Z 9 Video Editing options? (2025)

I shot an impromptu short video yesterday to let my daughter know her Aussie was doing well while we were dog sitting. I attempted to use NX Studio to trim a video down to a size Facebook or Instagram would support but couldn’t get it to work.

I’ll read the directions and check the video settings I haven’t looked at since I got the camera but wondered what are the editing options recommended for Z 9 videos? I think video might be fun to learn. Surprisingly I was able to trim the video in Windows Photos.

I would need Windows based software for my main editing station but I also have a MacBook Pro.

The only reference I found on Nikon Café was from someone using DaVinci Resolve. I have Photoshop Production Premium CS6 but doubt that will work. I also own a copy of Final Cut Pro I can load on my MacBook Pro. My wife is back at college full time pursuing a degree after retiring. That would give me access to a more affordable PS subscription and possibly other companies Student purchase/subscription options. I’ll say I’m not a fan of subscriptions but if that is the only option I will consider it.

My workstation configuration is sufficient but if I really get into video, I would likely build a new PC work station since it has been a number of years or buy a new MacBook Pro after the next refresh.

Taking up video and editing can be akin to heading into a rabbit hole. There are numerous editing programs based on your needs, budget and hardware. For something simple and free, there is Shotcut. Have a greater desire and better hardware, there is Davinci Resolve and FCP among many others. My recommendation is to dip your toes into the water before spending a lot on software and equipment. If you have a Creative Cloud subscription, I believe that Adobe is offering an Express version of its video editing program for free.

I seriously thought of trying to learn more about video in 2020, but it seemed a bit like going from checkers to 3-D chess at times. Simple clips are not that complicated, but you can get really deep into editing if you want to learn color grading and any of the motion effects available.

Good luck,

--Ken

Replytoken said:

Taking up video and editing can be akin to heading into a rabbit hole. There are numerous editing programs based on your needs, budget and hardware. For something simple and free, there is Shotcut. Have a greater desire and better hardware, there is Davinci Resolve and FCP among many others. My recommendation is to dip your toes into the water before spending a lot on software and equipment. If you have a Creative Cloud subscription, I believe that Adobe is offering an Express version of its video editing program for free.

I seriously thought of trying to learn more about video in 2020, but it seemed a bit like going from checkers to 3-D chess at times. Simple clips are not that complicated, but you can get really deep into editing if you want to learn color grading and any of the motion effects available.

Good luck,

--Ken

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I had dabbled with a little DSLR video in the past and it didn't interest me enough. Maintaining focus was difficult to just name one annoyance.

The Z 9 on the other hand seems simple on the capture side. Granted I need to learn the optimal settings and video file types for the finished product I intend to produce but those I should be able to pick up quickly. I am also confident I can learn video editing if I stay interested enough in it. I've been known to get interested in something only to get bored and set it aside. Drones are a recent example. A basic free program trial seems like a smart option.

I have Final Cut Pro but I don't think my current MacBook Pro is robust enough. Devinci has a trial option.

Is NX Studio not capable of editing Z 9 video files?

How about a current version of Adobe Premier Pro?

Thanks.

If you wanna do it for "real" I would recommend Davinci Resolve. It is not trial, it is free! (they have a purchasable version also with more features which has the add on name "Studio")
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve

I used Adobe Premiere Pro many years, but have now went over to Davinci Resolve (with my Nikon Z videos), it is similar. Very good program and many use it. There are tons of resources online. I would say it is not too difficult to use, some learning curve but it is quite easy to do basic things, but you can dwell deep into things if you want too. Plus is that everything is ONE software, video editing, effects, audio. In Adobe world you need three different programs for that (Premiere, After Effects, Audition)

I like this guys tutorials:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnLRZNxrwwEKCKzigSNhjn46QPqyZbCjL

Good luck!

GeorgeH said:

I had dabbled with a little DSLR video in the past and it didn't interest me enough. Maintaining focus was difficult to just name one annoyance.

The Z 9 on the other hand seems simple on the capture side. Granted I need to learn the optimal settings and video file types for the finished product I intend to produce but those I should be able to pick up quickly. I am also confident I can learn video editing if I stay interested enough in it. I've been known to get interested in something only to get bored and set it aside. Drones are a recent example. A basic free program trial seems like a smart option.

I have Final Cut Pro but I don't think my current MacBook Pro is robust enough. Devinci has a trial option.

Is NX Studio not capable of editing Z 9 video files?

How about a current version of Adobe Premier Pro?

Thanks.

Click to expand...

Resolve does have minimum hardware requirements so be sure to see if your machine is up to spec. Programs like Shotcut have have minimal hardware requirements and are often a good place to start if you want a taste of editing. I do think that Resolve is a good option if you want to go deeper, but there is nothing wrong with starting with another program to test the waters.

--Ken

Replytoken said:

Resolve does have minimum hardware requirements so be sure to see if your machine is up to spec. Programs like Shotcut have have minimal hardware requirements and are often a good place to start if you want a taste of editing. I do think that Resolve is a good option if you want to go deeper, but there is nothing wrong with starting with another program to test the waters.

