p.56 #2 · Nikon Zf as a platform for adapted/native manual focus lenses
Late to the party here and unable to revisit all the earlier pages for adapting manual M-lenses to the Zf - after the bit of a lackluster manual focusing tools and price of the M-EV1, I consider jumping towards the Zf. Has someone tried to adapt the following focal lengths in M-mount to the Zf and how did they perform with the Zf sensor:
TTArtisan 11/2.8 fisheye M-lens
CV 12/5.6 version II or III M-lens
CV 21/1.8 ASPH and Leica 21/2.8 pre-ASPH M-lenses
p.56 #3 · Nikon Zf as a platform for adapted/native manual focus lenses
I haven't but using Bastians's review as a guideline, I'd assume the 12mm to perform ok on the Nikon and the 21mm slightly worse. I have been using the CV21/1.4 for Sony E on Nikon and could only see a mild drop in corner resolution.
The TTArtisan might suffer more due to its wider FOV and faster aperture.
p.56 #4 · Nikon Zf as a platform for adapted/native manual focus lenses
I’m rethinking my Nikon MF adapted lens use. I bought into Leica and M mount lenses because of their small sizes and nice rendering. Found I couldn’t focus critically wide open with the Leica and thus got the Zf and later the Z6III to overcome that issue.
But lately I realized that in reality, I’m still very slow when using the Zf with M glass. Sure, I can get more critical focus but it’s still not the best combo to use for those kinds of shots. Since the Leica is smaller and doesn’t duplicate my Canon kit otherwise, I’m pretty sure I’m going to sell my Nikon gear.
p.56 #5 · Nikon Zf as a platform for adapted/native manual focus lenses
Egg Salad wrote:
The TTArtisan might suffer more due to its wider FOV and faster aperture.
I agree, this is what I was afraid of - the lens works perfectly on my digital M 240 series cameras. I don't want to give up this capability with a new EVF camera.
p.56 #6 · Nikon Zf as a platform for adapted/native manual focus lenses
johnvanr wrote:
I’m rethinking my Nikon MF adapted lens use. I bought into Leica and M mount lenses because of their small sizes and nice rendering. Found I couldn’t focus critically wide open with the Leica and thus got the Zf and later the Z6III to overcome that issue.
But lately I realized that in reality, I’m still very slow when using the Zf with M glass. Sure, I can get more critical focus but it’s still not the best combo to use for those kinds of shots. Since the Leica is smaller and doesn’t duplicate my Canon kit otherwise, I’m pretty sure I’m going to sell my Nikon gear.
If I'm going for precision, I am still pretty slow on the ZF with manual glass as well. If I'm going for "good enough" (most of my shooting), it's pretty fast.
My take, is that adding adapter stacks and/or SLR lenses very quickly kills any visual or ergonomics appeal the ZF has. I am going to be using 95% native Z-mount glass on it.
p.56 #7 · Nikon Zf as a platform for adapted/native manual focus lenses
The trick to being precise on the Zf is to use glass (or an adapter) that supports green box focus confirmation.
I know it's trite to say, but beyond that, it's simply a skill issue. Green box accuracy is dead on and any speed deficiencies are down to the user at that point. Now, if you're relying on focus peaking, punching in and out of mag, etc, yeah, it can get to be a pretty miserable experience with some lenses.
p.56 #8 · Nikon Zf as a platform for adapted/native manual focus lenses
Much depends on lens performance level at the focal plane, performance here meaning high clarity that separates itself from the near content in the axial direction. It varies significantly among MF lenses, old AI-S lenses will work you much harder than modern Voigtlanders and Simeras. And focal length is a big determinant, of course, and focusing aperture.
p.56 #9 · Nikon Zf as a platform for adapted/native manual focus lenses
RoamingScott wrote:
The trick to being precise on the Zf is to use glass (or an adapter) that supports green box focus confirmation.
I know it's trite to say, but beyond that, it's simply a skill issue. Green box accuracy is dead on and any speed deficiencies are down to the user at that point. Now, if you're relying on focus peaking, punching in and out of mag, etc, yeah, it can get to be a pretty miserable experience with some lenses.
That works with lenses that have an automatic aperture stop down or when shooting relatively wide open. Using a CV 35mm at f/11 makes it very hard to use the green square.
p.56 #10 · Nikon Zf as a platform for adapted/native manual focus lenses
SrMi wrote:
That works with lenses that have an automatic aperture stop down or when shooting relatively wide open. Using a CV 35mm at f/11 makes it very hard to use the green square.
