Viltrox NF-Z Adapter arrived today (like the Nikon FTZ Adapter)

[Alex_UK_Asia]

This arrived today. It seems to do exactly the same job as the Nikon FTZ adapter, but the price is much better.

It's made of metal. Not sure what the electronic button is for on the front - the manual leaflet says 'reservation key'.

Build quality seems excellent to me.

I don't have any Nikon F mount lenses to test it right now. I've just this last month bought in to the Nikon system having come Panasonic/Olympus. Hopefully later I can visit the used camera stores and find a lens to use it with. I may get pick up a Sigma 50mm f1.4 ART if it impresses me, but if not I'll try to come home with something, perhaps a basic Nikon 50mm f1.8G, just to try out Nikon F lenses for the first time.

If you have any questions, I may be able to answer them. I know some guys here love new equipment, so I'll try to help.

 

[z2122]

I understand that the price difference is maybe substantial, but I wouldnt rely on a 3rd party manufacturer, when there are no speed or size advantages and there is a Nikon product like the FTZ or FTZII and the FTZ can be found used at good prices.

Why have you selected the Viltrox?

--
catch the light - explore emotions

 

[Alex_UK_Asia]

I selected the Viltrox over the Nikon because:

1. Just a couple of weeks ago I bought a Viltrox 24mm f1.8 lens for Z mount and was really impressed with build quality, autofocus, and general image quality. Most of all it gave me assurance that Viltrox understand the Nikon Z autofocus technology protocols.

2. Actually I couldn't find the Nikon adapter in stock anywhere in China. I would have had to buy used from a private seller, which is a bit of a hassle. I could get the Viltrox delivered within 24 hours, direct from Viltrox in Shenzen.

3. The price is about 30% cheaper (the Nikon price is 50% more). That's current China new prices.

I'm fairly confident it's a good buy. To be honest, I can't fault the build quality. It looks perfect. Inside has a felt-type material to prevent reflections. I presume an adapter is fairly binary in operation - it either works or doesn't work. Fully expect this to work.

 

[z2122]

I selected the Viltrox over the Nikon because:

1. Just a couple of weeks ago I bought a Viltrox 24mm f1.8 lens for Z mount and was really impressed with build quality, autofocus, and general image quality. Most of all it gave me assurance that Viltrox understand the Nikon Z autofocus technology protocols.

2. Actually I couldn't find the Nikon adapter in stock anywhere in China. I would have had to buy used from a private seller, which is a bit of a hassle. I could get the Viltrox delivered within 24 hours, direct from Viltrox in Shenzen.

3. The price is about 30% cheaper (the Nikon price is 50% more). That's current China new prices.

I'm fairly confident it's a good buy. To be honest, I can't fault the build quality. It looks perfect. Inside has a felt-type material to prevent reflections. I presume an adapter is fairly binary in operation - it either works or doesn't work. Fully expect this to work.

Ok, these are good reasons to go with 3rd party products. Good to hear, that you are happy with your Viltrox lens.

In the past I thought about the Techart TZE adapter to adapt Sony lenses to Nikon Z mount, but then Nikon came out with good lenses and so I stayed with Nikon

 

[Alex_UK_Asia]

For me, an adapter to fit Sony to Nikon would give me all sorts of doubts as to whether it is working correctly. Especially from an unknown brand.

This Viltrox may be useful for professionals / heavy equipment users, as the lower price gives the option to have 2 or even 3 adapters to leave on the F-mount lenses, to make switching lenses a bit easier (no rigmarole of take adapter off one lens, put it on another, then fit whole contraption on to camera body). Perhaps also useful for the more basic F mount lenses.

 

[NickZ2016]

How do you know it works without any F mount lenses?

The FTZ has had firmware updates. I wouldn't say it'll either work or it won't. You need to hope that Viltrox will keep up the updates. At least until you don't need it anymore.

