Screw drive AF with FTZ adapter?

There's a company called Monster that announced development of a Screw-drive F lens to Z adapter a while ago, which would have the focus motor built in. I haven't seen anything about it for some time, but if you do a little googling you might get more info on it.

I divested myself of most of my F mount lenses, even if they were AFS when I went with the Z system just because I feel the Z lenses are far superior. This is just my opinion, but I don't think a screw-drive F lens could be anywhere close to the focus accuracy of a native Z lens. I've got an old 80-200 2.8 with a busted AF/MF ring and a couple of other older lenses that I didn't try to sell, but I probably wouldn't even try the Monster adapter, even if it does make it to market.

If replacing your lenses is the deal breaker I would advise you to stay with a good F body like the D850 until you see some reviews of the Monster adapter and lenses if and when it comes out.

Here you go - the Monster adapter announcement -

Agreed - the FTZ and FTZ II are essentially the same internally and neither has a focus motor. You would need to get a third party adapter with focus motor if you really want to go that route.

Think carefully about whether you are better off getting a third party adapter. Some lenses offer small size or unique optics that justify continued use. Manual focus is easier with the Z cameras than with a DSLR. In terms of pure optical performance and sharpness, the new Z lenses are a major step up. There are also some good little primes for situations where you want small size.

I'd consider the Z 24-70 f/4 of 24-120 f/4 and the Z 50mm f/1.8 for normal use. Take a look at the Z26mm f/2.8 pancake or 28mm f/2.8 for a small lens alternative.

bobkoure said:

I've been going on the assumption that the FTZ does not have a screw drive motor for lenses that use that for AF, but I just looked at a comparison of the FTZ and FTZ 2 - and one of the items was that the original FTZ has a screw drive motor and the FTZ2 does not.

One of the things keeping me away from Nikon Z bodies is all the 'D' glass I'd have to re-buy (or decide to do without). Did I have this one wrong?

To quote a 19th century humorist (Banks not Twain): "It ain't what a man don't know that make him a fool; it's what he do know that ain't so." Just trying to not be a fool here...

Click to expand...

Both the Nikon FTZ and FTZII do not support AF-D lenses for autofocus, since they both do not have the built-in autofocus motor needed to focus the AF-D lenses. Monster recently announced the development of the Monster F to Z mount adapter that has a built-in motor that supports AF with AF-D lenses. It is a variant of their Sony version, which is the LA-FE2. But that adapter is reeked with so many compatibility issues that made it a limited and expensive adapter. Even during the BILD show, they were showing off the adapter for Nikon and it didn't work all that well, so they went quiet after that.

I used to have AF-D lenses and I basically sold them off and replaced them with Z versions. The Z versions are so much better and sharper. I still own a few F mount lenses, but they are the 3rd party AF-S and they work with either FTZ and FTZII adapters in terms of autofocus.

If you need a hybrid F mount body with mirrorless features, then the only body that can give you that will be the Nikon D780. In live view, it's essentially a Nikon Z6II. So you have the best of both worlds if you still want to keep your AF-D lenses, but have some mirrorless features like shooting video with tracking.

BudgetTraveller said:

Both the Nikon FTZ and FTZII do not support AF-D lenses for autofocus, since they both do not have the built-in autofocus motor needed to focus the AF-D lenses.

Click to expand...

You might want to be careful with an explanation such as this. Most AF-D lenses require a focus motor in the camera body, but a few of this type do have internal focus motors. I'm pretty sure there are also a few AF-S lenses that don't have internal motors. The designation AF-D doesn't actually have anything to do with the lens focus mechanism.

Admittedly, this is close to nitpicking. What you say is true for the most part, but with caveats.

j_photo said:

but a few of this type do have internal focus motors.

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I learn something new every day (damn good thing too, since i don't know much )

Which screwdriver drive lens also has an internal focus motor.

I’ll be honest, I was not impressed with how my few D lenses performed on higher resolution bodies. If I had one of the specialty lenses like a DC 105 or 135 I’d be looking at the new aftermarket adapter - but that’s an edge case.

Schrodingers cat said:

j_photo said:

but a few of this type do have internal focus motors.

Click to expand...

I learn something new every day (damn good thing too, since i don't know much )

Which screwdriver drive lens also has an internal focus motor.

Click to expand...

There aren't any screwdriver lenses with internal focus motors. There are a few AF-D lenses that are not screw-drive, but instead have internal focus motors.

