Field report: Sigma lenses on FTZ adapter on Nikon Z6 II – No problems.

megaadmin — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 09:18:00 +0000

With the Z6 II I switched from Nikon D7500 and Nikon D500 to full format and Z-Mount. I wanted to continue using my favorite Sigma FX lenses with F-Mount and connect them to the mirrorless Nikon via FTZ adapter. In the run-up I had some concerns that the autofocus might be slower or less accurate. As it turned out this fear was unfounded, but one drawback remains – at least for me.

No compromise on autofocus speed or precision

First things first: All Sigma lenses tested by me work reliably on the Nikon Z6 II when using the FTZ adapter. There are no signs of slowing down the autofocus, blur or lack of precision. Phew, that was my biggest fear.

I tested the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary, Sigma 24-70mm 2.8 Art and the Sigma 105mm Macro (Amazon Affiliate Links). Although it makes absolutely no sense, I also tested the DX lens Sigma 18-35mm 1.8 (Amazon Affiliate Link). Conclusion: All four Sigma lenses are technically recognized, work as usual and I can’t see any deterioration in autofocus behavior.

Actually everything I wanted, because exactly this fear kept me for a long time for example from buying the first Z6.

Terror with the adapter plate

But there is one disadvantage, even if not of a technical nature and certainly not decisive for every photographer. With a FTZ-Adapter in front of the camera I can’t use a tripod- or carrying system adapter plate directly on the camera anymore. Strictly speaking, I could, but this is of little use to me, because the FTZ-Adapter with its overlapping underside prevents it from being inserted into the tripod head or carrying system.

But this is intentional and by-design by Nikon to avoid mechanical overload of the Z-bayonet on the camera. If you would mount the adapter plate directly on the camera, too much weight would be on the FTZ-adapter and the bayonet connections could twist.

Peak Design Capture Clip v3 Silver Kameraclip für DSLR-/DSLM-Kameras - Kameraplatte separat erhältlich*

As a workaround I can attach the adapter plate directly to the FTZ adapter. So I can get the camera back on the tripod and also on my Peak Design Capture Clip carrying system (Amazon Affiliate Link). BUT: If the adapter plate is installed on the FTZ-adapter, it is at the same time quite close to the lens body. Inserting it into a carrying system or tripod is much more tricky than with a more free-standing adapter plate on the bottom of the camera. I will have to get used to it – or buy Z-lenses to get rid of the FTZ-Adapter. One costs nerves, the other a lot of money. Unplanned invest is on the horizon.

Hopefully Sigma will soon build Z-Mount lenses, after all I have become such a fan of Sigma lenses.

Der Beitrag Field report: Sigma lenses on FTZ adapter on Nikon Z6 II – No problems. erschien zuerst auf Pixelfriedhof.

My 4 favorite always-on lenses on the DSLR

megaadmin — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 09:25:49 +0000

If I had to decide which lens I would take to a remote island, I would use one of my always-on lenses. It doesn’t matter if you have only little space in your luggage, if you don’t want to carry a lot of weight or if you just don’t like to change the lens: With the lenses on this list, you’ll still be flexible for most of your motives.

One thing you will notice about my list: All the following lenses are made by Sigma. First of all, this is because these lenses are available for all kinds of camera mounts, from Canon to Nikon to Sony, and therefore should be interesting for most of my readers, no matter which camera brand you really belong to.

On the other hand I have been a big fan of Sigma lenses for years. The imaging performance and value in haptics and operation are simply grandiose. Especially with the lenses of the Art and Contemporary product lines. My enthusiasm for Sigma was not always so pronounced: Especially in the mid-2000s, some cheap kit lenses were thrown on the market that kept my opinion of Sigma very much within limits at that time. But those times are over.

Should you, my readers, nevertheless decide against Sigma, you can at least orientate yourself by the focal lengths and specifications given here and look for similar lenses from your trusted manufacturer.

The price is hot and medium heavy: Sigma 17-50 mm F2,8 EX DC OS HSM

At the end of 2018 I took a cruise to the Orient. I had only little space in my luggage for the photographic equipment, but needed a lens that gave good results even in low light conditions. Aggravating was the fact that in certain regions, such as the desert of the United Arab Emirates or Oman, I could not and did not want to change lenses. Otherwise the fine drifting sand would find its way deep into the mechanics of the camera within seconds.

Dubai from the top – Sigma 17-50mm – 17mm – F2,8 – 0,3 Sec – ISO800 – Nikon D500
Abu Dhabi Skyline – Sigma 17-50mm – 27mm – F8 – 20 Sec – ISO125 – Nikon D500
Sheikh Zayed Mosque – Sigma 17-50mm – 17mm – F8 – 0,4 Sec – ISO320 – Nikon D500
Sheikh Zayed Mosque – Sigma 17-50mm – 17mm – F22 – 1 Sec – ISO320 – Nikon D500
Sheikh Zayed Mosque – Sigma 17-50mm – 17mm – F2,8 – 1/160 Sec – ISO320 – Nikon D500
Jeep Safari – Sigma 17-50mm – 17mm – F2,8 – 1/800 Sec – ISO500 – Nikon D500

The lens is great: bright, 0.56kg light, pleasant to use and the integrated image stabilizer allows shake-free shots even where you would otherwise have needed at least two f-stops less.

The only drawbacks are in the quality of the haptics and for only slight chromatic aberrations, which can be easily corrected in the development process using software. This Sigma lens is not yet part of the high-quality product lineup of Sigma’s Art, Contemporary and Sports lenses. But it is also the cheapest lens on my list. With a new price of about 270€ we get a lot of lens, flexibility, low weight and good imaging performance for little money.

