Will Nikon Z9 have a focus motor?

[JDG Photo]

Will Nikon Z9 have a focus motor so we use the AF-D lenses?

 

[bleirer]

According to Ken Rockwell it's not going to autofocus with the AF-d lenses. Source of quote linked below:

The Z9 only works properly with Nikon's Z lenses, or Nikon's AF-S and AF-P lenses if you use the FTZ Adapter. It's iffy with AF-I lenses.

Due to design shortcuts in the FTZ Adapter it will not autofocus with any Nikon AF or Nikon AF-D lenses.

Due to design shortcuts in the FTZ Adapter it will not meter properly or have proper automatic diaphragm controls or log EXIF aperture data with any Nikon AI-s or Nikon AI or Nikon F manual-focus lenses.

Nikon Z9 Review by Ken Rockwell

Nikon Z9 Review & Sample Image Files by Ken Rockwell

www.kenrockwell.com

 

[Deleted member 115]

According to Ken Rockwell it's not going to autofocus with the AF-d lenses. Source of quote linked below:

The Z9 only works properly with Nikon's Z lenses, or Nikon's AF-S and AF-P lenses if you use the FTZ Adapter. It's iffy with AF-I lenses.

Due to design shortcuts in the FTZ Adapter it will not autofocus with any Nikon AF or Nikon AF-D lenses.

Due to design shortcuts in the FTZ Adapter it will not meter properly or have proper automatic diaphragm controls or log EXIF aperture data with any Nikon AI-s or Nikon AI or Nikon F manual-focus lenses.

Nikon Z9 Review by Ken Rockwell

Nikon Z9 Review & Sample Image Files by Ken Rockwell

www.kenrockwell.com

That's a great review!

 

[DRwyoming]

For the record AF-D does not mean 'screw drive AF' it just means focusing distance is conveyed back to the camera which is useful for metering flash photography. If you read the AF-D link in Bill's post above it describes what is meant by that designation. Sure, there are many screw drive AF-D lenses but there are also AF-S lenses designated as D lenses like the 600mm f/4 AF-S D lens which works fine with the current Nikon Z cameras and FTZ adapter. All Nikon lenses since the early 1990's are actually AF-D lenses and convey focusing distance info but it became so standardized that Nikon dropped that designation.

But no, I don't expect the Z9 and FTZ2 will support screw drive AF lenses.

 

[JANuser]

Yes, can we imagine the naming of lenses in the last 15 years if they had kept using all the titles? The AF-S 500mm F5.6E PF, would have been, AF-S 500MM F5.6DGE IF-ED N PF.

 

[FB101]

Will Nikon Z9 have a focus motor so we use the AF-D lenses?

There is no point in putting a focus motor in the z9 since there is no way to transfer that action to the lens. I guess they could add a mechanical pass through in the new FTZ2 but it wouldn’t help any other Z camera. At this stage theIr only viable option would be to put the motor in the new FTZ but I half expect a Chinese manufacturer to get there first...

 

[Andy Work]

Here's a refresher on Nikon nomenclature:

Nikon Lens Abbreviations

 

[eaj101]

I tend to take Ken Rockwell's opinions with a little salt....

 

[Hermann]

I tend to take Ken Rockwell's opinions with a little salt....

Seconded. With more than just a little salt actually ...

Hermann

 

[bleirer]

Seconded. With more than just a little salt actually ...

Hermann

Which part was incorrect about the link posted?

 

[clippy]

I thought that I heard a rumor about a new Nikon adapter for Z mount to F mount that has a focus motor in the adapter.

 

[Roy]

Will Nikon Z9 have a focus motor so we use the AF-D lenses?

I doubt it - the present FTZ adapter wouldn't pass it through to AFD lenses anyway.
It would be easier to build a screw drive motor into a FTZ type adapter.
I still love many of my AFD lenses and would love to have AF when I mount them on my Z cameras.