Adapter guide
Nikon F lenses on Nikon Z
Yes, this works. Nikon F has a 46.5mm flange distance and Nikon Z mount has 16mm, so a 30.5mm mechanical adapter with no glass fills the gap and infinity focus is preserved. Focus and aperture stay manual.
- Nikon F flange
- 46.5 mm
- Nikon Z flange
- 16 mm
- Adapter thickness
- 30.5 mm
- Optical elements
- None required
Setting it up
Register the lens under Non-CPU lens data so in-body VR and EXIF use the right focal length. Nikon Z has the shortest register of any full-frame system at 16.0mm, so adapters for deep SLR mounts are the longest.
Automatic diaphragm. Off the body the lens sits at the set aperture, so the aperture ring works directly on an adapter.
Nikon F lenses and their field of view on Nikon Z
Effective focal length changes with sensor size. The lens itself does not change; the smaller sensor simply captures a narrower part of the image circle.
| Lens | Focal length | Aperture | Full frame | Frames like (APS-C (1.5x)) | Years | Used value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 AI-S | 105mm | f/2.5 | 105mm | 158mm | 1981-2005 | $150 to $450 |
| Nikon Nikkor 35mm f/1.4 AI-S | 35mm | f/1.4 | 35mm | 53mm | 1976-2020s | $350 to $900 |
| Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AI-S | 50mm | f/1.2 | 50mm | 75mm | 1981-2020s | $400 to $950 |
| Nikon Nikkor-S Auto 50mm f/1.4 (pre-AI) | 50mm | f/1.4 | 50mm | 75mm | 1962-1974 | $60 to $220 |
Frequently asked
Do Nikon F lenses work on Nikon Z cameras?
Yes. A plain Nikon F to Nikon Z adapter works with no optics. Nikon F has a 46.5mm register and Nikon Z mount has a 16mm register, so the adapter is a 30.5mm tube that puts the lens exactly where a Nikon F body would. Plain adapter ring for every manual-aperture Nikkor. Pre-AI lenses mount freely on adapters; their only compatibility problem is with later Nikon bodies whose meter-coupling tab they can bend.
Do Nikon F lenses focus to infinity on Nikon Z?
Yes. Because the adapter restores the native 46.5mm register, infinity focus is preserved and the full focus scale on the lens stays accurate. Adapters machined slightly short let the lens focus past infinity by a small margin, which is harmless; adapters machined long stop short of infinity, so buy from a maker with tight tolerances.
What focal length does a Nikon F lens become on Nikon Z?
On full frame Nikon Z bodies (Z5, Z6, Z7, Z8, Z9, Zf) the focal length is unchanged: a 105mm lens frames as a 105mm. On APS-C (1.5x) Nikon Z bodies (Z50, Z30, Zfc) a 105mm lens frames like a 158mm lens on full frame; the aperture and depth of field at a given distance do not change.
More on this mount: Nikon F mount reference