texasdigital Loc: Conroe, Texas

I am only referring to Nikon products. I can only comment on what I’ve read, since I don’t have actual experience. I’ve read that not all of the contacts on the lens to camera mount function as they should. Autofocus is slow, and I’ve heard exposure may not be as precise. In short, the adapter doesn’t make the DSLR lens compatible to a mirrorless lens. Close, but not exact.

I’d be interested if anyone has a different experience.

Soul Dr. Loc: Beautiful Shenandoah Valley

Yes, what process is inferior? Using an adapter to use other makes or different mount lenses on a mirror less camera?
I use adapters to mount different lenses on my mirror less cameras without any reliability or inferior processes.
The results are pretty darn good when using a lens known to give good results.

Will

gwilliams6

As one who grew up and was inspired by those beautiful photographs and was fortunate to be taught and mentored by some of those greats, long before DLSRs and mirrorless existed, I agree those shots were not impossible and did and do still exist.

But as one who has used all kinds and formats of photographic gear, both as an amateur since childhood ,and as a pro since 1973 I can say it was so much harder to achieve those results back in the day.

IMHO what DSLRs and then mirrorless have given us is many more new and creative options, faster and more efficient shooting, better autofocus and video performance, better ergonomics, better stabilization in-body and so much more, alongside all the advances in optical designs and lens autofocus motor tech.

And all the advances in image sensors now give us image quality that rivals and surpasses what I could obtain when I was using my film 8X10 and 4X5 view cameras , and with much more dynamic range than any film ever made could achieve.

So I embrace and acknowledge all the greats and their work, but I also gladly have embraced every advance in tech and innovation that has come along over the decades .

Time and tech move forward and there is no reason to lament this progress.

I loved all my Nikon and Canon SLRs and DSLRs that I used to photograph all subjects around the world, including war conflict, and I treasure all the Worldwide and National Awards I was honored with from shots I made with them.

Now I have no regrets that I moved over to pro mirrorless gear in January 2017. Still shooting, still having fun, now with all the distinct competitive advantages of mirrorless gear.

Cheers
https://www.facebook.com/GSWilliamsPhotography

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You're misinformed. The FTZ Nikon adapter, literally F-mount To Z-mount, is just great for all-electronic SLR-type lenses. If you're sporting older Nikon screw-type lenses, well here you do pay the price of Nikon's historic delay to move to all-electronic lenses. The adapter doesn't support those screw-type AF lenses, making them manual focus. But, for all the new stuff, they work as good or better on new mirrorless.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Well I use the FTZ, version 1, so here is my experience.

First it's a hollow tube. Thus, there is no degradation to the image quality of the F-lens. It does not have a built in focus motor. Shame on Nikon. This IMHO is its biggest flaw. AI lenses require manual focus with is a disappointment. I have used it a lot with 24-70mm f2.8, and 28-300mm f4.5-5.6, and 85mm f1.8, 14-24mm f2.8. I have not noticed any differences in focus speed or accuracy. Note that I often shoot things that are stationary or moving slowly I haven't tried it with sports. All the lens functions work fine on the lenses mentioned.

The FTZ does add mass and volume to the Z system. Z+FTZ+Z lens feels about the same size as a compatible F lens + DSLR.

IMHO using the Z lens + Z camera is better. Z lenses are designed for the Z cameras, the system is smaller and lighter than the equivalent F system, and IQ of the Z lenses is very good. Because of that, I find that want to switch to Z lenses for the Z camera. But I sill need my F-lenses for my SLR work. So I'm not selling the F lenses. Alas I need more money and a larger camera storage dresser. lol. Such problems we have.

Hope that helps.

therwol Loc: USA

I can expand on that. It won't autofocus with screw drive lenses, sometimes called the AF-D or D lenses. Some of those are actually fine lenses. I own several and can offer an opinion on that.

BebuLamar

I would like Texasdigital to elaborate on that too. The only short coming of the FTZ (FTZ ii) is that they do not AF screwdriver lenses but I do not think Nikon will make one that does that. There is already a motor in the adapter for the aperture I don't think they can fit another for the AF.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

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anotherview Loc: California

Ditto: "I suspect that I could place two photos of the same subject, one taken with a DSLR and the other mirrorless, and you wouldn’t be able to tell which."

hugEDhog Loc: Bear, Delaware

Correct!

texasdigital Loc: Conroe, Texas

So here is the deal. I based my opinion on the earlier versions of Nikon mirrorless cameras or adapters. Apparently, Nikon made improvements and that is not the case today. Since I had no need for a mirrorless camera, I failed to notice the change and appologized for the error. From what I'm now reading, the latest Nikon mirrorless is close to the level of the Canon, mirrorless, but neither one as good as the Sony. Of course, CHG_CANON can correct me if I'm wrong.

However, back to the original premise concerning mirrorless vs DSLR, I still maintain that you would not be able to tell the difference from my best photograph on my D850 compared to any mirrorless Nikon, Canon, or Sony. If, or when, my D850 fails, or any of my other bodies, and if I need a new body, then I would certainly look at a mirrorless. Perhaps that's not entirely true for video, but it is photography that we are talking about.

gwilliams6

There is no reason to sell what you have if it serves all your needs and you are comfortable with it, and it is all paid for . There is plenty of room for film cameras, DSLRS and mirrorless to co-exist , with all still being viable choices for different tastes, different budgets and different styles of each shooter.

As a longtime pro I have more demanding needs and for me any competitive advantage was worth my move from DSLRs to mirrorless. But most shooters and certainly most UHHers are not professionals and never will have those needs.

Your D850 is the best image quality DSLR Nikon has made IMHO . More than enough for most still shooters. Where its weakness is is in video autofocus which is poor. But if you aren't focused on video shooting, that is of no concern to you at all.

Certainly Nikon's best mirrorless Z9 is made to be a true hybrid camera with superior video autofocus and performance as well as great still performance. But how many non-pro photographers really need a Z9, not many .

Use what you have and be happy until it breaks and you can no longer get parts to fix it.

As I teach all my university photography class students , photo gear is just a tool. And the individual knowledge, skills, vision, creativity, and hard work of the photographer matters the most. Using the right gear does help and does matter, but not the most.

Master your gear, but more importantly, master your craft. And be sure to have fun doing it.

Cheers and best to you.

User ID

Situational awareness, Paul ... All that is common knowledge outside of UHH, but Hogsters are inside, and looking inward, not outward.

texasdigital Loc: Conroe, Texas

Thanks, I've stated here before that there are those try to help, and those who demean folks who are trying to learn and better their craft. You sir, are a helper. Thanks for the kind words.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

DSLR, mirrorless, SLR are all secondary to the nut behind the lens. It’s the 6” behind the camera that makes all the difference.