Small compact primes (for Zf) with aperture ring

[Captive18]

Are there any native Z mount lenses for the Nikon Zf (35-50mm focal length) that fit the following criteria:

1). Compact (similar to the Z 40mm f/2)

2). Clickable Aperture ring on the lens

3). Preferably weather-sealed design

4). AF capabilities…not just a MF lens

The only option I’ve found that kind of fits the bill is the Sony FE 24, 40, and 50mm G lenses. They have the clickable aperture ring, have a custom button, seem solidly built (but weather sealing decreases with MegaDap ETZ Pro adapter…would need to upgrade to the newer MegaDap ETZ Pro+ to get the weather-sealing).

Instead of buying the new adapter to get the weather-sealing, was wondering if there was a Z mount lens that I haven’t found out there.

 

[jjz2]

Are there any native Z mount lenses for the Nikon Zf (35-50mm focal length) that fit the following criteria:

1). Compact (similar to the Z 40mm f/2)

2). Clickable Aperture ring on the lens

3). Preferably weather-sealed design

4). AF capabilities…not just a MF lens

The only option I’ve found that kind of fits the bill is the Sony FE 24, 40, and 50mm G lenses. They have the clickable aperture ring, have a custom button, seem solidly built (but weather sealing decreases with MegaDap ETZ Pro adapter…would need to upgrade to the newer MegaDap ETZ Pro+ to get the weather-sealing).

Instead of buying the new adapter to get the weather-sealing, was wondering if there was a Z mount lens that I haven’t found out there.

That fit your criteria...no, but some of the Viltrox lenses come close.

 

[Schteeks]

There aren’t very many. Check out Viltrox, Sirui, and 7Artisans. Otherwise you are adapting from Sony E or Fujifilm X mounts

 

[Tapper123]

Are there any native Z mount lenses for the Nikon Zf (35-50mm focal length) that fit the following criteria:

1). Compact (similar to the Z 40mm f/2)

2). Clickable Aperture ring on the lens

3). Preferably weather-sealed design

4). AF capabilities…not just a MF lens

The only option I’ve found that kind of fits the bill is the Sony FE 24, 40, and 50mm G lenses. They have the clickable aperture ring, have a custom button, seem solidly built (but weather sealing decreases with MegaDap ETZ Pro adapter…would need to upgrade to the newer MegaDap ETZ Pro+ to get the weather-sealing).

Instead of buying the new adapter to get the weather-sealing, was wondering if there was a Z mount lens that I haven’t found out there.

I think a whole lot of Zf users would like a set of primes as you describe, but they don't exist natively. We can only hope Zf has sold well enough to convince Nikon there is a market for such lenses.

 

[madecov]

One of the closest I've found is the TT ARTISAN 75mm. Of course the focal length might not work for you. The lens is similar in size to vintage 135mm lenses.

 

[jjz2]

Are there any native Z mount lenses for the Nikon Zf (35-50mm focal length) that fit the following criteria:

1). Compact (similar to the Z 40mm f/2)

2). Clickable Aperture ring on the lens

3). Preferably weather-sealed design

4). AF capabilities…not just a MF lens

The only option I’ve found that kind of fits the bill is the Sony FE 24, 40, and 50mm G lenses. They have the clickable aperture ring, have a custom button, seem solidly built (but weather sealing decreases with MegaDap ETZ Pro adapter…would need to upgrade to the newer MegaDap ETZ Pro+ to get the weather-sealing).

Instead of buying the new adapter to get the weather-sealing, was wondering if there was a Z mount lens that I haven’t found out there.

I think a whole lot of Zf users would like a set of primes as you describe, but they don't exist natively. We can only hope Zf has sold well enough to convince Nikon there is a market for such lenses.

It would be nice if Nikon could bring the sigma contemporary lenses to the mount. I would prob get the slow and small 24 45 90 set.

 

[yardcoyote]

Nope. I do have the very nice TT Artisan 75mm f/2, which is an AF lens, but it is not sealed, and while is is quite small and light for its focal length it is not truly compact like the semi-pancake 40mm f/2. It's a good lens, though, sharp, optically very good though not perfect, and plenty quick and accurate to focus, with its major fault in my book being its appalling minimum focus distance. I really hope TT makes more lenses in this series for Z-- I'd love to have a compact 45 or 50, and a cheap and cheerful 90mm macro.

