The Best Settings For Cinematic Nikon Z8 Video & Post Production Tips

The Nikon Z8 is a cinematic powerhouse when paired with the right settings. The best settings for video on the Nikon Z8 isn't a one size fits all solution. There are a couple of settings such as color profiles and codecs that I do believe should remain the same, but it's really how we expose those profiles that makes the difference. I am going to share with you my methods of exposing Nikon Log with the Atomos Ninja V external monitor, some exposure rules I use to achieve those results, and how to color grade Nikon Raw and Nikon Log in DaVinci Resolve.
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
00:57 The Best Color Profile (Nikon Log)
01:20 The Best Codec To Shoot With
03:15 Using An External Monitor To Expose Properly
04:52 Ninja V Setup for Nikon RAW
06:19 A Note on Shutter Speed, Aperture, and ISO
07:38 The Best NLE To Color Grade Nikon Log / NRAW
08:34 Color Grading Nikon Log / Nikon RAW in DaVinci Resolve
14:23 Outro
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Пікірлер: 78

  • @sidneybakergreen
    @sidneybakergreen2 ай бұрын

    Making titles can be hard when your balancing searchability vs. the content! But these are my methods to get most out of my Nikon Z8! Will I be seeing any of you at NAB?

  • @gnkstudios6138

    @gnkstudios6138

    2 ай бұрын

    I will not be but I'm excited to see more of your content. I'm going to be a new Nikon user soon. Excited for this next chapter. been a life long Canon shooter with a short detour to Sony way back but ended up coming back to canon. But I feel Nikon has woken up to video and they are making a big push for video shooters. Buying Red was just one of those choices.

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    2 ай бұрын

    @@gnkstudios6138 Awesome news! Getting into a new system is an exciting time. Can't wait to put out some NAB content. Nikon is making big pushes, if you have any questions you can feel free to dm me on IG!

  • @namelesscrx
    @namelesscrxАй бұрын

    I just purchased a Z8 and very interested in getting into amateur videography with the Z8. This video helps me out and is putting me more into a comfort zone, thanks for the tips!

  • @phillyj2380
    @phillyj23802 ай бұрын

    Ive been a die hard Nikon guy for years now and I loved what you said in the beginning. Also, very professional, didnt skip a beat. Great run down of everything. :)

  • @ryanschneebaum1297
    @ryanschneebaum1297Ай бұрын

    Just want to say thank you for making this video, am new to filmmaking so this is super helpful to try to get the best quality footage. Thank you!

  • @olssons__521
    @olssons__5212 ай бұрын

    Soo good! More color grading with the nikon log :D love this

  • @hidemaxwell
    @hidemaxwell2 ай бұрын

    Some really great info in this video !

  • @kingkrukgaming
    @kingkrukgaming2 ай бұрын

    Thanks for sharing your workflow… it’s soops helpful to get the ball rolling on some post workflow 💪

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    2 ай бұрын

    Im glad I could help :)

  • @freepeace9067
    @freepeace90672 ай бұрын

    Great work!

  • @MichaelSeneschal
    @MichaelSeneschal24 күн бұрын

    Instant sub. This is such a great and informative video. Thanks for making this!

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    24 күн бұрын

    Thank you man! I really appricate it :)

  • @wonderfullymademedia
    @wonderfullymademedia2 ай бұрын

    I was with Nikon before they were cool too 🤣. Im waiting to see if i’ll like the Z6III. If not, I may go ahead and get the Z8.

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    2 ай бұрын

    Another one of my friends is also waiting to see what the Z6 Mark III looks like! It's going to be an interesting camera for sure. I wonder how they're going to place it and what features it will have.

  • @marekpetrovic2097

    @marekpetrovic2097

    2 ай бұрын

    i've had my z8 for 2 months now. What i'm really scared of is increasing ISO above 2000 in stills or video. It introduces so much noise, that at first I thought my camera was broken or sth. (coming from nikon D750) I'll be switching to Z6III if it turns out it has better low light performance. (provided that it has the n-raw capabilities 🙂)

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    2 ай бұрын

    @@marekpetrovic2097 The times I've had issues with noise and high ISO is when I was being too conservative and not pushing the ISO to the proper exposure. Also remember, RAW signatures will be noisier, and that you'll generally need to do a little NR in post. Also, your settings in lightroom could be affecting the stills.

  • @marekpetrovic2097

    @marekpetrovic2097

    2 ай бұрын

    @@sidneybakergreen Yeah, I should probably get more familiar with the noise reduction tools in both Lightroom and Resolve... Thank you.

