ISO Control

[jmccas]

TL;DR: is there a way to move ISO control to the rear command dial on the Z8 & Z6III?

Going back to the Nikon DSLR days, I’ve struggled with adjusting ISO on the fly. I switched to auto ISO years ago but I’ve been wanting to shift back to manual ISO control. My issue is Nikon’s implementation: my fingers just can’t get the hang of the ISO button push and dial manipulation. I’ll invariably hit the EC or Video button. Even when I get it right, I find it slow and sometimes requires me to take my eye off the EVF. I will add I have changed the setting so I don’t have to hold the button down which partially helps.

There’s also the added frustration with lack of consistency of controls between lenses. For example, here is my street setup and how controls are setup:

Z 35/1.4

• Front dial: shutter control
• Rear dial: aperture control
• Multi-function ring: ISO (I used to have this setup for aperture control)

Z 50/1.8

• Front dial: shutter control
• Rear dial: aperture control
• ISO: button + dial

TTA 75/2

• Front dial: shutter control
• Rear dial: nothing
• Aperture: aperture ring
• ISO: button + dial

Voigtlander 40/1.2

• Front dial: shutter control
• Rear dial: nothing
• Aperture: aperture ring
• ISO: button + dial

I have considered buying the 50/1.4 so I can match the shooting experience with the 35/1.4 but that does not solve ISO control with the 40/1.2 or 75/1.2. I could buy the 85/1.8 but that does not have the multi-function ring.

Anyone else struggle with this or found a workaround? Is there a way to shift ISO control to the rear dial when using a lens with an aperture ring? To me the ideal set up would be:

Shutter control: front dial

Aperture: Multi-function ring or aperture on lenses that have that

ISO control: rear control dial

 

[PLShutterbug]

The quickest fix for this is to enable “Release button to use dial” in Custom Settings. With this enabled, you press and release the ISO button (others work this way as well), then spin the dials. When you do anything else it activates what you’ve spun to. This way you don’t have to hold down the button to spin the dial. Should make life a lot easier for you (it has for me) and you won’t have to remap a button.

1. Press and release (i.e.: tap) the ISO button.
2. Spin the front dial to toggle between fixed and auto-ISO, or the rear dial to switch ISO.
3. Half-press the shutter button like you were about to do anyway. Now your camera is at the changed ISO setting.

This function was available on at least some DSLRs, too. I just looked at the manual for my old D7100 and it also has the capability.

 

[skyrunr]

I get your frustration/observation, and reversing the command dials is an option in some cases, such as AF area selection, and P*/A*/T* (T for shutter, lol,) but not for ISO. Especially after using an R8 for a month or so. I was surprised how quickly I converted and preferred the sturdier metal top dial versus the plastic front dial.

My solution is to use the MyMenu, have ISO at the top, select auto on/off, and that way when you press the RED button, and right arrow button, then one more right button to turn it OFF/ON, then a half-press (tested.) Which is actually odd because you usually have to press MENU or OK to confirm changes.

You could also use the "i" menu.

It is interesting that you can't use the touchscreen to turn auto ISO on or off either. I'd really like to see some more attention put into the touchscreen controls. In theory they should be a game changer. My Samsung S7 was great out of the box for touchscreen controls, but every update they made eventually ruined the camera IMO. Google's Pixel cameras have gone back and forth too. Modern UI engineers are just cruel, especially in today's cars, IMO.

Try these recommendations out, and let us know what works best for you.

 

[monte12345]

This goes back to when I was using the F5 and the introduction of the AF-S lenses that didn't have Aperture Rings. So what do you have to do with those G-D AF-S lenses in order to adjust the Aperture. You have to remove your index finger from the Shutter Release to twiddle that STUPID front command dial. I have to wonder how many ?Billions of shots at the critical moment have been missed by having to twiddle that STUPID front command dial. BTW, on my Z7 II and Zf those dial functions have been reversed so it can be worked around. Of course when you are using Back Button Focus that introduces another area where you get into a dial - button conflict.

Life would be so much easier if Nikon were to revise every single Z mount lens to include an Aperture/Command dial, even the 26mm f2.8 "pancake".

 

[Trazan]

My issue is Nikon’s implementation: my fingers just can’t get the hang of the ISO button push and dial manipulation. I’ll invariably hit the EC or Video button.

You can change it to use e.g. Fn3? That's what I've done on my Z8. I use that video record- and iso-button to recall focus modes and positions instead.

 

[jmccas]

The quickest fix for this is to enable “Release button to use dial” in Custom Settings. With this enabled, you press and release the ISO button (others work this way as well), then spin the dials. When you do anything else it activates what you’ve spun to. This way you don’t have to hold down the button to spin the dial. Should make life a lot easier for you (it has for me) and you won’t have to remap a button.

1. Press and release (i.e.: tap) the ISO button.
2. Spin the front dial to toggle between fixed and auto-ISO, or the rear dial to switch ISO.
3. Half-press the shutter button like you were about to do anyway. Now your camera is at the changed ISO setting.

