Dandelion chips on Z cameras?

[Snoogly]

I suppose this counts as nerdy, even though no tools are needed ...

Can anyone clearly explain what is theoretically possible with Dandelion chipped lenses on Z cameras?

Thus far I have only used double sided tape, so my experiment 105mm micro lens is easy to revert to its dumb self. On a D750 it does everything it should, but on the Z6ii I see no aperture value when shooting, nor in the exit data.

Am I doing something dumb, or is Dandelion + Z a flakey combination?

[Jan Anne]

Nikon doesn’t fully support the use of older lenses on the Zee cameras like they used to on their DSLRs, the FTZ adapter doesn’t have a feeler for the set aperture and the non-cpu lens menu is only supported when using the FTZ adapter and not with third party adapters.

I recently bought a Nikon F to Canon EF adapter with a Canon Dandelion chip as a workaround to chip the hard to chip Nikon 50/1.2 Ai-S and it works better than expected. The focus dot and square now work where it didn’t with the FTZ adapter, the EXIF shows all the details and the aperture shows in the viewfinder and top screen as f1.2 which is 99 out of 100 times correct as I mainly use this lens wide open.

So I don’t use a Nikon Dandelion chip but the pics below should show what is technically possible with a properly programmed Dandelion chip. This Canon chip should btw also be a lot more robust compared to the fragile hollow Nikon chip

[Hugh_3170]

An interesting work around Jan Anne.  Thank you for this.

Follow up question:  Do you have a Canon EOS SLR or DSLR to program the Dandelion chip on the Nikon to Canon EOS converter or can you order them pre-programmed?

[Birna Rørslett]

With a suitable CPU chip inside any F-mount lens plus the FTZ you can have full control and use all exposure modes offered by the Z camera.

There is no traditional aperture linkage in the FTZ, however once the camera "knows" the lens (via the chip), aperture can be controlled in the same manner as a native 'G'-type Nikkor. The FTZ does this by manipulating the aperture lever inside the adapter itself.

Thus, the easiest way out still is putting the chip into the F-mount. This worked on the F cameras and is 100% compatible with the Z line-up.

[Jan Anne]

An interesting work around Jan Anne.  Thank you for this.

Follow up question:  Do you have a Canon EOS SLR or DSLR to program the Dandelion chip on the Nikon to Canon EOS converter or can you order them pre-programmed?

Hi, I’ve ordered it preprogrammed and preinstalled on a Pixco adapter from Andrey in his eBay store:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/283766314313?hash=item4211ca5549:g:UMQAAOSwXwBf7ztg

Very friendly and helpful guy, after some quick back and forths about my usage requirements he programmed the chipped adapter and uploaded a video of it working on a Canon camera before shipping. As the chip is on an adapter no additional work was needed for the 50/1.2 to make it work with the Z6.

Please be aware that I already had the €300 Fringer EF-NZ adapter for my CV125 in Canon EF mount so chipping the 50/1.2 this way only costed me €42

[Snoogly]

Thanks everyone, but now I’m just baffled. The chip works perfectly used with a D750, but does nothing on a Z6ii.

Maybe I should update the FTZ firmware again, to give it a kick up the ****?

[Jan Anne]

You can try turning the lens a bit back and forth, some of my adapters have too much play and the CPU might loose contact when turned too far in one direction.

[Birna Rørslett]

You also need to have the aperture set to the minimum. There is a tab that should be pressed in by the lens on the side of the FTZ. A loose fit prevents this from happening from time to time.

[Snoogly]

Hi, I’ve ordered it preprogrammed and preinstalled on a Pixco adapter from Andrey in his eBay store:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/283766314313?hash=item4211ca5549:g:UMQAAOSwXwBf7ztg

Very friendly and helpful guy, after some quick back and forths about my usage requirements he programmed the chipped adapter and uploaded a video of it working on a Canon camera before shipping. As the chip is on an adapter no additional work was needed for the 50/1.2 to make it work with the Z6.

Please be aware that I already had the €300 Fringer EF-NZ adapter for my CV125 in Canon EF mount so chipping the 50/1.2 this way only costed me €42

Does the small difference between the Nikon and Canon flange distance have any effect, or is taken into account with the chipped adapter?

[Hugh_3170]

Thanks Jan Anne - I was aware of the second adapter (Fringer).  It is good that it is accepting of the Dandelion chip.

Hi, I’ve ordered it preprogrammed and preinstalled on a Pixco adapter from Andrey in his eBay store:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/283766314313?hash=item4211ca5549:g:UMQAAOSwXwBf7ztg

Very friendly and helpful guy, after some quick back and forths about my usage requirements he programmed the chipped adapter and uploaded a video of it working on a Canon camera before shipping. As the chip is on an adapter no additional work was needed for the 50/1.2 to make it work with the Z6.

Please be aware that I already had the €300 Fringer EF-NZ adapter for my CV125 in Canon EF mount so chipping the 50/1.2 this way only costed me €42

[Jan Anne]

Does the small difference between the Nikon and Canon flange distance have any effect, or is taken into account with the chipped adapter?

No side effects, people have been using these adapters for years with Nikon lenses on Canon bodies and infinity focus is retained.

[Jan Anne]

Thanks Jan Anne - I was aware of the second adapter (Fringer).  It is good that it is accepting of the Dandelion chip.

Definitely, as mentioned elsewhere its a 50/50 chance that electronic adapters work correctly with third party CPU’s but the Fringer works 100% correct with both the Voigtlander and Dandelion chips so it seems the perfect adapter for normalizing and chipping my exotic lenses but more on that later

[Snoogly]

No side effects, people have been using these adapters for years with Nikon lenses on Canon bodies and infinity focus is retained.

I was wondering about it being a Nikon lens on a Canon adapter on a Nikon body.

I really like this concept, even though an investment is involved.

[Jan Anne]

Its a workaround for those hard to chip lenses like the 50/1.2 and 55/1.2 but as B mentions a properly chipped Nikkor is still the best route when possible for 100% functionality.

I'm just stoked that I have 95% of the chip functionality on the Z6 without grinding rear lens elements of my precious 50 after using it for 5 years with dumb non electronic adapters on my Sony A7S/R cameras.

Next lens will be the Canon FD 85/1.2 but have to wait a Canadian mount exchange kit to turn that into Canon EF mount before I can chip it, after that I can use it chipped on any mirrorless mount out there as electronic Canon EF adapters are available for all mirrorless mounts

[Snoogly]

I like this concept as it is just a matter of attaching the Canon adapter to the lens, without the hassle of positioning the Nikon dandelion chip in exactly the right place. Also, the likely more rugged nature of the Canon chip. For me that is reason enough to use this method instead of the Nikon chip.

Do you mind my asking what the missing functionality is, compared to the Nikon chip?

Thanks a lot!