 

[rich_cx139]

Thanks for posting this - interesting alternative.

I see that it g still has a tripod bump on the base but you have got an L bracket.

One of my issues with the ftz mark 1 is that you can’t easily attach a 410pl QR plate to the camera tripod mount without it fouling the ftz. I use both native z and fx via ftz on my z6 and need to swap over.

For heavier lens - no problem - I just use AS on the lens tripod foot

I should get an FTZ Mk2 - expensive.

 

[Kirnbichler]

I presume an adapter is fairly binary in operation - it either works or doesn't work.

A brave presumption. Alas, the world of compatibility is quite non-binary, that is, you might get very different results on different lenses. And it all depends on how well the engineers at Viltrox have reverse-engineered both the Z mount and the F mount protocols.

From what I can infer from EF-to-Z adapters, their knowledge about the Z mount is somewhat lacking, as their adapter shows strange behaviours the competitor "Fringer" does not show (Canon's EF mount is well understood and inofficial documentation for it can easily be found).

The F mount protocol on the other hand seems to be much more well-obfuscated than the EF mount protocol, therefore engineering this adapter is more of a challenge than engineering an EF-to-Z adapter.

On another note, the Viltrox adapter would have been far more interesting had it implemented the AF motor necessary for screw-drive AF. That would really be a unique selling point, as this is something missing from Nikon's original offering.

But without that? Another adapter with the same useless and clumsy "chin" the original FTZ has.

 

[NickZ2016]

But without that? Another adapter with the same useless and clumsy "chin" the original FTZ has.

That bump can be used to provide support for heavier lenses. Smallrig has a plate that attaches to it and the camera cage.

 

[areallygrumpyoldsod]

What is the button/slide switch for on the bottom section of the front of the adapter?

 

[SecondTimeAround]

What is the button/slide switch for on the bottom section of the front of the adapter?

"Custom Function Key". Maybe the OP will explain its purpose.



It also has a USB Type-C port for firmware upgrades:



https://nikonrumors.com/2022/06/19/...s-adapter-nikkor-f-lens-to-nikon-z-body.aspx/

 

[Alex_UK_Asia]

I have no idea what that button / slide switch is. Manual says 'operation key' with no further explanation. I'll try to investigate. Start with using the USB connection.

So I tested the adapter with:

Sigma 35mm F1.4 ART

Sigma 50mm f1.4 ART

Nikon 50mm f1.4 G

I tested about 2-3 copies of each. They all basically performed the same:

1. In photo mode, all those lenses could reliably use full-time continuous autofocus, with face/eye tracking, and 3D tracking. Focus seems to be accurate. They basically performed just like Z lenses, except the focusing motors in the lens made a very slight noise and vibration.

2. In video mode, it was fairly reliable with tracking focus if moving slowly. Fast movements seemed to cause loss of focus, and sometimes it took a while to do anything at all. When selecting a single focus point, and them moving so the intended focus moved from foreground to background, the focus changed abruptly, just as in photo mode. I really wanted it to change focus slowly, using the setting in the menu, to control the focus speed. I'd say most circumstances, video autofocus may be accurate, but there are some situations where only a Z lens will work well (fast moving subject and thin focus plane, changing focus point smoothly).

I'd be interested to know if the FTZ adapter performs differently.

In actual use, for video, I'd recommend a modern Z lens anyway. Just don't expect a 50mm f1.4 F mount lens to track a fast moving dancer at its widest aperture.

I was interested to buy a Sigma ART lens but the weight of the whole thing put me off a bit. Instead I went with a Nikon 50mm f1.4 G lens as my first F1.4 full frame prime. Should give me lots to learn. I'm primarily shooting environmental/travel portraits, and I don't necessarily need absolute technical perfection. The out of focus parts of the pictures and colour gradation look very pleasing to me.

I included a photo taken with the adapter just in case anyone wasn't quite sure what a Starbucks looks like.