This function was available on at least some DSLRs, too. I just looked at the manual for my old D7100 and it also has the capability.

As noted in my post, I have this enabled. While it does cut down on some of the fiddling about, I still find it (for me) to be clumsy. Sometimes it also presents new problems in that when I go to change shutter/aperture, I completely forget I am now adjusting ISO.

 

[jmccas]

I get your frustration/observation, and reversing the command dials is an option in some cases, such as AF area selection, and P*/A*/T* (T for shutter, lol,) but not for ISO. Especially after using an R8 for a month or so. I was surprised how quickly I converted and preferred the sturdier metal top dial versus the plastic front dial.

My solution is to use the MyMenu, have ISO at the top, select auto on/off, and that way when you press the RED button, and right arrow button, then one more right button to turn it OFF/ON, then a half-press (tested.) Which is actually odd because you usually have to press MENU or OK to confirm changes.

You could also use the "i" menu.

It is interesting that you can't use the touchscreen to turn auto ISO on or off either. I'd really like to see some more attention put into the touchscreen controls. In theory they should be a game changer. My Samsung S7 was great out of the box for touchscreen controls, but every update they made eventually ruined the camera IMO. Google's Pixel cameras have gone back and forth too. Modern UI engineers are just cruel, especially in today's cars, IMO.

Try these recommendations out, and let us know what works best for you.

Appreciate the suggestions. Using My Menu is a lot of work to change ISO lol. I was testing this method using Auto ISO on/off and then also tried it with ISO Sensitivity.

I actually think I prefer going through the "i" menu as an alternative. I find I can more reliably hit the "i" button than the ISO button. While better, it is still fairly slow.

I guess I got a little spoiled when I owned the a7cii. Having all three legs of the exposure triangle available for adjustment using the two dials and control wheel were an apparent luxury.

It has been a while since I have shot a Canon - is their implementation of ISO control similar to Nikon's (meaning you have quick access to two of three legs of the exposure triangle)?

 

[jmccas]

This goes back to when I was using the F5 and the introduction of the AF-S lenses that didn't have Aperture Rings. So what do you have to do with those G-D AF-S lenses in order to adjust the Aperture. You have to remove your index finger from the Shutter Release to twiddle that STUPID front command dial. I have to wonder how many ?Billions of shots at the critical moment have been missed by having to twiddle that STUPID front command dial. BTW, on my Z7 II and Zf those dial functions have been reversed so it can be worked around. Of course when you are using Back Button Focus that introduces another area where you get into a dial - button conflict.

Life would be so much easier if Nikon were to revise every single Z mount lens to include an Aperture/Command dial, even the 26mm f2.8 "pancake".

I would love to see some consistency from Nikon. The controls for their lenses are all over the place. Why do the 1.8 S line lenses not have a MF ring yet the cheaper, non S 1.4 lenses do?

All of their lenses should have a multifunction ring so you can assign all three legs of the exposure triangle without having to hit a button to toggle dial control. I previously had aperture control on the MF ring on the 35/1.4 but once I changed it to ISO, it was brilliant!

What is baffling is ISO control cannot be assigned to either the front or rear command dials. These seems like a relatively easy firmware update.

 

[Suntan]

This goes back to when I was using the F5 and the introduction of the AF-S lenses that didn't have Aperture Rings. So what do you have to do with those G-D AF-S lenses in order to adjust the Aperture. You have to remove your index finger from the Shutter Release to twiddle that STUPID front command dial. I have to wonder how many ?Billions of shots at the critical moment have been missed by having to twiddle that STUPID front command dial. BTW, on my Z7 II and Zf those dial functions have been reversed so it can be worked around. Of course when you are using Back Button Focus that introduces another area where you get into a dial - button conflict.

Life would be so much easier if Nikon were to revise every single Z mount lens to include an Aperture/Command dial, even the 26mm f2.8 "pancake".

You have a middle finger on your right hand. Use that to adjust the front dial and then you don't have to take your index finger off the shutter.

Akward to get used to, but that's not a reason to continually miss shots you'd like to have gotten.

 

[PLShutterbug]

The quickest fix for this is to enable “Release button to use dial” in Custom Settings. With this enabled, you press and release the ISO button (others work this way as well), then spin the dials. When you do anything else it activates what you’ve spun to. This way you don’t have to hold down the button to spin the dial. Should make life a lot easier for you (it has for me) and you won’t have to remap a button.

1. Press and release (i.e.: tap) the ISO button.
2. Spin the front dial to toggle between fixed and auto-ISO, or the rear dial to switch ISO.
3. Half-press the shutter button like you were about to do anyway. Now your camera is at the changed ISO setting.

This function was available on at least some DSLRs, too. I just looked at the manual for my old D7100 and it also has the capability.

