few settings that aren't saved/loaded/changed and you get used to the few you may need/want to change after a loading of a settings file.
 
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Thank you for the tip, and yes this is what I do, save the bin to folders on a computer and carry a spare card just for the settings that should be saved in body - but are not.

The other issue is making sure to save to card 1 and 2, to recall settings that were changed on the fly for a shoot to bring to MY defaults.

FWIW, I have missed many money shots that my partner got with a body I shall not name, but has a dial to recall settings QUICKLY and THAT ARE STICKY! Everything seems to be a workaround, tedious and a time waster, when getting the shot is primordial.
 
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Parfumeur said:
Thank you for the tip, and yes this is what I do, save the bin to folders on a computer and carry a spare card just for the settings that should be saved in body - but are not.

The other issue is making sure to save to card 1 and 2, to recall settings that were changed on the fly for a shoot to bring to MY defaults.

FWIW, I have missed many money shots that my partner got with a body I shall not name, but has a dial to recall settings QUICKLY and THAT ARE STICKY! Everything seems to be a workaround, tedious and a time waster, when getting the shot is primordial.
Click to expand...
I'm a wildlife shooter only since 2019, the only thing I need is to change is the Subject Detection from bird to animal door any non bird subject and the default AA AF mode to the wide C1 with the RSF (Hold) and there is never anything I miss. It's a trap of a button and boom, settings changed in an instant.

this is infinitely faster then trying to load settings back and forth and do is changing a bank
 
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