I used to keep a short list of them but it's been a while. Just digging around right now, I found this example: Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8D . It's an AF-S lens with an internal motor that also carries the D designation.

I have that 28-70 2.8, and Nikon stopped carrying parts for that old AF motor decades ago. It's a really large and heavy paperweight that can't be repaired. I think the AF 80-200 2.8 is the same situation, and there might be a 300 2.8 in the same category. My 28-70 will still autofocus sporadically on an old D-70 body I have, but I've tried it on the adapter for F to 1 series and the FTZ, blew fuses in both.

There's a working 3rd Party prototype, This is in addition to a rumoured Nikon product in testing


https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/68156402

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4795956

bobkoure said:

I've been going on the assumption that the FTZ does not have a screw drive motor for lenses that use that for AF, but I just looked at a comparison of the FTZ and FTZ 2 - and one of the items was that the original FTZ has a screw drive motor and the FTZ2 does not.

One of the things keeping me away from Nikon Z bodies is all the 'D' glass I'd have to re-buy (or decide to do without). Did I have this one wrong?

To quote a 19th century humorist (Banks not Twain): "It ain't what a man don't know that make him a fool; it's what he do know that ain't so." Just trying to not be a fool here...

Click to expand...

Hi,

IMO there will never be a FTZ with scewdriver motor from nikon ...

My suggestion :

Maybe start selling the lenses and dslr bodies you don't use very often and just keep the lenses you realy love together with 1 dslr body to continue to use the lenses.

Then maybe make a start with a nikon Z body + kitlens of your choice to start learning the Z system ( I started with reading the reviews for the Z body of my choice and buying Thom Hogan's e-guide for the Z body I was going to buy : Nikon Z System Books | Thom Hogan ).

Good luck with your choice.

--
Greetings,
Marc

j_photo said:

BudgetTraveller said:

Both the Nikon FTZ and FTZII do not support AF-D lenses for autofocus, since they both do not have the built-in autofocus motor needed to focus the AF-D lenses.

Click to expand...

You might want to be careful with an explanation such as this. Most AF-D lenses require a focus motor in the camera body, but a few of this type do have internal focus motors. I'm pretty sure there are also a few AF-S lenses that don't have internal motors. The designation AF-D doesn't actually have anything to do with the lens focus mechanism.

Admittedly, this is close to nitpicking. What you say is true for the most part, but with caveats.

Click to expand...

In Nikon's terminology AF-S in a lens with an internal "Silent Wave" motor. Thus all AF-S lenses have an internal motor.

AF-P lenses have a "Pulse Wave" motor which is stepping motor similar or the same as used on the Z mount lenses.

Nikon did not use the term "AF-D" on any of their lenses from I can see in their master list. Some times people use the term "AF-D" but that doesn't actually seem to be an official Nikon term.

They do use the letters "D", "G", and "E" immediately after the aperture as in "AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D for example, or AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G , or AF-S NIkkor 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR.

"D" means the lens communicates focus distance to the Body.

"G" lenses communicate distance but do not have an aperture ring

"E" lenses G lenses but have an electromagnetic diaphragm

Believe all of the AF-S lenses are G or E type.

There are some "AF DC-Nikkor" lenses (Not "AF-DC"). DC stands for "Defocus Control"

--
If cameras and lenses can have autofocus then why can't I?

SoCalAngler said:

j_photo said:

BudgetTraveller said:

Both the Nikon FTZ and FTZII do not support AF-D lenses for autofocus, since they both do not have the built-in autofocus motor needed to focus the AF-D lenses.

Click to expand...

You might want to be careful with an explanation such as this. Most AF-D lenses require a focus motor in the camera body, but a few of this type do have internal focus motors. I'm pretty sure there are also a few AF-S lenses that don't have internal motors. The designation AF-D doesn't actually have anything to do with the lens focus mechanism.

Admittedly, this is close to nitpicking. What you say is true for the most part, but with caveats.

Click to expand...

In Nikon's terminology AF-S in a lens with an internal "Silent Wave" motor. Thus all AF-S lenses have an internal motor.

AF-P lenses have a "Pulse Wave" motor which is stepping motor similar or the same as used on the Z mount lenses.

Nikon did not use the term "AF-D" on any of their lenses from I can see in their master list.

They do use the letters "D", "G", and "E" immediately after the aperture as in "AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D for example, or AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G , or AF-S NIkkor 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR.

"D" means the lens communicates focus distance to the Body.