As noted in my post, I have this enabled. While it does cut down on some of the fiddling about, I still find it (for me) to be clumsy. Sometimes it also presents new problems in that when I go to change shutter/aperture, I completely forget I am now adjusting ISO.

Hmm. I don't see the words "Release button to use dial," or any words I can construe to mean that you have enabled that feature, anywhere in your original post. What term did you use that was supposed to tell people that you enabled that feature?

As far as changing multiple things: once you adjust as you wish, tap another button. This is a simple feature that takes about 15 seconds to get used to.

 

[skyrunr]

I actually think I prefer going through the "i" menu as an alternative. I find I can more reliably hit the "i" button than the ISO button. While better, it is still fairly slow.

The only problem with "i" menu is that is remembers your last position, so you may have to navigate back to ISO, or remember to go back to ISO before leaving that view.

I guess I got a little spoiled when I owned the a7cii. Having all three legs of the exposure triangle available for adjustment using the two dials and control wheel were an apparent luxury.

Every other manufacturer lets users remap the dial/multi-pad. The shared use of the dial-pad on the A7C/A7CII was quirky. I never got used to looking for the tiny arrows. This is a much bigger problem on the FX Nikon's with the joystick, as it is completely redundant with the multi-pad. The center button isn't the easiest to press without moving the AF area.

It has been a while since I have shot a Canon - is their implementation of ISO control similar to Nikon's (meaning you have quick access to two of three legs of the exposure triangle)?

Canon has Q menu which is better than "i" menu, Mfn which is more useful if you only use it for 1-3 items (IMO,) and instant eye detection from ANY mode using the * button (not the default setting btw.) I think their touchscreen control is better too.

For simplicity, I'd like to change every setting I need to with one menu method, or ideally a few more physical buttons and switches. Even on the non-retro models. This was much less of an issue on my DSLR's. Mirrorless adds quite a few more settings to manage.

 

[skyrunr]

I was hoping the FTZII would have a few Fn buttons too. It is frustrating when you get one lens with 2-3 buttons, and then have to use a lens with one, and then a lens with none... So I just set them all to playback. :\

 

[jmccas]

The quickest fix for this is to enable “Release button to use dial” in Custom Settings. With this enabled, you press and release the ISO button (others work this way as well), then spin the dials. When you do anything else it activates what you’ve spun to. This way you don’t have to hold down the button to spin the dial. Should make life a lot easier for you (it has for me) and you won’t have to remap a button.

1. Press and release (i.e.: tap) the ISO button.
2. Spin the front dial to toggle between fixed and auto-ISO, or the rear dial to switch ISO.
3. Half-press the shutter button like you were about to do anyway. Now your camera is at the changed ISO setting.

This function was available on at least some DSLRs, too. I just looked at the manual for my old D7100 and it also has the capability.

As noted in my post, I have this enabled. While it does cut down on some of the fiddling about, I still find it (for me) to be clumsy. Sometimes it also presents new problems in that when I go to change shutter/aperture, I completely forget I am now adjusting ISO.

Hmm. I don't see the words "Release button to use dial," or any words I can construe to mean that you have enabled that feature, anywhere in your original post. What term did you use that was supposed to tell people that you enabled that feature?

As far as changing multiple things: once you adjust as you wish, tap another button. This is a simple feature that takes about 15 seconds to get used to.

No worries; you probably didn’t understand it because I phrased it about as poorly as possible:

I will add I have changed the setting so I don’t have to hold the button down which partially helps.

 

[jthomas39]

The three buttons, Record, ISO, and ExpComp were a little harder to use by feel on my old Z6. The Z6 iii has them placed differently, and the buttons are more rounded. That's better. I'm getting better at finding them without looking.

~~~

i-menu shortcuts

There are i-menu shortcuts that don't require an OK to set the changed selection. This method of just using the camera controls is fast and efficient for changing a setting, and then changing it back after taking some photos.

(I should do some more practice at finding the i-menu without looking at the camera. It should be instant, instead of feeling around the area a little...)

From an older thread, all the i-menu methods that I use:

i-menu shortcuts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I will add I have changed the setting so I don’t have to hold the button down which partially helps.

I understood what you meant in your original post.

 

[jmccas]

The three buttons, Record, ISO, and ExpComp were a little harder to use by feel on my old Z6. The Z6 iii has them placed differently, and the buttons are more rounded. That's better. I'm getting better at finding them without looking.

~~~

i-menu shortcuts

There are i-menu shortcuts that don't require an OK to set the changed selection. This method of just using the camera controls is fast and efficient for changing a setting, and then changing it back after taking some photos.

(I should do some more practice at finding the i-menu without looking at the camera. It should be instant, instead of feeling around the area a little...)

From an older thread, all the i-menu methods that I use:

i-menu shortcuts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I will add I have changed the setting so I don’t have to hold the button down which partially helps.

I understood what you meant in your original post.

Thanks for the response. I am going to be testing this method further. Hopefully I can get the hang of this more easily than using the ISO button and dial.