Field Tests: The Megadap ETZ21 Pro+ Mount Adapter

Here are the essential details of my testing...(additional details about testing methodology available on request).

Image Quality Testing: Long story short, this involved shooting images of specific subjects using the same lens first on a Sony A1 II and then adapted for use on a Nikon Z 9. All image comparisons were shot in the field on a firm tripod and using a cable release under identical conditions. Images were captured at apertures from wide open (for the specific lens) through to f11 (in 1/3 stop increments). All lenses were tested at a minimum of two distances (and those distances were reflective of the distances a wildlife photographer would shoot the specific lens at).

Autofocus Performance Testing: My goal in my autofocus performance testing was to REALLY PUSH the AF system to its limit to see if consistent differences could be seen between the AF performance of a specific Sony E-mount lens shot on a Sony A1 II and that same lens adapted for use on a Nikon Z 9. The test needed to push the limits of the AF system AND it had to be repeatable. I settled on a test I use often when evaluating lenses: the good ol' "Dog Running Directly At Me" test. In this highly repeatable test (which my dog just loves because he gets a LOT of treats during it) I use a well-trained Portuguese Water Dog (AKA "Joe") to run directly at me from a specific distance and I shoot high-speed bursts of shots (of between 100 and 150 images per sequence depending on the lens and corresponding distance-to-subject) at high frame rates. For each Sony E-mount lens I performed this test 3 times on the Sony A1 II and 3 times with the same lens adapted on a Nikon Z 9 (resulting in 300-450 images for each lens/camera combo). I personally consider this test to be an example of autofocus performance when shooting "EXTREME ACTION". I consider it extreme action because when running toward you (up to the point where Joe is virtually filling the frame) Joe bobs up and down quite dramatically (requiring good tracking of the subject) while the focal plane (i.e., distance to subject) is changing very quickly. In contrast, many "real-world" shooting scenarios for wildlife photographers, even including a LOT of bird-in-flight shots, are less extreme tests of autofocus performance with either subject position in the frame (tracking) or distance-to-subject are changing much less dramatically than in the "Dog Running Directly At Me" test. I consider MOST action shots captured during wildlife photography as examples of "MODERATE ACTION". The resulting shots from all this testing (which amounted to thousands of shots) were evaluated and each shot was categorized as "Sharp", "Slightly Soft", and "Soft" (i.e., out-of-focus). After categorization is was a simple matter to come up with a percentage of shots from each sequence that were sharply focused (AKA the AF "Hit Rate")

I have to point out that this AF testing can't fully isolate the impact of the Megadap Pro+ adapter on AF performance. This is because any change in autofocus hit rate between an E-mount lens shot on an A1 II and adapted for use on a Nikon Z 9 could be attributed to the mount adapter OR to inherent differences in the AF capabilities of the two camera bodies (Sony A1 II vs. Nikon Z 9). I was able to partly to get around this problem by shooting a 3rd party lens (the Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8 Di III VXD) that is available in BOTH the Sony E-mount and the Nikon Z-mount and supposedly differs in no other way. So I was able to shoot the Z-mount version on a Z 9 and then the Sony E-mount version on a Nikon Z 9 (adapted with the Megadap Pro+).

WHAT I DISCOVERED

Here's what I learned about the Megadap ETZ21 Pro+ mount adapter during both phases of my experimentation with it:

1. When "Just Using" the Megadap ETZ Pro+ Mount Adapter on a Great Bear Rainforest Photo Tour

My observations of how well the Megadap Pro+ adapter worked when shooting the Sigma Sports 200mm f2 on Nikon Z 9 during my autumn Great Bear Rainforest are purely anecdotal. But overall I'd say this: the adapter worked pretty damn well! For at least 90% of the time I was simply able to forget that I was using the adapted E-mount lens and simply shoot with it. Surprisingly, at least to me, even the AFL button on the lens barrel (the "LFn" button in Nikon-speak) did what it was supposed to! Landscape images were biting sharp, wildlife images were reliably in-focus (including a lot of flight shots of both Bonaparte's and Herring Gulls) and when I took the time to review all the flight shots after the trip the AF hit rate seemed "about normal" for the Nikon Z 9. Additionally, the AF hit rate of bubble-netting Humpback Whales was very high (in excess of 90%). But...please note that both the flight shots and the bubble-netting whales definitely aren't what I'd describe as "extreme action".

