Zf Dial Function Question

[Thomas Lackey]

I am considering purchasing a Zf, but I want to check if I really understand how the dials work. I would be using a Voigtlander 35mm f2 with a physical aperture ring and manual focus. Though manual, this lens does communicate its aperture settings back to the camera.

Am I correct that:
1) In 'A' or 'S' mode, I can set the Auto-ISO in the menu to 200, then the ISO dial itself will control the max auto-ISO, eg, if set to 3200 I would get an auto-ISO range of 100-3200?

2) While in 'A' mode, the shutter dial does nothing?

My idea would be to shoot in 'A' mode most of the time. That should allow me to do manual aperture control on the lens, with auto-ISO and auto-shutter speed.

I can then preset the shutter dial to something handy like 1/125, and whenever I need to make sure of my shutter speed I can flick over to shutter mode. Since my lens is full manual, I'd then be manually controlling both aperture and shutter, but still have auto-ISO.

Finally, if I want manual control of aperture, shutter, and ISO I can flick over to M.

Is this correct?

 

[CliveTJ]

I am considering purchasing a Zf, but I want to check if I really understand how the dials work. I would be using a Voigtlander 35mm f2 with a physical aperture ring and manual focus. Though manual, this lens does communicate its aperture settings back to the camera.

I have this lens (the Z version) and a Zf.

Am I correct that:
1) In 'A' or 'S' mode, I can set the Auto-ISO in the menu to 200, then the ISO dial itself will control the max auto-ISO, eg, if set to 3200 I would get an auto-ISO range of 100-3200?

You get the range 200-3200 but it works differently in A and S modes…not ideal in A mode. There have been a few threads on this.

Be aware that in S mode the aperture is NOT controlled by the camera when using a Voigtlander lens as these lenses do not feature electronic control. You might as well use M instead of S.

2) While in 'A' mode, the shutter dial does nothing?

Correct

My idea would be to shoot in 'A' mode most of the time. That should allow me to do manual aperture control on the lens, with auto-ISO and auto-shutter speed.

Manual aperture control is the only way it works with the Voigtlander. The aperture you select is shown in the small window on the camera and in the VF/Monitor.

I can then preset the shutter dial to something handy like 1/125, and whenever I need to make sure of my shutter speed I can flick over to shutter mode. Since my lens is full manual, I'd then be manually controlling both aperture and shutter, but still have auto-ISO.

Finally, if I want manual control of aperture, shutter, and ISO I can flick over to M.

yes though you can use auto ISO if you wish, arguably in M mode it’s the best way to use auto ISO

Is this correct?

 

[Stavrosf]

I am considering purchasing a Zf, but I want to check if I really understand how the dials work. I would be using a Voigtlander 35mm f2 with a physical aperture ring and manual focus. Though manual, this lens does communicate its aperture settings back to the camera.

I have this lens (the Z version) and a Zf.

Am I correct that:
1) In 'A' or 'S' mode, I can set the Auto-ISO in the menu to 200, then the ISO dial itself will control the max auto-ISO, eg, if set to 3200 I would get an auto-ISO range of 100-3200?

You get the range 200-3200 but it works differently in A and S modes…not ideal in A mode. There have been a few threads on this.

Be aware that in S mode the aperture is NOT controlled by the camera when using a Voigtlander lens as these lenses do not feature electronic control. You might as well use M instead of S.

2) While in 'A' mode, the shutter dial does nothing?

Correct

My idea would be to shoot in 'A' mode most of the time. That should allow me to do manual aperture control on the lens, with auto-ISO and auto-shutter speed.

Manual aperture control is the only way it works with the Voigtlander. The aperture you select is shown in the small window on the camera and in the VF/Monitor.

I can then preset the shutter dial to something handy like 1/125, and whenever I need to make sure of my shutter speed I can flick over to shutter mode. Since my lens is full manual, I'd then be manually controlling both aperture and shutter, but still have auto-ISO.

Finally, if I want manual control of aperture, shutter, and ISO I can flick over to M.

yes though you can use auto ISO if you wish, arguably in M mode it’s the best way to use auto ISO

Is this correct?

I wil describe how Auto ISO works in A and this is why I love it.

Let say you set maximum ISO 3200 and minimum shutter speed 1/250 on the menu.