--Ken

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I built my last PC in December of 2016 so I need an excuse to build a new one. Sourcing components seems to be the biggest challenge. The main components of my most recent build should get me by in the mean time;

Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6850K CPU @ 3.60GHz 3.60 GHz
ASUS ROG Rampage V Edition 10 LGA2011 Motherboard for Intel i7 X-Series w/5-way optimization DDR4 M.2 U.2 USB 3.1
64 GB of G.Skill Trident Z DDR4 Memory
2 ea. Samsung SSD 850 Pro 1 TB and 4 ea. 6 TB WD hard drives
EVGA GeForce GTX Ti 1080 Founders Edition Graphics Card

Thanks

GeorgeH said:

I built my last PC in December of 2016 so I need an excuse to build a new one. Sourcing components seems to be the biggest challenge. The main components of my most recent build should get me by in the mean time;

Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6850K CPU @ 3.60GHz 3.60 GHz
ASUS ROG Rampage V Edition 10 LGA2011 Motherboard for Intel i7 X-Series w/5-way optimization DDR4 M.2 U.2 USB 3.1
64 GB of G.Skill Trident Z DDR4 Memory
2 ea. Samsung SSD 850 Pro 1 TB and 4 ea. 6 TB WD hard drives
EVGA GeForce GTX Ti 1080 Founders Edition Graphics Card

Thanks

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You should be fine on meeting the minimum specs. for Resolve, but due take note of John's comments above about learning Resolve. There are a couple of basic approaches to editing that a lot of programs use (e.g. how the timeline is laid out and implemented), so some skills are transferrable from basic programs to more advanced ones. I recommend spending time on YT watching video reviews of the programs. You can learn a lot from good reviewers.

--Ken

Replytoken said:

You should be fine on meeting the minimum specs. for Resolve, but due take note of John's comments above about learning Resolve. There are a couple of basic approaches to editing that a lot of programs use (e.g. how the timeline is laid out and implemented), so some skills are transferrable from basic programs to more advanced ones. I recommend spending time on YT watching video reviews of the programs. You can learn a lot from good reviewers.

Click to expand...

You have much better computer than me and it runs perfectly fine on my computer
This is the spec of mine: Asus Z87I-Pro / Core i7 4770K / Radeon RX 570 8 Gb / 16 Gb RAM / SSD 512Gb / HDD 5Tb / Windows 10 Pro

I found one of the YT people who had helpful reviews on video editing software: https://www.youtube.com/c/Primalvideo/videos . There are others, but his videos are a good start.

--Ken

Downloaded Resolve latest and patched together some clips I took over the weekend of our grandson. Basic adding together clips in a timeline. Exported as a QT movie. The exposure and colors looked good to us.

Slow start but will continue to explore.

jbailey930 said:

Downloaded Resolve latest and patched together some clips I took over the weekend of our grandson. Basic adding together clips in a timeline. Exported as a QT movie. The exposure and colors looked good to us.

Slow start but will continue to explore.

Click to expand...

great! It is a nice program to work with, many functions can be done in different ways. Depending on taste or situation I never use the "Cut" module, does everything in "Edit" module. And btw, if colors are not ok, head over to the "Color" module. Select your clip, and you have easy access there to basic controls for tuning color.

I do not do much video, but when I do, I find the iMovie that's on your MacBook does a really good job .. and is very easy to learn and use.

Ken

agrumpyoldsod said:

I have used Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premier Pro and DaVinci Resolve 18 AND came to the conclusion I was wasting money with the first 2, DVR18 is free and hugely capable for everything I wanted to do. [No need to upgrade to the Studio version for most uses]. So currently I only use DVR18.
The questions for you are about what do you want to do with your video And how willing /able are you to learn to use and apply tools like those I listed.
If you shoot basic 8 or 10-bit MOV files, using one of the colour profiles in the camera to record family outings events then you may just want to use the easiest to use way to assemble and cut vids you shot into something "nice". Any of the free or cheap options listed by others will do a job.
BUT with the Z9 and the ability to shoot RAW 12-bit you have so much more capabilities - Only DVR18 allows these files to be edited today. However, to maximise this type of shooting then you need to think and plan the storey you are attempting to tell, spend much more time planning what you are trying to shoot, the shots you need, the sound you need, and then how you will assemble the whole into a coherent storey, look/sound and package. OBVIOUSLY this is precisely what the software I listed above is designed to facilitate.
The one disadvantage of a Z9 are the limited audio pre-amps (they are fine for basic uses, just not studio quality) and the need to use a far more capable external microphones, audio recorder and timecode generator if you want that full cinematic production. That is a whole separate discussion.

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I'm not concerned about my ability to learn more advanced movie making, only if I can maintain a passion for it like I did sports photography. I pursued that passion to the highest levels.

I already own a Rode Stereo VideoMic I can test. I've owned it for awhile and my model is likely discontinued but it is high quality and should work great, once I get around to that "separate discussion".

I'll download DaVinci Resolve 18 and play with it. For now video sounds fun, I am retired with lots of time, but the question remains, will I stay passionate about it?

Thanks.

MaxxyD said:

Hey there!

It's great to see your interest in video editing options for your Z 9 camera footage. Windows Photos can be handy for basic trimming, but for more advanced editing, you might consider software like DaVinci Resolve for your Windows workstation or Final Cut Pro on your MacBook Pro.

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I think DaVinci Resolve is required on Windows and macOS if one records in NRAW (intoPIX TicoRAW). Final Cut Pro does not support NRAW to my knowledge.