Guide to Sony a7 a7R a7S a7II a7RII a7SII Lens Adapters – Part 2

CONTINUED FROM: SONY A7 A7R A7S A7II A7RII LENS ADAPTERS – PART 1

Legacy Lens Mount Adapters for Sony E-Mount

Sony a7, a7R, a7S, a7II, a7RII, a7SII mirrorless cameras are the only cameras that allow you to use virtually every make of 35mm lenses with the full angle of view for which those lenses were designed. The best lens bargains can be found among legacy lenses discontinued lens mounts or camera systems. These include many great lenses from Leica R, Contax/Yashica, Contax G, Minolta MD, Canon FD and Hasselblad V. Here’s a round-up of the best lens mount adapters for Sony E-Mount cameras. For an explanation of how to use Focus Peaking and Manual Focus Assist with manual focus lenses – See Part 1 of this review.

Canon FD Lens Mount Adapters to Sony E-Mount

Legacy Canon FD lenses are a bargain and in some cases these lenses outperform their autofocus EOS counterpart for a fraction of the price. Fotodiox Pro Canon FD/FL to Sony E-Mount Lens Adapter ($60 at Amazon | B&H) & Metabones Canon FD Mount Lens to Sony E-Mount Adapter ($99 at Amazon | B&H Photo) are good choices for using Canon FD lenses on E-mount bodies.

fotodiox-pro-canon-fd-fl-e-mount-adapter
Fotodiox Pro Canon FD/FL to Sony E-Mount Lens Adapter


Contax G Lens Mount Adapters to Sony E-Mount

Contax G lenses are an ideal size for Sony a7-series cameras. While there are a number of Contax G to Sony E adapters on the market, currently the only choice for AF is the Techart Contax G to Sony E Fullframe AF Adapter III ($300 at Amazon). The latest Mark III version of this adapter has been updated for improved AF focusing speed and includes build-in Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless firmware upgrade. This adapter works best when focusing wide open and results vary depending on the lens used. According to the manufacturer, the Contax G 21mm f/2.8 and 35mm f/2 focus fastest followed by the 28mm f/2.8 and 45mm f/2 with the 90mm f/2.8 the slowest. The 16mm f/8 Hologon is manual focus only and 35-70mm f/3.5-5.6 is not compatible with this adapter.

Techart-ContaxG-SonyE
Techart Contax G to Sony E Fullframe AF Adapter III

If you can live with manual focus, save yourself a few dollars with the Metabones Contax G Mount Lens to Sony E-Mount Adapter ($130 at Amazon | B&H Photo) or the FotodioX Contax G to Sony E-Mount Adapter ($90 at Amazon | B&H Photo)


Contax/Yashica to E-Mount Lens Adapters

If you’re searching for bargains on Carl Zeiss glass, Contax/Yashica Zeiss lenses are available from used camera dealers at a great price. They can be mounted on Sony A7-series cameras using Metabones Contax Yashica Mount Lens to Sony E-Mount Adapter ($99 at B&H) or Novoflex Adapter for Contax/Yashica Lens to Sony E-Mount ($212 at Amazon | B&H)

metabones-contax-yashica-e-mount-adapter
Metabones Contax Yashica Mount Lens to Sony E-Mount Adapter


Contax N to Sony E-Mount Lens Adapters

While a bit pricier, the newer Contax N lenses are exceptional and can be mounted on a7 Series cameras using FotodioX Contax N to Sony E-Mount Adapters ($90 at Amazon | B&H Photo).


Hasselblad V Lens Mount Adapters to Sony E-Mount

The a7 Series cameras won’t be able to take advantage of the full 6x6cm lens coverage Hasselblad lenses are designed for, but then again, medium format digital backs can’t cover that either.

If you happen to have a few favorite Hasselblad V series lenses that you can’t bring yourself to part with, but no digital back to go with them, the FotodioX Hasselblad V to Sony E-Mount Adapter ($80 at Amazon | B&H Photo) might be just the adapter for you. I could never bring myself to part with my Hasselblad Carl Zeiss 110mm f/2 Planar, which was easily among the sharpest lenses ever made for Hasselblad.

Sony-A7R-Hasselblad-018
Sony A7R in with FotidioX Hasselblad V to Sony E Adapter and Hasselblad CZ 110mm f/2 Planar focuses close enough to fill the frame with a tight face.

The fit and finish of the FotodioX Hasselblad V to Sony E-Mount Adapter is really top quality just as you’d expect for a high-end product. It has a stainless steel lens mount that won’t expand or contract like brass.

Sony-A7R-Hasselblad-2


Leica R to Sony E-Mount Lens Adapters

If you’re looking for great glass at a great price, Leica R lenses represent the ultimate legacy lens mount bargain. Leica R lenses are available for bargain prices compared to their Leica M counterparts. They can be mounted on Sony A7/A7R/A7S using adapters like the Metabones Leica R to Sony E-Mount Adapter ($99 at Amazon | B&H Photo) or Novoflex Adapter for Leica R Lens to Sony E-Mount ($212 at Amazon | B&H Photo)

Sony-A7R-Metabones-Leica-R
Metabones Leica R to Sony E-Mount Adapter and Leica 60mm f/2.8 Macro-Elmarit-R lens

Sony-A7R-Metabones-Leica-R2
Sony A7R with Metabones Leica R to Sony E-Mount Adapter and Leica 60mm f/2.8 Macro-Elmarit-R lens