1. When you choose an ISO speed lower than 3200 eg 400 then this become the lower possible ISO value. So, you actually set the Auto ISO to move between 400 and 3200 to support the 1/250 shutter speed.

2. When you choose an ISO speed higer than 3200 eg 6400 then it is overriding the "Auto-ISO" settings.

In my case when I want to use something like zone focusing I am using M mode, and when I use normal focusing I prefer A mode.

 

[phinix]

I am considering purchasing a Zf, but I want to check if I really understand how the dials work. I would be using a Voigtlander 35mm f2 with a physical aperture ring and manual focus. Though manual, this lens does communicate its aperture settings back to the camera.

I have this lens (the Z version) and a Zf.

Am I correct that:
1) In 'A' or 'S' mode, I can set the Auto-ISO in the menu to 200, then the ISO dial itself will control the max auto-ISO, eg, if set to 3200 I would get an auto-ISO range of 100-3200?

You get the range 200-3200 but it works differently in A and S modes…not ideal in A mode. There have been a few threads on this.

Be aware that in S mode the aperture is NOT controlled by the camera when using a Voigtlander lens as these lenses do not feature electronic control. You might as well use M instead of S.

2) While in 'A' mode, the shutter dial does nothing?

Correct

My idea would be to shoot in 'A' mode most of the time. That should allow me to do manual aperture control on the lens, with auto-ISO and auto-shutter speed.

Manual aperture control is the only way it works with the Voigtlander. The aperture you select is shown in the small window on the camera and in the VF/Monitor.

I can then preset the shutter dial to something handy like 1/125, and whenever I need to make sure of my shutter speed I can flick over to shutter mode. Since my lens is full manual, I'd then be manually controlling both aperture and shutter, but still have auto-ISO.

Finally, if I want manual control of aperture, shutter, and ISO I can flick over to M.

yes though you can use auto ISO if you wish, arguably in M mode it’s the best way to use auto ISO

Is this correct?

I wil describe how Auto ISO works in A and this is why I love it.

Let say you set maximum ISO 3200 and minimum shutter speed 1/250 on the menu.

1. When you choose an ISO speed lower than 3200 eg 400 then this become the lower possible ISO value. So, you actually set the Auto ISO to move between 400 and 3200 to support the 1/250 shutter speed.

2. When you choose an ISO speed higer than 3200 eg 6400 then it is overriding the "Auto-ISO" settings.

In my case when I want to use something like zone focusing I am using M mode, and when I use normal focusing I prefer A mode.

So I understand this correctly:

- when ISO wheel is on C and ISO menu on 3200 - I have auto ISO set to range 100(min)-3200
- when ISO wheel is set to 200, ISO in menu to max 3200, then I have auto ISO range 200-3200
- when ISO wheel is set to 6400, ISO menu on max 3200, my auto ISO range is overwritten to 100(min)-6400?

 

[Stavrosf]

I am considering purchasing a Zf, but I want to check if I really understand how the dials work. I would be using a Voigtlander 35mm f2 with a physical aperture ring and manual focus. Though manual, this lens does communicate its aperture settings back to the camera.

I have this lens (the Z version) and a Zf.

Am I correct that:
1) In 'A' or 'S' mode, I can set the Auto-ISO in the menu to 200, then the ISO dial itself will control the max auto-ISO, eg, if set to 3200 I would get an auto-ISO range of 100-3200?

You get the range 200-3200 but it works differently in A and S modes…not ideal in A mode. There have been a few threads on this.

Be aware that in S mode the aperture is NOT controlled by the camera when using a Voigtlander lens as these lenses do not feature electronic control. You might as well use M instead of S.

2) While in 'A' mode, the shutter dial does nothing?

Correct

My idea would be to shoot in 'A' mode most of the time. That should allow me to do manual aperture control on the lens, with auto-ISO and auto-shutter speed.

Manual aperture control is the only way it works with the Voigtlander. The aperture you select is shown in the small window on the camera and in the VF/Monitor.

I can then preset the shutter dial to something handy like 1/125, and whenever I need to make sure of my shutter speed I can flick over to shutter mode. Since my lens is full manual, I'd then be manually controlling both aperture and shutter, but still have auto-ISO.

Finally, if I want manual control of aperture, shutter, and ISO I can flick over to M.

yes though you can use auto ISO if you wish, arguably in M mode it’s the best way to use auto ISO

Is this correct?

