If you keep up on the latest releases in Cameras and Lenses from Nikon you’ll notice that everything is now Mirrorless. Occasionally there are some DSLR updates or announcements but all the new gear they are releasing is tied to the Z Lens Mount System.
The reason for that is quite simple, that’s where they see future sales grow is. According to Business Wire, in 2026 the global mirrorless camera market will grow to US$2.54 billion.
If you’re thinking this is just some sort of money grab, I would disagree with you. A business needs to make money, and this is where they see the best opportunity is to do so. If they make a bad product along the way, then people won’t buy it. However, if the products have better promise and features, that’s a win for consumers.
I don’t think Mirrorless means that DSLR is dead, but it does offer some nice advancements in technology that are already being capitalized on and will expand in the future.
Some of those promises are “speedy burst shooting, offers high-resolution sensors, and superb and high-quality video.” Plus, all of this can be in the format of a more compact camera footprint.
Before we get into the “new” let’s talk about what came first.
While it’s true we could go further back in time and talk about other camera mount technology and systems, the DSLR and Nikon’s F-Mount system really were the starting point for Nikon’s successful consumer camera lines.
The F-Mount system got its start back in 1959. The main purpose of the mount system is an attachment and communication link between the camera and the lens that is attached to it.
One of the great things Nikon did with the F-Mount system is make it universal for both their Full Frame and Crop Sensor (DX) cameras. This allowed them to provide some more consistency for consumers while continuing to provide technological advancements.
Thus, resulting in one of the largest and most popular camera systems, with at least 400 different compatible lenses.
From F to Z-Mount
If you are jumping right into the Mirrorless Camera system then it doesn’t matter to much, but what if you already have a NIKKOR lens that you love? Do you have to off-load it on to the used lens market? Not necessarily.
Having two cameras, a DSLR and a Mirrorless, isn’t a bad thing. Although even if you are planning to sell your DSLR and move strictly to a Mirrorless camera it’s worth checking the compatibility of your lens first.
There are at least ninety F-mount NIKKOR lenses that are fully compatible with the Z series cameras. With one caveat, you’ll need to use the Mount Adapter FTZ. And in addition to that, approximately 360 Nikon F-mount lenses can be used with the cameras/FTZ combination, although with some limits in functionality.
If you’re buying new glass then we’d recommend buying specific lenses for the Z mount. However, if you already have F mount lenses then we’d suggest buying the Nikon Mount Adapter FTZ.
According to Nikon, the specific detail of fully compatible lenses is anything that is “Full AF/AE supported when using FX or DX AF-S Type G/D/E, AF-P type G/E, AF-I type D and AF-S/AF-I Teleconverters.” While the other 360 lenses will “retain all of their superb image quality and gain the benefits of the Z system like in-camera VR, fast, silent shooting, focus peaking, and smooth hybrid AF.”
The Promise of Z-Mount Lenses
If you already own a mirrorless camera, then you probably have already decided it has some benefits over a DSLR. As mentioned above, that might be a smaller footprint, lighter weight, speedy burst shooting, higher-resolution sensors, or higher-quality video.
Although the Z-Mount also provides advantages to the lens.
As an illustration of the company’s focus on products, from 2018 to 2020 of the 19 lenses Nikon introduced only 3 of them weren’t a Z-mount lens. Obviously, there are a lot of F-mount lenses already in the market, but this just shows that Nikon is going all-in on mirrorless technology.
The Z-mount option also provides some new engineering capabilities that are harder to achieve in a traditional DSLR. For example, Nikon says that with the smaller flange distance and wider diameter you can get more light contacting the sensor. This is because the internal diameter is “17% larger than the Nikon F Mount.”
This can translate to shaper edge-to-edge images. Plus, they are able to achieve a smaller and lighter lens. For more details on the benefits of NIKKOR Z lenses you can check out this article.
Better low-light performance, beyond what is capable for DSLR cameras, is also an exciting promise.
Here’s an image from Nikon that shows the larger inner diameter that the Z mount provides.
Then if you’re curious how it might look when paired with a F mount lens and a mirrorless camera here’s another image from Nikon.
Why Choose Z-Mount Lenses?
While there are still some holes in the focal range coverage of the Z-Mount lens system, I am confident that Nikon will fill those in over the coming years.
In the meantime, the Nikon Mount Adapter FTZ, is a good option to help with the lack of coverage. Although we admit that it’s not a perfect solution.
With lighter weight lenses, better low-light performance, and sharper edge-to-edge images it’s clear that Mirrorless lenses have a place in the market and will grow in popularity.
Hopefully you have a better understanding of F-Mount vs. Z-Mount regarding their lens systems. If you are having a hard time deciphering lens terminology then we have an explanation of all the lens abbreviations to help you out.
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First and foremost, I’m a husband and father. Then professionally I’m photographer, designer, blogger, and Esty store owner. My homebase is near the stunning Wasatch mountains in Utah but I love traveling with my family as part of our homeschooling journey. I also love teaching and helping out others. My faith is one of the biggest aspects of my life and brings be a consistent joy that I haven’t found in anything else. My main blog is BestPhotographyGear.com and I strive to make photography simple for anyone looking to learn or find gear for their individual needs. By nature, I like to study, research, and analyze things and I use that help provide the best advice and reviews I can.