p.1 #1 · TZE-01 Owners Unite! Images/Evaluation Data for Techart Sony E > Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter / image picture pictu
Do you have a TZE-01?
Please share your images (include exif if possible),
Please share evaluation notes, what works and what doesn't
Please share what we want from future updates, update release info, etc.
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The new Sony E – Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter is the latest groundbreaking product brought by Techart. We take advantage of the 2mm difference in flange distance between Sony E and Nikon Z mount and developed an ultra-thin adapter to convert the lenses in Sony E mount into Nikon Z. Techart also manage to incorporate a CPU chip into this tiny space which can ‘translate’ the protocol of Sony to Nikon so that the AUTOFOCUS, AUTO-APERTURE and LENS STABILISATION functions can all be retained.
Both AF-S, AF-C and MF mode will work on the Nikon Z6/Z7. Face and Eye detection, EXIF reading, Timelapse function can also be supported. Phase-detect AF is used and therefore the AF speed is on par with using native Z mount lenses on the cameras. Firmware is upgradable via separate lens dock (Included for FREE).
* Samyang / Rokinon lenses are currently NOT supported. This may change in future firmware update.
*18 Jun update: Sigma AF lenses are now supported!
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Firmware Upgrade http://techartpro.com/user-manual-of-tze-01-english/
Mount the included lens dock onto the adapter.
Prepare a micro USB cable and a win7/win8/win10 PC/MAC.
Download the firmware upgrade app
MAC
PC
Run the app and choose the appropriate firmware.
Wait around 10s for the upgrade to complete.
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Precautions
To avoid potential fire or electric hazard, please do not leave the adapter in a humid or rainy environment.
Do not attempt to disassemble or repair yourself, this will void the warranty of your adapter.
Keep the CPU and lens connector clean to avoid mis-contact.
When connecting with a lens heavier than 1.3kg, please support the lens via a tripod collar or by hand. Otherwise the adapter may be damaged
Keep the adapter in a dry environment to avoid it getting rust
Try not to touch the connector pins directly. Always use a blow or soft brush to remove any dusts on the pins
Do not use any solvent to clean the adapter.
Do not expose the adapter to direct sunlight.
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Installation instructions
Switch off the camera.
Align the dot of the adapter with the dot on the camera bayonet
Turn the adapter anti-clockwise until hearing a locking sound.
Align the dot of the lens with the dot on the adapter.
Turn the lens closewise until hearing a locking sound.
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Usage
Most of the functions in the menu can be used including the vibration reduction, AF-S/AF-C/MF focus modes, automatic aperture and AF-C in video mode.
If focusing is difficult in some scenarios, switch the focus mode to single point AF or Wide area AF
When shooting in video mode, suggest using wide area AF or dynamic-area AF to receive the best performance.
p.1 #2 · TZE-01 Owners Unite! Images/Evaluation Data for Techart Sony E > Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter / image picture pictu
85GM on Z7
I used it for about 40 shots today
it was not a great experience, I'll say only OK.
hit or miss, when shooting kids with eye-AF
I was expecting more!
THE GOOD
the color that I expect from this combination is there
the resolution is there, with this lens on the Z7!
did some lens test chart shots, and this 85GM performed much better on the Z7 than the Nikon 85 1.4G (with regard to sharpness/overall resolution, as it should)
the fourth image is a crop of the third image
the bokeh, the quality bokeh is there
AF-S seems decent, but sometimes it's just flakey
the thing is so freaking thin, simply amazing!
THE BAD
the aperture ring doesn't work (hopefully it will in the future, but not a deal breaker for me)
the button on the GM doesn't work (hopefully it will in the future, very much WANT)
the pin point AF doesn't work
AF-C is not all that great, needs improvement, meaning it's hit or miss with toddlers/young kids/action (eye af)
AF-C is probably adequate for professional model action
some pulsating during focus gathering
I have a sinking suspicion that we will experience some back/front focusing issues - when using eye AF! I know, it sounds crazy. But that is what I am seeing in a lot of my shots, even when hair is not interfering.
eye AF was WAY more reliable using an FTZ / 58 1.4G or 85 1.4G, when compared with the Sony 85 1.4GM and this adaptor.
