Techart releases the world’s first autofocus Sony E to Nikon Z mount adapter and it’s only 2mm thick

John Aldred

John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Techart has just announced the TZE-01. It’s the world’s first autofocus Sony E to Nikon Z mount lens adapter. The Nikon Z mirrorless cameras have a 2mm shorter flange distance than Sony’s EF mount. Techart has managed to not only take advantage of this tiny space to create what appears to be a fairly solid looking adapter, but they’ve also fit a CPU in there.

The Techart TZE-01’s CPU converts the protocols between Nikon body and Sony lens so that it gets all of the autofocus, aperture control and lens stabilisation features you’d expect to see when using the same lens on a Sony camera. Well, for most lenses, anyway. They say that at the moment it doesn’t support Samyang/Rokinon lenses, but that this may change in a future firmware update.

Being such a slim device, at only 2mm, there isn’t exactly room for a USB socket, so firmware updates are made through a separate dock. But don’t worry, it’s not an extra purchase, that dock is included for free with the adapter.

Techart says that the adapter supports both AF-S and AF-C. Manual focus will also work with aperture control. EXIF data is passed along and it works with Face and Eye detection. Phase detection AF is used, and they say that the AF speed is on par with using native Z mount lenses.

The new adapter is available to pre-order now on the Techart website for $249 and should be shipping soon. Techart stresses that they will not honour direct warranties on purchases made outside of their own web store. So, if you buy from a 3rd party retailer, you’ll need to go back to that retailer if you have any issues.

So, Sony shooters, between this adapter and Nikon getting raw video soon, will it make you switch?


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John Aldred

John Aldred

John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

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13 responses to “Techart releases the world’s first autofocus Sony E to Nikon Z mount adapter and it’s only 2mm thick”

  1. Matthew Nehrling Avatar

    Nope. I’m not one of those to play the fanboy games, but I like what I have and don’t see why this would be such a game changer to make such a drastic and expensive switch.

    1. Freelance cameraman China/HK Avatar

      Just helping people switch brands.
      Camera body getting updated faster than lenses.

  2. Michael Bray Avatar

    I wouldn’t make the change as I am already a Nikon shooter, but it could be interesting, despite the price, to buy one for a Z series camera to expand the use of lenses and see how a Sony lens does on a Nikon Z series camera

    1. Alex Bueno Avatar
      Alex Bueno

      Maybe not just Sony branded lenses, but the new tamron’s, Samyang, Sigma, etc…

  3. Philip La Lumiere Avatar

    So….could I use an EF to Sony, and then this Sony to z mount…..and use my EF 50 1.2 on a Nikon?

    1. Kryn Sporry Avatar

      Philip La Lumiere exactly! ???

  4. Huge Dom Avatar
    Huge Dom

    It is good news to have more players in the adapters game, hope it drive the prices down and performance up.

  5. Kryn Sporry Avatar

    Who’s gonna get an adapter and buy extra expensive Sony lenses that are inferior to the cheaper Nikon lenses???????

    1. Del Robertson Somerville Avatar

      Kryn Sporry have you tried the gmaster lenses? Tried the 70-200mm 2.8? Having moved from canon l series lenses, gmaster are absolutely insane lenses.

    2. Kryn Sporry Avatar

      Del Robertson Somerville that is an interesting point you make.
      Firstly to answer your question, no I have not. I also moved from canon to Sony and found the canon L lenses superior to the then available Sony lenses in many ways. Thus I stepped away from Sony before the GM lenses came out. From what I read they’re about on a par with L lenses, but are more expensive.
      Secondly, have you tried the latest Nikon G and E lenses? They are ridiculously good. Beat the L range and whatever Sony stuff I tried.

      Not trying to be a fan boy because as it happens I do think the Sony cameras produce superior images to canon cameras, and I’ve been playing with quite a few systems, so I’ve been in a somewhat privileged position to compare to a certain degree.

  6. Adrian J Nyaoi Avatar

    What is the point?