Using Nikkor FX lenses with Nikon Z cameras with FTZII adapter

I think that depends on the exact lenses, on the Z camera, on your expectations, and on your budget.

With modern high-quality lenses on a Z9, I would generally say:

- adapted F-lenses perform better on the Z9 than on DSLRs (AF speed and precision)

- native Z lenses perform better than adapted F lenses (AF speed and image quality)

If you are happy with your lenses on the D500, you won't be disappointed with their performance on the Z9 (on the Z7II, AF speed is significantly slower tho).

If you want absolute top performance (and can afford it/are willing to spend the money), you should go for Z glass. However, the difference will be irrelevant for most real-life applications.

So the pro of F-lenses is that they are cheaper and can also be used on your DSLR.

The con is that you have to deal with the FTZ adapter and don't get absolute top performance.

Personally, I use several F-lenses on my Z9 and I'm very happy with their performance (especially the 500 f/5.6 PF). While I plan to replace some of these lenses with Z equivalents in the next few years, I probably will keep others for a very long time.

Hope that helps!

@nightjar Thank you so much! This is very useful and kind of what I was hoping. All the prime FX lenses I have were used but in excellent condition and the latest models. I am happy to know that they will perform well when I buy a Z9. 

I love my 300mm f/2.8 VR II and, even though it's heavy, I would keep it when I buy a Z9. I sometimes use it with an AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E III with excellent results, and hope that it won't cause any issues if I use it with the FTZ II adapter. Have you used AF-S teleconverters with the Z9?

Since the 300mm lens is my longest lens, I can wait and get a Z 400mm or higher.

Btw, I am so happy with my D500 and think I would never sell it, but who knows...

I'm not a great fan of lens adapters. Because of this  bias, I transitioned to a complete Z system over the last 5 years. However the FTZ adapters aren't bad. They perform almost seamlessly. There are several hiccups however. Focusing on some F mount lenses, being used with an FTZ is slower. I've also found that the promised silence of an AFS lens focusing doesn't exist on a Z camera, with FTZ. 

Thank you! That's good to know. Many times being noisy can ruin everything, esp. with wildlife!

I don't think there is any extra noise with the FTZ.  Lenses are the same as they were on a DSLR.  But many of the older designs did not need to be 100% silent even though they make very little noise.  It might be an issue for video, but it's not really a problem in normal use.  Most of the newer lenses are designed to be truly silent.

Some lenses - particularly older F-mount lenses - may still need AF Fine Tuning but it's usually less than on a DSLR.

Steve Perry did some good testing of AF speed.  He found AF speed with the FTZ was about the same as on a DSLR, but when adding a teleconverter, was near the same speed as the bare lens while a DSLR was slower and would not focus at all with some AF points.  

I took the approach of replacing my weaker F-mount lenses and lenses used frequently.  Specialty lenses have largely been F-mount only - like fisheye and Tilt Shift lenses.   I've also use this as an opportunity to rethink my lens kit.  I ultimately have sold several lenses and better aligned the new Z kit.  For example, I sold the 500mm PF and 200-500 which fully funded my Z 400mm f/4.5.  If I was keeping a split kit, I might transition a little more slowly.

It depends on the lens and the camera body. The Z9 for example, eliminates any reduction in focus speed. It is however not an inexpensive camera. The fast glass like the F-mount 300, 400, 500 & 600 prime lenses perform brilliantly on theFTZ. Even my 70-200 F2.8 G series zoom is just as quick on the FTZ. 

It also depends on what you want to photograph. It is mostly the delay in the presentation of what you are trying to photograph in the electronic viewfinder that makes the Z6II etc. far less suitable for wildlife photography than something like the D500. So far the Z9 is the only Nikon camera to fix that problem 

Lots of people are waiting to see what the mid point (Z8?) camera body will be like for autofocus speeds.

The big advantage with the Z series is clearest in the 200 or shorter range. I have taken the opportunity to replace the F-mount short lenses with Z equivalents. (24-70 F4, 50 F1.8, 85 F1.8, 105  F2.8) 

The advantages are not just edge sharpness, they are colour, contrast, bokeh, LoCal, size, and focus accuracy (in addition to sharpness and improvements right across the frame). The S line lenses are more expensive but are much better value for money, especially if you look at the cost of lenses with equivalent performance. 

