Quick follow-up. There have been a few comments here and elsewhere wondering about the AF speed of the gripped D850 + ENEL18 battery and un-gripped D850 + the normal battery and how that affects speed as well as how the lenses would preform on a D6. I've been saying that I believe the speed is the same, but it was bugging me since I haven't actually tested it. So, I just grabbed the 600E and tested with D850 with and without the grip (all batteries in question fully charged). Yup, both are the same. 1/2 second (15 frames @ 30FPS). :) I no longer own a D6, however, I did do this same test awhile back when comparing AF speed of the Nikon 600mm to the Sony 600mm (I never published it because it would cause too much bickering in the comments). At any rate, I loaded the video clip, checked the speed, and the D6 also takes 1/2 second to focus from minimum focus distance to infinity. I still contend that the speeds we're seeing both from the Z9 and and the D850 (and the D6) are simply the fastest speeds the AF motor can get the lens from minimum focus to infinity.
@@joshmcdzz6925 Speed was actually a tie. I kind of thought the Sony was a touch quicker, but the numbers didn't agree. 1/2 second for both. And I agree - people worry way too much about what others think of their gear.
The only thing no one has done, as far as I know, is to try the new EN-EL18d battery in the D6 or D5 and see if they can match the AF speed of the Z9. I've always wondered if the battery has something to do with it, as in the new battery is delivering more power to lens' AF motor? The only thing that makes me believe the Z9 is doing better speed wise...is the battery. I have the EN-EL18c batteries for my D6, D5 and D850. I think the reason people see the D850 do better AF wise with the MB-D18 grip, is because the AF sub-mirror is "seeing" the scene almost 30% more per second with the grip at 9fps than it is without the grip at 7fps. It's possible the Z9 and new battery work together to deliver more power to the lens' focus motor. Or it could just be the new battery or the Z9 itself. This would have to be tested with the Z9 using an EN-EL18c instead of the newer (d) battery and then testing a D6 with the Z9 battery. At the end of the day, it's nice to know that the Z9 is finally capable of extremely fast AF. My D6 will happily last me another year, hopefully by then I will be able to easily get a Z9, maybe even used? But I'm happy the Z9 is a possible upgrade path for a DSLR lover like myself. Before I buy a Z9 though, I want to see if it's possible to transfer images wirelessly in the field, reliably. The D6 has built in Wifi, but it's not 100% reliable, especially not when using the SnapBridge app. Which is why I absolutely love the WT-6A and D5/D6 for this purpose and as a photojournalist. With the WT-6A attached I can almost instantly choose a file to send and have it on my iPhone/ipad within 1-2 seconds of taking the image. The WT-6A has a 650ft range and it does not require any additional infrastructure. I've been able to reliably send images to my iPhone and then to editors, even from the front lines of wildfire's, because of the WT-6A. It just always works, at least while using the ShutterSnitch app. So I'm hoping the Z9 can do the same, reliably. Because the $6500 D6 still has issues and it's built in Wifi/Bluetooth is not as reliable or good as using the attached $600 WT-6A and the Z9, well it has no port to attach the WT-6A. Hopefully thats because Nikon is saying they no longer need one, hopefully that means the Z9 has a WT-6A built in. But so was the D6 supposedly, and it didn't do what it was supposed to.
@@patricksmith2553 Both the C and D version of the battery are 10.8v, so I'm not sure there's any difference coming form a voyage standpoint. I'd try it myself, but I had to sell the D6 to afford the Z9, so I have no way to do so.
Thanks for the hard work as always Steve. Got to admire Nikon's engineers for making F lenses work well. Can't think of anything else released in 1959 that is still in use in 2022.
Leica-M? Since 1954 and this year came the M11, with the same M-Mount. I do not think that any Manufacturer will beat Leica at this point. (We will see if Nikon will release new F-Mount bodys for the next 10 Years...i somehow doubt this.) And for the Leica M: You still can use Lenses with the M39-Mount, that came out since 1930... (with a very small adapter)
The FTZ adapters only offers autofocus with AF-S lenses. So it only "works" with lenses from the 1990s, when AF-S appeared. I have no idea why you start at 1959. You can put 90% of Nikkor lenses from 1959 and later on any camera with the correct flange distance. It only needs to be mechanical connected with a basic dumb non-electronic adapter. As in: not fall off.
Great to see that f mount glasses are performing as about same speed with the native lenses. This will help guys with exotic lenses to migrate without pressure. Excellent work Steve.
Thank you so much Steve for taking the time to do these tests. You’re the first to clearly answer these questions that all future Z9 owners were looking for.
Great video Steve! I am getting my Z9 tomorrow, and will be shooting it with the 300 and 500 PF lenses, with and without the same tc as in your tests. So your video allayed whatever fears I had regarding AF speed, and actually boosted my confidence in my purchase of my Z9. Thank you so much for your extremely timely video!
Enjoy that hotrod camera bro! Congratulations!, I think Nikon has a true high speed wildlife mirrorless camera finally..im waiting on an APS-C version...
Thanks for the, once again, great and informative video! What could have been good to mention in this video is that the FTZ adapter does not allow for transmitting focus distance to the camera, only focal length, and, therefore, does not allow the camera to use 5 axis stabilization. The 4th and 5th axis, the sensor's x- and y-axis movements, depend on this information. This could be important for someone choosing between old and maybe cheaper F-mount glass versus new Z-mount glass for filming.
