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Zf vs Z6 III with M-mount glass?

  
 
johnvanr
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p.1 #1 · Zf vs Z6 III with M-mount glass?


Did anyone compare the results of M-mount glass on the Zf with the Z6 III?

I have the Zf and use it with M glass, but even with the grip, I don’t enjoy using the camera. Today I received a Z6 III that already feels much better. I’ll try it out, of course, but was wondering if anyone knows how the sensors compare for M glass.

Any other things to keep in mind comparing the Zf and the Z6III when shooting manual lenses?



Jan 30, 2025 at 08:29 AM
RoamingScott
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p.1 #2 · Zf vs Z6 III with M-mount glass?


There will be no appreciable difference. I’ve tested many files between the two cameras and they render identically.


Jan 30, 2025 at 08:31 AM
johnvanr
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p.1 #3 · Zf vs Z6 III with M-mount glass?


I've done a few tests, just indoors shooting walls. So far, indeed no difference in vignetting.

But holding both cameras, I'm not sure anymore which I prefer more ergonomically.

First of all, they're both heavy compared to the M11 with similar lenses. I'm only interested in these cameras because they allow me to critically focus wide open, whereas I can't do that with my M11.

That said, they're about the same weight.

The Z6 III is much more ergonomically friendly, but I find the space between the grip and the lens a bit (too?) narrow. That bugged me about the early Sony cameras and was one reason I ditched Sony. The Zf has way more space between the Smallrig grip and the lens.

But I do like that the Z6 III has a joystick, something I dearly miss on the Zf. But then the Zf has a dedicated exposure compensation dial, which I always like to have.

I'll do more shooting with both, but neither camera really does it for me so far. When I started this exploration of Nikon's manual focus function, I was very excited about it, but now I'm thinking I might just stick with my Leica only (well, only as far as use with M mount lenses is concerned).

Update: I actually decided that if I keep one of the Nikons, it will be the Zf.

Edited on Jan 31, 2025 at 03:58 AM · View previous versions



Jan 30, 2025 at 02:33 PM
theopwildebeest
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p.1 #4 · Zf vs Z6 III with M-mount glass?


I can’t speak for M-mount glass, but for my Z-mount Voigtländer lenses, there is no appreciable difference between the Zf and the Z6iii files. That being said, I prefer the experience of using the manual focus glass on the Zf much more than on the z6iii which I use when I need autofocus or video clips.


Jan 30, 2025 at 09:30 PM
 


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TN_nato
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p.1 #5 · Zf vs Z6 III with M-mount glass?


Any update on this front now that it’s been almost a year? Zf with M glass still in use?


Dec 15, 2025 at 10:02 PM
pechance
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p.1 #6 · Zf vs Z6 III with M-mount glass?


Do you miss the better EVF of the Z6iii? It seems there is a trade off - dials and such of the Zf vs the grip and EVF of the Z6iii. I am coming from Fuji X


Aug 16, 2026 at 09:25 AM
johnvanr
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p.1 #7 · Zf vs Z6 III with M-mount glass?


Funny to see this pop up now.

I actually sold the Zf and kept the Z6III. The ergonomics just matched my style better.

In the meantime, however, I’ve also sold the Z6III and now use my M mount lenses on my Canon cameras (R8 and R5), first with the newish Shoten adapter (manual focus with Canon’s focus confirmation) and still trying the new Megadap AF adapter.

I’m selling my M11.

But I’m also increasingly wondering why I bother with third-party glass at all.



Aug 16, 2026 at 09:37 AM







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