Mandler 35 f/2 on Zf
p.1 #1Mandler 35 f/2 on Zf
I'm new to the Nikon system, just jumped from a Fuji X-T5 over to a Zf about 2 weeks or so ago.
I've been extremely intrigued by the Mandler 35 f/2 and plan on trying to get one on the next release. I have a TTArtisans 6-bit adapter on it's way to me.
Anyone shooting the Mandler on a Zf?? Would love to hear your thoughts on it. I have yet to talk to anyone using it and hear anything truly negative about it.
I've been extremely intrigued by the Mandler 35 f/2 and plan on trying to get one on the next release. I have a TTArtisans 6-bit adapter on it's way to me.
Anyone shooting the Mandler on a Zf?? Would love to hear your thoughts on it. I have yet to talk to anyone using it and hear anything truly negative about it.
May 14, 2026 at 10:43 AM
p.1 #2Mandler 35 f/2 on Zf
I shot this combo for 2 weeks in Thailand, and a few weeks on Okinawa before deciding to sell it. If it was a native Z-mount lens that focused closer than .7m, I would still have it. I loved the images, loved the handling, but absolutely hated the issues I had with all 3 M adapters I tried. None of them perfectly lined up with infinity, one of them almost seized onto the lens. I just don't want to fiddle with adapters.
ZF 35 50 by chris lynch, on Flickr
I have a few photos on my flickr from this combo, and have also posted on here about it.
ZF 35 50 by chris lynch, on FlickrI have a few photos on my flickr from this combo, and have also posted on here about it.
May 15, 2026 at 08:57 PM
p.1 #3Mandler 35 f/2 on Zf
That’s unfortunate to hear about your experience. Did you happen to use the TTArtisans 6-bit adapter? I’ve seen/heard good things about that one. I have one headed my way and was planning to use that. I haven’t seen many people post many negative things in regards to adapting it, so I appreciated bringing that up!
ISO1600 wrote:
I shot this combo for 2 weeks in Thailand, and a few weeks on Okinawa before deciding to sell it. If it was a native Z-mount lens that focused closer than .7m, I would still have it. I loved the images, loved the handling, but absolutely hated the issues I had with all 3 M adapters I tried. None of them perfectly lined up with infinity, one of them almost seized onto the lens. I just don't want to fiddle with adapters.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54911685635_ff861153ef_b.jpgZF 35 50 by chris lynch, on Flickr
I have a few photos on my flickr from this combo, and...Show more →
ISO1600 wrote:
I shot this combo for 2 weeks in Thailand, and a few weeks on Okinawa before deciding to sell it. If it was a native Z-mount lens that focused closer than .7m, I would still have it. I loved the images, loved the handling, but absolutely hated the issues I had with all 3 M adapters I tried. None of them perfectly lined up with infinity, one of them almost seized onto the lens. I just don't want to fiddle with adapters.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54911685635_ff861153ef_b.jpgZF 35 50 by chris lynch, on Flickr
I have a few photos on my flickr from this combo, and...Show more →
May 16, 2026 at 05:01 AM
p.1 #4Mandler 35 f/2 on Zf
Wide open, only the center of the image is sharp, more or less. Everything outside the center is strangely distorted, and the out-of-focus areas do not look pleasing to me. Stopped down, it looks a bit nicer, but I would not use it daily, since there are so many other options, and a used native Z CV35/2 is not much more expensive. It is a niche, odd lens, and not a replacement for anything.
May 17, 2026 at 05:41 AM
p.1 #5Mandler 35 f/2 on Zf
olegkin wrote:
Wide open, only the center of the image is sharp, more or less. Everything outside the center is strangely distorted, and the out-of-focus areas do not look pleasing to me. Stopped down, it looks a bit nicer, but I would not use it daily, since there are so many other options, and a used native Z CV35/2 is not much more expensive. It is a niche, odd lens, and not a replacement for anything.
Lately I've been a big fan of the field curvature look (the Mandler, Voigtlander 401.2, etc etc). It's half the reason I switched to the Zf, to be honest haha. So I've been chasing after lenses that have that character wide open. I had the Thypoch 28 on my XT5 and am adapting it over now. Love that lens, and I'm sure the Simera line is much, much better, at least I'd hope it is at double the price haha. The Mandler seems like a low barrier-to-entry way to get that, and get the manual focus confirmation via the 6-bit adapter I just acquired.
I'm also still figuring out what direction I want to go with building my lenses out for the system. Currently I just have a dumb adapter for my Minolta MD lenses, the Thypoch 28, and TTArtisans 40 f/2. I want to see how much I like the focus confirmation with a manual lens and decide if it's good enough for me to not buy anymore AF lenses and go all in on manual lenses.
Wide open, only the center of the image is sharp, more or less. Everything outside the center is strangely distorted, and the out-of-focus areas do not look pleasing to me. Stopped down, it looks a bit nicer, but I would not use it daily, since there are so many other options, and a used native Z CV35/2 is not much more expensive. It is a niche, odd lens, and not a replacement for anything.
Lately I've been a big fan of the field curvature look (the Mandler, Voigtlander 401.2, etc etc). It's half the reason I switched to the Zf, to be honest haha. So I've been chasing after lenses that have that character wide open. I had the Thypoch 28 on my XT5 and am adapting it over now. Love that lens, and I'm sure the Simera line is much, much better, at least I'd hope it is at double the price haha. The Mandler seems like a low barrier-to-entry way to get that, and get the manual focus confirmation via the 6-bit adapter I just acquired.
I'm also still figuring out what direction I want to go with building my lenses out for the system. Currently I just have a dumb adapter for my Minolta MD lenses, the Thypoch 28, and TTArtisans 40 f/2. I want to see how much I like the focus confirmation with a manual lens and decide if it's good enough for me to not buy anymore AF lenses and go all in on manual lenses.
May 18, 2026 at 07:00 AM