This month, Nikon announced the FtZ II, the most exciting announcement since the Nikon Z9. Well, apart from the Nikon Z 24-120mm F4 and the Nikon Z 100-400mm F4/5.6. And the announcement of the development of the Nikon Z 400mm F/2.8.
But otherwise, the Nikon FtZII is some of the best news to come from Nikon on October 28th. So now, we head towards the showdown that literally no one wants to read. Is the FtZ 2 better than the FtZ? Jump to Conclusion.
What is the FtZ II adapter?
Much like the original FtZ adapter, the FtZ adapter is designed to pair F-Mount glass with Z-mount cameras such as the Z5, Z6, and Z7.
This, of course, is a godsend if you are transitioning from Nikon DSLRs to Nikon mirrorless and hoping to take your glass with you. It’s also advantageous if you wish to use exotic glass yet to appear on the Z mount, such as F-mounts large telephoto lenses and tilt-shifts.
Unfortunately, the FtZ II adapter is no home run. While it runs newer Nikon F-mount lenses such as AF-S, AF-P, and AF; it lacks the inbuilt autofocus motor required to drive older AF-D glass. As a result, many classic and affordable AF lenses are rendered manual-focus only. See here for a list of compliant lenses.
What’s the difference between FtZ II and FtZ adapters
The newer FtZ II loses the FtZ’s tripod mount. As a result, it’s a little smaller around the waist and a few grams lighter. And because the FtZ lacks the hump, it’s consistently shaped for both portrait and landscape shooting orientations.
| FtZ | FtZ II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | US$249 | US$249 |
| Weight | 140 g | 125 g |
| Width (approx) | 70mm | 70mm |
| Hight (approx) | 80mm | 70mm |
Visually, the two adapters are almost identical. Only the tripod hump of the original FtZ stands them apart. Price-wise, both adapters cost the same.
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Should you buy an FtZ II adapter
I would certainly buy an FtZ II over the original to save weight and size. I also prefer how the new collarless adapter will roll between portrait and landscape orientations.
Whether you should buy any FtZ adapter depends on your lenses. Since Z lenses have proven superior to their older F-mount equivalents, it might be worth directing your US$250 towards a new lens instead. Of course, you might be fond of your existing lenses or have some lenses yet to be replicated for Z mount.
Overall, I still find these things absurdly expensive, and if you are yet to buy a Z camera, it is worth remembering that Nikon often promotes its new Z cameras by including a free FtZ adapter.
Conclusion
The FtZ II adapter is a weight-drained, slimmer version of the original FtZ adapter. Unless you really want the FtZ’s tripod mount, the FtZ II might be your best option.
Unfortunately, the FtZ II remains motorless. As a result, it lacks the screw drive required to autofocus older AF-D lenses. But if you have plenty of newer AF-S and AF-P lenses – you’ll be good to go.
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Really interesting post!
Thanks!
I started my photography with D5100 about 10 years ago. There has been a long break, but I am back in business and I would like to upgrade the camera to Nikon Z50. Couple questions: First, I have already AF-S Nikkor 35mm 1:1.8G (DX) and Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 DC (Art), so do I need FTZ or FTZ II adapter to those lenses with Z50?
Yep, an FtZ adapter is required for you to physically connect these F-Mount lenses to the Z50’s larger Z-mount. I expect you’ll be fine with the Nikon 35mm (a great lens) but the Sigma could be a problem. I have heard tails of off-brand lenses working via the FtZ adapter but not effectively (missed/slow focus, stabilization issues, etc). For more info regarding your Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f1.8G, check out Nikon’s compatibility PDF.