How to Change Settings on Nikon Z6 II
Learning how to change settings on Nikon Z6 II quickly makes the camera far more efficient in real shooting situations.
This guide explains where the key controls live, how the Nikon Z6 II menu is organized, and which settings matter most for photography and video.
Understand the Nikon Z6 II control layout
The Nikon Z6 II combines physical dials, shortcut buttons, the i menu, and a full on-screen menu system.
Most important shooting settings can be changed without entering the full menu, which helps when light changes fast or a subject is moving.
- Top controls: mode dial, exposure compensation, shutter speed, and function buttons
- Rear controls: multi-selector, OK button, i button, playback controls, and menu button
- Touchscreen: useful for tapping menu items, selecting focus points, and reviewing images
Before adjusting advanced features, it helps to know that Nikon organizes the camera into shooting, custom, setup, and retouch menus.
The most frequently changed options are usually easiest to reach through the i menu or the Fn buttons.
Use the i menu for fast changes
The i menu is one of the fastest ways to change settings on the Nikon Z6 II.
Press the i button on the back of the camera to open a customizable grid of options such as ISO, white balance, picture control, and autofocus mode.
From there, use the multi-selector or touchscreen to highlight a setting, then press OK or tap the value you want.
This method is ideal when you want to adjust exposure-related controls without leaving the shooting screen.
- Press i
- Choose the setting you want to edit
- Press OK or tap the option
- Confirm the new value
If you change settings often, the i menu is usually faster than opening the full menu.
It is especially helpful for travel, events, and street photography where timing matters.
Change exposure settings
Exposure settings determine how bright your photo or video looks.
On the Nikon Z6 II, you can control exposure with shooting mode, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
Switch shooting modes
Rotate the mode dial to select Auto, P, A, S, or M.
Each mode changes how much control you have over exposure.
- Auto: the camera handles most decisions
- P: camera chooses shutter and aperture; you can shift the combination
- A: you choose aperture
- S: you choose shutter speed
- M: you choose both shutter speed and aperture
Adjust ISO
ISO controls sensor sensitivity and has a major effect on image noise.
To change ISO quickly, use the i menu or assign ISO to a function button.
For many situations, Auto ISO is useful because it keeps exposure stable while you focus on composition.
Set shutter speed and aperture
In S mode, the rear command dial changes shutter speed.
In A mode, the command dial changes aperture.
In M mode, you can control both, giving maximum manual control for long exposure, portrait, or studio work.
Change autofocus settings
Autofocus behavior on the Nikon Z6 II has a large impact on accuracy, especially for people, wildlife, and action.
You can change focus modes and area modes from the i menu or the dedicated AF controls depending on your setup.
Select AF-S or AF-C
AF-S is designed for still subjects.
AF-C is better for moving subjects because it keeps adjusting focus as the subject moves.
Many photographers use AF-C for sports, events, and candid shots.
Choose the AF area mode
The Z6 II offers several autofocus area options, including pinpoint-style precision and wider tracking zones.
Common modes include:
- Single-point AF: precise control for portraits, macro, and static subjects
- Wide-area AF: useful for larger subjects or easier composition
- Auto-area AF: the camera decides where to focus
- Subject tracking: helps follow a chosen subject across the frame
If your subject is unpredictable, subject tracking can save time.
For highly controlled work, single-point AF gives you more precision.
Adjust white balance and picture controls
White balance affects color temperature, while Picture Control changes contrast, saturation, and overall rendering.
Both are easy to change from the i menu and can dramatically alter the look of your images.
White balance
Use Auto White Balance for general shooting, but switch manually when lighting is consistent or mixed.
Common presets include daylight, cloudy, shade, incandescent, and fluorescent.
You can also set a Kelvin value for precise color control.
Picture Control
Picture Control options such as Standard, Neutral, Vivid, and Monochrome are useful for tailoring the look of JPEGs and previews.
Even if you shoot RAW, Picture Control helps with playback and image review on the camera screen.
Customize buttons and dials
One of the best ways to speed up your workflow is to assign custom functions to the Nikon Z6 II buttons.
The camera supports button customization, letting you put frequently used settings within one press.
Common choices include ISO, AF mode, exposure compensation, metering, and image quality.
Many users assign these functions to Fn buttons or the video record-related controls so they can change settings without moving away from the viewfinder.
To customize controls, open the Custom Setting Menu and look for button assignment options.
If you shoot both stills and video, consider creating separate behavior patterns for each.
Change display and viewfinder settings
Display preferences can make the camera easier to use in bright light, low light, or video work.
The Nikon Z6 II lets you adjust screen brightness, info display behavior, and viewfinder settings from the setup and custom menus.
- Monitor brightness: helpful outdoors or in dim environments
- Info display: controls what shooting data appears on screen
- Viewfinder brightness and color balance: useful for visual comfort
- Touch controls: can be enabled or disabled depending on preference
If you review images on the back screen often, make sure playback and display auto-rotation are set the way you want.
Small display changes can make a large difference in usability over long shoots.
Change video settings on the Nikon Z6 II
If you record video, the Nikon Z6 II offers separate settings for frame size, frame rate, and file type.
These are typically adjusted in the shooting or movie menu, depending on how your camera is configured.
Important video settings include:
- Resolution: such as 4K or Full HD
- Frame rate: such as 24p, 30p, or 60p
- AF mode: useful for maintaining focus during movement
- Mic input and audio levels: important for external sound recording
For smoother workflow, check whether your still-photo and movie settings are linked or stored independently.
That prevents surprises when switching between photography and video.
Reset or save custom settings
If you have changed multiple settings and want to start over, the Nikon Z6 II provides reset options in the setup and custom menus.
This is useful after testing unfamiliar functions or before handing the camera to someone else.
You can also save a preferred setup by noting which mode, autofocus, white balance, and button assignments you use most.
Many photographers create one setup for portraits, one for action, and one for video so they can switch faster in the field.
Best practices for changing settings efficiently
Knowing how to change settings on Nikon Z6 II is more useful when you build a repeatable workflow.
Start with the i menu for quick changes, use custom buttons for your most frequent actions, and keep your shooting mode matched to the subject.
- Use the i menu for common adjustments
- Assign your most-used controls to Fn buttons
- Use AF-C for movement and AF-S for still subjects
- Review white balance and Picture Control when lighting changes
- Check video settings separately before recording
With a few minutes of setup, the Nikon Z6 II becomes much faster to operate and easier to adapt to different shooting scenarios.