Posted by: @tricki

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I love my 300mm f/2.8 VR II and, even though it's heavy, I would keep it when I buy a Z9. I sometimes use it with an AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E III with excellent results, and hope that it won't cause any issues if I use it with the FTZ II adapter. Have you used AF-S teleconverters with the Z9?

@tricki I have the same lens and have used it on the Z9 with great results. I haven't tried this lens with TCs, but generally, the F-lenses focus a lot faster with TCs on the Z9 then they do on DSLRs. I use the 500 5.6 PF often with the 1.4x TC, and sometimes with the 2x, and it works incredibly well. With the 1.4x TC, AF speed is almost as fast as with the bare lens.

@nightjar Yes. I have discovered that my 500mm F4G works brilliantly with my Z9 with the FTZ. I used to use it with my D500. With the D500 the TCs were not very usable with the 500mm lens. Even the TC 1.4 II struggled. It was hunting a bit and not really needed anyway. I was already at 750mm on the D500.

On the Z9 the 500 F4 was at 500mm so I reluctantly tried it with the FTZ and the TC 1.4II. The speed and accuracy of focus are just fine. I am able to use the TC 1.4 with no noticeable issues at all. It performs well.
I have tried the TC 2.0 III and it is also good. The issue is that 1000mm is a marginal thing. Heat haze is the big issue. I would rather just crop. My TC 2.0EIII belongs to my pre 500mm days. I have not felt the need to use it on the 300 F2.8 either. (The 300mm plus TC 1.4 on the D500 was my standard set up for a long time. It is a pretty good combination indeed.) 

I’m sure there are some F lens that are relatively more quiet than others, but I didn’t find any of the lenses I owned, when on FTZ.

Posted by: @tricki

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Hi! Thanks so much for starting these forums!!

I am a wildlife photographer (mostly) and use a D500. I have been investing in good prime Nikkor FX lenses thinking that, when I buy my second camera (hopefully a full frame Nikon Z) I can use all of them too with a FTZ adapter. What are the pros and cons of using FX lenses with, let's say, a Nikon Z9 or Z7II?  Am I doing the right thing, or should I wait and spend my money on Z lenses? (I really want to keep my D500 but am not sure if I will use it that much once I have the new camera...).

Thank you for your help! 

I have a D6 with many nikon lenses. And I have a Z6 with less Z-lenses. Whenever I want to take pictures with the Z6 and the FX.lenses I use the FTZ without any problem. If the 14-24 or the 24-70 (VR) or the 70-200 (FL) is connected to the Z6 the lenses show the same quality as on the D6.

When weight is an issue go for Z-lenses, if not you can stay with the FX-lenses.

@ineluki Thank you for sharing! This is all very useful. I guess weight is not a big problem for me now, only when I am travelling. I am now planning to buy the Z8, but will be using most of my FX lenses. Will share my own thoughts in the near future.

The FTZ adapter makes it easier to transition from DSLR to Z cameras. There is no need to do a brutal switch. Lenses are typically a huge investment and replacing all your F mount glass with Z mount glass in "one go" can be very expensive. 

The best option is obvious to use native glass when possible. But there are plenty of very good F mound lenses around. In many cases no one will be able to identify with what lens a particular image was captured. That says a lot!

And there are plenty of people who are selling the F mount glass. That can be an opportunity to get access to high quality lenses for a lot less money. Maybe something to consider.

Posted by: @delange

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The FTZ adapter makes it easier to transition from DSLR to Z cameras. There is no need to do a brutal switch. Lenses are typically a huge investment and replacing all your F mount glass with Z mount glass in "one go" can be very expensive. 

The best option is obvious to use native glass when possible. But there are plenty of very good F mound lenses around. In many cases no one will be able to identify with what lens a particular image was captured. That says a lot!

And there are plenty of people who are selling the F mount glass. That can be an opportunity to get access to high quality lenses for a lot less money. Maybe something to consider.

I will second that. I use F-mount glass on my Z6 and it works very well. The IBIS is great for those small primes that never had VR.

@ericbowles

I am planning to buy a used Nikon 24mm tilt-shift lens for use on a Z7ii (with FTZii) on a tripod. I'm not concerned about optics but wondering if there any physical conflicts between this setup and a tripod that i should be aware of. Thanks for any insights you might have.