Well, IBIS is the in-camera stabilization and the stops are the strength of the stabilization. However, with the FTZ adapter, IBIS doesn't engage at all, it only allows for the F-mount lens' stabilization. If on a native Z lens, the lens' and camera's IBIS would work together and be more effective (adds up to stops of stabilization so to speak)
This is groundbreaking news ! Seriously. You’re the only one who actually made a video to test it, this is such a relief, I even feel really excited and confident to get the Z9 now. Thank you so much 🙌
I was already sold on the Z9 but this just confirms that decision. I have a collection of F-mount telephotos and converters to shoot mostly motorsports and don't plan on getting native lenses anytime soon. Great info, Steve.
for anyone reading this I just took the Lightroom library tutorial and I'm blown away by what I learned. there seems to be no small corner of that part of Lightroom I don't understand now. Steve thanks and don't stop there
Steve what a great source for accurate information and I am so glad you choose to shoot with multiple brands to help all of us make informed decisions. I dont shoot Nikon but I am glad to see Nikon folks happy with the new Z9 and adapters
Thanks for the time, it's always lovely to see your pictures. That's and impressive result by the Z9. Matt Granger find, in portrait situations, that the performance of the adapted lenses is just stellar.
Wouaw! Thanks a lot Steve. As I’m loaded with AF lenses and don’t plan to sell them when I’ll get my Z camera, you just have given me the reason to go for the Z9 !!!
This is a fantastic video. I have 2 D850's and plan on keeping them for a while before eventually getting a Z9 when they are more readily available and the bugs, if any, have had a chance to be id'd and corrected. The biggest benefit of this video is its timing. I have 8-10 days left before returning a 600mm f/4 E to B&H. Compatibility with the mirrorless cameras was a concern for me. This video gives me even more reason to keep it and eliminates that concern. Great video coach. You have taught me a ton via your videos and your educational ebooks. Thanks a ton Steve. You are the goods. On the down side, you have cost me more money! Hahahaha! However, the utility received from those expenditures has worth it.
Great news! I've invested a lot legendary F-mount lenses the last two years and my D850 is still going strong but it is good to know that the transition to a Z9 one day will go well.
Thanks for your tests! So I feel pretty confident to (in the long run) replace my D750 with something like a Z6 III and continue to use my lenses until I actually have to replace them in the future
Thank you so much for the technical data. I've been pouring over reviews and specs trying to decide if I should get z mount lenses or just go with an adapter and my F mounts. This is the first review I found where someone took the time to give actual readings instead of just, yup, looks about the same. Excellent work Steve, you've got a new fan today!
Excellent video as always Steve. Great info delivered in a frank and honest way, clear and concise and without conflicting music or dark moody lighting. Number one in my books! Cheers from Montréal.
Wow !! Such an amazing improvement over the DSLRs when it comes to using TCs Wow!! Now someone getting a new z9 can buy a F Mount telephoto lens without any hesitation at all, Yes the native z mount glasses will perform better but again they will cost more than the already amazing f mount glasses. Thanks a lot Steve for such a detailed comparison. Waiting eagerly for your full review of the Z9 🙏🏼
Hi Steve, thanks for the informative video. If you ever revisit the subject, it would be helpful to include information regarding manual focus (ai/ais) lenses. I know they're not often used for wildlife photography, other than maybe the 400mm f/3.5, but there're they're still damn good and often used for photography and video.
Thanks Steve for another spot on video. I have been debating buying the 500PF to go with my Z9 and this just helped convince me it would be a great match.
Thanks again for your help. My Z9 is arriving tomorrow. Very excited. Looking forward to your field review and set up guide. What are your thoughts on the soon to be released 400 mm 2.8 TC S?
Steve Perry got a Z9 yeahhrrrrrrrrrr! A nice concise video Steve. I'm not in the Z9-level market, but as with other Z9 tech I hope the improved AF speeds with adapted F-mount lenses ends up in bodies further down the Z range.
I just got my Z9, and will use it with 500mm PF. I hope, Steve, you'll soon share your custom settings for your Z9, and update your ebook. I'm sure you will. Thanks.
Excellent analysis. You definitely answered a few of my questions. I have the FTZII already, but I may not get the camera to go along with it for months. I hope will do a video on the settings you recommend.
Great video as always! There is one issue not mentioned in the video. Understandably since it is about photography. It is the video focusing speed on the Z cameras using FTZ 1 vs FTZ 2 with F mount lenses. I use a Z6 with the original FTZ 1 adapter for wildlife video. When using the 500 f/4 VRII lens for example, the video-autofocus struggles to follow the movement of birds, walking arctic foxes, etc... I can´t find a video testing this. It would be great to know if the FTZII performs better - and smoother - in video. - Best wishes from Iceland.
My suspicion would be that they are the same since Nikon says it's the same electronics, just a different form factor. My guess is that it's a processor issue and not an adapter issue. I hate to say that I think a Z9 would likely solve it, but I think a Z9 would likely solve it :) Still, I do about 3 wildlife clips a year so I'm probably not the best source :)
@@backcountrygallery Thank you for the reply. Z9 will probably solve a lot of things. :-) GAS is one of the them. ;-) It would be great to test this, since one of the main benefits of the mirrorless world is usable autofocus in video. We make a living from photography, not videos, but the videos are important for our channel. If the version II of the adapter works for video it makes it less necessary to buy a bunch of Z lenses. ;-)
Great Job Steve, as always. The faster focusing with the 1.4TC is a real game changer for sure. I will try this with my 400 2.8 lens and I assume it should mirror what you found with the other lenses. Can't wait until you come out with the Z9 review.
I am glad Nikon released Z9, not the I will ever purchase it, for I being an enthusiast with limited means only. But it seems brought Steve back to Nikon systems which will help me a lot to learn photography ☺️☺️
Great Video Steve. Can you please do a video on the new Nikon Z9. , and how it compares to the Z6ii and Z7ii? Really wondering if it’s worth all the extra money.
