Lens problematic compatibility: 50mm AF f1.4

[SolaresLarrave]

Just today came in my new (to me, in reality it's a refurb from Nikon) Z5 camera body. I had purchased the FTZ adapter earlier, so one of the first things I did after I unpackaged the camera was rush to my bag of lenses and dust off my AF 50mm f1.4.

This is a plain-vanilla AF lens. I don't believe it's the D-model. It works in my dSLRs perfectly. It's simply noisier than my other lenses but since I got it for a pittance and it has a dreamy OOF area I have kept it.

Well, this lens and my Z5 don't seem to be in speaking terms. The camera meters and the registers aperture changes, but there's no AF. Is this normal?

Thanks in advance!

 

[ruby.monkey]

There's no drive motor in the lens and no drive spindle on the adaptor, so there's no way to give autofocus with this lens.

 

[Larry H-L]

There are some recent rumors floating around that Nikon is working on a second version of the FTZ adapter that might accommodate screw drive lenses.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Thank you! A long while after posting this question it occurred to me that this is a lens without AF motor and that the camera probably depends from them for the AF. I still can use it, but only focusing by hand.

Since the 24-70 Z zoom is on its way, I believe that's going to be the resident lens on that camera.

Again, thanks a lot!

 

[pixelated]

I've found that my auto focus D lenses manually focus pretty quickly, and effectively with "Focus Peaking" turned on using the FTZ on my newly acquired used Z.

But, I agree, an adapter that could could autofocus with them would be lovely. It seems like a pretty big oversight on Nikon's part, especially considering what they charge for the FTZ.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Since I have two G lenses (an AF-S 24-70 f2.8 and the AF-S 24-120 f4), I decided to use the adapter with the 24-70 while I wait for the Z lens.

One thing is certain: the images are amazing! Or at least, they look amazing in the little camera screen and in the computer. 🙂

 

[farlymac]

I've found that my auto focus D lenses manually focus pretty quickly, and effectively with "Focus Peaking" turned on using the FTZ on my newly acquired used Z.

But, I agree, an adapter that could could autofocus with them would be lovely. It seems like a pretty big oversight on Nikon's part, especially considering what they charge for the FTZ.

Yeah, I've postulated about that before. I found out that Olympus already has an adapter with the built in screw drive for their lenses, and it wouldn't take Nikon much to develop one of their own. I hope the Nikon Rumors site is right on this one.

My 28-70/2.8 D with the Silent-Wave-Motor arrived today, and I like how much quieter it is than the screw drive D's I have. I think it was the last of the D line of lenses before they switched to the G series. That big front element sure makes for a fat lens body.

PF