1. Download Center
2. Z 7/Z 6 Online Manual
3. The i Menu
4. The Photo-Mode i Menu

At default settings, the following items appear in the i menu for photo mode.

• Set Picture Control
• White Balance
• Image Quality
• Image Size
• Flash Mode
• Metering
• Wi-Fi Connection
• Active D-Lighting
• Release Mode
• Vibration Reduction
• AF-Area Mode
• Focus Mode

Set Picture Control

Choose a Picture Control according to the subject or type of scene.

Option		Description
n	Auto	The camera automatically adjusts hues and tones based on the Standard Picture Control. The complexions of portrait subjects will appear softer, and such elements as the foliage and sky in outdoor shots more vivid, than in pictures taken with the Standard Picture Control.
Q	Standard	Standard processing for balanced results. Recommended for most situations.
R	Neutral	Minimal processing for natural results. Choose for photographs that will later be processed or retouched.
S	Vivid	Pictures are enhanced for a vivid, photoprint effect. Choose for photographs that emphasize primary colors.
T	Monochrome	Take monochrome photographs.
o	Portrait	Process portraits for skin with natural texture and a rounded feel.
p	Landscape	Produces vibrant landscapes and cityscapes.
q	Flat	Details are preserved over a wide tone range, from highlights to shadows. Choose for photographs that will later be extensively processed or retouched.
k01–k20	Creative Picture Control	Choose from the following Picture Controls, each a unique combination of hue, tone, saturation, and other settings tuned for a particular effect: Dream, Morning, Pop, Sunday, Somber, Dramatic, Silence, Bleached, Melancholic, Pure, Denim, Toy, Sepia, Blue, Red, Pink, Charcoal, Graphite, Binary, and Carbon.

Modifying Picture Controls

The following settings are available:

Option		Description
Effect level		Mute or heighten the effect of Creative Picture Control.
Quick sharp		Quickly adjust levels for balanced Sharpening, Mid-range sharpening, and Clarity. You can also make individual adjustments to the following parameters: Sharpening: Control the sharpness of details and outlines. Mid-range sharpening: Adjust sharpness according to the fineness of the patterns and lines in mid-tones affected by Sharpening and Clarity. Clarity: Adjust overall sharpness and the sharpness of thicker outlines without affecting brightness or dynamic range.
	Sharpening
	Mid-range sharpening
	Clarity
Contrast		Adjust contrast.
Brightness		Raise or lower brightness without loss of detail in highlights or shadows.
Saturation		Control the vividness of colors.
Hue		Adjust hue.
Filter effects		Simulate the effect of color filters on monochrome pictures.
Toning		Choose the tint used in monochrome pictures. Pressing 3 when an option other than B&W (black-and-white) is selected displays saturation options.
Toning (Creative Picture Control)		Adjust the shade of color used for Creative Picture Controls.

White Balance

Adjust white balance (for more information, see “White Balance”, 0 White Balance).

Option
4		Auto
	Keep white (reduce warm colors)
	Keep overall atmosphere
	Keep warm lighting colors
D		Natural light auto
H		Direct sunlight
G		Cloudy
M		Shade
J		Incandescent
I		Fluorescent
	Sodium-vapor lamps
	Warm-white fluorescent
	White fluorescent
	Cool-white fluorescent
	Day white fluorescent
	Daylight fluorescent
	High temp. mercury-vapor
5		Flash
K		Choose color temperature
L		Preset manual

Fine-Tuning White Balance

Tap the arrows in the display or use the multi selector to fine-tune white balance. Press J to save settings and return to the i menu.

Choosing a Color Temperature

Selecting White balance in the i menu displays a list of white balance options. When Choose color temperature is highlighted, color temperature options can be viewed by pressing 3.

Press 4 or 2 to highlight digits on the Amber–Blue or Green–Magenta axis and press 1 or 3 to change. Press J to save settings and return to the i menu. If a value other than zero is selected for the Green–Magenta axis, an asterisk (“U“) will be displayed next to the white balance icon.

Preset Manual

Preset manual is used to record and recall up to six custom white balance settings for shooting under mixed lighting or to compensate for light sources with a strong color cast. Follow the steps below to measure a value for preset manual white balance.

1. Display white balance presets.

   Highlight Preset manual in the i menu white balance display and press 3 to display a list of white balance presets.

   

2. Select a preset.

   Highlight the desired white balance preset (d-1 to d-6) and press J to select the highlighted preset and return to the i menu.

   

   Protected Presets

   Presets indicated by a g icon are protected and cannot be changed.

3. Select direct measurement mode.

   Highlight White balance in the i menu and press and hold J until the L icons in the shooting display and control panel start to flash and white balance target (r) is displayed at the selected focus point.

   

   

4. Measure white balance.

   To measure white balance, tap a white or gray object, or use the multi selector to position the r over a white or gray area of the display and either press J or press the shutter-release button all the way down (note that the r cannot be repositioned when an optional flash unit is attached, in which case you will need to measure white balance with a white or gray object positioned in the center of the frame).

   

   If the camera is unable to measure white balance, a message will be displayed. Try measuring white balance again with a different target.

   

5. Exit direct measurement mode.

   Press the i button to exit direct measurement mode.

