In rival mirrorless news, Nikon has announced the manual focus Nikkor Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct lens with a list price of $7,999.
Of course if you’re a Sony E-mount user, the $799 Mitakon Zhongyi Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 III FE lens is available for for 1/10th the price.
Nikon Z7 + Nikkor Z 58mm F0.95 Noct -vs- Sony a7R IV + Mitakon Zhongyi Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 III
Techart announced the world’s first Sony E to Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter with a thickness of just 2mm. Yes, it’s actually possible to use E-Mount lenses on Nikon Z camera bodies since Nikon Z have a focal flange distance that’s 2mm thinner than E-mount.
This announcement signals a shift in the industry acknowledging the respect Sony FE lenses have garnered. The adapter is possible because Nikon Z cameras have a focal flange distance 2mm thinner than Sony E-mount.
Techart is best known for their Leica M Mount Lens to Sony E-Mount Camera Autofocus Adapter
Here are the details:
Guangzhou China, Jun 20, 2019 – Techart, who has previously launched the first autofocus adapter for manual lenses, has unveiled another groundbreaking product, Techart Sony E to Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter (TZE-01). The new TZE-01 is the world’s first autofocus adapter that allows Sony E-mount lenses to retain the Automatic Focus functionality when used on Nikon Z6 and Z7 cameras.
The flange distance of Nikon Z-mount is only 2mm shorter than Sony E-mount. This makes the design extremely difficult, let alone an electronic adapter where a chip and the connector pins have to be squeezed into. Techart has managed to pull it off and develop one which include connectors of both sides and a PCB board with chip to “translate” the protocol of the lens and the camera.
The Techart adapter enables both Auto Focus & Auto Aperture functions of Sony E mount lenses to be used on Nikon Z6 and Z7. AF-S, AF-C & MF mode are supported in both still & video shooting. The incredible Face & Eye Detection of Z-mount cameras can also be used. Other functions like lens vibration reduction and timelapse can also be used. Phase-detect Autofocus is adopted to guarantee both AF accuracy and speed to be very close to (if not better) native Z-mount lenses. Please note that functionality may vary when different E-mount lenses are used.
Nikon Z system is a relatively new system and users do not have a very complete lenses selection. Unlike the system of Sony, most lenses manufacturers have been releasing lenses in E-mount and so the selection is complete. The new Techart adapter currently supports most of the Sony, Sigma, Tamron & Zeiss AF lenses with Sony E mounts including some of the best sellers like Tamron 28-75mm, Batis 25mm f/2, Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM and Sigma 35mm f/1.4, etc.
The new Techart TZE-01 adapter comes with a lens dock for firmware upgrade. Simply connect the PC/MAC via a Micro USB cable (not included) and the firmware can be updated via the Techart App. Techart is currently working to support more lenses.
Techart Sony E to Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter is currently available for pre-order at the Techart website. The recommended retail price before tax is $249 USD. Free shipping will be provided during the promotion period. Delivery will start from late June. 1-year warranty is included.
Sony led. Canon and Nikon followed.
The great news for Sony shooters is now that Canon and Nikon have officially embraced fullframe mirrorless as the future – the competition is on.
Canon EOS R claims the World’s fastest autofocus with over 5.000 AF points! That’s a LOT!
Nikon grabbed the headlines with their $6,000 manual focus 50mm F0.95 lens – but you could buy both Canon’s $2,300 50mm F1.2 and $3,000 28-70mm F2 for $700 less…and get AF…
Both Canon and Nikon will release a 35mm F1.8, which hits the sweet spot many Sony users have requested. The exceptional FE 85mm F1.8 is the biggest bargain of the Sony lens line-up. Can we please get a FE 35mm F1.8?
Love this and really hope it appears in future Sony Cameras! Now that Sony dumped their camera apps – just build the Intervalometer into the camera and be done with it!
Both Canon EOS R & Nikon Z feature 10 bit 4:2:2 video output to External Recorder
Adding 1:1 and 4:3 Aspect Ratios to Sony a7 Series has long been near the top of my Wish List – hope this is another nudge in that direction.
This is really cool. Sony could use an LA-EA3 with a drop-in filter holder.
Eye AF is a godsend if you shoot people. Nikon Z doesn’t have it. EOS R has limited Eye AF but with AF-S which is not nearly as useful as AF-C Eye AF.
Canon EOS R and Nikon Z batteries seem to be clones of the much-maligned Sony W battery used in a7 Series Mark I & II cameras – rather than the much improved Sony NP-FZ100 Lithium-Ion Battery used in a9 and a7 Mark III cameras.
Canon EOS R and Nikon Z somehow missed the memo that pros want two card slots! Once again this feels more like a Mark II clone than a Mark III competitor.
Sony a7 Mark III have a MUCH larger buffer than Nikon Z (not sure yet about Canon EOS R.)
Sony a7 III/ a7R III allow full AF/AE up to top 10FPS frame rates – Canon EOS R and Nikon Z only offer full functions at 3 FPS and 5.5 FPS respectively.
Canon EOS R relies upon lenses to provide image stabilization yet it’s missing on their 28-70mm F2 and their RF primes. This also mean no image stabilization for a wide range of adapted lenses like Leica glass or even Canon FD.
While Sony offers 4K from the full width of the sensor, Canon EOS-R 4K recording requires a MASSIVE 1.8x Crop – just like Canon 5D IV.
One of the best things Sony did was to open E-mount to third-parties. Nikon Z and Canon EOS R are not open which means all third-party lenses and adapter will have to be reverse-engineered.
Canon & Nikon spotted Sony a five year head start during which Sony has built an impressive line-up of 30 lenses. Canon & Nikon have a LOT of catching up to do. Don’t expect Sony to let off the gas…
While Canon EOS R offers EF/EF-S lenses adapters with and Nikon Z has adapter providing AF with certain F-mount lenses – both slammed the door on their previous mirrorless lens lines.
I want to hear from you. Leave your likes and dislikes in the comments…
Tony and Chelsea Northrup review the Nikon Z7. In a nutshell they conclude “it’s NOT a mirrorless D850.”
If you’re considering Nikon Z6/Z7 this video is a MUST WATCH!