NikonGear'23
Gear Talk => Lens Talk => Topic started by: Macro_Cosmos on August 18, 2025, 19:07:38
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Nikon's Z-mount teleconverter is designed by someone out of touch with reality.
I purchased it with the intention of trying it on my microscopes. Microscopes often deploy what is known as a magnification changer or projection eyepieces to add magnification. This way, the limited field number can cover larger sensors.
What I did not know what Nikon's deliberate nasty design to intentionally limit their teleconverters to only function with their expensive z-mount telephoto lenses. One may think this is their attempt to avoid issues where people might try to mount it onto lenses that are not compatible -- I beg to differ. That case being a pathetic testament of user intelligence aside, the TC has a protruding element that would not even permit the mounting of ordinary lenses such as the 24-120mm.
Nikon added this extra small tab. This tab makes it impossible to mount the teleconverter onto my PURELY MECHANICAL z-mount to f-mount adaptor. It also means that this will NOT work with the FTZ.
I cannot begin to describe how utterly ridiculous and idiotic this design is.
Apparently, the F-mount's 800mm F5.6 came with a TC-1.25x that had a tab which restricted mounting. However, the tab can be easily removed.
For me to remove this tab, I will have to take the bloody mount off and file it away. Why is this necessary?
When will Nikon stop making such anti-consumer products?
The TC-2.0x (and likely also the TC-1.4x) does not have a Z-mount. I will coin ZW, the z-mount with a wart.
Ridiculous. I am going to write them a letter asking to purchase a mount so I can modify it. If they deny it, I will be very pissed.
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it's called a "Dremel challenge". We had the same with the previous AFS TCs. A few minutes work with a Dremel is all it takes.
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it's called a "Dremel challenge". We had the same with the previous AFS TCs. A few minutes work with a Dremel is all it takes.
I would like to still have the old mount, just in case I want to sell it.
I called around this morning, they are not allowed to sell me repair parts. Luckily, I was able to source a loose Z-mount from Mainland China, where residents usually own what they buy, thanks to places like Shenzhen. The mount looks to be a direct fit.
It is held in via 4 screws, each with blue threadlocker. I wonder how the FTZ/Viltrox et cetera adaptors will see this thing after I convert it. If it works well with older telephotos, I would like to make sure Nikon sells fewer Z-mount ones for all the trouble I had to endure.
The TC1.25x for the 800mm/E has a small bracket as a hindrance. That thing is easily removed, the camera does not see the TC1.25x. I think it will be the same case for modern Z-mount ones. As far as I know, I am the first to attempt modification on modern Z-mount TCs. If nothing works, I will just make a threaded mount.