The new Nikon mirrorless system

[chambeshi]

The implication at present is that most people will not plunk down thousands of $$ to buy yet another long lens for a new system. One should be aware that the FTZ effectively turns the Z camera into an equivalent DSLR in terms of what optics can be handled, with very few limitations and for current Nikkors, none at all. The adapter mounts solid as a rock, no wobbling at all partly thanks to a robust construction and the very wide mounting base. In fact I was surprised how "native F" it appeared when put on the Z6/7.

Until the Z has become the dominating Nikon, we will likely not see parallel development of really long lenses. Sooner or later the focal point of development will be on Z Nikkors, but at present the perceived need is for short native lenses not the long cannons. I expect a lot of users will run F- and Z-systems concurrently, like I plan to do. Then the maximum of interoperability is using FTZ so most lenses can be used on either system, plus having a bread-and-butter lens on the Z.

Long lenses can be easily designed for both systems, though. Sooner or later there will be a divide, but no predictions for when that paradigm shift will occur is possible today. Meanwhile, put the FTZ on your long Nikkor and enjoy it on a Z.

I agree on strategy on long lenses. But cannot understand how a Z-Nikkor can be used on a DSLR? Impossible surely. The adapters can only work F > Z

[Erik Lund]

A new era has begun!


Congratulations on the new twins! 

[Birna Rørslett]

I agree on strategy on long lenses. But cannot understand how a Z-Nikkor can be used on a DSLR? Impossible surely. The adapters can only work F > Z

That was my point, exactly. The maximum of flexibility will be using existing F lenses on a DSLR, and on the Z via the adapter. Later on adding native Z Nikkors for uses not fully covered by the current lenses in your arsenal, or when maximum compatibility on Z is desirable.

[Bent Hjarbo]

The FTZ adapter should work with even the most exotic of F-mount lenses. It will allow the use of manual lenses with CPU of course, as expected.  AF/AFD lenses will meter, but there is, again as expected, no screwdriver AF transmission, thus these lenses from late '80s up to the first generation of AFS optics will not do autofocus. Indeed, like they behave of most Nikons today.

Here is the 55/3.5 Micro-Nikkor on the FTZ. One can regulate the aperture from the camera's thumbwheel on the top right corner. In this case, as the lens is CPU-modified, nothing additional is required. For non-CPU lenses, there is the same procedure as on traditional DSLRs by diving into the menus and set the lens data there.

How does it work if no Ai tab is present? Thinking of non CPU modified lenses.

[Pistnbroke]

5 pages of Z7 SPECIFICATIONS ARE HERE

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ne5ay3opb4d0z50/Nikon%20Z%207%20specifications.pdf?dl=0

[Erik Lund]

Looks like a full magnesium chassis, although its difficult to tell since the Z-mount is on top, but sure looks like they did it well!
Z6

[richardHaw]

still hoping that we get a cheaper version with no EVF

[Erik Lund]

Part of the reason is this

Wow - Looks like they went all in for the new Z-Noct-Nikkor   
Tripod mount on a 50mm must be video applications they want to rival Zeiss in that market apparently
Much larger than Leica M 50mm f/0.95,,, it's only 60mm filter thread size,,,

[chambeshi]

5 pages of Z7 SPECIFICATIONS ARE HERE

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ne5ay3opb4d0z50/Nikon%20Z%207%20specifications.pdf?dl=0

51 page brochure - There's much more detail in here on the new AF etc. Just picked up on pg 41 that "the focus distance indicator [function] at the bottom of the display shows where focus is obtained, between infinity and the minimum range...." is restricted to Z-Nikkors only

[Birna Rørslett]

Looks like a full magnesium chassis, although its difficult to tell since the Z-mount is on top, but sure looks like they did it well!
Z6

The Nikon reps stressed the all-magnesium chassis a lot.

[chambeshi]

The Nikon reps stressed the all-magnesium chassis a lot.

Great news

[Erik Lund]

Another reason is the FTZ adapter, that really transforms the Z cameras into a platform for any F-mount lens.

This adapter functionality gives you/us all the freedom in the world to adapt every piece of glass onto the new Z-cameras not only Nikkor legacy lenses, well done indeed.


All you need to do now is to strip the cover glass off the sensor on the Z6 

[chambeshi]

This adapter functionality gives you/us all the freedom in the world to adapt every piece of glass onto the new Z-cameras not only Nikkor legacy lenses, well done indeed.


All you need to do now is to strip the cover glass off the sensor on the Z6 

It is clear the path to telephotos will rely on F-Nikkors, which many of us will find reassuring :-)

[Erik Lund]

Now, how does the new cameras handle? Remarkably similar to any modern Nikon. Only the trace of flicker in the viewfinder under fluorescent lights indicates this is an EVF not OVF. The finder optics are really advanced and projects a very crisp and clear image to the user. There is no problem reading even the corners of the finder frame with glasses on.

This is actually the crucial point we all had our doubts about if this would actually be possible at all to produce for Nikon.


Amazing feat to achieve this, and in such a compact design, very impressive!


Looking forward to trying it out 


Thank you for your swift hands on reports B

[Lorne]

Some interesting bits in this hands-on from DPReview:
https://www.dpreview.com/videos/9606592454/dpreview-tv-nikon-z-7-hands-on-first-impressions?utm_source=self-desktop&utm_medium=marquee&utm_campaign=traffic_source

Of course, they've had a few days to play with it.