Another Good informative video as we used to get from this channel ... While Canon released their telephoto lenses with only changing the mount (they did it first tho) ... Nikon let its wildlife shooters wait for the Z9 and now they can keep their F mount telephoto lenses or adapt to the newer Z lenses which seems to be special (400 2.8 TC - 800 pf - 600 f4 "TC") ... I'm guessing the 600 to have a TC so it would be 600 f4 or 840mm f5.6 and that's why there won't be a 800 f5.6
Very very interesting video, thanks!! I am waiting for the new z body to be announced before switching from F to Z, and I have a lot of good f lenses which I would like to keep. Hopefully the better performance in AF speed of the Z9 will flow down to future generations Z bodies.
Suggestion for a next vidéo…. How to manage the custom setting banks, shooting menu banks… Vs the user 1-2-3 on the Z7 that I loved more (until I will may be understanding more those menus banks)… thanks!
This is good to know. I am on the waiting list for a Z9. I ordered late, so I have a few months to wait. But, knowing that I can wait to start buying Z mount lens is good news. Trying to stick to a budget. Currently using a D810. Looking forward to your Z9 evaluation. Thanks
Excellent detailed and practical video. Maybe more relevant if you can run those speed test with either d5 or d6? Thanks always for your hard and generous work.
I no longer own either one. Had to sell the D6 for the Z9. No sponsors, so all of this has to come out of my own pocket. Still, in my experience with the D5/6, it doesn't drive the overall AF speed any faster than the D850. They are more accurate with their initial locks, but there's more to that than just speed.
Great video Steve! I’m eagerly awaiting my Z9. I’m really interested in how you think the af performs for bird in flight as your opinion is the only one I trust on TH-cam. Looking forward to future videos!
Note that part of the FTZ thickness results from the sensor plan moving forward in the camera. Without the restriction of fitting the mirror in there is more flexibility for the sensor location, and I figure they moved it forward for heat management or to make room for the electronics in general.
Hi Steve, does the new FTZ-II adapter drive the old Nikon D lenses in autofocus mode or does it still only focus manually like with the original FTZ adapter. That is a question that many old timers might want to know and I'm one of them. There were rumors that the new FTZ II would drive d lenses.
These are great results from the Z9. You mention the 3 weaknesses of using a teleconverter. I normally shy away from using the TC's because I don't feel the photos are sharp enough. I wonder if the fast focus speed on the Z9 with a teleconverter could be an indication that sharpness could be improved as well? Perhaps the camera is working with the glass better than it did on an F mount? I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
The on-sensor PDAF system tends to be a bit more accurate, so if the loss of sharpness was due to poor focusing, then I'd guess yes, you will see better sharpness overall. If it was something else then no.
@Photo Bunny I think he was referring to the sometimes inconsistent nature of F-mount lenses+ TCs on DSLRs. vs F-mount + TCs on the mirrorless (although I could be mistaken). AF with the lens + TC on DSLRs was good but not quite as consistent as I find with that combo on the Z cameras - I think that's what he meant. Although, I certainly agree that the results from a TC are primarily dependent on the lens in front of it :)
@@backcountrygallery I am moving from the F-mounts to the Z lenses. I was curious if there was a substantial improvement using TC's on the new Z system. Maybe it's wishful thinking! Thanks Steve!
Super thorough and helpful. I can’t thank you enough as this is really relevant to me and has definitely tilted the scale towards purchasing the Z9. Many thanks again. Cheers
hey Steve! its nice to know that the speed is up to par but you didn't mention anything about focus accuracy and consistency in comparison to the native Z mount lenses? thx!
Testing is tricky for things like that. My experience with both tells me that the Z lenses are slightly more consistent than the adapted lenses BUT the adapted lenses are more consistent than they were on DSLRs.
@@backcountrygallery ok good to know thank you. One more quick one , with the new mirrorless systems, are there ever times where the auto subject acquisition and 3D tracking fail enough in a situation where you revert to dynamic area AF shooting which I believe is the mode you suggested in your Nikon DSLR AF E-book? thx again!!!
@@kosmonparran4495 With mirrorless, I tend to use Wide instead of Dynamic most of the time. I hardly ever use Dynamic. About the only time I think it's useful is if you really want single point, subject detection is working against you, and the target or platform you're on is in motion enough that single point AF is too hard to keep on target.
I put my old 300 f/2.8 F mount exotic with a TC1.4 and got effectively 420mm @ f/4. With my Z9, focus is fast and accurate. I don’t need to spend $14k to get 400mm. Yes, I know the Z is faster and sharper, but it’s nice to be able to use glass I already own.
Steve (or others) I know this is older, but the new Z8 is so tempting due to cost. Is it safe to assume that the Z9 is going to be enough of a speed improvement (and battery life improvement) to justify the cost difference? I'm mainly concerned about the F mount 500 f4 and the performance difference between the Z8 and Z9. I guess I could always plug in to a portable battery since I'm already carrying that beast around.
Steve, this is a great video. Will you be looking at updating this video which include the Nikon Z7ii. Since the Z7ii has Dual Expeed 6 and the same 46 megapixels as both the D850 and Z9.
Steve, love your channel.. learning so much! QUESTION: I can't find one of your videos on how to properly carry a super telephoto lens....please tell me how to find it...I'm planning to buy a Sony 400mm f2.8....thanks!!!
I don't think I have video about that. Mine is usually attached to my tripod which is flung over my shoulder. If I'm carrying just the lens and camera, I use the lens foot. Otherwise, it's all in a backpack.
