When Nikon launched their Z-series mirrorless cameras, they also took the opportunity for a major overhaul of their lens mount system. Nikon has been famous for doggedly sticking with the F-mount bayonet system for decades (since 1959) — a remarkable show of support for their lenses and a massive benefit for users who have invested heavily in Nikon glass.
The benefits of the Nikon Z-mount
With the shift to mirrorless, Nikon’s engineers saw the opportunity to take some big leaps. They ultimately decided that the technical advantages of mirrorless technology outweighed the legacy benefits of sticking with the F-mount.
Those benefits are led by a much-reduced flange focal distance (the lens sits closer to the sensor because there is no mirror in the way) and a significantly larger throat diameter (55mm for Z, compared with 44mm for F). This allows for much faster lenses and better corner-to-corner sharpness.
However, Nikon didn’t make a clean break. Knowing that millions of excellent Nikon F lenses are still in daily use, they developed a specialized adapter to ensure legacy glass continues to work on the newer mirrorless bodies.
The FTZ & FTZ II mount adapters
The FTZ mount adapter (an acronym for “F-mount To Z-mount”) allows you to use many legacy F-mount lenses on Nikon Z-mount mirrorless camera bodies.
Crucially, it has zero impact on optical quality. That’s because there’s no glass inside.
It’s basically a high-precision spacer that holds the lens at the correct distance from the sensor while passing electronic signals for autofocus and EXIF data.
Quick Compatibility Note: The FTZ adapter provides full autofocus for AF-S, AF-P, and AF-I lenses. While older “screw-drive” AF and AF-D lenses will still provide metering and EXIF data, they will not autofocus on Z-mount cameras.
The primary difference between the Nikon FTZ Mount Adapter and the Nikon FTZ II Mount Adapter is the physical design.
While both provide the exact same optical performance and lens compatibility, they differ in how they fit your camera setup:
- Original FTZ: Includes a permanent built-in tripod mount foot at the bottom. This provides a more balanced mounting point for heavy telephoto lenses but can be bulky and may interfere with your grip on smaller camera bodies.
- FTZ II: Features a streamlined, “footless” design. It removes the tripod mount entirely, making it much more comfortable to use with cameras that have a vertical battery grip (like the Nikon Z9) or for photographers who prefer a more compact, handheld setup.
Will a “ZTF” adapter ever exist?
But what if you want to go the other way — putting a newer Z-mount lens on a classic F-mount DSLR? Unfortunately, that’s where we are out of luck.
The reason is purely physical.
Because Z-mount lenses are designed to sit very close to the sensor, there is no physical room to fit an adapter between the lens and a DSLR body. Furthermore, the throat of the F-mount (44mm) is too narrow to accommodate the rear elements of many Z-mount lenses (55mm).
Even if a third party attempted to build one, it would require complex optical glass elements to “correct” the focus distance, which would inevitably introduce softness, vignetting, and distortion.
Technical summary: What works with what?
- Nikon F-Mount DSLR (e.g., D850, D780, D3500): Can ONLY use F-mount lenses. Mirrorless Z lenses cannot be adapted.
- Nikon Z-Mount Mirrorless (e.g., Z9, Z6 III, Z8): Can use native Z-mount lenses AND most F-mount lenses (via the FTZ or FTZ II adapter).
So, if you’re holding onto your Nikon DSLR, you’ll need to stick with the vast library of F-mount glass. And lest you worry that you’re missing out — there are some absolutely incredible F-mount lenses, and it’s an amazing world to explore, especially on the used market.
But if you’ve made the leap to Z-mount, you have the best of both worlds available to you.