In my opinion, the big hole in the Z mount lens collection is right where you identified it-- small, sealed AF primes for street, travel, and general walkaround, with aperture rings. Until somebody comes along and fills it, you can use most of the current Z lenses in a hybrid workflow using the programmable control ring as an aperture ring. The Tiny Top Screen on the Zf makes this a lot more pleasant than I thought it would be, and the whole process works better than in practice than it sounds in theory. Even my third party Tamron 70-300 works this way, which surprised me.

The lens I would recommend you look at if you want to try this is the 50mm f/2.8 MC. A short macro sounded weird to me, but I decided to think of it as a 50mm street lens with a very, very good minimum focus distance, and I am glad I did. It is a big larger than I think you want, but it is sealed, has very good autofocus, renders well if a bit objectively, and if you ever want to get up close to something like a flower or an interesting object in a market or museum, it can do its macro lens thing, including smooth (or interestingly broken) out of focus areas. This lens alternates with the TT 75mm as my favorite walkaround length daily driver for the Zf, and I like it a lot more than I expected I would.

 

[yardcoyote]

Ugh why are all their FF Z lenses with aperture rings so short? I am quite eager to try one of the Viltroxes on my Zf, as I have heard such good things about them. But since I don't actually *need* any more lenses for the Zf, my only possible excuse for buying one is that it would offer a huge step up in shooting experience/fun factor, and that means a focal length I really enjoy that doesn't duplicate my existing 75mm "fun lens" and a marked, clicking aperture ring. 45mm f/2? 50 or 55mm f/1.8? 90mm f/2 or f/2.8?

 

[sirhawkeye64]

Are there any native Z mount lenses for the Nikon Zf (35-50mm focal length) that fit the following criteria:

1). Compact (similar to the Z 40mm f/2)

2). Clickable Aperture ring on the lens

3). Preferably weather-sealed design

4). AF capabilities…not just a MF lens

The only option I’ve found that kind of fits the bill is the Sony FE 24, 40, and 50mm G lenses. They have the clickable aperture ring, have a custom button, seem solidly built (but weather sealing decreases with MegaDap ETZ Pro adapter…would need to upgrade to the newer MegaDap ETZ Pro+ to get the weather-sealing).

Instead of buying the new adapter to get the weather-sealing, was wondering if there was a Z mount lens that I haven’t found out there.

If you can live without AF, then something like the Vioghtlander 40 1.2 might be a good option. Fits all of your criteria except it's MF.

other than viltrox I don't think you'll find too many options that are compact, and have a clickable aperture ring and AF. I've been looking too myself, and I almost am convinced that if I wanted that, I might need to pick up another Fuji camera as many of their lenses would fit the criteria.

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* PLEASE NOTE: I generally unsubscribe from forums/comments after a period of time has passed, so if I do not respond, that is likely the reason. *

 

[yardcoyote]

That certainly is why I am keeping my great old Fujis and their primes. It's hard to beat a camera like the X-T2 for pure shooting fun, and you get a really nice jpeg as well. Mine was my "best camera" for a lot of years and it still holds up pretty well against the Zf for anything but serious low light performance, as long as you don't factor in autofocus speed. That's an obvious soft spot for the older Fujis.

 

[sirhawkeye64]

That certainly is why I am keeping my great old Fujis and their primes. It's hard to beat a camera like the X-T2 for pure shooting fun, and you get a really nice jpeg as well. Mine was my "best camera" for a lot of years and it still holds up pretty well against the Zf for anything but serious low light performance, as long as you don't factor in autofocus speed. That's an obvious soft spot for the older Fujis.

For me, part of the reason I sold my Fuji's was to help finance my move to the Z system. And for a while, I would buy/sell to minimize out of pocket cost of upgrading, but I've realized over the past year or so that it's OK to have gear that maybe isn't your main gear and isn't used every day or week, and some gear might sit on the shelf for a bit unused at a times, but when you need it, you have it. I avoided a macro and long telephoto for the longest time because of this -- I didn't think I'd use them enough, and I don't use them a ton, at least not daiy or weekly, maybe a few times a month at most, but at least I have them at my disposal if I need them (which was always a challenge -- either getting on site and realizing "if only I had ___". So my new thing is that I don't necessarily need to part with gear when upgrading as I did before, as it's OK if some gear sits around for a bit unused (what i still really don't want is gear that never gets used though, but I think even an XT30 for me might get used at least a few times a year -- enough to pick one up -- for when I want to shoot something different)(.

 

[d sullinger]

There aren’t very many. Check out Viltrox, Sirui, and 7Artisans. Otherwise you are adapting from Sony E or Fujifilm X mounts

Which work better, the Sony E or FujiFilm X mount adapters? Any recommendations on model?