@@backcountrygallery thanks Steve....I may have confused you with another channel, but I Love your channel...I just bout the Sony A1 ...new to full frame... you're super great!
Thanks as always Steve. One of the biggest questions I've had with the Z system (not to do with FTZ's) is the larger lens mount was hyped by Nikon on being able to be really creative with lens manufacturing. I would have thought making smaller / lighter 1.2 (and 1.8 or any aperture really) lenses or even faster would be easier with the larger lens mount....why are we seeing bigger 1.8, 1.2 lenses?
Because physics. We did end up having smaller and lighter lenses, mostly in the zooms and slower primes like the 40 f2.8 and the silhouetted 26mm pancake , and you can't just ignore them and say "why didn't we get smaller and lighter lenses".
@@leandrowngo True most zooms are smaller and lighter. But look at the 20, 24, 50 and 85 1.8's...all are larger and heavier than their F mount equivalents. Optics are better but they are all about the same size or larger than the F mount w FTZ.
I'm thinking of putting out a complete guide - once I finish deciding on the settings. The problem is, I like to use the camera in a wide variety of situations to test how various setups work and boil it down to the best - and that takes lots of time. But, it's worth it :)
Greetings from Angola, excellent TH-cam page! Highly informative. Quick question, can you please clarify whether the NIKON Telephoto AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 ED-IF will autofocus on the new Z9? If not… Which older 300mm will autofocus on the Z9 using an FTZ adapter? Thank you dearly.
It's an AF-S lens, so it should work. I don't have one to test, but I've not come across and AF-S lens that wouldn't work with the FTZ. The lenses that don't work (focus) are the ones that depend on the camera to turn the focus ring. AF-S lenses have internal motors, so no issues.
@@backcountrygallery thank you dearly for your years of dedication to your craft and your commitment to providing accurate information through your TH-cam channel. You’re da Man! Maybe one day you can visit Angola 🇦🇴 and we can hit up the Okavango Delta together ☺️🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿
Quick follow-up.
There have been a few comments here and elsewhere wondering about the AF speed of the gripped D850 + ENEL18 battery and un-gripped D850 + the normal battery and how that affects speed as well as how the lenses would preform on a D6.
I've been saying that I believe the speed is the same, but it was bugging me since I haven't actually tested it. So, I just grabbed the 600E and tested with D850 with and without the grip (all batteries in question fully charged).
Yup, both are the same. 1/2 second (15 frames @ 30FPS). :)
I no longer own a D6, however, I did do this same test awhile back when comparing AF speed of the Nikon 600mm to the Sony 600mm (I never published it because it would cause too much bickering in the comments). At any rate, I loaded the video clip, checked the speed, and the D6 also takes 1/2 second to focus from minimum focus distance to infinity.
I still contend that the speeds we're seeing both from the Z9 and and the D850 (and the D6) are simply the fastest speeds the AF motor can get the lens from minimum focus to infinity.
Which was faster from your test? The sony 600 vs nikon 600( I guess it's older)? I think boyz take their toys too personal.
@@joshmcdzz6925 Speed was actually a tie. I kind of thought the Sony was a touch quicker, but the numbers didn't agree. 1/2 second for both. And I agree - people worry way too much about what others think of their gear.
The only thing no one has done, as far as I know, is to try the new EN-EL18d battery in the D6 or D5 and see if they can match the AF speed of the Z9. I've always wondered if the battery has something to do with it, as in the new battery is delivering more power to lens' AF motor? The only thing that makes me believe the Z9 is doing better speed wise...is the battery. I have the EN-EL18c batteries for my D6, D5 and D850. I think the reason people see the D850 do better AF wise with the MB-D18 grip, is because the AF sub-mirror is "seeing" the scene almost 30% more per second with the grip at 9fps than it is without the grip at 7fps. It's possible the Z9 and new battery work together to deliver more power to the lens' focus motor. Or it could just be the new battery or the Z9 itself. This would have to be tested with the Z9 using an EN-EL18c instead of the newer (d) battery and then testing a D6 with the Z9 battery. At the end of the day, it's nice to know that the Z9 is finally capable of extremely fast AF. My D6 will happily last me another year, hopefully by then I will be able to easily get a Z9, maybe even used? But I'm happy the Z9 is a possible upgrade path for a DSLR lover like myself. Before I buy a Z9 though, I want to see if it's possible to transfer images wirelessly in the field, reliably. The D6 has built in Wifi, but it's not 100% reliable, especially not when using the SnapBridge app. Which is why I absolutely love the WT-6A and D5/D6 for this purpose and as a photojournalist. With the WT-6A attached I can almost instantly choose a file to send and have it on my iPhone/ipad within 1-2 seconds of taking the image. The WT-6A has a 650ft range and it does not require any additional infrastructure. I've been able to reliably send images to my iPhone and then to editors, even from the front lines of wildfire's, because of the WT-6A. It just always works, at least while using the ShutterSnitch app. So I'm hoping the Z9 can do the same, reliably. Because the $6500 D6 still has issues and it's built in Wifi/Bluetooth is not as reliable or good as using the attached $600 WT-6A and the Z9, well it has no port to attach the WT-6A. Hopefully thats because Nikon is saying they no longer need one, hopefully that means the Z9 has a WT-6A built in. But so was the D6 supposedly, and it didn't do what it was supposed to.
@@patricksmith2553 Both the C and D version of the battery are 10.8v, so I'm not sure there's any difference coming form a voyage standpoint. I'd try it myself, but I had to sell the D6 to afford the Z9, so I have no way to do so.
