LTheWafflePWN • Contributing Member • Posts: 960
Re: Nikon Z mount vs F mount lenses Image Quality - Is the upgrade worth it?
In reply to rzmtl • 4 months ago
3
rzmtl wrote:
Hello everyone!!
I recently got a Nikon Z7 and am wondering, I understand that the Z mounts are a bit less heavy / better aesthetic for the Z body and was going to buy Z lenses for it but I tried my DX 35mm f/1.8 on it yesterday and the pictures are REALLY sharp
Keep in mind, because you have the DX 35mm, your camera automatically forces you into DX crop mode, so your resulting image is around 20MP, not the full 45MP.
- This makes me wonder, besides having to slap a FTZ adapter (bit more weight) and slightly heavier F lenses, IS THERE REALLY A IMAGE QUALITY DIFFERENCE between the F and Z lenses that warrants paying 2-3x more for Z lenses when there are ALOT of used F lenses in great shape out there?
As others have said, that much is fairly subjective. If you demand the best and most absolute in quality, then that is the Z mount native glass. Anything less is sort of a grey area. I'll leave my thoughts specifically on your focal lengths below.
Thinking about 35mm,
So, you have the DX 35mm you said, so comparing it to the Z 35mm that will give you a full frame result should be even sharper. I also thought the DX 35mm was a great little lens and quite the bargain. That said, if you love 35mm and want to use the full capabilities of the Z7, I'd recommend the Z 35mm.
50mm,
I'm going to be honest, I don't think any of the F mount 50's (excluding the 58mm) were that great optically. After having the 50mm f/1.8 AF-D and AF-S versions, I last had the 50mm f/1.4 AF-S. None of them are particularly sharp wide open. Stop them down, they look the same as what you'd get out of a 24-70mm at the same apertures. I did like the 'unique' rendering of the 50mm f/1.4 on occasion, but the overall optical performance of the Z 50mm f/1.8, and especially the Z 50mm f/1.2 blows all of that away. Get the Z 50mm's, either one. The Z's are noticeably better here.
85mm,
This one is tougher. I didn't think the F mount 85mm f/1.8 was all that great, but I liked the times I rented and used the 85mm f/1.4. If you have the F mount f/1.8, I'd say get the Z. If you have the f/1.4, maybe flip a coin between it and the Z 85mm f/1.8? Of course, the Z 85mm f/1.2 is better than all of them, but it's also nearly $3000..... up to you. It's worth it to me, but I use it for paid gigs.
105mm
The Z 105mm MC is significantly better than the F mount 105mm Micro. I'd wholeheartedly suggest the upgrade there. If you mean the 105mm f/1.4, then there's really nothing directly comparable. I'd argue the 85mm f/1.2 could be a candidate for the F mount replacement, but 85mm and 105mm are not the same. Same could be said for the Plena 135mm. It's among the best lenses I think Nikon has ever made, but 135mm is not 105mm. It's also not like the 105mm f/1.4 is a slouch either, it's a fantastic lens in its own right. Probably keep the 105mm f/1.4.
and the popular zoom lenses like 24-70mm
No contest, for the 24-70mm (f/2.8) I think the Z is much better than any F mount copy I've ever used.
and 70-200mm
This depends, the last F mount 70-200mm (FL ED)? I think the difference optically is debatable. I do think you'd see a difference comparing an older 70-200mm vs the Z 70-200mm though.
I've looked at many videos, and many posts before posting this, and I am not quite convinced... Yes I like to pixel peep and thought the Z lenses were better enough to warrant the price difference but after trying my DX 35mm (not even FX) I am not sure anymore.
Please keep in mind my above notes focus only on the optics. I think the handling of the native Z lenses is much better in comparison to using the F mount ones on the adapter. If you shoot for very long periods of time like 8 hour weddings, your wrists will appreciate the native lenses. It's not so much the weight, it's the balance - everything is front heavy, and you notice it a lot with bigger, heavier glass adapted (such as Sigma Art lenses, etc).
Thanks in advance!!
LTheWafflePWN's gear list:LTheWafflePWN's gear list
Nikon D500 Nikon Z7 Nikon Z7 II Nikon Z8 Nikon AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED +23 more
FAQs
We can see these benefits in the excellent Z-series lenses that have been released so far, almost all of which have been clearly better than their F-mount equivalent (whether in image quality, size, or both). One downside of a larger lens mount throat diameter, though, is lens size and weight issues.
