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Archive 2023 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

graham_martin
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p.1 #1 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

There seems to be several companies based in China that are making lenses including for the Z mount. They include 7 Artisans, TT Artisans (which is very confusing) Meike, Viltrox amongst others. I have a 11mm f/2.8 TT Artisan lens, and it seems to be sharp enough for me.

My question is about the quality of the lenses from all of these companies. Their pricing is at least half of the Nikon glass which makes them attractive from a price point of view. However, I also read on this forum that some firmware upgrades caused the lens to no longer working when on a Z mount.

I would be interested in hearing opinions from people who have bought any of these Chinese made lenses.

Nov 03, 2023 at 04:24 PM

kwalsh
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p.1 #2 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

Viltrox, so far, has been good about updating firmware for all their lenses as new bodies or updates come out that cause issues. I�ve used their 24/1.8 (FF) and 56/1.4 (APS-C) on my Z7 without any issues. Obviously the Nikon Z 24/1.8S is optically better as various review sites state.

Most of the Chinese manufacturers offer only MF lenses without any electronic communication, so no worries about compatibility.

Quality of the MF options is varies.

Most have optical compromises by design to keep them inexpensive and review sites will usually illustrate that. Sometimes the compromises just mean the lens isn�t a great all around lens but more niche, for example some of the ultra-fast aperture options have SA glow wide open that is fine for portraits and have good bokeh at portrait distances, but don�t improve as much as one would hope stopped down and may have distracting bokeh on distant subjects.

More frustrating is if the lenses just aren�t assembled well and have additional optical defects. Of course this can happen from any manufacturer and I�m not sure if it is more frequent with the lower cast Chinese manufacturers or not. That said, I usually only order them through a retailer with an easy return policy in case I get a dud (which I have).

In general, I find them acceptable for niche purposes. I�ve also got the TTArtisans 11/2.8 fisheye and it is remarkably sharp and reasonably priced for a lens I�d rarely use. I picked up a used TTArtisans 90/1.25 as a fun �cream machine� and indeed it has delightful bokeh and �character� for portrait and still life while being sort of useless for anything else (unlike say the 85/1.8S which excels at portrait, astro and landscape).

Nov 03, 2023 at 05:41 PM

runamuck
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p.1 #3 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

My Viltrox 85 works beautifully and cost a small fraction of the Nikon 85

Nov 03, 2023 at 06:24 PM

ahinesdesign
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p.1 #4 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

In my experience, Viltrox autofocus lenses offer great value and fill many gaps in Nikon's lineup (as less expensive lenses, but also needed prime focal lengths for DX). But you also get what you pay for, in that their lenses tend to be good, but not great, performers, and cut some corners with things like the quality of lens hoods. The PRO branded Viltrox lenses seem to be higher quality, but also at higher prices.

I'm probably going to try the Viltrox 28mm 1.8 next, since Nikon doesn't seem to have one on the horizon...

Nov 03, 2023 at 11:02 PM

Desmolicious
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p.1 #5 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

First time using my new to me TTA 50 1.4 Tilt on my Z7.

Nov 24, 2023 at 02:12 AM

Jepser
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p.1 #6 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

My only experience has been with TTartisan, had two of their lenses. While the build qaulity was good enough and sharpness realy good, I've sold them. Colors, contrasts, rendering of shadows (or how I should put it) wasnt there. Photos were sharp but not pleasing so I decided to stick to Voigtl�nder lenses.

No doubt for the the price the make good value, but you can also get realy good old Nikkor MF-lenses at equal or lower price.

I havent tried Viltrox, but I think they are to close to Nikon lenses in price (if you buy second hand) to bother.

BTW. ther lenses I had was TTartisan 17/1.4 & 50/2.0

Clarification: i dont like to post-process...

Nov 24, 2023 at 04:33 AM

JustShootMe
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p.1 #7 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

graham_martin wrote:
There seems to be several companies based in China that are making lenses including for the Z mount. They include 7 Artisans, TT Artisans (which is very confusing) Meike, Viltrox amongst others. I have a 11mm f/2.8 TT Artisan lens, and it seems to be sharp enough for me.