Image Quality

Choose a file format for photographs.

Option	Description
NEF (RAW) + JPEG finem	Record two copies of each photo: an NEF (RAW) image and a JPEG copy. Only the JPEG copy is displayed during playback, but deleting the JPEG copy also deletes the NEF (RAW) image. The NEF (RAW) image can only be viewed using a computer.
NEF (RAW) + JPEG fine
NEF (RAW) + JPEG normalm
NEF (RAW) + JPEG normal
NEF (RAW) + JPEG basicm
NEF (RAW) + JPEG basic
NEF (RAW)	Record photos in NEF (RAW) format.
JPEG finem	Record photos in JPEG format. Compression increases and file size decreases as quality progresses from “fine” through “normal” to “basic”. Choose options with m to maximize quality, options without m to ensure that all images have more or less the same file size.
JPEG fine
JPEG normalm
JPEG normal
JPEG basicm
JPEG basic
TIFF (RGB)	Record photos in uncompressed TIFF-RGB format at a bit depth of 8 bits per channel (24-bit color).

Image Size

Choose the size at which photographs are recorded.

Option		Description
NEF (RAW)	Large	Choose the size for photos recorded in NEF (RAW) format. NEF (RAW) is available only when an NEF (RAW) option is selected for image quality.
	Medium
	Small
JPEG/TIFF	Large	Choose the size for photos recorded in JPEG or TIFF format.
	Medium
	Small

The physical dimensions of the photos in pixels varies with the option selected for Choose image area.

Z 7:

Z 6:

Flash Mode

Choose a flash mode for optional flash units (0 Flash Modes). The options available depend on the mode selected with the mode dial.

Option		Available in
I	Fill flash	b, P, S, A, M
J	Red-eye reduction
K	Slow sync + red-eye	P, A
L	Slow sync
M	Rear-curtain sync	P, S, A, M
s	Flash off	b, P, S, A, M

Metering

Metering determines how the camera sets exposure. The following options are available:

Option		Description
L	Matrix metering	The camera meters a wide area of the frame and sets exposure according to tone distribution, color, composition, and distance for results close to those seen by the naked eye.
M	Center-weighted metering	The camera meters the entire frame but assigns the greatest weight to an area in the center of the frame, the size of which can be chosen using Custom Setting b3 (Center-weighted area). This is the classic meter for portraits and is also recommended when using filters with an exposure factor (filter factor) over 1×.
N	Spot metering	The camera meters a ⌀4 mm circle (equivalent to approximately 1.5% of the frame) centered on the current focus point, making it possible to meter off-center subjects (if auto-area AF is in effect, the camera will instead meter the center focus point). Spot metering ensures that the subject will be correctly exposed, even when the background is much brighter or darker.
t	Highlight-weighted metering	The camera assigns the greatest weight to highlights. Use this option to reduce loss of detail in highlights, for example when photographing spotlit performers on-stage.

Wi-Fi Connection

Enable or disable Wi-Fi. Enable Wi-Fi to establish wireless connections to computers or between the camera and smartphones or tablets (smart devices) running the SnapBridge app.

To turn Wi-Fi off, highlight Wi-Fi connection in the i menu and press J. If Wi-Fi is currently enabled, a Close Wi-Fi connection prompt will be displayed; press J to end the connection.

Active D-Lighting

Active D-Lighting preserves details in highlights and shadows, creating photographs with natural contrast. Use for high-contrast scenes, for example when photographing brightly lit outdoor scenery through a door or window or taking pictures of shaded subjects on a sunny day. It is most effective when used with matrix metering.

Option		Description
Y	Auto	The camera automatically adjusts Active D-Lighting in response to shooting conditions (in mode M, however, Y Auto is equivalent to Q Normal).
Z	Extra high	Choose the amount of Active D-Lighting performed from Z Extra high, P High, Q Normal, and R Low.
P	High
Q	Normal
R	Low
c	Off	Active D-Lighting off.

Release Mode

Choose the operation performed when the shutter-release button is pressed all the way down. For more information, see “The c/E (Release Mode/Self-Timer) Button” (0 The c/E (Release Mode/Self-Timer) Button).

Option
U	Single frame
V	Continuous L
W	Continuous H
X	Continuous H (extended)
E	Self-timer

When Continuous L or Self-timer is highlighted, additional options can be displayed by pressing 3.

Vibration Reduction

Choose whether to enable vibration reduction. The options available vary with the lens.

Option		Description
C	On	Choose for enhanced vibration reduction when photographing static subjects.
	Normal
D	Sport	Choose when photographing athletes and other subjects that are moving rapidly and unpredictably.
E	Off	Vibration reduction off.

AF-Area Mode

AF-area mode controls how the camera selects the focus-point for autofocus. For more information, see “AF-Area Mode” (0 AF-Area Mode).

Option
3	Pinpoint AF
d	Single-point AF
e	Dynamic-area AF
f	Wide-area AF (S)
g	Wide-area AF (L)
h	Auto-area AF

Focus Mode

The focus mode controls how the camera focuses. For more information, see “Choosing a Focus Mode” (0 Choosing a Focus Mode).

Option
AF-S	Single AF
AF-C	Continuous AF
MF	Manual focus