Nikon Z6 is a great camera. It has very high ratings but it isn’t so great for Sports shoots. However, if you need to use this camera to shoot sports, you need the best settings possible. 

Nikon Z6 Settings for Sports

In this post, we will provide you the best settings for shooting Sports with the Nikon Z6. We will split it into Photo and Movie shooting for easier understanding. Let’s dive straight in.

Nikon Z6 for Sports – Best Photo Shooting Menu

We suggest that you make use of the values provided below:

• Image size
• JPEG/TIFF: Large
• NEF (RAW): RAW L Large
• Choose image area
• Choose Image Area: FX
• File naming: DSC (default)
• Storage folder: default
• Image quality: NEF (RAW)
• NEF (RAW) recording
• NEF (RAW) compression: ON (Lossless compressed)
• NEF (RAW) bit depth: 14-bit

• Active D-Lighting: OFF
• AF-area mode: Single-point AF
• Auto distortion control: OFF
• Color space: Adobe RGB
• Diffraction compensation: OFF
• Flash compensation: 0.0
• Flash control: – –
• Flash mode: Rear-curtain sync
• Flicker reduction shooting: ON
• Focus Mode: AF-S (Single AF)
• High ISO NR: OFF
• Long Exposure NR: ON
• Manage Picture Control: – –
• Metering: Matrix Metering
• Set Picture Control: SD (Standard), Default values
• Vibration reduction: ON (turn off on tripod)
• Vignette control: OFF
• White balance: AUTO (AUTO1 Keep overall atmosphere)
• Auto bracketing:

• Auto bracketing set: AE bracketing
• Number of shots: 0F
• Increment: 1.0

• Focus shift shooting: OFF
• HDR (high dynamic range): OFF (grayed out)
• Interval timer shooting: OFF
• Multiple exposure: OFF
• Silent photography: Off
• Time-lapse movie: OFF

Nikon Z6 for Sports – Best Movie Shooting Menu

To shoot Sports videos using the Nikon Z6, make use of these settings:

• Choose image area: FX
• File naming: DSC
• Frame size / frame rate: 2160 p24 (3840×2160); 24p
• Movie file type: MOV
• Movie Quality: HIGH
• Reset movie shooting menu: – –
• ISO sensitivity settings

• Maximum sensitivity: 25600
• Auto ISO control (mode M): ON
• ISO sensitivity (mode M): 100

• Timecode: – –
• Headphone volume: 10
• Wind noise reduction: OFF
• Frequency response: WIDE
• Attenuator: OFF
• Microphone sensitivity: Manual 10
• Electronic VR: ON
• Vibration Reduction: ON Normal
• AF-area mode: Auto-area AF
• Focus mode: AF-F (full-time AF)
• Metering: Matrix metering
• Flicker reduction: Auto
• Auto distortion control: ON
• Diffraction compensation: ON
• Vignette control: Normal
• High ISO NR: Normal
• Active D-Lighting: OFF
• Manage Picture Control: – –
• Set Picture Control: The same with the photo settings
• White Balance: Auto1 (The same with the photo settings).

Nikon Z6 Custom Settings for Sports

Most people get lost here because of the complication involved. You can save yourself the trouble and make use of these values:

Autofocus

• AF activation: ON – please read below on this setting
• AF-C priority selection: Release
• AF-S priority selection: Focus
• Auto-area AF face/eye detection: Face and eye detection on
• Focus point wrap-around: OFF
• Focus points used: ALL
• Focus tracking with lock-on: Blocked shot AF response: 3
• Limit AF-area mode selection: (all checked, default)
• Store points by orientation: Yes
• Built-in AF-assist illuminator: ON
• Low-light AF: ON
• Focus Point Options: 
  • Manual focus mode: ON
  • Dynamic Area AF assist: ON

Metering and Exposure

• Center-weighted area: 12mm
• Easy exposure compensation: OFF
• EV steps for exposure control: 1/3
• Fine-tune optimal exposure: – –

Timers and AE Lock

• Shutter-release button AE-L: OFF
• Power off delay: 10s, 1m, 4s, 30s
• Self-timer

• Self-timer delay: 2s
• Number of shots: 1
• Interval between shots: 0.5s

Shooting and display

• Apply settings to live view: ON
• CL mode shooting speed: 3 fps
• Exposure delay mode: OFF
• File number sequence: ON
• Framing grid display: ON
• Limit selectable image area: All checked
• Max. continuous release: 200
• Peaking highlights: Peaking Level -> 1 (low sensitivity), Peaking highlight color: Red
• Shutter type: Auto
• Sync. release mode options: Sync
• View all in continuous mode: ON

Bracketing and flash

• Auto bracketing (Mode M): Flash/speed
• Auto ISO sensitivity control: Subject and background
• Bracketing order: Under > MTR > over
• Exposure comp. for flash: Entire frame
• Flash shutter speed: 1/60
• Flash sync speed: 1/200*
• Modeling flash: ON

Controls

Customize “I” menu

• #1 Top – Focus Mode
• #2 Bottom – AF Area Mode
• #3 Top – Metering
• #4 Bottom – Auto bracketing
• #5 Top – Release mode
• #6 Bottom – Exposure delay mode
• #7 Top – Vibration reduction
• #8 Bottom – Long Exposure NR
• #9 Top – Silent photography
• #10 Bottom – Shutter type
• #11 Top – Apply settings to live view
• #12 Bottom – Split-screen display zoom

Custom control assignment

• AF-ON button: AF-ON
• Fn1 button: AE lock (Hold)
• Fn2 button: Metering
• Lens control ring: Focus (M/A)
• Lens Fn button: AE/AF lock
• Lens Fn2 button: AF-ON
• Movie record button: Focus mode/AF-area mode
• Sub-selector center: Select center focus point
• Sub-selector: Focus point selection

Movie 

• AF Speed: 0
• AF tracking sensitivity: 4
• Custom control assignment: All default
• Customize I menu: All default
• Highlight display: – –
• OK Button: Choose center focus point

Conclusion

You will notice that we didn’t explain much concerning the values or features. This is because we expect that you know what they mean as a photographer. However, if you have any questions, you can drop them in the comments section.