Autofocus on a Nikon D lens: I can use use autofocus on this lens on my DSLR, D850, but can get it to work on my Z6 with the FTZ adaptor. Manual focus works fine on both cameras. The...

Hammer Loc: London UK

I can use use autofocus on this lens on my DSLR, D850, but can get it to work on my Z6 with the FTZ adaptor. Manual focus works fine on both cameras.

The lens is a 70-180 D Macro lens

Any of you Hoggers have any ideas what mistake I am making ?

Hammer Loc: London UK

I meant to say I can’t get it to focus. No wonder I can’t get it to work.

srscary Loc: Cary, NC

Autofocus on non-Z lenses will only work for AF-S and AF-P lenses. See the compatibility table here:

https://www.nikonimgsupport.com/na/NSG_article?articleNo=000042681&configured=1&lang=en_SG&sfdcIFrameOrigin=null

davesit Loc: Lansing, New York

Nikon D lenses will not autofocus on the Z cameras.

Leitz Loc: Solms

davesit wrote:

Nikon D lenses will not autofocus on the Z cameras.

Not so. The "D" designation is meaningless as to how the lens focuses.

davesit Loc: Lansing, New York

Leitz wrote:

Not so. The "D" designation is meaningless as to how the lens focuses.

I meant to say the AF-D lenses, not the AF-S D lenses.

Leitz Loc: Solms

davesit wrote:

I meant to say the AF-D lenses, not the AF-S D lenses.

Neither me nor the Nikon rep I called is aware of an "AF-D" Nikkor ever having been made - please educate us.

srscary Loc: Cary, NC

Per the URL in my earlier post, AF-S and AF-P type D lenses will autofocus with the FTZ adapter but not AF type D lenses.

Let me know if I am misreading something.

srscary Loc: Cary, NC

The 70-180mm Macro lens is probably this one (?)
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/801713868-USE/nikon_1983_zoom_telephoto_af_zoom.html

It is an AF (and neither AF-P nor AF-S) lens, so will not autofocus with the FTZ adapter.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Not sure why so many people get so torqued off over the terminology around these lenses. I've not found anyone that doesn't understand exactly what is being discussed when a "D" lens is mentioned, whether it matches Nikon's official terminology or not. The simple truth is that since Nikkor lenses tend to be labelled differently on the top and bottom, the lenses themselves create the confusion.

BebuLamar

larryepage wrote:

Not sure why so many people get so torqued off over the terminology around these lenses. I've not found anyone that doesn't understand exactly what is being discussed when a "D" lens is mentioned, whether it matches Nikon's official terminology or not. The simple truth is that since Nikkor lenses tend to be labelled differently on the top and bottom, the lenses themselves create the confusion.

As long as we understand each other that's all it counts.

davesit Loc: Lansing, New York

larryepage wrote:

Not sure why so many people get so torqued off over the terminology around these lenses. I've not found anyone that doesn't understand exactly what is being discussed when a "D" lens is mentioned, whether it matches Nikon's official terminology or not. The simple truth is that since Nikkor lenses tend to be labelled differently on the top and bottom, the lenses themselves create the confusion.

I try not to get too riled up about it. Sometimes emails could be impersonal and come across as much more negative than the writer had intended. Exceptions do occur. Some people are just not happy.

Hammer Loc: London UK

Thanks for your help here. The thought of being able to use the silent shutter on my Z got me so excited that I did not check it out properly. That’ll teach me to get excited. I will just have to keep my D-SLR

User ID

Hammer wrote:

I can use use autofocus on this lens on my DSLR, D850, but can get it to work on my Z6 with the FTZ adaptor. Manual focus works fine on both cameras.

The lens is a 70-180 D Macro lens

Any of you Hoggers have any ideas what mistake I am making ?

Only mistake is in not reading the maker’s documentation ... which informs users not to expect any AF from what are typically referred to as “screw drive” lenses. Nikon doesn’t use that term, but IIRC they do provide a compatibly table.

More properly “screw” should be “shaft”, and you can see the butt end of that shaft when looking at the lens flange. Likewise looking at the body flange will reveal the drive coupler that turns the shaft. Looking at the front flange of the FTZ you’ll find there’s no drive coupler.

This is just cost cutting. Sony provides a drive coupler on their version of the FTZ (Sony calls it an “LAE”).

uhaas2009

Screw drive focus-not every camera or adapter have it