In Korea, there was no TH-camr who marked it in detail like this, and you showed me all the questions and tests I was curious about. Thank you, steve.
Thanks for the hard work as always Steve.
Got to admire Nikon's engineers for making F lenses work well. Can't think of anything else released in 1959 that is still in use in 2022.
Leica-M? Since 1954 and this year came the M11, with the same M-Mount. I do not think that any Manufacturer will beat Leica at this point.
(We will see if Nikon will release new F-Mount bodys for the next 10 Years...i somehow doubt this.)
And for the Leica M: You still can use Lenses with the M39-Mount, that came out since 1930... (with a very small adapter)
You’re definitely not a guitarist eh? 😉😋
The FTZ adapters only offers autofocus with AF-S lenses. So it only "works" with lenses from the 1990s, when AF-S appeared. I have no idea why you start at 1959. You can put 90% of Nikkor lenses from 1959 and later on any camera with the correct flange distance. It only needs to be mechanical connected with a basic dumb non-electronic adapter. As in: not fall off.
Great to see that f mount glasses are performing as about same speed with the native lenses. This will help guys with exotic lenses to migrate without pressure. Excellent work Steve.
Thank you so much Steve for taking the time to do these tests. You’re the first to clearly answer these questions that all future Z9 owners were looking for.
Great video Steve! I am getting my Z9 tomorrow, and will be shooting it with the 300 and 500 PF lenses, with and without the same tc as in your tests. So your video allayed whatever fears I had regarding AF speed, and actually boosted my confidence in my purchase of my Z9. Thank you so much for your extremely timely video!
Enjoy that hotrod camera bro! Congratulations!, I think Nikon has a true high speed wildlife mirrorless camera finally..im waiting on an APS-C version...
@@bassangler73 thanks, I’m excited!
@@johnredrup1036 you have every right to be!!!
Hi..If you don’t mind me asking please…How long did you have to wait after placing your order for a Z9?
@@baburao786 I placed a pre-order September 27th and received it on January 19th.
Thanks for the, once again, great and informative video!
What could have been good to mention in this video is that the FTZ adapter does not allow for transmitting focus distance to the camera, only focal length, and, therefore, does not allow the camera to use 5 axis stabilization. The 4th and 5th axis, the sensor's x- and y-axis movements, depend on this information.
This could be important for someone choosing between old and maybe cheaper F-mount glass versus new Z-mount glass for filming.
Would this affect IBIS stabilisation stops or is this a different thing?
Well, IBIS is the in-camera stabilization and the stops are the strength of the stabilization. However, with the FTZ adapter, IBIS doesn't engage at all, it only allows for the F-mount lens' stabilization. If on a native Z lens, the lens' and camera's IBIS would work together and be more effective (adds up to stops of stabilization so to speak)
This is groundbreaking news ! Seriously.
You’re the only one who actually made a video to test it, this is such a relief, I even feel really excited and confident to get the Z9 now.
Thank you so much 🙌
I was already sold on the Z9 but this just confirms that decision. I have a collection of F-mount telephotos and converters to shoot mostly motorsports and don't plan on getting native lenses anytime soon. Great info, Steve.
for anyone reading this I just took the Lightroom library tutorial and I'm blown away by what I learned. there seems to be no small corner of that part of Lightroom I don't understand now. Steve thanks and don't stop there
Steve what a great source for accurate information and I am so glad you choose to shoot with multiple brands to help all of us make informed decisions. I dont shoot Nikon but I am glad to see Nikon folks happy with the new Z9 and adapters
I'm going to convert you to Nikon brother 😂😂😂
@@bassangler73 I'm a wildlife photographer. You give me a camera. I'll get you something out of it lol
@@longrider9551 👍
Thanks for the time, it's always lovely to see your pictures. That's and impressive result by the Z9. Matt Granger find, in portrait situations, that the performance of the adapted lenses is just stellar.
Wouaw! Thanks a lot Steve.
As I’m loaded with AF lenses and don’t plan to sell them when I’ll get my Z camera, you just have given me the reason to go for the Z9 !!!
Sorry I mean F mount lenses. They are AF of course !
Wow! Not what I would have expected. Thanks for taking the time to do this Steve.
You and me both! I figured the Z9 might tie the F mount camera, but not that it would rock the TCs like that!
That had to be a lot of work putting these tests together. Thanks for saving us all a bunch of time!
You are the best source of information on TH-cam Steve thank you
Steve - Thanks so much for taking the time to do this! Super psyched to get out and shoot eagles next week with my Z9 and 500 PF (and TC-14e III)!!
Thank you Steve! in 8 minutes you really summed up everything I needed to know about the FTZ adapters on real world use.
Just got my Z9, waiting for the weekend to try it. Keeping my D5 as well.
The Nikon Z system is just the best, I'm all in on everything Nikon Z.
This is a fantastic video. I have 2 D850's and plan on keeping them for a while before eventually getting a Z9 when they are more readily available and the bugs, if any, have had a chance to be id'd and corrected. The biggest benefit of this video is its timing. I have 8-10 days left before returning a 600mm f/4 E to B&H. Compatibility with the mirrorless cameras was a concern for me. This video gives me even more reason to keep it and eliminates that concern. Great video coach. You have taught me a ton via your videos and your educational ebooks. Thanks a ton Steve. You are the goods. On the down side, you have cost me more money! Hahahaha! However, the utility received from those expenditures has worth it.
Thank you for this! Been waiting too long for these answers.
Great news! I've invested a lot legendary F-mount lenses the last two years and my D850 is still going strong but it is good to know that the transition to a Z9 one day will go well.