I was able to nail critical AF more often, using the FTZ.
I would say 9/10 with FTZ, and 5/10 with ETZ
Need more time behind the wheel!
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More commentary on 85mm prime options
I tested with the Z6 and Nikkor 85 1.4G for a week. It was perfect. resolution/sharpness were there, excellent bokeh. and eye AF worked really well!
The same lens on the Z7? The resolution was not up to par for me.
The 85 1.4GM Sony lens, I hope the adaptor gets a makeover and is more reliable in the near future. When it works, it's great! But alas, there is some pulsating for sure, something is not right.
We want the 85 1.8S, sure we do, and I'm sure it'll be good, maybe even great!
But will it be good enough? there are a lot of 1.4 snobs out there (raises hand).
Question:
Will Nikon eventually do something to prohibit this adaptor from working, so that they can sell more glass?
Below are some known bugs that we are currently trying to fix. It could/might be fixed in future firmware released.
1. Aperture of Sony G Master lenses can only be controlled via the camera. The aperture ring of Sony G Master lenses cannot be used.
2. Correct aperture readings of Zeiss Loxia & Voigtlander E-mount lenses cannot be shown on the cameras. Suggest leaving the aperture value at max aperture value in your camera and relying on the aperture ring on the lens to change the aperture.
3. Pinpoint AF mode cannot be used.
4. Some of the Rokinon / Samyang AF lenses cannot be used.
5. MF mode may not work for some lenses.
p.1 #7 · TZE-01 Owners Unite! Images/Evaluation Data for Techart Sony E > Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter / image picture pictu
Dj R wrote:
I tested with the Z6 and Nikkor 85 1.4G for a week. It was perfect. resolution/sharpness were there, excellent bokeh. and eye AF worked really well!
The same lens on the Z7? The resolution was not up to par for me.
Sorry, it's not the topic of this thread, but let me ask a question regarding this please: when you write the 85G's resolution was not good enough for the Z7, you're talking about looking at the image at 100%, where you would see less sharpness than when looking at a Z6 shot, right?
So if you downsized the Z7 image to 24mpix, it would look as good as shot with the Z6? (Always wondered about this statement about high-res sensors, so far 24mpix on the D600 and Z6 is the maximum I used, so I have no experience there.)
p.1 #8 · TZE-01 Owners Unite! Images/Evaluation Data for Techart Sony E > Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter / image picture pictu
Problem with the TechArt TZE-01 Adapter for Mounting Sony-E Lenses on the Nkon
I receive the TechArt adapter and I have the Voigtlander 110mm APO Macro Sony E-Mount and the 65mm APO Macro in Sony E-Mount. However, the problem that appears, using either of these lenses and the adapter on the Z7, is that the image I see in the Live View or EVF seems the right lighting, but when I click the shutter, the resulting image is VERY much over exposed. So, in order to get a properly exposed image I have to try and see in the EVF or Live View and focus a VERY dark image to get a resulting properly exposed image. Any ideas or similar experiences. And this is a major PITA.
Unless there is a work-around, this is a major disappointment. I had hoped to have a what-you-see-is-what-you-get experience with this adapter and these Voigtlander Son--E-Mount lenses.
On closer examination, the adapter (for some reason) is not allowing the lens to stop down to take the actual shot after focusing wider open. Any ideas how to fix that?
p.1 #9 · TZE-01 Owners Unite! Images/Evaluation Data for Techart Sony E > Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter / image picture pictu
Read the posts above. You have to set the aperture via the camera. The aperture ring will not work.
There is no built in OVF in the Zs, Everything is liveview is off the sensor.