I have no issues using my CV 35 or 40 stopped down as you describe, but more often than not, I'll actually use the barrel markings instead of bothering with focus confirmation. Once you know the sweet spot mechanically it's faster than even green boxing.
p.56 #11 · Nikon Zf as a platform for adapted/native manual focus lenses
RoamingScott wrote:
The trick to being precise on the Zf is to use glass (or an adapter) that supports green box focus confirmation.
I know it's trite to say, but beyond that, it's simply a skill issue. Green box accuracy is dead on and any speed deficiencies are down to the user at that point. Now, if you're relying on focus peaking, punching in and out of mag, etc, yeah, it can get to be a pretty miserable experience with some lenses.
I see the situation between different systems as follows:
- MF with the Leica RF is relatively fast, but not 100% accurate. This can be a problem wide open. Zone focusing is fine.
- MF with the Nikon Zf is generally just as fast, but when you want accurate focus, it slows down when shooting wide open. Since for me accurate focus mostly matters when focusing on people's faces, the slow speed works against me, esp. since people move. Again, zone focusing is fine.
And the holy grail, but sadly more and more rare:
- An AF lens with a MF clutch and a DoF scale. In that case, I can use zone focusing most of the time and quickly switch to AF when I want fast critical focus. AFAIK, only Fuji and Olympus still make those kinds of lenses and OM System is deleting the clutch from newer versions.
In short, since for me the choice is between using a Nikon or a Leica with my M mount lenses, I may as well use the Leica, since the Nikon is in the real world not that much more practical for my purposes. This would be different if I shot mostly static subjects wide open.
p.56 #12 · Nikon Zf as a platform for adapted/native manual focus lenses
RoamingScott wrote:
I have no issues using my CV 35 or 40 stopped down as you describe, but more often than not, I'll actually use the barrel markings instead of bothering with focus confirmation. Once you know the sweet spot mechanically it's faster than even green boxing.
Which, again...is a learned skill.
And applies to a Leica as much as to a Nikon or any other brand.
p.56 #13 · Nikon Zf as a platform for adapted/native manual focus lenses
TL;DR, but what is everyone's favorite MtZ adapter? I like the idea of close focus on that voigtlander, but part of my wants the 6bit encoding of the others...
p.56 #15 · Nikon Zf as a platform for adapted/native manual focus lenses
jourdan.merritt wrote:
TL;DR, but what is everyone's favorite MtZ adapter? I like the idea of close focus on that voigtlander, but part of my wants the 6bit encoding of the others...
I have both. The Voigt is better machined and with all the lenses I've tested the focus scale is accurate. If you want to zone focus, this is the better option.
If you want green box focus confirmation, the TTA 6-bit adapter is the way to go. I'm using this one at least 90% of the time these days since most of the M mount lenses I've used aren't wide enough to easily zone focus with.
p.56 #17 · Nikon Zf as a platform for adapted/native manual focus lenses
mivadep wrote:
I have both. The Voigt is better machined and with all the lenses I've tested the focus scale is accurate. If you want to zone focus, this is the better option.
If you want green box focus confirmation, the TTA 6-bit adapter is the way to go. I'm using this one at least 90% of the time these days since most of the M mount lenses I've used aren't wide enough to easily zone focus with.
Thank you, I think I'll probably go TTA as I like shooting them wide open anyway and that confirmation sounds fantastic.
p.56 #18 · Nikon Zf as a platform for adapted/native manual focus lenses
retrofocus wrote:
Late to the party here and unable to revisit all the earlier pages for adapting manual M-lenses to the Zf - after the bit of a lackluster manual focusing tools and price of the M-EV1, I consider jumping towards the Zf. Has someone tried to adapt the following focal lengths in M-mount to the Zf and how did they perform with the Zf sensor:
TTArtisan 11/2.8 fisheye M-lens
CV 12/5.6 version II or III M-lens
CV 21/1.8 ASPH and Leica 21/2.8 pre-ASPH M-lenses
I've tried my brothers CV21/1.8 on my Zf and thougt it performed well. I can redo some testing when he comes down for christmas.
p.56 #19 · Nikon Zf as a platform for adapted/native manual focus lenses
Has anyone had any issues with f mount MF lenses on the FTZii on the zf? I was shooting some pics today at f8, 1/250 - focus peaking showed large zone in focus for an architectural shot, and like... nothing was in focus in the raw file.
p.56 #20 · Nikon Zf as a platform for adapted/native manual focus lenses
Make sure if it’s a dumb lens that you have entered all of the non-CPU data that is relevant.
jourdan.merritt wrote:
Has anyone had any issues with f mount MF lenses on the FTZii on the zf? I was shooting some pics today at f8, 1/250 - focus peaking showed large zone in focus for an architectural shot, and like... nothing was in focus in the raw file.