Wow! The result at 6:15 is really quite something - to autofocus just as fast with the TC as without is amazing and will make TC use so much better!!
Thanks for the info, answered a lot of questions as someone thinking about dropping my D750 for a Z5. Scary change but my questions were answered!
You are the Mythbusters of gear tests sir 🙂 I was hoping to see a big "Busted!" graphic at the end 😆
Thanks for all the helpful info!
thankyou so much Steve, very userful test！I changed my d500 to z6 and feels terrible in autofocus and now I ordered z9 just after watched your video.
Thanks for your tests! So I feel pretty confident to (in the long run) replace my D750 with something like a Z6 III and continue to use my lenses until I actually have to replace them in the future
Thank you so much for the technical data. I've been pouring over reviews and specs trying to decide if I should get z mount lenses or just go with an adapter and my F mounts. This is the first review I found where someone took the time to give actual readings instead of just, yup, looks about the same. Excellent work Steve, you've got a new fan today!
I'm in the process of getting the Z6II and I'm going to pair it with the 85mm f1.4G. This is good information.
Thanks Steve for great informational video, I do understand you will take your time. Still want to request for Z9 setup video sooner.
Thanks
Excellent video as always Steve. Great info delivered in a frank and honest way, clear and concise and without conflicting music or dark moody lighting. Number one in my books!
Cheers from Montréal.
Hey Steve. great Info. I may have missed it but was it the 1.4e3 tc that was used in the test?
Yup :)
@@backcountrygallery Cool! Thank You.
Thanks for the great video. what about the focusing speed? and does it slow down the eye focus ?
Hey, have you found the answer yet? I'm looking for the same :)
Wow !! Such an amazing improvement over the DSLRs when it comes to using TCs Wow!! Now someone getting a new z9 can buy a F Mount telephoto lens without any hesitation at all, Yes the native z mount glasses will perform better but again they will cost more than the already amazing f mount glasses. Thanks a lot Steve for such a detailed comparison. Waiting eagerly for your full review of the Z9 🙏🏼
Thanks Steve! A very clarifying video:) Now I know I will not buy the F 200-500 for my Z6ii.. Will wait for the Z 200-600.
Hi Steve, thanks for the informative video. If you ever revisit the subject, it would be helpful to include information regarding manual focus (ai/ais) lenses. I know they're not often used for wildlife photography, other than maybe the 400mm f/3.5, but there're they're still damn good and often used for photography and video.
Thanks Steve for another spot on video. I have been debating buying the 500PF to go with my Z9 and this just helped convince me it would be a great match.
It's a super combo. I've been using it a ton lately and it's worked well.
Thanks again for your help. My Z9 is arriving tomorrow. Very excited. Looking forward to your field review and set up guide. What are your thoughts on the soon to be released 400 mm 2.8 TC S?
None yet :) I gotta see get it in-hand first (if I get one - that thing is probably going to be really expensive).
Steve Perry got a Z9 yeahhrrrrrrrrrr!
A nice concise video Steve. I'm not in the Z9-level market, but as with other Z9 tech I hope the improved AF speeds with adapted F-mount lenses ends up in bodies further down the Z range.
Dang, this is one very useful test! Great stuff, Steve! My Z9 arrived today!
A little late to the party (like Nikon) but great job as usual. Please keep it up Steve. Your work has really made an impact on my shooting.
I just got my Z9, and will use it with 500mm PF. I hope, Steve, you'll soon share your custom settings for your Z9, and update your ebook. I'm sure you will. Thanks.
Really interesting revelations Steve, thanks for sharing your findings, it's appreciated. cheers.
Just received my Z9, and am encouraged by your test results! Looking forward to putting this exact same glass on it and letting it rip!
Hopefully you will post all your Z9 settings for wildlife photography like you've done with other cameras. Thanks
Excellent analysis. You definitely answered a few of my questions. I have the FTZII already, but I may not get the camera to go along with it for months. I hope will do a video on the settings you recommend.
Great video as always! There is one issue not mentioned in the video. Understandably since it is about photography. It is the video focusing speed on the Z cameras using FTZ 1 vs FTZ 2 with F mount lenses. I use a Z6 with the original FTZ 1 adapter for wildlife video. When using the 500 f/4 VRII lens for example, the video-autofocus struggles to follow the movement of birds, walking arctic foxes, etc... I can´t find a video testing this. It would be great to know if the FTZII performs better - and smoother - in video. - Best wishes from Iceland.
My suspicion would be that they are the same since Nikon says it's the same electronics, just a different form factor. My guess is that it's a processor issue and not an adapter issue. I hate to say that I think a Z9 would likely solve it, but I think a Z9 would likely solve it :)
Still, I do about 3 wildlife clips a year so I'm probably not the best source :)
@@backcountrygallery Thank you for the reply. Z9 will probably solve a lot of things. :-) GAS is one of the them. ;-) It would be great to test this, since one of the main benefits of the mirrorless world is usable autofocus in video. We make a living from photography, not videos, but the videos are important for our channel. If the version II of the adapter works for video it makes it less necessary to buy a bunch of Z lenses. ;-)
Thanks Steve, as always, a great video with excellent content. One question, any idea on how the Z models with Sigma 150-60mm and Tamron G2 lens
Very interesting and useful. When the review of Z9 for wildlife? Or only ISO performance first. Thank you.
Great video and very pleased you have the Z9 in your hands which means soon we'll have a proper review of the camera. Thanks for your hard work mate.
Have you reviewed the Nikon Z9 and showing how to set it up?
You have to try this with Z8 when it comes out! amazing video
Thanks for an awesome review!! It's great to hear that the Z9 can focus fast with a F lens!!