My question is about the quality of the lenses from all of these companies. Their pricing is at least half of the Nikon glass which makes them attractive from a price point of view. However, I also read on this forum that some firmware upgrades caused the lens to no longer working...Show more →

I have a handful of the lenses in question , build quality is decent enough . The only downside with some of them is the lack of coatings the big manufactures use. If you can deal with the shortcomings it's a great way to save a few bucks. Many of the issues with these lenses are the same issues some vintage glass that everyone goes crazy over have, kind of funny that way.

Nov 24, 2023 at 11:28 AM

Jorge Torralba
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p.1 #8 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

I still have my reservations and for valid reasons. There is no doubt Chinese made optics have improved. But it's more than just the glass.

Have a look at this article for a different perspective

https://www.50mil.com/news/62/ethans-dilema-was-that-chinese-lens-worth-it

Oct 19, 2025 at 09:00 PM

AdaptedLenses
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p.1 #9 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

Sorry but that�s an awful article.

Oct 19, 2025 at 09:27 PM

RoamingScott
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p.1 #10 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

Seriously. And I�m not sorry to say it.

AdaptedLenses wrote:
Sorry but that�s an awful article.

Oct 19, 2025 at 11:04 PM

bs kite
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p.1 #11 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

Jorge Torralba wrote:
I still have my reservations and for valid reasons. There is no doubt Chinese made optics have improved. But it's more than just the glass.

Have a look at this article for a different perspective

https://www.50mil.com/news/62/ethans-dilema-was-that-chinese-lens-worth-it

For your perspective, have a look at this lens, made in China for Nikon.

Oct 20, 2025 at 03:42 PM

rick-reno
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p.1 #12 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

I bought the Viltrox 135 lens from Amazon, it was sold by the Viltrox store. The lens arrived packed in a shipping box, with the lens in the black Viltrox box that appeared to have salt water stains on its sides and the water damage to the box had caused it to come apart at the corners. The sides of the Viltrox box had white stain that looked like salt. I was going to keep the lens, it appeared to work fine but then I opened the container in the box that had the sack for the lens, the sack was covered in water drops, confirming my suspicion that at some point this boc had been under water. I returned it, I was worried it might develop mold.I have photos of the box posted in the Viltrox thread on Nikon Cafe.

Oct 20, 2025 at 06:50 PM

jpelt78
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p.1 #13 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

That water damage is not Viltrox�s fault. The ocean shipper had an issue. And secondly Amazon should not have sold that box.

Oct 20, 2025 at 07:45 PM

philip_pj
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p.1 #14 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

This one is available in Z. It's the best 50mm landscape (and portrait) lens I've used. 309 grams in Z-mount, packed with HRI glass, 14-blade iris. Great build quality, all metal, 49mm filters, square lens hood, also metal. I'd pay Voigtlander prices for this one, and for the other Simeras too.

https://thypoch.com/en/products/simera/simera-50mm

Thypoch 50mm f1.4 in landscape mode (f8) ISO 100

Thypoch 50/1.4 in portrait mode (f1.4) ISO 1600

Oct 20, 2025 at 11:52 PM

urbanwild
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p.1 #15 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

I do like my Thypoch Simera 28mm f1.4, but I shake my head at two things that really bother me with it:

1. No contacts, so no EXIF data and eye AF confirmation. I knew that when I bought it, so now I really know that it is a pain in the ass.

2. The hood cap and the mount cap don't even come close to staying on (mount cap especially).

How the heck can a lens with it's beautiful metal barrel, lovely manual focus ring, fun clicky aperture ring and excellent sharpness and IQ not have a cap that will stay on?!!! And for all the positives I mentioned, I would have gladly paid more for contacts. When the second version comes out with contacts (hopefully soon), I'll upgrade. The IQ is tremendous.

If anyone out there has a suggestion for the cap, please let me know. My other Z caps don't stay on either, so it's the mount. I'm forced to use a little bit of tape which is ridiculous!

Oct 21, 2025 at 12:39 AM

philip_pj
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p.1 #16 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

I've told them about the hood cap, they need thicker felt lining or a small ball and socket fitting. The lenses are universal fit, more suitable for well, people like me, who are used to the little things not being perfect, since the performance is what it is. They sell the hood caps if you lose one, so I'd encourage you to write to them, they are very pleasant to deal with. I'm glad you like the lens, it's my favorite, as much for the focal length as the vivid images, so it gets 50% of what I do, covers people, landscapes, city, street, everything I do. I've been using the four Simeras (not the 35mm, it's an early and very reasonable attempt at a character lens). They are all much the same, being products of the DZO cine powerhouse in Shenzhen.

