tuomi1947

Any way to save settings on nikon d500 , as there is no u1 - u2 on camera ?

Ctrclckws

The D500 uses a "Banks" system to "save" settings
There are two sets of four banks each.

A settings bank, with four slots, and a shooting bank of four slots each.

So settings A,B,C, and D.
And Shooting A,B,C, and D.

The two banks can chosen independently.
So you could have settings A, and Shooting C, for example.

The issue with the banks system is that it is dynamic.
If you make a change that affects a parameter within a bank, that becomes the current setting.

So the only way to return to a known state is to do a save settings to file command, and then restore it when needed.

Not sure how many settings actually get saved in the file, though, there may be some that are important to you that are not.

Good luck

kcooke Loc: Alabama

I never knew that. That would be a deal killer for me

Bill_de Loc: US

Having more ways to save settings would be a dealer breaker?
Could you explain why?



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jcboy3

Actually, banks are much more flexible than user settings. The killer for me was always that user settings did not get saved to a file with the save/load function.

One way to use banks is to use one bank as the "current" bank and the other three as the "baseline" banks. Copy the appropriate bank to the "current" bank (for each of Shooting Menu and Custom Settings banks). And keep a saved file on the memory card.

When I prepare for a shoot, I load settings from the saved settings file on the memory card. I then format the memory card, and save settings back to the memory card. I then copy the appropriate banks from B/C/D to A, and shoot from there.

Read these two articles:

https://www.truetoad.com/Blog/nikon-shooting-menu-bank-setup-and-walkthrough

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/a/tips-and-techniques/the-convenience-of-using-save-load-settings-smart.html

Unfortunately, Nikon's implementation of user settings on consumer models is woefully inadequate. Shame. Makes their Z6 and Z7 cameras way less useful than they could be. They should have just simplified and combined the Shooting Menu and Custom Settings banks into single User Settings. And they should have included these when they save/load settings to a file. And in all instances they should have allowed the custom settings to be copied back to a PASM mode. I have no idea what they were thinking, other than they weren't.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Even before going to the trouble of using multiple banks, you can edit and save a number of individual Picture Controls. I'm not sure how many altogether. But I find that in real life, three or four is plenty.

One thing to be aware of is that while the camera configuration can be saved to the primary memory card, (and perhaps loaded to a second camera, if desired) no custom picture control information is saved. The D850 and D810 also work like the D500. Not sure what other models are the same or similar.

kcooke Loc: Alabama

My wife’s D7200 has U1 and U2 for total recall. Nothing else required. Similar to C1 C2 C3 on my Canon 5D4. As Ken Rockwell stated in his D500 review “No fast recall modes for different camera setting; the D500 still uses Nikon's awful settings banks that take too long to select and don't recall all we need, like AF settings, anyway. The D7200, D610 and D750 are much better “

Makes no difference to me I was just surprised as my wife’s D7200 is easy to use in this regard.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Why not on the PSAM dial add 3 custom settings that once set never go away are instantly there and only change if you purposely do the change.
Saves you from having to do all those tasks you described and just turn the dial to the setting and instantly go and if things change instantly change the setting on the run.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Because if you take a minute to figure out how it works, the D500 autofocus system is trivially simple to set up using the Focus button and the Command and Subcommand wheels. Other adjustments, like ISO, EC, metering mode, white balance, and some others also require simply pushing a dedicated, labelled button, and spinning a wheel. Far superior to trying to remember and find a configuration that is saved somewhere. Other, more detailed choices can be saved as custom picture controls.

And...anything that you do need or want to access quickly in the menu system can easily be added to My Menu.

These preferences work both directions. One big reason I have not bought a Nikon MILC is that the company stupidly put the Consumer Interface on the Z7 and tried to call it a replacement for the D850 just because it has a similar sensor. It is not such a replacement, with its comparatively clumsy and limited operating system.

To the OP...study your D500 manual. Learn how things work. It expects this of you, but will give you much more in return if you will spend the time and effort.