  • @Olsson1994

    @Olsson1994

    2 ай бұрын

    @@marekpetrovic2097native iso is 800 and 4000 so dont use any other than that in log profile

  • @ethanburmeister
    @ethanburmeister2 ай бұрын

    great overview...

  • @VictoryVictoryMusic
    @VictoryVictoryMusic2 ай бұрын

    im actually on the tube great vid

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    2 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the support 🫶🏾

  • @iNardy
    @iNardy2 ай бұрын

    I love my z8

  • @EL_N0IR_2201
    @EL_N0IR_22012 ай бұрын

    hey Sidney I wanted to ask you an off topic question about the lg c2 tV please if its ok, so I did just got done watching the video and it was all good but I wanted too ask specifically. so its safe too say the pattern generator in this models are now good to go as in it works? because this had been the biggest issue with them for such a long time. appreciate all the videos.

  • @tebnuhotep217
    @tebnuhotep2172 ай бұрын

    You’re A Beast Broski

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    2 ай бұрын

    I really appricate that! And I found someone else who uses Broski!

  • @goodfriendscreations
    @goodfriendscreations2 ай бұрын

    Bro would u suggest z8 for film making purposes will it give cinematic experience

  • @NMCWatkins
    @NMCWatkins11 күн бұрын

    Remember to not shoot in Nikon NRAW at 4.1k 24p as there is still something wrong with it. 4.1k 50/60 and 4.1k 120 work great. 4.1k 24 has something going on that still hasnt been fixed for almost 1 and a half years so it' sbest to say it may never be fixed so avoid it. I use 8k RAW and downscale it to 4k but I have 10 x 4tb CF Express cards so space is no issue but I also use PRORESS 422 HQ often and it's fantastic (I avoid proress raw) I use my z9 along with my RED V Raptor and the 8k matches incredible well with it with little hassle in post and the 4k oversampled proress hq 60fps is absolutely incredible. I film some pretty big stuff for the UFC and big wave surfers and everything I have delivered using the RED and Nikon combo only gets compliments. Now if I could have 16 stops of usable DR in a body the size of a z6iii I will be a happy man becasue filming with the V Raptor XL and z9 in water housing is a right pain!

  • @rodthomas_visuals
    @rodthomas_visuals26 күн бұрын

    Morning Sidney Thanks for taking the time to do these videos.. A quick question. I have my Ninja V set up the same as yours, on PQ etc but it will only let me record PRORES to it ( in Nlog - I am suing the Z9 ) Do you use the monitor just as a MONITOR and still record the N-RAW file direct to the Z8 / Z9 or is there any easy way to set it up so the Ninja v will in fact record N-RAW to it Thanks in advance mate

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    26 күн бұрын

    I use my monitor as just a monitor. I record in camera In camera. You can record NRAW externally

  • @marqman05
    @marqman052 ай бұрын

    Much need info, thank you. You are helping me understand my Nikon z8. I have a question, you recommend an external monitor, would I need a monitor with external recording features using the Nikon z8? Also Nikon needs more positive KZread influencers such as yourself. Thank you again.

  • @Olsson1994

    @Olsson1994

    2 ай бұрын

    No you dont need a monitor with external recording since the z8 shoots 8k raw internally :) i use the godox gm6s monitor. Very good monitor and a fairly good price :)

  • @CLARKEIMAGERY
    @CLARKEIMAGERY2 ай бұрын

    Great info as always. Regarding n-raw vs ProRes raw, when PRR is converted to CDNG it bumps up to a 16 bit file. So is it better to work in CDNG? Thanks

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    2 ай бұрын

    It's a 16 bit container, but I believe it's still 12 bit

  • @CLARKEIMAGERY

    @CLARKEIMAGERY

    2 ай бұрын

    @@sidneybakergreengood to know. Keep up the great work!

  • @nickdual
    @nickdual2 ай бұрын

    I subscribed

  • @therealroblay2617
    @therealroblay261717 күн бұрын

    What are the best focus settings

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    17 күн бұрын

    If I’m not using manual, focus, then I’m using continuous auto focus with subject tracking

  • @LocksleyLennoxfilms
    @LocksleyLennoxfilms2 ай бұрын

    The Nikon Z8 is pretty crazy... i wonder if they will make a box style camera hahaha

  • @Lowridersdoggs
    @Lowridersdoggs2 ай бұрын

    Does film convert support Nikon z8 now or is it still only z9?