Great Job Steve, as always. The faster focusing with the 1.4TC is a real game changer for sure. I will try this with my 400 2.8 lens and I assume it should mirror what you found with the other lenses. Can't wait until you come out with the Z9 review.
It would be interesting to see if the extra grip makes a difference for Z6II
I am glad Nikon released Z9, not the I will ever purchase it, for I being an enthusiast with limited means only. But it seems brought Steve back to Nikon systems which will help me a lot to learn photography ☺️☺️
Great Video Steve. Can you please do a video on the new Nikon Z9.
, and how it compares to the Z6ii and Z7ii? Really wondering if it’s worth all the extra money.
really looking forward to Steve´s review of the Z9!!!!!
This will be nice for me as a student on a budget. I buy all preowned f-glass so when I do go Z mount I’ll be fine
Can you test the focus speed and accuracy on a z6 with firmware 3.40?
When will you have books or videos teaching the ins and outs of the new Z9 focus modes? Would REALLY love that. Thanks Steve.
A few months :)
Short, sweet, and to the point! Thank you!
Thank you. This is really usefull info for me. If you can test with 500mm and 1.7TC that would give more information.
I would have hoped for an AF-motor in the FTZ II adapter, to have auto-focus with older f-mount glass.
Another Good informative video as we used to get from this channel ...
While Canon released their telephoto lenses with only changing the mount (they did it first tho) ... Nikon let its wildlife shooters wait for the Z9 and now they can keep their F mount telephoto lenses or adapt to the newer Z lenses which seems to be special (400 2.8 TC - 800 pf - 600 f4 "TC") ...
I'm guessing the 600 to have a TC so it would be 600 f4 or 840mm f5.6 and that's why there won't be a 800 f5.6
Very very interesting video, thanks!! I am waiting for the new z body to be announced before switching from F to Z, and I have a lot of good f lenses which I would like to keep. Hopefully the better performance in AF speed of the Z9 will flow down to future generations Z bodies.
At 5:03 mark, the 300mm PF lens image made me laugh... keep up the good/informative work.
Fantastic results from the z9
Suggestion for a next vidéo…. How to manage the custom setting banks, shooting menu banks… Vs the user 1-2-3 on the Z7 that I loved more (until I will may be understanding more those menus banks)… thanks!
This is good to know. I am on the waiting list for a Z9. I ordered late, so I have a few months to wait. But, knowing that I can wait to start buying Z mount lens is good news. Trying to stick to a budget. Currently using a D810. Looking forward to your Z9 evaluation. Thanks
Thank you so much - this video answered every question I had about the Z9 with DSLR lenses. I'm off to buy a bloody Z9 mate!!
Excellent detailed and practical video. Maybe more relevant if you can run those speed test with either d5 or d6? Thanks always for your hard and generous work.
I no longer own either one. Had to sell the D6 for the Z9. No sponsors, so all of this has to come out of my own pocket. Still, in my experience with the D5/6, it doesn't drive the overall AF speed any faster than the D850. They are more accurate with their initial locks, but there's more to that than just speed.
@@backcountrygalleryI just asked an hour ago! it is refreshing to have someone so involved and unbiased. Thank you.
Good video, Steve. I wonder if the FTZ I could be 'converted' to an FTZ II with a hacksaw and a bit of grinding...
One commenter said he did something like that.
Great video Steve! I’m eagerly awaiting my Z9. I’m really interested in how you think the af performs for bird in flight as your opinion is the only one I trust on TH-cam. Looking forward to future videos!
I haven't done enough BIF yet to know, but I'll be working on that in the coming months.
Great review, I still find it hard to give up my D780 and D7500 for a z6
Note that part of the FTZ thickness results from the sensor plan moving forward in the camera. Without the restriction of fitting the mirror in there is more flexibility for the sensor location, and I figure they moved it forward for heat management or to make room for the electronics in general.
Hi Steve, does the new FTZ-II adapter drive the old Nikon D lenses in autofocus mode or does it still only focus manually like with the original FTZ adapter. That is a question that many old timers might want to know and I'm one of them. There were rumors that the new FTZ II would drive d lenses.
No motor on ftz and z camera, can’t drive most of D lenses, but some D lenses did have motor inside the lens
These are great results from the Z9. You mention the 3 weaknesses of using a teleconverter. I normally shy away from using the TC's because I don't feel the photos are sharp enough. I wonder if the fast focus speed on the Z9 with a teleconverter could be an indication that sharpness could be improved as well? Perhaps the camera is working with the glass better than it did on an F mount? I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
The on-sensor PDAF system tends to be a bit more accurate, so if the loss of sharpness was due to poor focusing, then I'd guess yes, you will see better sharpness overall. If it was something else then no.
@Photo Bunny I think he was referring to the sometimes inconsistent nature of F-mount lenses+ TCs on DSLRs. vs F-mount + TCs on the mirrorless (although I could be mistaken). AF with the lens + TC on DSLRs was good but not quite as consistent as I find with that combo on the Z cameras - I think that's what he meant. Although, I certainly agree that the results from a TC are primarily dependent on the lens in front of it :)
@@backcountrygallery I am moving from the F-mounts to the Z lenses. I was curious if there was a substantial improvement using TC's on the new Z system. Maybe it's wishful thinking! Thanks Steve!
Wow great news, saves me $$ upgrading and I can go shopping for F mount lens again. Thanks Steve
Mr Steve please suprise on the next Costa Rica trip all animals with Z9 🥂 You are the best Nikon ambasador and teacher for me. Thank You, thank You 😊
LOL, havnet decided what I'm taking this year :) It might be the Canon R3 if mine ever shows up!