I wil describe how Auto ISO works in A and this is why I love it.

Let say you set maximum ISO 3200 and minimum shutter speed 1/250 on the menu.

1. When you choose an ISO speed lower than 3200 eg 400 then this become the lower possible ISO value. So, you actually set the Auto ISO to move between 400 and 3200 to support the 1/250 shutter speed.

2. When you choose an ISO speed higer than 3200 eg 6400 then it is overriding the "Auto-ISO" settings.

In my case when I want to use something like zone focusing I am using M mode, and when I use normal focusing I prefer A mode.

So I understand this correctly:

- when ISO wheel is on C and ISO menu on 3200 - I have auto ISO set to range 100(min)-3200
- when ISO wheel is set to 200, ISO in menu to max 3200, then I have auto ISO range 200-3200
- when ISO wheel is set to 6400, ISO menu on max 3200, my auto ISO range is overwritten to 100(min)-6400?

No, C is another function I never talked about (and you are not using on that case). Auto-ISO is set on the menu. Check the manual page https://onlinemanual.nikonimglib.com/zf/en/iso_sensitivity_35.html on the section "Enabling Auto ISO Sensitivity Control".

If you set Auto ISO and the paramters you need on the menu, then you can use the ISO dial as I described it.

 

[Thomas Lackey]

yes though you can use auto ISO if you wish, arguably in M mode it’s the best way to use auto ISO

I definitely missed something, because I didn't realize auto-ISO was possible with 'M' mode.

Let me try again. Given that the camera has a mode switch (unlike a Fuji, for example), then my ideal situation would be this:

M - ISO dial sets precise ISO, shutter dial sets precise shutter speed

A - ISO dial sets maximum ISO, shutter dial sets minimum shutter speed

S - ISO dial sets maximum ISO, shutter dial sets precise shutter speed

Is this possible?

(As far as I can see, allowing the dials to control min/max in certain modes is the reason to have a mode switch at all. Otherwise, you'd be better off with no mode switch and an 'Auto' position on each dial like a Fuji. The Fuji setup is intuitive and clear, but a tad fiddly to switch between their implicit "modes". But if you have a mode switch and you have dials, you might as well make the most of them all and make the dials "modal".)

 

[Stavrosf]

The PASM settings on Zf (and ZFc) are only about Shutter Speed and Apperture. You can use Auto ISO on Manual mode (or not). AutoISO it is really helpful to tell you the truth on that mode (you set the speed and aperture and the camera decides about ISO) taking in account how great is Zf at higher ISO.

 

[Thomas Lackey]

Having Auto ISO available in M mode does make me much more likely to use M mode as a default.

 

[fgbd70]

I use Auto Iso in M mode with my Nikon Z 28 and 40mm lenses as follows:

In the menu ISO sensitivity settings Auto ISO is ON and the Maximum sensitivity is set to 200 (lowest setting). This way the ISO dial controls the REAL maximum sensitivity! So if it is set to 3200 your auto ISO range will be from 100 to 3200

the Shutter speed dial is used for that, be aware that it uses 1 stop steps.

the control ring on my lenses is used for Aperture control, of course if you are using the Voigltander lens you can use the proper A ring.

BTW: manual focus is really easy with the ZF, even eye detect works and points you to the right focus point, I hardly ever use focus peaking or image magnification.

cheers, Frank

 

[Thomas Lackey]

That sounds pretty good. I'm OK with 1-stop moves on the shutter.

Where does that leave the role of the EV in M mode with auto-ISO? Does it influence how much the ISO needs raised or lowered to hit the target exposure?

Let's say I'm in 'M' with f8 and 1/125th and the camera has is at my max ISO of 3200, if I rotate the EV a full -1, the ISO drops to 1600?

 

[nzshooter]

Thanks Frank,

This is actually a good way.

 

[fgbd70]

That sounds pretty good. I'm OK with 1-stop moves on the shutter.

Where does that leave the role of the EV in M mode with auto-ISO? Does it influence how much the ISO needs raised or lowered to hit the target exposure?

Let's say I'm in 'M' with f8 and 1/125th and the camera has is at my max ISO of 3200, if I rotate the EV a full -1, the ISO drops to 1600?

Correct, you can still use the EV dial for exposure compensation.

cheers, Frank