What are the advantages of the Nikon Z mount? ›
Lastly, the Z mount has a physical advantage over the Nikon F – there are now four “claws” that hold the lens instead of three, which allows lenses to bind much tighter to the body. This means that there is a smaller chance for any kind of “play”, guaranteeing a very tight fit.
Does the Nikon FTZ adapter affect image quality? ›
On the bright side, Nikon is right to state that there is no loss of sharpness when using the FTZ adapter versus natively using the F-mount lens on a DSLR. We tested several lenses on both the D850 and the Z7 with the FTZ adapter, and the results were consistent – both images were equally sharp each time.
How well do F-mount lenses work on z mount? ›
Using F-mount lenses with Z-mount cameras
With the optional Mount Adapter FTZ, Z-series cameras are fully compatible with over 90 F-mount Nikkor lenses, which retain all their sharpness, rendering power and functionality. Plus, they gain so much, including silent shooting and in-camera VR (see below).
What is the future of the Nikon F mount? ›
This means that once the current inventory is depleted, the F-mount cameras and lenses will simply be discontinued and never produced again. Maybe 20 years from now, we will get a commemorative F-mount digital camera.
Which lens makes you look best? ›
A longer lens is more flattering since you take the picture from further away so the relative distance to different features of the face are almost the same. With a very short lens, you get a large nose. So 70–100 mm are often great focal lengths.
Can you use old Nikon lenses with Z mount? ›
All of these F-mount NIKKOR lenses are fully compatible with the Z series digital cameras when used with the Mount Adapter FTZ. Approx. 360 F-mount lenses in total can be used.
What does S line mean on Nikon Z lenses? ›
S-Line lenses offer superior resolution. Objects as thin as a human hair are sharply resolved with no color fringing. These lenses feature superb point-image reproduction, even at the widest apertures. Bokeh is natural and smooth, delivering a sense of depth which emphasizes the subject.
Do you lose quality with lens adapter? ›
Do lens adapters affect image quality? Mount adapters have no glass and generally do not affect the optical performance of a lens unless it is faulty or poorly made. Speed boosters do add extra glass, which can affect image quality.
Do lens mount adapters affect image quality? ›
Adapters with no optical elements — theoretically — shouldn't affect image quality. However, they tend to enhance the flaws of the lens.
Some lens adapters also allow you to use aperture-priority AE mode. However, you may still find there's no automatic stop down and the aperture isn't displayed in the viewfinder. There are also some lens adapters that let you control aperture by a panel on the adapter, rather than the camera itself.
Will Nikon discontinue F-mount lenses? ›
Nikon is no longer making any F mount lenses or bodies. There are still many available from stock already in stores, and of course there are some great deals on used gear (and will continue to be). But if you want new F mount equipment, it is now or never.
What is the difference between Z mount and F-mount? ›
The F-mount version weights 1000 grams (1 Kg) while the Z version is 650 grams. There were a lot of great F-mount lenses before, of course, but the wider Z lenses are even better. You don't need to replace everything, at least not at once, but I would suggest getting some wide Z lenses first. I like my 24-70mm/f2.
Is Tamron going to make Z mount lenses? ›
Tamron, a leading name in the world of photography, offers a range of lenses for Nikon Z mount that cater to various photographic needs and styles. Let's dive into the best Tamron lenses designed to elevate your photography with Nikon Z mount cameras.
What are z mount and F-mount lenses? ›
Nikon SLR cameras, both film and digital, have used the Nikon F-mount with its 44 mm diameter since 1959. The Z-mount has a 55 mm diameter. The FTZ lens adapter allows many F-mount lenses to be used on Z-mount cameras. The FTZ allows AF-S, AF-P and AF-I lenses to autofocus on Z-mount cameras.
What type of lens is the best? ›
Wide-aperture lenses (f/2.8 or wider) are better for low light and can give your shots a cool bokeh effect, while narrow apertures (f/11 and narrower) are best for wide-angle shots. Zoom vs. prime — Zoom lenses are more versatile because you can adjust the focal length (zoom in and out) to capture your subject.
Why are lower f-stop lenses more expensive? ›
Aperture, measured in f/stops, is the most important quality of a lens. Lenses with lower f/stops are heavier and cost more, but they focus faster, blur the background better, and let you handhold the camera in less light. To understand the cost difference, compare Canon's three commonly used 50mm lenses.
What does f mean on lenses? ›
The “f” in f-stop stands for the focal length of the lens. While focal length itself refers to the field of view of a lens, f-stop is about how much light you allow to hit the sensor via the aperture opening.
