Learning to shoot Video with my Z

For me it took getting the concepts in one place. Lot's of pieces in the various threads here. So similar to what I did when learning my coffee roasting software, I put the concepts in one place.


I have been practicing the last few days with my Z9 and Z6iii, with neutral density filters as the sun rose higher in the sky. I feel comfortable now but still a rookie.
I am sharing my learning with you.
You can download the PDF here:


I am open to any and all feedback or corrections to the document. You can post them here or PM me.

I think if you read the document; configure your camera and start getting a little muscle memory around the settings and options you will find yourself much more on the ready.

Wow! I wasn’t expecting an actual detail guide when I opened the Drive link . This is great and I’ll be sure to peruse through it as I have been wanting to learn video too. Thank you!

Schteeks said:

Wow! I wasn’t expecting an actual detail guide when I opened the Drive link . This is great and I’ll be sure to peruse through it as I have been wanting to learn video too. Thank you!

Click to expand...

I hope you find it useful and you provide feedback. Once I gathered all the concepts and set up the camera, I started to understand how to get moving instead of being stuck in the I don't know.

A couple of years ago, I got the free Davinci Resolve. But I really struggled to get it to do even simple tasks, like combining a few clips and cropping in.

I like learning new editors and camera features. I'd like to try more video with my Z6 iii's strong video capabilities. How should I start? I don't have any Apple products.

jthomas39 said:

A couple of years ago, I got the free Davinci Resolve. But I really struggled to get it to do even simple tasks, like combining a few clips and cropping in.

I like learning new editors and camera features. I'd like to try more video with my Z6 iii's strong video capabilities. How should I start? I don't have any Apple products.

Click to expand...

I have not watched this yet but I believe it will get you going. Also on their website they have both pdfs and videos too. I think you have to put some time in. My doc will help you get some shots done.


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Thanks for your help, Michael

Lots of info, and looks to be quite understandable. Nice of you to share.

Hooligans Imagery said:

jthomas39 said:

A couple of years ago, I got the free Davinci Resolve. But I really struggled to get it to do even simple tasks, like combining a few clips and cropping in.

I like learning new editors and camera features. I'd like to try more video with my Z6 iii's strong video capabilities. How should I start? I don't have any Apple products.

Click to expand...

I have not watched this yet but I believe it will get you going. Also on their website they have both pdfs and videos too. I think you have to put some time in. My doc will help you get some shots done.

Click to expand...

That is a 4+ hour video by Casey Faris. A couple of years ago, I learned using DaVinci Resolve 18 with another video by Casey Faris, and that video was about 25 minute long while 18 was the latest version back then. Now it is up to DaVinci Resolve 20.

DaVinci is a complicated editor and will take time to learn, gradually. But there are lots of good videos out there.

List of Videos

• Introduction to DaVinci Resolve - [Full Course] for Beginners (2024) - Casey Ferris Course – (4:39:22 ) yes 4 hours.
• Blackmagic’s own tutorial for v 20 for beginners.(13:13)
• DaVinci Resolve 20 - Complete Tutorial For Beginners (2025)! Justin Brown course. (28:37)
• Syndestent Studios - Best DaVinci Resolve 20 Beginner Tutorial: Complete Guide! (48:49)

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Thanks for your help, Michael

Deleted.

You’ve made a few glaring errors in that pdf file. I’ve not read it in detail but there are a few mistakes that stand out immediately at first glance. It’s a little misleading to call it a beginner’s guide without doing some serious fact checking and making it clear that it is written by a beginner. No doubt your intentions are good but I think you should make it clear in the title and/or at the top of the pdf that these are beginner’s notes for beginners and not an authoritative document. It is clear to anyone who has any experience with video that the writer is not very experienced but it may not be clear to a beginner, particularly if the document becomes orphaned from this forum.

My comments are far from comprehensive. They just relate to a few things that stand out immediately and I’ve only read a few bits, not the entire document, so there are probably other errors..

N-Raw (NEV) decoding is supported in the free version of Resolve. I see this error quite regularly but all it takes is to install the free version and try it out. There is a limitation in that it is not possible to export at higher frame size than 4K UHD (3840-x2160) and there is a similar limitation in timeline resolution. But it is definitely supported. Alternatively use the free REDCINE app to decide N-Raw. There are no frame size limitations with REDCINE.

The file type table is incomplete and there are several important errors and/or omissions among which are:

N-Raw can be recorded internally on the Z8 and the Z5II as well as the Z9 and Z6III

ProRes Raw is available for internal recording on the Z9, Z8 and Z6IIi.

MOV is the container for ProRes Raw just like ProRes. Not heard of PRR - maybe I've missed something.

To record ProRes Raw externally on the Z6/Z7 etc requires a paid firmware update.

Other (more subjective):

View Assist is a matter of personal taste. I never use it.

Record N-Raw at Normal not High quality. The differences are so negligible as to be visually indistinguishable but the differences in file size and data rates are huge.

Check out Ripple Training courses. I think these are the best available for video editing and grading - mainly for Final Cut Pro but they also do Resolve. They are paid structured tutorials but well worth the money. They frequently offer big discounts - 4th of July is a common one.

ClintGryke said:

You’ve made a few glaring errors in that pdf file. I’ve not read it in detail but there are a few mistakes that stand out immediately at first glance. It’s a little misleading to call it a beginner’s guide without doing some serious fact checking and making it clear that it is written by a beginner. No doubt your intentions are good but I think you should make it clear in the title and/or at the top of the pdf that these are beginner’s notes for beginners and not an authoritative document.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback. I will make changes.