During the trip all metadata captured (and transmitted through the adapter) when I was shooting the adapted Sigma Sports 200mm f2 seemed to be accurately recorded (but it's important to note that during this trip I was shooting only ONE adapted lens - the Sigma 200mm f2).

What about the weather resistance of the Megadap Pro+? This latest version of the Megadap differs from the previous version by adding a "weather sealed design." As it turned out, this particular Great Bear Rainforest trip was wetter than average (and average autumn Great Bear Rainforest trips are quite wet). In fact, it was wet enough that several other photographers' lenses exhibited internal condensation and fogging during the trip, including some weather-sealed lenses (the non-weather-sealed ones like the Nikkor 180-600mm did especially poorly on this trip). I experienced NO PROBLEMS with lens condensation/fogging with the adapted Sigma Sports 200mm f2, and I DID shoot it in the rain (albeit under a raincover).

By the end of the photo tour I found myself thinking "Heck, there's virtually no functional or technical reason to avoid using this adapter."

2. Following extensive field-based systematic testing

I learned a TON more about the Megadap Pro+ over the 3 months I tested it...and not all of it was positive. Here's an overview of my major findings:

• Megadap ETZ21 Pro+ impact on optical performance: None that I could detect. Note that images captured with a specific lens (and aperture setting, etc.) when shot on the Sony A1 II and then shot adapted on the Nikon Z 9 were virtually identical (aside from minor differences in resolution and color rendering). Every trend I noticed on a particular lens (e.g., slight softness when shot wide open that clears up when stopped down by 2/3 of a stop) was observed when shot "native" on the Sony A1 II and when shot adapted on the Nikon Z 9.

• Megadap ETZ21 Pro+ impact on AF ACCURACY (on a static subject): None that I could detect. There was NO tendency to occasionally misfocus on a static subject when using the Megadap Pro+.

• Megadap ETZ21 Pro+ impact on AF SUBJECT DETECTION (both static subjects and during action shooting): None that I could detect.

• Megadap ETZ21 Pro+ impact on AF TRACKING (and AF hit rates) during "MODERATE" action: This includes subjects like sparring bears that stay on close to the same focal plane or non-erratically flying birds like eagles or gulls that aren't flying directly at (or away) from the camera. Very minimal - it was hard to notice any negative impact. Note that some sporting events (but certainly not all) would fit into this category of "moderate action".

• Megadap ETZ21 Pro+ impact on AF TRACKING (and AF hit rates) during "EXTREME" action: Now things get interesting. While there was variation in the DROP in AF hit rate percentage when using the Megadap ETZ21 Pro+ with different lenses when shooting extreme action (the good ol' "Dog Running Directly At Me" test), over ALL the lenses tested and ALL the trials run the AF hit rate dropped by an average of 26% when using adapted lenses on the Nikon Z 9 (compared to their hit rate when shot native on the Sony A1 II). Interestingly, the lens that had the lowest drop in AF hit rate when shot adapted on a Z 9 vs. when shot "native" on a Sony A1 II was the Sigma Sports 200mm f2 (with a hit rate drop of only 10%). And, when the Sony E-mount version of the Tamron 35-150mm f2-f2.8 was shot adapted on a Nikon Z 9 the AF hit rate dropped by an average of 29% (compared to the hit rate when shooting the Nikon Z-mount version of the Tamron 35-150mm f2-f2.8 on a Nikon Z 9).