MichaelErlewin wrote:
Problem with the TechArt TZE-01 Adapter for Mounting Sony-E Lenses on the Nkon
I receive the TechArt adapter and I have the Voigtlander 110mm APO Macro Sony E-Mount and the 65mm APO Macro in Sony E-Mount. However, the problem that appears, using either of these lenses and the adapter on the Z7, is that the image I see in the Live View or OVF seems the right lighting, but when I click the shutter, the resulting image is VERY much over exposed. So, in order to get a properly exposed image I have to try and see in the OVF or Live View and focus a VERY dark image to get a resulting properly exposed image. Any ideas or similar experiences. And this is a major PITA.
Unless there is a work-around, this is a major disappointment. I had hoped to have a what-you-see-is-what-you-get experience with this adapter and these Voigtlander Son--E-Mount lenses....Show more →
p.1 #10 · TZE-01 Owners Unite! Images/Evaluation Data for Techart Sony E > Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter / image picture pictu
Vivek, sorta confused info. The aperture ring on AF lenses like the 85GM don’t work. I believe at the same time on these manual lenses you have to use the aperture ring, and the body won’t record what it’s been set too, best to just leave body on f/2 or whatever.
I should have mine tomorrow, will be working with the Loxia to start. Have a few Sony APS-C lenses to test things with at work but don’t have FE AF glass anymore.
realVivek wrote:
Read the posts above. You have to set the aperture via the camera. The aperture ring will not work.
There is no built in OVF in the Zs, Everything is liveview is off the sensor.
p.1 #11 · TZE-01 Owners Unite! Images/Evaluation Data for Techart Sony E > Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter / image picture pictu
That is because of the confused question.
I think the answer is in the other thread (link from dprevs).
I think the question should have been, “aperture ring does not work with the tech art adapter and I am forced to use stopped down metering and as a result the image is too dark..”
It is not the adapter or the lens.. it is the camera.
Mathieu18 wrote:
Vivek, sorta confused info. The aperture ring on AF lenses like the 85GM don’t work. I believe at the same time on these manual lenses you have to use the aperture ring, and the body won’t record what it’s been set too, best to just leave body on f/2 or whatever.
I should have mine tomorrow, will be working with the Loxia to start. Have a few Sony APS-C lenses to test things with at work but don’t have FE AF glass anymore.
p.1 #12 · TZE-01 Owners Unite! Images/Evaluation Data for Techart Sony E > Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter / image picture pictu
But the two lenses the OP mentioned are manual Voigtlanders. They physically control the aperture and should be used from what I’ve read.
I’ll have mine tomorrow. Will explore its behavior more and report back.
realVivek wrote:
That is because of the confused question.
I think the answer is in the other thread (link from dprevs).
I think the question should have been, “aperture ring does not work with the tech art adapter and I am forced to use stopped down metering and as a result the image is too dark..”
It is not the adapter or the lens.. it is the camera.
p.1 #13 · TZE-01 Owners Unite! Images/Evaluation Data for Techart Sony E > Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter / image picture pictu
Bohemien wrote:
Sorry, it's not the topic of this thread, but let me ask a question regarding this please: when you write the 85G's resolution was not good enough for the Z7, you're talking about looking at the image at 100%, where you would see less sharpness than when looking at a Z6 shot, right?
So if you downsized the Z7 image to 24mpix, it would look as good as shot with the Z6? (Always wondered about this statement about high-res sensors, so far 24mpix on the D600 and Z6 is the maximum I used, so I have no experience there.)
p.1 #15 · TZE-01 Owners Unite! Images/Evaluation Data for Techart Sony E > Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter / image picture pictu
Mat, I don’t think you would have any issues with it or how to use it.
Mathieu18 wrote:
But the two lenses the OP mentioned are manual Voigtlanders. They physically control the aperture and should be used from what I’ve read.
I’ll have mine tomorrow. Will explore its behavior more and report back.
Below are some known bugs that we are currently trying to fix. It could/might be fixed in future firmware released.
