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Jul 28, 2025
David Prochnow
Our resident “how-to” project editor, David Prochnow, lives on the Gulf Coast of the United States in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. He brings his expertise at making our photography projects accessible to everyone, from a lengthy stint acting as the Contributing How-To Editor with Popular Science magazine. While you don’t have to actually build each of his projects, reading about these adventures will contribute to your continued overall appreciation of do-it-yourself photography. A collection of David’s best Popular Science projects can be found in the book, “The Big Book of Hacks,” Edited by Doug Cantor.
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If you’re a Nikon Z-mount camera owner with a cache of vintage Nikon F-mount lenses, then you’ve probably thought about buying the Nikon FTZ II Adapter. STOP; that might not be the best solution to your problem. There are three aspects about this adapter that could be negative attributes to you.
First, there’s the added bulk that this adapter will add to your svelte Z-mount camera. Second, the cost for this adapter might not fit your budget, especially if your lenses are 1970-era F-mount AI-S variants. Finally, you might not be happy with the performance of this adapter when using your vintage lenses on a mirrorless camera.
An option that you might not have contemplated in lieu of buying this adapter is to purchase a used F-mount DSLR camera, instead. If you’re keen to this option, you should focus on shopping for a Nikon D3400. Granted, virtually any Nikon DSLR will work for this substitution, but the virtues with the Nikon D3400 are that it will readily accept your F-mount AI-S lenses, uses a 24MP sensor, and it costs less than the FTZ II Adapter! That’s a win-win-win trifecta.
F-to-Z By Way of a DSLR
Used Nikon D3400 cameras in excellent condition on today’s market cost less than $200. In fact, an excellent condition D3400 in a red finish will also add a splash of spicy coloring to an otherwise drab Nikon camera/lens collection. Thankfully, there’s nothing drab about the performance of the D3400 camera. All of your F-mount lenses will easily adapt to this vintage DSLR. There are, however, several reminders that must be followed when using an AI-S lens on a modern DSLR:
[Please note: these same reminders also need to be heeded if you forego the Nikon D3400 purchase and buy the FTZ II Adapter.]
- Only the DSLR Manual mode can be used with older, electrical contact-less lenses.
- Automatic focus aids will not work with these manual lenses.
- The camera’s exposure metering system will not work with older lenses.
- Through-the-Lens (TTL) flash capability is lost; manual flash does work, however.
Adjusts can be made to some of these limitations. For example, lacking an exposure metering system can be minimized by using a KEKS KM-Q Light Meter with Top Display mounted on the camera’s hot shoe. Similarly, the power setting for the manual flash can be reduced via a D3400 menu setting.
While it kinda looks like an excessive splurge, buying a new (yes, used; but new to you) camera as a drop-in replacement for an adapter, there’s one final strong benefit that is derived from this upgraded substitution. Your F-mount lenses can now be readily interchanged on your surrogate camera without fumbling with an extra adapter on your Z-mount camera.
Enjoy.
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David Prochnow
Our resident “how-to” project editor, David Prochnow, lives on the Gulf Coast of the United States in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. He brings his expertise at making our photography projects accessible to everyone, from a lengthy stint acting as the Contributing How-To Editor with Popular Science magazine. While you don’t have to actually build each of his projects, reading about these adventures will contribute to your continued overall appreciation of do-it-yourself photography. A collection of David’s best Popular Science projects can be found in the book, “The Big Book of Hacks,” Edited by Doug Cantor.
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2 responses to “STOP! Don’t Buy the Nikon FTZ II Adapter, Buy This Camera Instead”
Just saying – folks often have a cache of old mount lenses because they already have an old mount camera. Why buy a different camera ? Unless the old camera is broken, why would you buy a ‘new’ used camera ? The idea of an adapter is to use the old lenses on a new camera.
Maybe i am missing something here…
I prefer to mount my fabulous oldies such as the 105mm 2.5 and the 55mm Micro* on the Z and shoot with the optical stabilization of the IBIS mounted sensor. That alone is worth the price of the FTZ adapter.
*yes, the one that’s so sharp it was used as an enlarger lens bitd.