Picked up a Z6

[Larry Cloetta]

Because the camera does not know what aperture is being used the auto iso setting is hampered and the evf does not show the actual exposure but a corrected version as to what it thinks it should so getting a ‘correct exposure’ involves not looking at the image in the evf but staring at the histogram and pushing it to the right.
And yes I have the evf set to show actual exposure.

When I use a chipped lens like a Nikkor 45mm 2.8 AI-P or CV SL2 or Otis it works correctly because the camera knows what the actual aperture is. I like how instead of wondering why Nikon didnt just add an aperture feeler seeing they still offer that on their extension tubes, some people’s responses are fanboi like. Remember this thing is $250 ish. Canon charges $90 for their same version. But yaaaay Nikon!

Okay, I'm old and I don't use/won't use Auto ISO, because I don't like to lose control over what I am doing by delegating it to an electronic brain which has no idea what I am trying to accomplish on any given day.
I always look at the histograms anyway, and even with any camera and any lens in my experience, there are always times when the camera wants to make an exposure I don't want to make, which means I will be wanting to adjust the exposure. So no automatic camera has ever really been automatic for me, with any lens. But, I get your point.

But, okay, I stand corrected. For some people, this would make a difference.
I would think this EVF behavior would be correctable via a firmware update, but perhaps not.

 

[Huss]

It's just that it seems like such an obvious oversight. I actually talked with Nikon and asked why it wasnt there, and they couldnt give me an answer.

Don't get me wrong, the FTZ works fantastic with chipped and the AF lenses w/ built in motors. Truly great. But this one little thing would have made it perfect with the hundreds of other old Nikon lenses out there too.

 

[Filter Factor]

Because the camera does not know what aperture is being used the auto iso setting is hampered and the evf does not show the actual exposure but a corrected version as to what it thinks it should so getting a ‘correct exposure’ involves not looking at the image in the evf but staring at the histogram and pushing it to the right.
And yes I have the evf set to show actual exposure.

Using a Leica M lens or any number of other platforms on the Z camera must really be a problem then. 🙄 Or maybe those guys are all fanbois?

 

[ptpdprinter]

I'm not sure I get the obsession with using adapted lenses from film cameras. Is it just because you can? Why not use lenses designed for the camera?

 

[Filter Factor]

Is it just because you can?

Yes, pretty much. Its fun.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

I'm not sure I get the obsession with using adapted lenses from film cameras. Is it just because you can? Why not use lenses designed for the camera?

I do use the lenses designed for the camera. I also use adapted lenses, lots of them. None of them will, or can, yield the same photo. People use adapted lenses for the same reason people keep more than one 50mm around. (Though others only keep one 50 around, because it's the "best". I don't even know what "best" means in the context of lenses.)
I prefer some of the results of some of the adapted lenses to the results from the native lenses, depending on the subject matter and the lighting. There is a lot more to photography than resolution and "sharp to the corners".
It's not an obsession, it's an enlightening exploration of possibilities.

 

[RObert Budding]

I'm not sure I get the obsession with using adapted lenses from film cameras. Is it just because you can? Why not use lenses designed for the camera?

I used a manual focus 105 mm lens on my D700, and then on my D750. Why? Because I paid $200 for that lens, versus $1,200 for an AF version.

 

[TEZillman]

First, congratulations on the new equipment Ken, I'm sure you'll enjoy using it. Second, I'm kind of surprised at all the negativity here. What's truly amazing is that Nikon builds cameras today, granted not mirrorless ones though, that are incredibly compatible with lenses made over the last 40 years. This in a world where, for example, Apple stops supporting many of their products 5-7 years after they're released. If you have a stable of older Nikkors and want to use them to their fullest, invest in any of the full frame Nikon DSLRs made in the last 10 years or so.

Let's not forget that Nikon is in the business of selling cameras and lenses. "Dropping" support for lenses that were made 20-40 years ago is certainly understandable when they're releasing a new product line. This is coming from someone who has over 80 Nikon and Nikon mount lenses, none of which is newer than the AF-D series.

 

[farlymac]

Here you go:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fotodiox-P...456497?hash=item546ac39931:g:FaYAAOSw7ilcdxeV

or

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kipon-Adap...367104?hash=item1cbd42f880:g:WhsAAOSwQ-1byASP

I use the Kipon and their quality matches Novoflex

Thanks, I'll keep those in mind when I finally get a Z6 (looks like a long time from now).


PF

 

[Huss]

Using a Leica M lens or any number of other platforms on the Z camera must really be a problem then. 🙄 Or maybe those guys are all fanbois?

M glass is not mentioned by Nikon as maintaing the legacy of compatibility. Because, this may surprise you, Nikon did not make them.

And yes, when I use M glass on my Z7, they behave exactly the same as my Nikon AI-S glass. But I expected that as the M adapter is a 'dumb' adapter. It's just a tube. The FTZ adapter has electronic contacts, chips etc for Nikon lenses.