Super thorough and helpful. I can’t thank you enough as this is really relevant to me and has definitely tilted the scale towards purchasing the Z9. Many thanks again. Cheers
hey Steve! its nice to know that the speed is up to par but you didn't mention anything about focus accuracy and consistency in comparison to the native Z mount lenses? thx!
Testing is tricky for things like that. My experience with both tells me that the Z lenses are slightly more consistent than the adapted lenses BUT the adapted lenses are more consistent than they were on DSLRs.
@@backcountrygallery ok good to know thank you. One more quick one , with the new mirrorless systems, are there ever times where the auto subject acquisition and 3D tracking fail enough in a situation where you revert to dynamic area AF shooting which I believe is the mode you suggested in your Nikon DSLR AF E-book?
thx again!!!
@@kosmonparran4495 With mirrorless, I tend to use Wide instead of Dynamic most of the time. I hardly ever use Dynamic. About the only time I think it's useful is if you really want single point, subject detection is working against you, and the target or platform you're on is in motion enough that single point AF is too hard to keep on target.
I put my old 300 f/2.8 F mount exotic with a TC1.4 and got effectively 420mm @ f/4. With my Z9, focus is fast and accurate. I don’t need to spend $14k to get 400mm. Yes, I know the Z is faster and sharper, but it’s nice to be able to use glass I already own.
Thank you...Finally some clarity on this adapter
Steve (or others) I know this is older, but the new Z8 is so tempting due to cost. Is it safe to assume that the Z9 is going to be enough of a speed improvement (and battery life improvement) to justify the cost difference? I'm mainly concerned about the F mount 500 f4 and the performance difference between the Z8 and Z9. I guess I could always plug in to a portable battery since I'm already carrying that beast around.
I learnt a lot from Steve watching his videos 🙏🏻❤
Steve, this is a great video. Will you be looking at updating this video which include the Nikon Z7ii. Since the Z7ii has Dual Expeed 6 and the same 46 megapixels as both the D850 and Z9.
The Z6ii and Z7ii operate at the same speed, so the results with the Z6ii would be what you'd have with the Z7ii.
Steve, love your channel.. learning so much! QUESTION: I can't find one of your videos on how to properly carry a super telephoto lens....please tell me how to find it...I'm planning to buy a Sony 400mm f2.8....thanks!!!
I don't think I have video about that. Mine is usually attached to my tripod which is flung over my shoulder. If I'm carrying just the lens and camera, I use the lens foot. Otherwise, it's all in a backpack.
@@backcountrygallery thanks Steve....I may have confused you with another channel, but I Love your channel...I just bout the Sony A1 ...new to full frame... you're super great!
Hey Steve, great video. Are you going to do an ebook or video on setting up the Z9 for wildlife photography?
Yup - it'll be a few months for sure.
@@backcountrygallery Great it will probably be a few months before mine gets delivered. lol
Awesome thanks for your super efficient informative review. Very impressive. I hope you'll release more real world review of Z 9.
Hey Steve,
I am waiting for your Z9 Review. :)
Cheers!
Thanks as always Steve. One of the biggest questions I've had with the Z system (not to do with FTZ's) is the larger lens mount was hyped by Nikon on being able to be really creative with lens manufacturing. I would have thought making smaller / lighter 1.2 (and 1.8 or any aperture really) lenses or even faster would be easier with the larger lens mount....why are we seeing bigger 1.8, 1.2 lenses?
Because physics. We did end up having smaller and lighter lenses, mostly in the zooms and slower primes like the 40 f2.8 and the silhouetted 26mm pancake , and you can't just ignore them and say "why didn't we get smaller and lighter lenses".
@@leandrowngo True most zooms are smaller and lighter. But look at the 20, 24, 50 and 85 1.8's...all are larger and heavier than their F mount equivalents. Optics are better but they are all about the same size or larger than the F mount w FTZ.
Awesome Steve, thanks for doing that testing… that’s sensational news
Any chance you can test the new ZF camera? Im wondering if the AF drive speed is related to xpeed 7 or the 45 mpx stacked sensor?
Brilliant news and thanks for your always thorough videos. Belated happy new year
Great video, interesting comparisons. Thanks. By the way, any thoughts on wildlife settings for you new Z9?
I'm thinking of putting out a complete guide - once I finish deciding on the settings. The problem is, I like to use the camera in a wide variety of situations to test how various setups work and boil it down to the best - and that takes lots of time. But, it's worth it :)
@@backcountrygallery great news. Looking forward to that. Cheers
Thanks Steve for the thorough comparison
Greetings from Angola, excellent TH-cam page! Highly informative.
Quick question, can you please clarify whether the NIKON Telephoto AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 ED-IF will autofocus on the new Z9? If not… Which older 300mm will autofocus on the Z9 using an FTZ adapter?
Thank you dearly.
It's an AF-S lens, so it should work. I don't have one to test, but I've not come across and AF-S lens that wouldn't work with the FTZ. The lenses that don't work (focus) are the ones that depend on the camera to turn the focus ring. AF-S lenses have internal motors, so no issues.
@@backcountrygallery thank you dearly for your years of dedication to your craft and your commitment to providing accurate information through your TH-cam channel.
You’re da Man! Maybe one day you can visit Angola 🇦🇴 and we can hit up the Okavango Delta together ☺️🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿
appreciate the great content as always, Steve! Do you know about the weather sealing of the FTZ's?
I believe they are supposed to maintain weather sealing and they do have a little rubber ring not eh camera side (the lens has the other rubber ring)
@@backcountrygallery awesome, thank you Steve!