Nikon Z5 Picture Controls & Film Recipes
The Nikon Z5 loads custom Picture Controls from .NP3 files in the older v0300 format, but not Flexible Color presets, which need a Zf, Z6 III, Z8, Z9, Z50 II, Z5 II, or ZR. 1 free recipe in the library loads on it directly. To use a Flexible Color recipe, open it in the NP3 Editor and export it as NP3 v0300; the result is an approximation, because the older format has no Flexible Color controls.
- Sensor
- Full frame (FX)
- Picture Control files
- .NP3
- Flexible Color
- No (NP3 v0300 files only)
- Custom slots
- C-1 to C-9
Recipes that load on the Z5
Popular recipes to convert for the Z5
These use Flexible Color. Open one, choose Customize / Convert in NP3 Editor, and export it as NP3 v0300 for the Z5.
Klassic Khrome
Mark G Adams
Leica Standard Look
Stephan Morais
Portra 800
Eduard Raos
Kodak Vision3 500T
Martin Knecht
Goldmatic
Denis Zeqiri (filmstill__)
Fuji Pro 400H
Stephan Morais
Fujifilm Provia 100F
Alex Armitage
Warm Autumn
Alex Armitage
Mono-Crunch
Jack Wang (Bokeh Therapy)
Kodak Cinema
Eduard Raos
In-An-Instant
Mark G Adams
Versa Negative
Mihai Serban
How to apply
Nikon · File importFor: Nikon Z cameras (Z5, Z6, Z7, Z8, Z9, Z30, Z50, Z fc, Zf…) and recent DSLRs such as the D780
- 1
Download the file
Save the .NP3 file to your computer. Keep the original name — it becomes the Picture Control name on the camera.
- 2
Copy it to the memory card
Use a card formatted in the camera. Put the file in the NIKON/CUSTOMPC folder (create it if missing) or in the card root.
- 3
Load it into the camera
Choose the file, then pick a free custom slot (C-1 to C-9). You can rename it on the camera.
MENUPhoto shooting menuManage Picture ControlLoad/saveCopy to camera - 4
Select the look and shoot
Pick the custom slot you just filled. It is also available from the i menu.
MENUPhoto shooting menuSet Picture ControlC-1…C-9
- The look is baked into JPEG/HEIF files. RAW files keep it as metadata — NX Studio shows it, Lightroom does not.
- Copy file to memory card under NIKON/CUSTOMPC/ folder, then load via Menu › Manage Picture Control › Load/save › Copy to camera.
- Flexible Color presets require a Nikon Zf (firmware 2.00+), Z6 III, Z8 (firmware 3.00+), Z9 (firmware 5.30+), Z50 II, Z5 II, or ZR.
- The Zf, Z6 III, Z50 II, and Z5 II can also sync Picture Controls wirelessly via Nikon Imaging Cloud or Nikon NX Studio.
- Menu names vary slightly by model and firmware.
Questions about the Z5
Can the Z5 use Fujifilm recipes?
Not directly. The Fuji to Nikon converter makes Flexible Color files, which the Z5 cannot load; open the file in the NP3 Editor and export it as NP3 v0300 first.
Can I make my own Picture Control for the Z5?
Yes. Build or adjust one in the NP3 Editor and export it as NP3 v0300, the format the Z5 reads.