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    2 ай бұрын

    N log is available in FC, but I don’t use any of the color Profiles I just use the SRGB profile

  • @ALMAR-Music-Ltd.
    @ALMAR-Music-Ltd.Ай бұрын

    what lens are you using for your videos because I attempted to use the one 80-600 mm and it appears to have issues making videos not fast enough with the focusing scrolling left to right or right to left.

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    Ай бұрын

    I used 35,50, and 85mm primes

  • @ALMAR-Music-Ltd.

    @ALMAR-Music-Ltd.

    Ай бұрын

    @@sidneybakergreen I meant 180-600mm Nikkor. so can we say that the telephoto lenses can be very slow on focusing and I should stick to a lower focal range may like a 24 to 120 Z lens. or a 24 to 70 F lens. 2.8

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    Ай бұрын

    @@ALMAR-Music-Ltd. are you using an S line Lens?

  • @ALMAR-Music-Ltd.

    @ALMAR-Music-Ltd.

    Ай бұрын

    @@sidneybakergreen No the 180-600mm is not. but if I throw on a 24-70 mm Nikor lens with no VR, I noticed that the VR inside the Z8 is available for normal or sport even thoughit's an "F" lens. it takes beautiful videos on the Z8. Thank you for your ongoing help

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    Ай бұрын

    Can you DM me a video on what exactly you're experiencing on IG

  • @poikatiikeri
    @poikatiikeriАй бұрын

    So there’s no zebras in z8 to see if the footage is over exposed?! just ordered the camera and now i need an external monitor to know if i shoot it all wrong?

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    Ай бұрын

    There are zebras, and there are way form, I just choose not to use any of the internal features, because I feel like a monitor is more accurate regardless of the camera

  • @jamesmcpherson297
    @jamesmcpherson29711 күн бұрын

    So, it would be good to show how to expose n log correctly in camera for people who dont use a monitor or are run and gunning at say a wedding or events.

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    11 күн бұрын

    I am going to be honest with you. I think it’s irresponsible to be shooting log and not using a monitor. There are so many options that are not that big. This is coming from somebody who is also a wedding photographer. I get it, I get the gear load. But even in documentary film, making situations most cinematographers have a good means of seeing their footage. Generally, it’s an electronic viewfinder on cinema cameras. These are Mirrorless cameras. Invest in the monitor. At the end of the day it’s not about your comfort it’s about your client.

  • @jamesmcpherson297

    @jamesmcpherson297

    9 күн бұрын

    @sidneybakergreen there are so many situations where having a monitor mounted or rigged up shooting weddings and events is impossible. Im also going to be honest, I think if you are a Nikon ambassador you should not be pushing using a external monitor for every situations and shooting and showing results with the built in viewfinder and rear screen. But aside from us having different opinions, we'll made and we'll explained video. I wish there was more people shooting nikon video too.

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    9 күн бұрын

    @@jamesmcpherson297 I am not an ambassador. I'm not part of the program. I'm a cinematographer. I'm also a wedding photographer and I've shot weddings as filmmaker as well. My thoughts are my own and will remain that way.

  • @jamesmcpherson297

    @jamesmcpherson297

    9 күн бұрын

    @sidneybakergreen apologies, I thought you were a Nikon Ambassador. Still, I think.you have made a good video and maybe you should be a Ambassador 😁. It's better than Nikon's production or information!

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    9 күн бұрын

    @@jamesmcpherson297 I appricate that, and I will be screenshotting this. And just so you know, I have voiced my opinion on having better assist tools in camera. I do have a point of contact. I would personally like to see a better rec 709 conversion lut in camera becuase I feel that proper exposure tends to be over exposed in camera.

  • @rodneyturnerphoto
    @rodneyturnerphoto2 ай бұрын

    Now we need some DR19 videos from you. lol. The new color slice looks interesting.

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    2 ай бұрын

    Yes as soon as I land and get settled at NAB I'm diving in. Color slice is gonna be so helpful. Kinda rolling my eyes at the film look creator 😭

  • @Cinema-Pictures-YouTube
    @Cinema-Pictures-YouTubeАй бұрын

    I have a Z9, and using it with a Ninja or any other monitor is not enjoyable at all. Often, the picture has an error, it turns green, or the camera freezes. But even worse are the blackouts when pressing the record button. The picture disappears for 2-3 seconds, which is very annoying. Also, the format is not optimally utilized. It's a square image in the corner of the display, which wastes space.