1. Aperture of Sony G Master lenses can only be controlled via the camera. The aperture ring of Sony G Master lenses cannot be used.
2. Correct aperture readings of Zeiss Loxia & Voigtlander E-mount lenses cannot be shown on the cameras. Suggest leaving the aperture value at max aperture value in your camera and relying on the aperture ring on the lens to change the aperture.
3. Pinpoint AF mode cannot be used.
4. Some of the Rokinon / Samyang AF lenses cannot be used.
5. MF mode may not work for some lenses....Show more →
I just got mine today and I'm happy
I'm using it with a 24 1.4 GM so very similar to your findings with your 85 GM. But keep in mind that I'll be using this lens for general stuff and environmental portraits. Really looking forward to Nikon's 85.
I'm hopeful that a future firmware update will allow aperture ring control and use of the lens button, but other than that, I'm quite pleased.
As for Eye Detection, I normally focus and recompose but I can definitely see a use for this when shooting portraits and will most likely use (try) it - old habits ;-)
p.1 #17 · TZE-01 Owners Unite! Images/Evaluation Data for Techart Sony E > Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter / image picture pictu
The Voigtländer FE and Zeiss Loxia lenses have an aperture ring that stops the lens down mechanically as you turn the aperture ring, Leica M style. You MUST use the aperture ring to control aperture on these lenses, it’s the only means of controlling the aperture on these purely mechanical lenses. The electronic functions in these lenses are limited to informing the camera of their current status.
p.1 #18 · TZE-01 Owners Unite! Images/Evaluation Data for Techart Sony E > Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter / image picture pictu
Reporting that the adaptor works very well with the Sony 12-24 G!
Tested on the Z7 and it’s as sharp as you can imagine. The lens is designed for somewhere between 50-100 megapixels.
p.1 #19 · TZE-01 Owners Unite! Images/Evaluation Data for Techart Sony E > Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter / image picture pictu
Okay, first TZE test in the books. Thought about it some over night and MF lenses with aperture are behaving as I figured. Also, let me say this upfront, I wouldn't expect miracles in firmware updates. Techart has always been a bit wonky with Sony's aperture protocols, including the TAP.
With setting effect on, if you want you can match aperture ring and body till f/5.6. That's because the body stops down with Effect On till 5.6, so the metering isn't trying to compensate for the iris closing further. Below f/5.6 the camera is expecting the lens to stop down upon release, but it's not, so you're getting over exposure. However, you can work around this (if you want to record actual f-stop) with exposure compensation. Basically -1 for f/8, -2 for f/11 etc. I've demonstrated this below. Worth noting I've started to see metering underexpose at -3 (f/16) on a few shots, so might not want a full -3 stops.
Alternatively, and this is far easier, if you don't care about recording aperture just leave the camera body on f/2. That way, metering isn't expecting a lens stop down, and you'll be fine.
p.1 #20 · TZE-01 Owners Unite! Images/Evaluation Data for Techart Sony E > Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter / image picture pictu
Other thoughts. I know an early report mentioned inability to take the lens off with the adapter mounted to the Z body. Mine does not have this issue, I can change the lens with adapter mounted.
Looks like full MF aids are available via TZE, that's a big win. I'm especially a fan of the focus indicator changing from red to green when it's in focus. Means you don't really need magnification, and it's more accurate than peaking, should make quick MF shooting substantially easier than Sony, at least for chipped lenses. Also reason alone to chip a lens (if it works with dandelions - big if).
The dock is a funny little thing, it's basically a plastic lens cap (with similar manufacturing quality) and a few contacts. Will wait till there's something worth loading up to see how it does.
It was also reported early, but I'm still bummed... with a dumb Sony E adapter mounted (for Contax for example) the camera won't release the shutter. I'd hoped the TZE would work around Nikon's refusal to record Non CPU lens data without the FTZ. But if the shutter won't trip I can't even test. That's #1 on my wish list for a firmware update.
