oregonfrank Loc: Astoria, Oregon

For those who have adapted Nikon F mount lenses to a Z body, do you get the same or better quality images as before with F cameras? I ask this because I would only consider a Z body if I could use my existing F mount lenses with the same or better outcomes. Frank

MauiMoto Loc: Hawaii

I'm interested also. Considering a z7 instead of d850.

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

I use F mount on my Z6ll with awesome results

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

The FTZ adapter has no glass in it, so there is nothing to degrade IQ. AF-S and AF-P lenses work fine. The only penalty is the added 135g.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

I use a lot of older F mount lenses on my Z7. There is no image quality loss at all. I bought the Z7 with the 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom which is excellent and a delight to use. All of my F mount lenses are manual focus so I'm not losing any function using them on the Z7. Instead I gain the advantage of focus peaking which is a great enhancement.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

As one of the best wildlife / birding photographers out there, I follow Steve Perry at BackCountryGallery.com. This entire video on the Z6 and Z7 is worth watching, but what you are looking for is 14 minutes in. https://youtu.be/GUK0nNAfmyA . Here is a review of the Z IIs https://youtu.be/YqKaUjjaA70 . What you are looking for is 8:42 minutes in.

My takeaways are for slower AF lenses like the 200-500mm f/5.6 there is no difference between the Zs and the Ds AF, but for faster AF F mount lenses on Z bodies using the FTZ adapter, AF is noticeably slower. You can overcome some of this by prefocusing and since the Z AF system is more accurate compared to the Ds there is less hunting.

As others have mentioned, there is no degradation in IQ using a F mount lens on a Z body, but the newer Z glass is a step up in quality over the F mount glass.

User ID

I have never found that circumventing the reflex mirror has diminished the image quality of any of my lenses, of many various types.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

It depends on what you shoot and the lenses in question.

therwol Loc: USA

The optics wouldn't change, but keep in mind that any of the older autofocus lenses that use a motor in the camera will not autofocus with the adaptor.

BurghByrd Loc: Pittsburgh

Exactly! I've had no issues with any of the F mount lenses used on the FTZ w Z6II. It is particularly useful for unique F mount lenses such as PC lenses (tilt-shift) where there is no Z mount option. Recognize however that any lens reliant on a camera body motor to focus will not be able to do so. As CarkJohnson alludes, the FTZ adaptor establishes the F mount lens to body geometry with all electical connections on a Z body; the only thing missing is the autofocus screw drive.

ELNikkor

"same" quality has been established. OregonFrank is also asking about "or better" quality. (ie, is there something about the Z sensors/processing/focusing/stabilizing that could possibly give him even better results with his "F" lenses than a DSLR could render?) "ysarex" says the focus peaking is helpful. I would guess the IBIS is also helpful. "MauiMoto" is debating between the Z's and the D850.
I'm no where near considering these delicate balancings, but if I was, I'd figure this: soon, Nikon will bring out more glass and a pro mirrorless body, as well as tweaking its autofocus features. The Z lenses are already better and engineered more specifically for the Z system. If someone wants to basically stay in the best that the past technology had to offer, let them stay back there with the D850 & F lenses; none of them are slouches and will never be obsoleted to the point of worthlessness as photographic tools.
Those with the resources and are looking to the future of imaging technology will hold out a bit longer, then sell the past and buy the future.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Plus fussing with the FTZ. I bought a second from MPB and also a $15 mechanical one, so dramatically reduced my fussing. I could leave one on Z6 and one on Z50...but more frequently use my new Z lenses.

The mechanical only one works surprisingly good if you are happy with min fstop for the lens, which I use for wildlife on 200-500. M mode and auto ISO handle auto exposure and focus peaking makes manual focus easy. You might even be able to vary fstop with AF lens with fstop ring aided by EVF to have bright image. I don’t presently have AF lenses, though.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

No degradation at all. The FTZ adapter is great and all my F mount lens work flawlessly. Put if you do change to a Z body keep your old lenses as the newer lenses don't play well with infraRed.

Photojoe1

I use my F lenses on Z7. The quality is fine, but with the adapter it is heavy and uncomfortable. The 24-120 lens is almost impossible to use handheld.
Sorry I got the Z. The lenses for them are untouchable for a non-professional.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

A good honest post.