Did you know they make an M adapter? - pricey but we saved plenty on the lenses. It's (maybe) the first PL style locking adapter, much more secure than the leaf spring types, the Thypochs are a little fussy on my Novoflex adapters. I've got one of their's, but probably will have no trips until the snow disappears in Ladakh, in March. It looks very neat, they weigh more, around 75-90 grams. They make one for Z-mount. I don't want to dominate the thread, but when I see unfair and inaccurate bashing, all bets are off.

'As an extension of the M-mount ecosystem, the Thypoch adapter is precisely machined to ensure accurate flange distance and consistent focus from minimum distance to infinity, allowing lenses to perform at their best. It has passed a 50,000-cycle mounting and unmounting durability test, maintaining a secure connection in a wide range of shooting conditions.

The mirrorless mount version combines aerospace-grade aluminum with a stainless steel bayonet for a lightweight yet solid build. The ARRI-M version is made entirely of high-strength stainless steel, offering greater rigidity and stability for more demanding production environments.'

https://thypoch.com/en/adapter

They use 6061, if you know about AL.
..
see the vid too, this guy talked them into M-mount.

. You see, they think well, they are on the move and they talk to their user base. China is 30% of the global mirrorless market, oh, but no, what did 'Ethan' say?

..

..

Oct 21, 2025 at 01:30 AM

Jorge Torralba
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p.1 #17 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

bs kite wrote:
For your perspective, have a look at this lens, made in China for Nikon.

I think your missing the gist of the story. Its focus is on the brands and lack of qc and support.

Premium companies controlling production of their own products is a different story as they have a full infrastructure to keep things within their standards.

Oct 21, 2025 at 10:27 AM

AdaptedLenses
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p.1 #18 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

Is your lens a Z mount version? Or M or E?
Neewer adapter can solve that chipped issue.

urbanwild wrote:
I do like my Thypoch Simera 28mm f1.4, but I shake my head at two things that really bother me with it:

1. No contacts, so no EXIF data and eye AF confirmation. I knew that when I bought it, so now I really know that it is a pain in the ass.

2. The hood cap and the mount cap don't even come close to staying on (mount cap especially).

How the heck can a lens with it's beautiful metal barrel, lovely manual focus ring, fun clicky aperture ring and excellent sharpness and IQ not have a cap that will stay...Show more →

Oct 21, 2025 at 01:05 PM

Outstanding
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p.1 #19 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

I tried Viltrox 85mm PRO at a store and build quality in hands felt superior to Japanese Sigma Art lenses. Tightly built, premium materials etc.

I somewhat trust Chinese manufacturing, it's the software (firmware) part which plays in back of my mind. Korean brand Samyang/Rokinon makes amazingly sharp lenses with beautiful rendering but their AF game is lacking. By all accounts, Viltrox is far better in AF.

Arthur R posted a video on a new Viltrox lens dying, and so many comments on his video saying the exact same thing happened to their Viltrox lenses as well.

Oct 21, 2025 at 02:17 PM

woodstork
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p.1 #20 · 3rd party Chinese lenses for Z mount

I own a Viltrox 16mm/1.8 and it looks and feels like a professional quality* lens. It holds up well in direct comparison to my Nikon Z 14-24/2.8 for sharpness, even into the corners. It is a better night sky lens (mainly because of it�s coma control wide open and larger aperture) but color and contrast are a bit flat in comparison for daylight shooting. CA and flare are well corrected at open apertures, but it has pretty significant vignette. Overall it is a terrific value that generates value not by cutting quality optics but by figuring out ways to manufacture and sell at low price. Viltrox is rapidly becoming a company that should be scaring Tamron and Sigma.

A lot of Chinese manufacturing is elite at tremendous pricing (BYD, DJI, among them), so emergence of quality lens manufacturing is not surprising. It will be interesting to see which company breaks into making advanced camera bodies first.

*time will tell if build quality holds up after years of use. But frankly, at its price I could replace it once and still feel whole.

Oct 21, 2025 at 06:12 PM

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