Z6ii + Smallrig L bracket + Viltrox adapter + Nikon 50mm f1.4 G




With the viltrox adapter and Nikon 50mm f1.4 G

 

[Paul Pasco]

Too bad they did't try to go the extra mile and put a focus motor in it for screw drive lenses. I am convinced that Nikon at least toyed with making the FT-1 adapter (for N1 system) work with screw drive lenses as there is a plugged hole on the lens mount right where the screw drive would go and there is no other reason for it to be there.







--
Regards, Paul
Lili's Dad
WSSA Member #450

 

[Marlin Roberts]

... there is a plugged hole on the lens mount right where the screw drive would go and there is no other reason for it to be there.

A couple of reasons: It could be that they just used the same part specifications as the existing mount ring for convenience. I would be interested to know if DSLR cameras that did not support the screw drive had the same plugged hole. Or they have an existing stock of the mounts to use. Either way, I would not read too much into it...

It does seem to be a lost opportunity for Viltrox though, as having the screw drive supported would undoubtedly sell quite a few adapters. They could have offered it with and without, to satisfy both sets of users.

 

[Gilbert D]

On another note, the Viltrox adapter would have been far more interesting had it implemented the AF motor necessary for screw-drive AF. That would really be a unique selling point, as this is something missing from Nikon's original offering.

Agree. For me, 30% cheaper does not worth the risk of going to 3rd party. But if it has the AF motor, then it is another story. Maybe Viltrox will have a version 2?

 

[SecondTimeAround]

... there is a plugged hole on the lens mount right where the screw drive would go and there is no other reason for it to be there.

A couple of reasons: It could be that they just used the same part specifications as the existing mount ring for convenience. I would be interested to know if DSLR cameras that did not support the screw drive had the same plugged hole.

One need only look at the mount of any Nikon DSLR that does not support screw drive lenses (which began with the D40) to see that there have been no plugged holes:

 

[Alex_UK_Asia]

Oh yes, those older screw-focus lenses do indeed autofocus on Z mount cameras.

Move the aperture ring to F22 and take a picture. It really works!

Seriously, if only there was such an adapter. All those lenses could be put to great use. I've noticed these Japanese camera companies can sometimes be technically brilliant, and at other times, their decisions are baffling and illogical. An adapter would really add appeal to the Nikon system, and I doubt it would impact sales of Z mount lenses at all.

 

[Kirnbichler]

Yes, there were several arguments about the original FTZ, but ... somewhat led Nikon to create the FTZ II, where that thing is absent.

Were the "chin" useful, it had the same height as the camera's body, so that it would be possible to mount a single long arca-swiss compatible plate with two screws to camera and "chin".

 

[Mario Giannini]

I am a fan of third party items, but I rarely find they have the same fit and finish as the OEM equivalent (though they are always cheaper).

I did opt to get the FTZII at the time of purchase, because I had a number of F-Mount lenses. I considered the Viltrox, but at the time I think the Nikon was $250 and the Viltroc was $180.

I have 8 Yongnuo flashes for off-camera lighting, and would NEVER afford 8 Nikon flashes. I also have a Yongnuo on-camera for the Z6II, with HSS and TTL, becaus eI 've had 2 out of 3 Nikon flashes die on me.

What's important, is to get back to use after use and give a solid review.

 

[briantilley]

For me, an adapter to fit Sony to Nikon would give me all sorts of doubts as to whether it is working correctly. Especially from an unknown brand.

This Viltrox may be useful for professionals / heavy equipment users, as the lower price gives the option to have 2 or even 3 adapters to leave on the F-mount lenses, to make switching lenses a bit easier (no rigmarole of take adapter off one lens, put it on another, then fit whole contraption on to camera body). Perhaps also useful for the more basic F mount lenses.

That "rigmarole" isn't really necessary. Simply leave the adapter attached to the camera, dismount one F-mount lens and mount the other.