I’ve had several Nikon cameras with U1, U2 and U3 presets on the top mode dial, but haven’t really used these to often. Guess I’m getting smarter in my old age.
For my wife, I’ve trained her use the Green Auto Mode when she picks up my camera. It’s a fully automatic preset mode that gives a pretty good picture in most situations. It’s simple and you don’t need to understand anything else about the camera.
But for more serious photographers that want to more precisely control an automatic setting, the programmable U modes are a great with to go. What I’ve learned is that these modes can be fast and convenient to have the camera ready to get a great shot 90% of the time. They are also a known starting point every time the camera is turned on or the mode is changed. This is Way better than me trying to fiddle with every control and setting to get the shot.
Here’s what I’m currently using the U1, U2 and U3 Modes for:
U1 is set for things that typically aren’t moving and I want the colors to Pop U2 is set for people that aren’t moving to quickly, casual family shots for example U3 is set for things that move faster, this could be for moving animals or sports
The great thing about the User presets is they return to your settings when the mode is change or if the camera is turned off and then back on. So you can use them for a baseline and make some quick adjustments if the particular shooting situation changes.
I should also note that it works for Camera and Video settings for each User Mode
Now I quickly grab by camera and select User 1, 2 or 3 and I’m ready to shoot! Here are the main differences in my User Settings between the three modes. If I need to tweak something and think that this is really my preference, I’ll change to that User Mode, make the single setting change, then save the User Mode. If you’re not careful with this, you can save a whole bunch of settings to a mode that you didn’t want.
I use these settings in all modes
Mode P > Let the minimum shutter be driven by settings below
Auto Focus > Continuous
Fn 1 Button (on front of Nikon Z6 or Z7)) > I set this to be Auto Focus Control so I can easily change it
Fn 2 Button (on front of Nikon Z6 or Z7) > Set this to My Menu
Image Quality > JPEG Normal * White
Balance > A1 Matrix Metering
Active D-Lighting > Auto
Vibration Reduction > On (Normal) - this is for Nikon Z series cameras
Here are my User 1 Settings
Picture Control > VIVID
Saturation > +3
Sharpening > 9
Auto ISO Maximum ISO > 25,600 Auto ISO
Minimum shutter speed > AUTO (or AUTO Slower with VR)
Here are my User 2 Settings
Picture Control > STANDARD
Saturation > +1
Sharpening > 9
Auto ISO Maximum ISO > 25,600
Auto ISO Minimum shutter speed > 1/125
Here are my User 3 Settings
Picture Control > STANDARD
Saturation > +1
Sharpening > 9
Auto ISO Maximum ISO > 25,600
Auto ISO Minimum shutter speed > 1/500
Backup Camera Settings
Once you have everything set, you can make a back-up of your camera settings and save them to your computer. They can be reinstalled if you need them.
Backup Computer Settings link [LinkL]
Add to this post on some of the settings [LinkL]
Return to Z6 [LinkL]
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