  • @RalphRaphaelPhotog
    @RalphRaphaelPhotog2 ай бұрын

    I dont suppose you can do this with zlog lol

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    2 ай бұрын

    I'd use the same node tree but you could use prores raw then my color management settings

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    2 ай бұрын

    The ones in my ProRes Raw video

  • @ryanowen1118
    @ryanowen11182 ай бұрын

    Hi Sydney, Love your stuff, but I need help.. I have watched almost all of your videos (and a bunch of other colorists) and my stuff still looks like mud. Do you know of anybody I can pay for tutoring? I just need somone who can look at my stuff and help me figure out where I am going wrong. I have been working on this for 3 years now and I still suck. Using a z9 so it isn't the gear. It is affecting my income. PLEASE help me!!!

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    2 ай бұрын

    Dm me on IG

  • @straight-out-of-camera
    @straight-out-of-camera2 ай бұрын

    It took me 4 months to get Nikon to acknowledge this N-RAW SDR bug. kzread.info/dash/bejne/iYeAr5ixhpvNqZc.html I'm curious if the Z8 has the same bug. Yes log is cool, but there is a place for nraw sdr.

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    2 ай бұрын

    That's interesting. I don't shoot NRAW SDR so I'm not sure. I'll take a look later. That being said, I have a really hard time finding a place for shooting N-RAW in SDR. For the simple fact that resolve will automatically bring NLOG into whatever output you want with color management set up. Shooting N-RAW requires you bring it into an NLE, and all cinema cameras default to LOG when in RAW and brought into an NLE. The only time you'd be saving is 3 clicks at the beginning of the project and no one is that pressed for time

  • @redpillrider

    @redpillrider

    2 ай бұрын

    @@sidneybakergreen Yeah i definitely understand there's almost no use for it. But WOW this exposure jumping bug!! I can't believe how long it took for Nikon to acknowledge it. From their last email to me: "Thank you for your patience. I received word from our engineers in Japan this morning that they have identified an issue with the camera firmware and have decided to correct it with a future update. I can't offer a time frame for the update, but I can say your specific issue is scheduled to be corrected." That's after me hammering them with about 25 emails spanning months. No company on earth is harder to get through to, and their HUBRIS reaches heaven.

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    2 ай бұрын

    @@redpillrider Just wanted to circle back with you. I did record a 30 second clip with NRAW SDR, and I didn't have any jumping. So it must've been patched. And that is very frustrating. I do know a couple of companies big in the industry are the same way. I think we need better channels for being able to report bugs and have them taken seriously for sure!

  • @redpillrider

    @redpillrider

    2 ай бұрын

    @@sidneybakergreen OK, note that it must not be in Manual exposure. I know it happens in Aperture prio, with auto iso. But maybe you were in that. Good to hear that the Z8 doesn't do it.

  • @redpillrider

    @redpillrider

    2 ай бұрын

    and oops, I'm accidentally using two youtube accounts to comment, lol

  • @EugeneMaynard
    @EugeneMaynardАй бұрын

    👏🏾👍🏾🙏🏾 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇸🇪🇹🇹

  • @Cinema-Pictures-YouTube
    @Cinema-Pictures-YouTubeАй бұрын

    I have a Z9, and using it with a Ninja or any other monitor is not enjoyable at all. Often, the picture has an error, it turns green, or the camera freezes. But even worse are the blackouts when pressing the record button. The picture disappears for 2-3 seconds, which is very annoying. Also, the format is not optimally utilized. It's a square image in the corner of the display, which wastes space.

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    Ай бұрын

    If you’re getting incorrect colors, that is user error. I would recommend double checking your settings with respect to input color. The issues with feed cutout is an issue for upon ending recoding. That said, despite that and the format it’s 100% better and safer to use a monitor. You just have to make sure your settings are correct.

  • @Cinema-Pictures-YouTube

    @Cinema-Pictures-YouTube

    Ай бұрын

    @@sidneybakergreen It's a bug not an application or user error Just wanted to let you know that there was no question (#Nikon)

  • @sidneybakergreen

    @sidneybakergreen

    Ай бұрын

    @@Cinema-Pictures-KZread if you are getting colors that are incorrect, which is something I cannot replicate and have not had an issue with over the course of two years with both of the Z8 & Z9. I feel more inclined to lean on the aspect of user error. Especially if you’re saying it’s with any monitor. Furthermore if you’re doing internal recording and you’re getting messed up colors, then there probably a camera issue at that.