What does this tell you? If you are just using non chipped Nikon lenses, a $20 adapter works just as well as the $249 Nikon adapter. But has the advantage of being much smaller (as well as cheaper).

 

[Huss]

I'm not sure I get the obsession with using adapted lenses from film cameras. Is it just because you can? Why not use lenses designed for the camera?

Nikon lenses were designed to be used with Nikon cameras. Many people use certain manual Nikon lenses (and AF ones w/o the built in motor) specifically because of how they render an image. Nikon does not have any Z mount lenses that replicate the look of a 180 2.8 AIS, 24mm 2.8 AIS, 105 1.8 AIS etc etc
So why would we abandon them? Especially given that Nikon currently offers only 4 Z mount lenses.

Leica, bless them, allows pretty much any Leica M mount lens to be used with the M series and the SL, because it understands that people value them and so builds in specific profiles for many (most? all?) of those lenses into the current digital bodies.

Nikon offers essentially full compatibility with its DSLRs, but dropped that with its mirrorless which is puzzling as those bodies should offer more, not less, compatibility.

 

[Ken Ford]

I honestly would not be surprised if someone (probably not Nikon, though) develops an adapter with an Ai tab/encoder and a screwdriver AF motor.

 

[Filter Factor]

Nikon does not have any Z mount lenses that replicate the look of a 180 2.8 AIS, 24mm 2.8 AIS, 105 1.8 AIS etc etc
So why would we abandon them? Especially given that Nikon currently offers only 4 Z mount lenses.

Be patient, there will be more coming. This may surprise you, but Nikon is in the business of selling lenses. They want you to buy something new; the decision to "abandon" AIS users was probably intentional.

 

[willie_901]

...

Nikon offers essentially full compatibility with its DSLRs, but dropped that with its mirrorless which is puzzling as those bodies should offer more, not less, compatibility.

Not that puzzling.

Nikon is a slow-moving bureaucracy. Their response to mirrorless technology moved at glacial speeds. Their business strategy was to protect their FX DSLR platform. This didn't work.

When became obvious that larger sensor areas (43 x 33mm) will become economically competitive with FX sensors, Nikon finally responded. They made some wise decisions with the Z platform. But they are playing catch up. There aren't enough resources to produce new Z mount FX lenses quickly.

They may never offer the same level of compatibility though. Nikon may choose to focus its resources on Z-mount lenses for 43 x 33mm sensors – which is the purpose of the Z lens mount.

It wouldn't surprise me if Nikon eventually released a mirrorless F-mount camera that is backwards compatible with almost all F-mount lenses. I think for Nikon, FX will become the new DX.

Unlike Leica, Nikon has never been interested in supporting photographers who enjoy using older lenses. There has never been an acceptable manual focus system for their DSLRs. It took years before they made the DF. This delay was not based on technology or manufacturing costs. It was a marketing decision to sell more new lenses to people who really didn't want or need them.

 

[Ken Ford]

Meanwhile, I’m having a good time learning the new system. I haven’t had a lot of time for photography, but I’m getting there.

The core Z6 kit is pretty much stable at this point. Z6, 14-30, 24-70, 50 and a F mount 70-300 AF-P. Plus, in addition to the FTZ I have adapters for M, LTM and Nikon S (no focus mount.) I’m hoping someone will do a focusing mount Nikon S adapter at some point so I can use my 50/1.4.

My biggest problem right now is finding a decent bag that I like! I’m a long time Domke user, but Tiffen has done a crap job keeping the line relevant for modern equipment - lenses are much larger diameter now, and they don’t fit well in the lens cells. They need to take the F2 and enlarge it slightly so it can take fatter glass without making it much deeper.

 

[shawn]

I'm not sure I get the obsession with using adapted lenses from film cameras. Is it just because you can? Why not use lenses designed for the camera?

As one who has fairly recently gone over to the adapted lens side there are several advantages...

1) Lens choices (literally thousands available)
2) Cost (most of the time much less money than system lenses and they won't depreciate the same way)
3) Size (RF lenses are tiny in comparison)
4) Near universal compatibility (lenses can be used for many systems, not tied into one)
5) Much easier/cheaper to change system bodies without being tied into system lenses. Also allows lens sharing between systems.

I use LTM and M mount lenses on my Leica but also use them on a Sony A7RII and an IR converted A7II.

On the Sonys I loose auto aperture but I shoot aperture priority. So this is really no loss and I prefer the aperture ring compared to a dial. With the TAP I can even have AF with the adapted lenses. But I typically use MF with peaking as I am finding I prefer it more. (And this is from using AF since the F5).

An additonal unexpected bonus was that with adapted lens, shooting MF I rarely have to touch the Sony's god awful menu system. I have the functions I need mapped to buttons and am pretty much good to go.

I have one native mount Sony (28-70 I bought for *cheap*) and also use a couple of adapted Canon EF mount lenses on the Sonys.

Shawn