"G" lenses communicate distance but do not have an aperture ring

"E" lenses G lenses but have an electromagnetic diaphragm

Believe all of the AF-S lenses are G or E type.

There are some "AF DC-Nikkor" lenses (Not "AF-DC"). DC stands for "Defocus Control"

Click to expand...

There's a lot of semantics involved in those early Nikon AFS lenses. Most of the early AFS lenses were pro caliber, but if you read the label on the attached photo, it's and AFS - D type lens. This is that early focus motor in a lot of the early pro lenses that can't be repaired. I have this 28-70, and in it's day it was great, and I got my money's worth out of it. But it's a paperweight now, and I can imagine it would not do well stacked up against Z lenses.

John Ideal said:

There's a lot of semantics involved in those early Nikon AFS lenses. Most of the early AFS lenses were pro caliber, but if you read the label on the attached photo, it's and AFS - D type lens. This is that early focus motor in a lot of the early pro lenses that can't be repaired. I have this 28-70, and in it's day it was great, and I got my money's worth out of it. But it's a paperweight now, and I can imagine it would not do well stacked up against Z lenses.

Click to expand...

Yea I forgot about the early D type AF-S lenses

I remember 3 - The 28-70D pictured, 17-35D, and 80-200D.

--
If cameras and lenses can have autofocus then why can't I?

John Ideal said:

I have that 28-70 2.8, and Nikon stopped carrying parts for that old AF motor decades ago. It's a really large and heavy paperweight that can't be repaired. I think the AF 80-200 2.8 is the same situation, and there might be a 300 2.8 in the same category. My 28-70 will still autofocus sporadically on an old D-70 body I have, but I've tried it on the adapter for F to 1 series and the FTZ, blew fuses in both.

Click to expand...

I had a similar experience with the 80-200. I loved that lens even it was a bit of a monster. But the motor started to fail, there was no option to repair.

mrbr said:

Hi,

My suggestion :

Maybe start selling the lenses and dslr bodies you don't use very often and just keep the lenses you realy love together with 1 dslr body to continue to use the lenses.

Then maybe make a start with a nikon Z body + kitlens of your choice to start learning the Z system ( I started with reading the reviews for the Z body of my choice and buying Thom Hogan's e-guide for the Z body I was going to buy : Nikon Z System Books | Thom Hogan ).

Click to expand...

Sounds like the right approach. I'm not anxious to switch to ML, just ran into a comparison of FTZ and FTZ2 and thought I'd misunderstood the FTZ 'way back when the Zs were introduced. I'd agree that anything from Thom Hogan is going to be a lot more useful than any manual / documentation that comes from Nikon. I've been buying his manuals whenever I was even considering a new Nikon body; guess I should also buy a couple of his Z system books.

There were some 300 2.8, 400 2.8, and 600 f4 lenses with the same motor issues. A buddy of mine had a 600 f4 that he loved, but it met the same fate. This was around the same time that Nikon USA stopped selling repair parts to independent shops. I had a guy (everyone had a guy) at a shop called Pro Camera in my town that could repair anything, but he couldn't get the parts.

bobkoure said:

mrbr said:

Hi,

My suggestion :

Maybe start selling the lenses and dslr bodies you don't use very often and just keep the lenses you realy love together with 1 dslr body to continue to use the lenses.

Then maybe make a start with a nikon Z body + kitlens of your choice to start learning the Z system ( I started with reading the reviews for the Z body of my choice and buying Thom Hogan's e-guide for the Z body I was going to buy : Nikon Z System Books | Thom Hogan ).

Click to expand...

Sounds like the right approach. I'm not anxious to switch to ML, just ran into a comparison of FTZ and FTZ2 and thought I'd misunderstood the FTZ 'way back when the Zs were introduced. I'd agree that anything from Thom Hogan is going to be a lot more useful than any manual / documentation that comes from Nikon. I've been buying his manuals whenever I was even considering a new Nikon body; guess I should also buy a couple of his Z system books.

Click to expand...

Hi,

I made the transition from F to Z that way and it is my experience that once you start using the Z system and seeing the excellent results of Z system ( Z6 + 24-70f4 in my case ) , the F system gets less and less use and I started to buy an extra Z body ( Z50 + kit lenses ) and some extra Z lenses..... in the end I recently sold all my F material except 1 dslr D5100 body and my AF-S 16-85 lens that I used the most of the time and realy liked. But I guess it will just sit on the shelve as a reminder of good times.

--
Greetings,
Marc