Nikon Z 6II, Z 7II ‪‎(N-Log Recording Edition)‬ Technical Guide

Professional

Technical Guide

— N-Log Recording —

En

Table of Contents

N ‑Log: A Primer ................................................................... 3

• Why Use N‑Log? ............................................................................... 4

Filming N‑Log Footage ...................................................... 6

• Using Camera Controls .................................................................10

• View Assist .......................................................................................11

• Ensuring Consistent Exposure ....................................................12

2

N ‑Log: A Primer

The term “N‑Log” is an amalgam of “N”, for “Nikon”, and “log”,
short for “logarithmic function”. The logarithmic function
in question is that used in digitizing light levels based on
the density characteristics of negative lm to render expo‑
sure dierences much as humans perceive them. This is
known as a “log curve”.

The process of lming movies using a log curve is referred
to as “logarithmic” or “log‑format” recording. Log format
recording preserves highlights and shadows in scenes in
which they would otherwise be lost and is intended for
footage that will be processed post‑production, when
color grading can be used to produce high‑quality video
with a wide color gamut that takes advantage of the large
amount of tone information available for an expanded dy‑
namic range and smooth color gradients.

Nikon’s unique N‑Log format was developed to take full
advantage of sensor dynamic range. It oers excellent bal‑
ance between highlights and shadows and is optimized
for 10‑bit movie recording.

3

Why Use N-Log?

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Shooting in N‑Log format preserves details in highlights
and shadows and expands the range of eects available
through color grading.

Preserving Details in Highlights and ShadowsPreserving Details in Highlights and Shadows

N‑Log preserves highlights and shadows in high‑contrast
shots, such as those that mix indoor and outdoor lighting.

Footage shot without N‑Log shows
loss of detail in highlights.

N‑Log produces colors with less ap‑
parent contrast but more variation.

Highlights, shadows, and color
variation preserved.

4

Non–
N‑Log

N‑Log

N‑Log
+ color
grading

Improved Color GradingImproved Color Grading

Third‑party movie‑editing software that supports color
grading can be used to process the same footage in a va‑
riety of dierent ways, as is shown in the examples below.

No color grading

5

Filming N‑Log Footage

To record N‑Log footage, connect the camera to a digital
recorder that supports 10‑bit video. Use a Type C HDMI
cable (available from third‑party suppliers) and be sure
the camera is o before connecting or disconnecting the
cable.

Choose cable with connector for
external device

To lm N‑Log footage:

Select 10 bit for Output data depth.

1

N‑Log footage can only be
recorded at a bit depth of
10 bits. In the setup menu,
select 10 bit for HDMI >

Advanced > Output data
depth.

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Digital recorder

Enable N‑Log recording.

2

Return to HDMI > Ad‑
vanced in the setup menu
and select N‑Log for N‑Log/
HDR(HLG) output options.

Note that N‑Log footage is
recorded only to the exter‑
nal device, not to the cam‑
era memory card.

Congure the recorder for HDMI input.

3

For details, see the documentation supplied with the
device.

Start lming.

4

If On is selected for HDMI> Advanced> External re‑
cording control in the camera setup menu, you can

start and stop recording using the camera movie‑re‑
cord button (page page 1010). Contrast can be enhanced for
display on the camera during recording (view assist;

page page 1111).

When the camera standby timer expires, the monitor
will turn o and HDMI output will end. Choose No
limit or a time longer than the anticipated recording
time for Custom Setting c3 (Power o delay)> Stand‑
by timer.

7

N‑Log Recording

While N‑Log recording is in eect, Picture Controls cannot be
used, ISO sensitivity cannot be set lower than ISO 800 or to
values of from Hi 0.3 to Hi 2, Active D‑Lighting and high ISO
noise reduction turn o automatically, and photographs will
not be taken when the shutter‑release button is pressed all
the way down. The camera may also have trouble focusing;
this is not a malfunction. The subject will be displayed in the
monitor, not the viewnder, regardless of the display mode
selected, and icker or noise may be visible in the display.

Note that because HDMI output is not available when the
camera is connected to devices running SnapBridge or
Camera Control Pro 2, these applications cannot be used for
N‑Log recording.

8

Filming N-Log Footage

Frame Size/Frame Rate

Note the following when choosing a frame size and frame
rate for N‑Log recording:

Frame size/frame rateFrame size/frame rate NotesNotes

3840× 2160 60p

(Z7II only)

3840× 2160 50p

(Z7II only)

3840× 2160 30p

3840× 2160 25p

3840× 2160 24p

1920× 1080 120p
1920× 1080 100p

1920× 1080 60p
1920× 1080 50p
1920× 1080 30p
1920× 1080 25p
1920× 1080 24p

1920× 1080 slow-motion N‑Log recording not available.

N‑Log recording not available.

• Icons and characters in the monitor dis‑
play at low resolution, but this has no
effect on the footage actually recorded.

• The angle of view is reduced to about
90% (Z6II only; on the Z7II, the angle
of view is reduced only when the DX
image area is selected).

N‑Log recording not available.

No restrictions apply.

9

Using Camera Controls

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If On is selected for HDMI> Ad‑
vanced > External recording
control in the camera setup

menu, you can start and stop
recording using the camera
movie‑record button (for fur‑
ther information, contact the
manufacturer). The camera displays A in movie live
view and B during movie recording. During recording,
check the recorder and recorder display to ensure that foot‑
age is being saved to the device.

10

Filming N-Log Footage

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View Assist

Although it increases the range
of tones recorded, at default
settings N‑Log reduces the ap‑
parent contrast between colors
when the footage is viewed in
the camera monitor. If desired,
the display of colors in the
camera monitor can be simplied to enhance contrast for
ease of viewing by selecting On for HDMI> Advanced>
View assist in the camera setup menu.

View assist on View assist o (default)

View Assist

View assist applies to the display in the camera monitor only
and has no eect on the footage output to the external re‑
corder.

11

Filming N-Log Footage

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Ensuring Consistent Exposure

If your recorder features a
waveform display, you can
lm an 18% gray color chart
and adjust exposure for a
video signal level (IRE) of
35%, equivalent to a 10‑bit
code value of around 372.

12

100

80

60

40

20

0

N‑Log Specications

N‑Log specications are available from the following web‑
site:

https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/products/558/Z_7II.htmlhttps://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/products/558/Z_7II.html

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