I noticed something else worth reporting when shooting my AF performance tests (i.e., the dog running tests): The vast majority of slightly soft and completely out-of-focus shots experienced when shooting with the Megadap Pro+ were when the subject was extremely close to me (filling at least 50% of the frame while running directly at me). At longer distances to the subject there was almost no difference in the AF hit rate for a given lens when shot native on a Sony A1 II vs. when shot adapted on a Z 9.

• Metadata Inconsistencies: During my autumn Great Bear Rainforest photo tour I noticed NO problems with the metadata when shooting the Sigma Sports 200mm f2 adapted on my Z 9. However, at that point I was shooting only ONE adapted E-mount lens on my Z 9. Once I began my more extensive testing of the adapter and was using multiple E-mount lenses a problem with metadata consistency DID show up. The problem was that the metadata very commonly "mixed up" the adapted lenses I was using. So, for example, it would record the Sigma 200mm f2 as the Sony FE 50-150mm f2 GM OSS. Initially I thought it was consistently recording the lens identification data as simply the previous E-mount lens used, but soon noticed the pattern was more chaotic. Bottom line is that I now simply can't trust the lens identifying portion of the metadata. At times, this can be quite an inconvenience.

• Random(?) Glitches & Gremlins: Again, during my use of the adapted Sigma 200mm f2 on my autumn Great Bear Rainforest photo tour I noticed no electronic glitches with it. However, once I started my systematic testing of it I started seeing two glitches. The first was a freezing up (or shutdown) of autofocus. This glitch was relatively uncommon, occurring about 10% or less of the time. And, it was easily solved simply by toggling my Z 9 off and then back on. But I DID miss some shots because of it. The second glitch was much less common - maybe 1% of the time? Anyway...with this second glitch I experienced complete EVF blackout (when I turned my Z 9 on with an adapted lens attached). Like with the first glitch, this EVF blackout went away if I toggled the camera off and then back on.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

There are a few other considerations to ponder if one is contemplating "beefing up" their Nikkor lens lineup with one or more E-mount lenses using the Megadap ETZ21 Pro+ mount adapter:

1. Inability to perform lens firmware updates: If the E-mount lens that you are using (from Sony, Sigma, or Tamron) has a firmware update you can NOT update it from a Nikon body - it must be done using a Sony body. That said, lens firmware updates on E-mount lenses don't seem to be very frequent (yes, I checked out ALL the E-mount lenses I was using during these tests). And, if you happen to know someone with a Sony body (that you're on good terms with! 😉) who will lend you their body for a few minutes - or have a friendly, service-oriented local Sony dealer - you may have a painless way around this limitation.

2. Possible post-processing RAW workflow issues: A lot of the photographers I interact with on a regular basis use DxO software (either PureRAW or PhotoLab) for initial noise reduction and lens corrections to their RAW files before using their favourite raw image-editing tool (typically Capture One or Lightroom). These DxO apps WILL still perform noise reduction on images shot with an E-mount lens on a Nikon body. However, the lens corrections require DxO modules for the particular camera/lens combinations. DxO has zillions of these modules (kudos to them!), but they do NOT have modules for E-mount lenses shot on Nikon bodies, and I can hardly blame them for that. But this means that you can NOT perform lens corrections on most shots captured using the Megadap ETZ21 Pro+ adapter. I say "most shots" for a reason - in some instances DxO suggests an alternate module for images captured with a Nikon body and E-mount lens...and these alternates often work very well. As an example, with images captured with a Nikon Z 9 and the E-mount Sigma Sports 200mm f2 lens DxO PhotoLab asks if you want to use the module for the Nikon Z 9 plus Nikkor 200mm f2G ED VR II. I've experimented with that module on my Sigma 200mm f2 images and it works very well. Similarly, if you shoot images with a Z 9 and the Sony EF 300mm f2.8 GM OSS PhotoLab asks which (of two) Nikkor 300mm f2.8 lenses you want to use/try (and the module for the Nikkor 300mm f2.8 VRII works very well). Of course, you're ONLY going to have workable modules suggested if the metadata identifying the lens is correct! (see comment above about "Metadata Inconsistencies").

