A beginner’s guide to TikTok content creation (plus settings for mirrorless cameras)

John Bogna •Videography•17 Jan 2025•3 min read

Short-form video content is booming. If you’re curious about what it takes to become a content creator on TikTok, here’s a quick guide to get started

The camera

For crisp results, opt for a lightweight DX (or APS-C) mirrorless camera. Beginner options such as the Z30, Zfc and the new Z50II are perfect for the fledgling TikTok content creator or vlogger and come with a versatile kit lens right out of the box – the Z30 even has a vlogging kit. For stills and video, the Z50II is the first Nikon Z camera with its own dedicated Picture Control button, allowing you to cycle through different colour options. Coupled with the new Nikon Imaging Cloud, where you can collect, create and store your own image Recipes, you’ll be worrying less about settings.

The full-frame Z5 and Z6III are more expensive, but closer to pro equipment. You’ll get more capabilities and more data per image (24.3 MP for Z5 and 24.5MP for Z6III) compared to 20.9MP of the DX cameras. The retro Zf is another great full-frame choice, with a vintage film camera aesthetic packed with the latest mirrorless technology.

All of the above cameras support 4K video capture, and the Z6III supports up to 6K video, plus a line-level audio input for high-quality sound in-camera. All these cameras have updated eye tracking autofocus systems. Whichever price point you choose, you’ll be in good hands.

Short-form video content is booming. If you’re curious about what it takes to become a content creator on TikTok, here’s a quick guide to get started

The camera

John Bogna

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What’s in my kitbag?

Z 6IIFast, reliable autofocus technology

NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 SFor any light, any situation

Nikon Z30

The lenses

The kit lens will get the job done for starters, but there are plenty of NIKKOR DX and FX lenses to upgrade your rig with when you’re ready. Lenses are an investment that can last you for years, so think carefully about your needs when choosing one.

Zoom lenses such as the power-zoom NIKKOR Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR or NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 provide cinematic wide-angle versatility. Many content creators and vloggers prefer a wider angle since they so often shoot in small spaces.

Fixed prime lenses such as the NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 and NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 still provide a wide angle for close-in filming, but give you more light with their wider aperture. The NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4 is a more standard ‘classic’ option, but still flexible enough to film a variety of subjects.

Z50II

Refining your eye, learning your gear

As you progress, you’ll learn how your gear works and what’s best for a given situation. You’ll train your eye to recognise and compose good vertical frames that will work on TikTok.

Learn which lenses work for which angles and be able to choose accordingly. A 105mm lens, for example, could focus on just someone’s face, while a wider lens such as a 24mm can capture big backgrounds. Long lenses also compress the background, visually flattening it so that your subject stands out.

Consider the mood of your video. Do you want it to feel imposing? Happy? Claustrophobic? Your filming angle helps create that mood. A super-close-up frame on someone’s face at 14mm, for example, distorts your subject’s features, stretches the background, and gives a feeling of unreality to your image.

Z6III

Starting out

A camera gives you finer control over your settings to get good exposure, even when you’re filming on the fly. Features such as eye tracking also keep you or your subject in sharp focus even while moving.

Get to know your camera settings. Start in Auto mode and see how your camera adapts, then try controlling one setting like ISO to see how it changes your exposure. Eventually, filming in manual mode will make you better able to film whatever, wherever, even in changing lighting conditions.

Take it seriously, but have fun

Figure out what kind of content you want to make and start with whatever you have. It’s okay if the style and type of videos you make change over time. People expect that and love to see their favourite creators evolve.

To recap: