Why don't my older Auto Focus lenses work with my Nikon Z7
Apr 18, 2020 20:06:52 #
I wanted to get a new Nikon with many Autofocus points.The Z 7 has many, so I chose to buy one. I spoke with my usual salesman at B & H as well as 1800nikonus. Everyone said the Autofocus will work with the new body. I got the camera in Dec. I only tried my 60 mm Macro & the 24-120 lenses. I have many more lenses, but i just never tried them. 70 - 180 Macro zoom , 80 - 200 zoom, 105 DF lens. 20 - 35 zoom . But only 2 Autofocus. B & H told me that I have a 30 day return privelage. No luck there , so they offered me $1200 for the body. When will Nikon introduce an adapter so I can use my other lenses. I refuse to sell the camera for $1200. Nikon , please help me out. Thank you.
Apr 18, 2020 21:08:15 #
This post discusses some of the limitations of Nikon's FTZ adapter:
https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/mirrorless/lenses/ftz.htm
The summary:
The adapter only works properly (autofocuses) with Nikon's newest lenses, which are those with built-in AF motors (AF-I, AF-S and AF-P). With all other lenses autofocus does not work. AF and AF‑D lenses become manual focus only.
https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/mirrorless/lenses/ftz.htm
The summary:
The adapter only works properly (autofocuses) with Nikon's newest lenses, which are those with built-in AF motors (AF-I, AF-S and AF-P). With all other lenses autofocus does not work. AF and AF‑D lenses become manual focus only.
Apr 19, 2020 06:38:20 #
Steve Weinberg wrote:
I wanted to get a new Nikon with many Autofocus ... (show quote)
You would have been better off getting a D850. Even with the FTZ adapter, A/F performance is mediocre with legacy motorized lenses - and not at all possible with non-motorized lenses (AF-D, etc). Your research results were not wrong, but incomplete - AF-S and AF-P lenses will AF, but not as crisply as on a D850. AF and AF-D lenses will not autofocus. Nikon will not be introducing an adapter to allow The Z7 to drive AF and AF-D lenses, since the body itself has no internal AF motor to drive the lens. If you look at the mount on an 80-200 F2.8 AF-D you will see a little piece that looks like slot on a screw head. And if you look at the camera side mount on a camera that can AF with that lens, you'll see "male" counterpart - a piece that looks like a screwdriver blade that mates to the screw head. This is the mechanism that drives the AF on the lens. The Z7 lacks the "screwdriver" part.
Apr 19, 2020 07:49:33 #
Apr 19, 2020 08:19:54 #
Steve Weinberg wrote:
When will Nikon introduce an adapter so I can use my other lenses. I refuse to sell the camera for $1200. Nikon , please help me out. Thank you.
Never! But B&H doesn't let you return in less than 30 days?
Apr 19, 2020 09:11:04 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
Steve Weinberg wrote:
I wanted to get a new Nikon with many Autofocus ... (show quote)
My AF-D lenses do not auto focus with the Z7. Nikon has been saying this since it's Z introduction.
Apr 19, 2020 09:24:16 #
billnikon wrote:
My AF-D lenses do not auto focus with the Z7. Nikon has been saying this since it's Z introduction.
THIS ^
Apr 19, 2020 09:35:33 #
Actually my recommendation to the OP are:
1. The OP didn't research carefully before buying. So mistakes made.
2. Learning from the mistakes the OP should take this opportunity to find out about the Z7. To really get to know the Z7.
3. The OP may ended up liking the Z7 much more than DSLR and buying new lenses to move over to the Z. The Z7 works best with Z lens and not with any F mount lenses. Or the OP may find that the Z is no way better than the D then the OP can take the lost and get rid of the body.
1. The OP didn't research carefully before buying. So mistakes made.
2. Learning from the mistakes the OP should take this opportunity to find out about the Z7. To really get to know the Z7.
3. The OP may ended up liking the Z7 much more than DSLR and buying new lenses to move over to the Z. The Z7 works best with Z lens and not with any F mount lenses. Or the OP may find that the Z is no way better than the D then the OP can take the lost and get rid of the body.
Apr 19, 2020 11:51:02 #
BebuLamar wrote:
Actually my recommendation to the OP are: br 1. Th... (show quote)
Yep. I’d be looking to trade some of that old glass in and get new. When I got my Z7 I picked up a used 24-70 f4 Z mount and I traded my Tamron 159-600 in on a Nikon 200-500.
Apr 19, 2020 16:19:00 #
Gene51 wrote:
You would have been better off getting a D850. Even with the FTZ adapter, A/F performance is mediocre with legacy motorized lenses - and not at all possible with non-motorized lenses (AF-D, etc).
Yes probably the over 70 crowd IS better off settling for the old technology, since they will not be living long enough to collect the lenses that really GO with the new Nikon cameras.
Apr 19, 2020 16:40:13 #
Another idea is the EOS-R platform and Canon's EF to R adapter, where every single EF and EF-S autofocus lens ever released by Canon works flawlessly on the EOS mirrorless line of cameras. Also, that decades old brick thrown by Nikon no longer applies. Every single Canon legacy FD / FL / etc manual focus lens mounts the EOS-R mirrorless body, via an FD adapter, providing 30MP of digital excellence.
Apr 19, 2020 16:44:50 #
Steve Weinberg wrote:
I wanted to get a new Nikon with many Autofocus ... (show quote)
The FTZ adaptor works only with lenses equipped with in-lens motor. None of your lenses that depends on the screw-drive for AF power from the body will work, and I really doubt that Nikon will ever release an adapter that provides power via the screw drive. Period.
Apr 19, 2020 16:48:37 #
Gene51 wrote:
You would have been better off getting a D850. Even with the FTZ adapter, A/F performance is mediocre with legacy motorized lenses -
I am surprised to hear you say that. When the Nikon 'road show' came through town introducing their MILC line, I went. Another present brought a Sigma telephoto lens, and it focused just fine on Z7 with the adapter.
Apr 19, 2020 17:59:23 #
CatMarley wrote:
Yes probably the over 70 crowd IS better off settling for the old technology, since they will not be living long enough to collect the lenses that really GO with the new Nikon cameras.
You're correct. I had to cancel my order for that new Nikon 120-300 lens. I really want it for my grandkids sports--soccer, basketball, and baseball. But I figured that with the $10,000 purchase price and my expected longevity of 15 more good years, it comes out to $1,000 per year. That's a lot of other lenses that I can buy. However, if it was a Z series lens, then I would snap it up anyway and pay with a 10-year loan. I've got about 3 Z-series lens that I want to get later this summer.
Apr 19, 2020 18:02:50 #
rehess wrote:
I am surprised to hear you say that. When the Nikon 'road show' came through town introducing their MILC line, I went. Another present brought a Sigma telephoto lens, and it focused just fine on Z7 with the adapter.
My Sigma 135mm f/1.8 focuses quickly on my Z6 and I haven't noticed any difference in focus times with that and my Z series 85mm S lens. Both are equally quick for my sports photography. But there could exist some slower focusing issues with other 3rd-party lenses. I can't dispute what others are finding.
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