3. Is the Megadap ETZ21 Pro+ "future-proofed"? Hmmm...I don't know. While I assume the current adapter will work on future Nikon camera bodies (such at the Z 9II), I can't say this with complete certainty. At this point Megadap is quick on firmware updates for the ETZ21 Pro+ (there have been two firmware updates in the 4 months I have been using the adapter), I can't say how long they will keep this up (or if a firmware update would be needed and/or sufficient for compatibility with future Nikon bodies). I suppose it's possible Megadap will come up with a NEW version of their adapter (requiring the committed user to shell out for a new model) for compatibility with new bodies (but I simply don't know this for a fact).

FINAL WORDS

OK...do I actually RECOMMEND the Megadap ETZ21 Pro+ and think it's a fully viable way to fill holes in Nikon's Z-mount lens lineup with Sony E-mount lenses? My honest answer is this: Reread everything above and decide yourself if it is a good idea for you! 😉. However if I was pushed harder to give clearer advice I'd say this: Many users would be completely happy with the performance of adapted Sony E-mount lenses on their Nikon Z bodies through the use of the Megadap ETZ21 Pro+ mount adapter. However, those who shoot extreme action (where a high degree of accurate tracking AND where their plane of focus is rapidly changing) on a frequent basis would probably be disappointed with how the adapter (and adapted lenses) perform. So...virtually ALL landscape shooters, MOST wildlife shooters, a LOT of event shooters, and SOME sports photographers probably could consider using the Megadap ETZ Pro+ adapter (and thus open up a whole new world of lens options).

What's my OWN position on the Megadap ETZ21 Pro+ adapter? This is probably most completely answered through my answers to two questions I was recently asked by an astute serious photographer of Canadian heritage:

1. "So Brad, would YOU be comfortable investing in Sony E-mount lenses without owning a Sony body (and thus fully relying on that adapter)?" Short answer: NO. Longer, more complete answer: The 3 E-mount lenses I was interested in myself (and that started this perpetually growing experiment) - the Sigma Sports 200mm f2, the Sony FE 50-150mm f2 GM, and the Sony FE 300mm GM OSS - are quite expensive lenses. I simply wasn't comfortable forking out for these lenses without knowing for sure that I could continue to use them in the future. So I DID acquire two Sony bodies to use with these lenses - initially a Sony A7R V and subsequently a Sony A1 II. And now I'm living with an integrated Nikon/Sony kit of gear which I am very happy with. And, as an added bonus, ALL the Sony E-mount lenses CAN be shot on my Nikon Z 9 (and I suppose that Z 9 can be thought of as a helluva good backup to the Sony A1 II 😉)!

2. "When you use the Megadap adapter are you really getting the WHOLE E-mount lens?" It really depends on the lens. Some examples will help. When using the Sigma Sports 200mm f2 lens adapted on my Z 9 it works really, really well - and its AF performance when shooting extreme action just dropped a little (10%) compared to its performance on a Sony A1 II. So with this "niche" lens you ARE getting pretty much the whole lens. The same could be said of wider angle lenses (such as the excellent Sony FE 16-35mm f2.8 GM II) which are rarely used for extreme action shooting. However, when I performed autofocus testing on the Sony FE 400mm f2.8 it experienced a very large drop in the AF hit rate (a drop of 45%) when shot adapted on a Nikon Z 9 compared to when shot on a Sony A1 II. So I would consider that you only get a "part" of this very good lens if you buy it for use on a Nikon body.

Should YOU purchase a Megadap ETZ21 Pro+ lens mount adapter? That's up to you (and there's NO purchase links here...or anywhere for anything on this website)!

Field Test Index