In the thread I state I am still a rookie.

ClintGryke said:

It is clear to anyone who has any experience with video that the writer is not very experienced but it may not be clear to a beginner, particularly if the document becomes orphaned from this forum.

Click to expand...

I will make it clear in the PDF.

ClintGryke said:

My comments are far from comprehensive. They just relate to a few things that stand out immediately and I’ve only read a few bits, not the entire document, so there are probably other errors..

Click to expand...

Some of these are intentional exclusions. The title of the document makes it clear I am not covering every camera and every file type. I will make it even more clear in the update.

ClintGryke said:

N-Raw (NEV) decoding is supported in the free version of Resolve. I see this error quite regularly but all it takes is to install the free version and try it out. There is a limitation in that it is not possible to export at higher frame size than 4K UHD (3840-x2160) and there is a similar limitation in timeline resolution. But it is definitely supported. Alternatively use the free REDCINE app to decide N-Raw. There are no frame size limitations with REDCINE.

Click to expand...

ClintGryke said:

The file type table is incomplete and there are several important errors and/or omissions among which are:

N-Raw can be recorded internally on the Z8 and the Z5II as well as the Z9 and Z6III

Click to expand...

ClintGryke said:

ProRes Raw is available for internal recording on the Z9, Z8 and Z6IIi.

MOV is the container for ProRes Raw just like ProRes. Not heard of PRR - maybe I've missed something.

To record ProRes Raw externally on the Z6/Z7 etc requires a paid firmware update.

Other (more subjective):

Click to expand...

ClintGryke said:

View Assist is a matter of personal taste. I never use it.

Click to expand...

My opinion is that helps beginners. Personal choice.

ClintGryke said:

Record N-Raw at Normal not High quality. The differences are so negligible as to be visually indistinguishable but the differences in file size and data rates are huge.

Click to expand...

Noted will update the documents.

ClintGryke said:

Check out Ripple Training courses. I think these are the best available for video editing and grading - mainly for Final Cut Pro but they also do Resolve. They are paid structured tutorials but well worth the money. They frequently offer big discounts - 4th of July is a common one.

Click to expand...

Ripple is mentioned in the document.

Thanks for reading it and providing input.

I made it clear I am a beginner in writing this and that not all camera models are covered. I also added links to more Resolve training

Hooligans Imagery said:

For me it took getting the concepts in one place. Lot's of pieces in the various threads here. So similar to what I did when learning my coffee roasting software, I put the concepts in one place.

I have been practicing the last few days with my Z9 and Z6iii, with neutral density filters as the sun rose higher in the sky. I feel comfortable now but still a rookie.
I am sharing my learning with you.
You can download the PDF here:

Click to expand...

Hooligans Imagery said:

I am open to any and all feedback or corrections to the document. You can post them here or PM me.

I think if you read the document; configure your camera and start getting a little muscle memory around the settings and options you will find yourself much more on the ready.

Click to expand...

Hooligans Imagery said:

I made it clear I am a beginner in writing this and that not all camera models are covered. I also added links to more Resolve training

Click to expand...

shuncheung said:

Hooligans Imagery said:

jthomas39 said:

A couple of years ago, I got the free Davinci Resolve. But I really struggled to get it to do even simple tasks, like combining a few clips and cropping in.

I like learning new editors and camera features. I'd like to try more video with my Z6 iii's strong video capabilities. How should I start? I don't have any Apple products.

Click to expand...

I have not watched this yet but I believe it will get you going. Also on their website they have both pdfs and videos too. I think you have to put some time in. My doc will help you get some shots done.

Click to expand...

That is a 4+ hour video by Casey Faris. A couple of years ago, I learned using DaVinci Resolve 18 with another video by Casey Faris, and that video was about 25 minute long while 18 was the latest version back then. Now it is up to DaVinci Resolve 20.

DaVinci is a complicated editor and will take time to learn, gradually. But there are lots of good videos out there.

Click to expand...

I don't have time right now to follow this in detail. But even a quick view of parts of this tutorial looks good.

Videos I saw a couple of years ago just showed a full screen Davinci and went too fast through the process they were showing. Wait, what did he click on there? Why was that tool selected?

This 4 hour tutorial has a useful zoom-in to the tool bars to see what he's using, and helpful explanations. This should help me get started.

Thanks for putting this together. Much appreciated.

New version 7 is up with additional video resources on Resolve as well as commentary on asset management.

Good timing. I was about to try video on my Z6iii. Thanks for sharing.

db3133 said:

Good timing. I was about to try video on my Z6iii. Thanks for sharing.

Click to expand...

You're welcome. Keep checking back as I keep updating it.

For example NX Studio is the best place to see all the metadata as most other software packages don't show the proprietary Nikon fields. Also if you want to star, label and keyword videos, Bridge (free to anyone) seems to be the best choice.

updated my thoughts on Non Linear Editors as I am learning resolve, ONLY because I don't have an Adobe subscription that includes Premier. If you are an Adobe user stick to Premier, way more familiar.

Also added thoughts on White Balance, especially for use in short wildlife shots, I think Auto is ok.

If you are doing wildlife your AF speed and sensitivity probably need changing. Updated doc.