Sigma 17-50 mm F2,8 EX DC OS HSM-Objektiv (77 mm Filtergewinde, für Nikon Objektivbajonett)*

Standard Zoomobjektiv
OS (Optical Stabilizer) und HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor). Kameraanschluss: Pentax K-Mount, Sony A-Mount, Canon EF-Mount, Nikon F-Mount...

Lightweight for Crop-Sensors: Sigma 17-70 mm F2,8-4,0 DC OS HSM Makro Art

Unrivaled and unquestioned: The Sigma 17-70mm (Amazon Affiliate Link) offers the most flexibility with its 53mm focal length bandwith, making most lens changes obsolete. High light output at F2.8, still acceptable performance at 70mm and F4.0.

The most exciting: This lens weighs 465g and is therefore the lightest lens in this list. If you are going on a reportage trip with light luggage: Here is your lens for about 418€.

Nevertheless: Nothing says “I am a compromise” more than F4.0 at the upper end of the focal length. If you want more, you better have a look at the following Sigma 24-70mm (Amazon Affiliate Link) and better try to cover the lower focal length range with a dedicated wide angle.

Sigma 17-70 mm f2,8-4,0 Objektiv (DC, Makro, OS, HSM, 72 mm Filtergewinde) für Nikon Objektivbajonett*

Standard Zoomobjektiv, 16 Linsen in 14 Gruppen
DC Reduziert Sensor-Reflexionen Linse, ASP Asphärische Korrektur, HSM Ultraschallmotor, IF Innenfokussiertes Objektiv, OS Optischer...

The heavy Allrounder: Sigma 24-70mm F2,8 DG OS HSM Art

With 0,9kg the Sigma 24-70mm (Amazon Affiliate Link) is quite a heavy full format glas to carry around. But the 24-70mm focal length gives us all imaginable flexibility for reportage and even for portraits and landscapes. Outstanding performance, high light value, great feel, valuable haptics, nothing more needs to be said. But one more thing: the image stabilizer is a knockout.

Lyngvig Havn – Sigma 24-70mm – 48mm – F5,6 – 1/1250 Sec – ISO500 – Nikon D7500
Truffel in the woods – Sigma 24-70mm – 70mm – F2,8 – 1/100 Sec – ISO1600 – Nikon D500
Snail – Sigma 24-70mm – 70mm – F11 – 1/80 Sec – ISO320 – Nikon D7500

Sometimes I have the feeling that the autofocus is not quite precise in the outermost part of the image: a common problem with this focal length with almost every manufacturer. If you use this full-frame glass on a DX or crop sensor camera, you won’t notice this problem because you never project this area of the lens onto the sensor. Even in full format, however, this is not necessarily a problem for me, but rather grumbling on a very high level. When do you ever use the outermost AF points? And if so, then in such settings that I prefer manual focusing anyway.

With approx. 1160€ this option is not a cheap bargain, but worth every cent for this ingenious lens. A clear recommendation for those who are looking for the optimum and for whom weight hardly plays a role.

Special offer

Sigma 24-70mm F2,8 DG OS HSM Art Objektiv für Nikon F Objektivbajonett*

Eignet sich ideal für moderne hochauflösende Digitalkameras
Hyper-Sonic-Motor (HSM) für einen ultraschnellen Autofokus

Sophisticating muse for the Crop Sensor: Sigma 18-35mm F1,8 DC HSM Art

What comes next is my little secret tip. I love this lens – even though it is inferior to the previous lenses in terms of flexibility due to the shorter focal length range alone. From 18 to 35 mm, we only have a bandwidth of 17mm and thus presumably very little flexibility, but on the other hand the Sigma 18-35mm (Amazon Affiliate Link) scores with flexibility elsewhere, namely the possible areas of application: Astrophotography of the Milky Way, architecture, landscape, portrait. And in each of these disciplines it delivers brilliant results.

Portrait Shooting in Bjerregard Havn – Sigma 18-35mm – 35mm – F1,8 – 1/800 Sec – ISO100 – Nikon D500
Lighthouse Staircase Lyngvig Fyr -Sigma 18-35mm – 18mm – F8 – 1 Sec – ISO100 – Nikon D500
Milky Way over the dunes – Sigma 18-35mm – 18mm – F1,8 – 20 Sec – ISO4000 – Nikon D500

With F 1.8, so much light comes in here that it hardly hurts that we lack the image stabilizer. At the same time I have to say that this lens does an excellent job for portraits on 35mm, but handling it, especially with aperture values below 2.2, needs some practice: At these aperture values the depth of field is really minimal. You have to be able and willing to master this. Nevertheless I fell in love with the bokeh of this lens.

For about 680€ we get a high quality lens that challenges us and motivates the photographer to try something new. With 0,8kg not really a lightweight, but a high quality lens with internal focusing. The latter means that the center of gravity of the lens doesn’t shift when the focus or focal length changes, and the outer lens doesn’t rotate, which is a real blessing when working with polarizing filters.

If you want to treat yourself to something really fine, this is the right place. It is the fastest lens for cameras with sensor sizes up to APS-C.

Sigma 18-35mm F1,8 DC HSM Art Objektiv für Nikon F Objektivbajonett*

Lichtstarkes Standard-Zoom-Objektiv
Bequeme Handhabung durch Innenfokussierung

Der Beitrag My 4 favorite always-on lenses on the DSLR erschien zuerst auf Pixelfriedhof.

Sigma Archive - Pixelfriedhof