Sony A7R with Leica 60mm f/2.8 Macro-Elmarit-R lens
Macro shot using Leica 60mm f/2.8 Macro-Elmarit-R lens on Sony A7R with Metabones Leica R to Sony E-Mount Adapter


Mamiya 645/Phase One Lens Mount Adapters to Sony E-Mount

While you won’t be able to take advantage of the full 6 x 4.5cm lens coverage Mamiya 645 or Phase One lenses are designed for, you can mount them on A7/A7R using the FotodioX Adapter for Mamiya 645 to Sony E-Mount lens adapter ($70 at Amazon | B&H Photo)

Fotodiox-M645
FotodioX Adapter for Mamiya 645 to Sony E-Mount lens adapter


Minolta MD Lens Mount Adapters to Sony E-Mount

You can trace Sony’s roots directly back to Minolta Maxxum. But going back from there will take you back to some excellent Minolta MD Rokkor glass. The FotodioX Adapter for Minolta MD/MC to Sony E-Mount ($60 at Amazon | B&H Photo) is a good choice for these lenses.

Sony A7R in with FotidioX Minolta MD to Sony E Adapter
Sony A7R in with FotidioX Minolta MD to Sony E Adapter and Minolta MD 58mm f1.2


Olympus OM Lens Mount Adapters to Sony E-Mount

Due to their compact size, Olympus OM Lenses are ideally suited for Sony a7-Series cameras. FotodioX Adapter for Olympus OM to Sony E-Mount ($60 at Amazon | B&H Photo), Metabones Olympus OM to Sony E-Mount Adapter ($99 at B&H) and Novoflex Adapter for Olympus OM Lens to Sony E-Mount ($212 at Amazon | B&H) are all good choices for these lenses.

fotodiox-pro-olympus-om-e-mount-adapter
FotodioX Adapter for Olympus OM to Sony E-Mount


PL Lens Mount Adapters to Sony E-Mount

For you’re looking to mount PL mount cinema lenses on Sony a7 Series cameras, you’ve got quite a few options. The most reasonably priced is FotodioX Pro Lens Mount Adapter Arri PL to Sony E-Mount ($120 at Amazon | B&H Photo). Pricier options include 16×9 Inc. Cine Lens Mount PL to Sony E Mount ($500 at Amazon | B&H Photo) and MTF Services Ltd PL to Sony E Mount Adapter ($460 at B&H Photo)

Fotodiox-PL-adapter
FotodioX Pro Lens Mount Adapter Arri PL to Sony E-Mount


CLICK HERE TO FIND THE LENS ADAPTER YOU NEED

 

LINKS FOR SONY E-MOUNT LENS ADAPTERS

 

Sony A-Mount to E-Mount Lens Adapters

  • Sony LA-EA3 Lens Mount Adapter (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Sony LA-EA4 Lens Mount Adapter (Amazon | B&H Photo)

    Metabones Lens Adapters for Sony E-Mount

  • Metabones Alpa Mount Lens to Sony E-Mount Adapter (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Metabones Arriflex Mount Lens to Sony E-Mount Adapter (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Metabones Canon EF to Sony E-Mount Smart Adapter IV (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Metabones Canon FD Mount Lens to Sony E-Mount Adapter (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Metabones Contax G Mount Lens to Sony E-Mount Adapter (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Metabones Leica M Mount Lens to Sony E-Mount Adapter (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Metabones Leica R to Sony E-Mount Adapter (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Metabones Nikon F to Sony E-Mount Adapter II (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Metabones Nikon G to Sony E-Mount Adapter (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Â Metabones Olympus OM to Sony E-Mount Adapter (B&H Photo)

    Novoflex Lens Adapters for Sony E-Mount

  • Novoflex Adapter for Canon FD Lens to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Novoflex Adapter for Contax/Yashica Lens to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Novoflex Adapter for Leica M Lens to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Novoflex Adapter for Leica R Lens to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Novoflex Adapter for M 42 Lens to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Novoflex Adapter for Minolta MD or MC Lens to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Novoflex Adapter for Nikon Lens to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Novoflex Adapter for Olympus OM Lens to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Novoflex Adapter for Pentax K Lens to Sony E-Mount (B&H Photo)

    FotodioX Lens Adapters for Sony E-Mount

  • FotodioX Adapter for Canon EF to Sony E-Mount(with Iris Control (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Â FotodioX Adapter for Canon EF/EF-S to Sony E Mount Vizelex ND Throttle (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • FotodioX Adapter for Contax G to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • FotodioX Adapter for Contax N to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • FotodioX Adapter for Exakta to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • FotodioX Adapter for Hasselblad V to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • FotodioX Adapter for Konica AR to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • FotodioX Adapter for Leica M Mount to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Â Fotodiox Pro M42 to Sony E-Mount Lens Adapter with Macro Focusing Helicoid (Amazon)
  • FotodioX Adapter for Mamiya 645 to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • FotodioX Adapter for Minolta MD/MC to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • FotodioX Adapter for Nikon G to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • FotodioX Adapter for Olympus OM to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • FotodioX Pro Lens Mount Adapter for Pentax 645-Mount Lens to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Fotodiox Pro Lens Mount Adapter for Pentax 6×7 Lenses to Sony E-Mount (Amazon)
  • FotodioX Adapter for PL to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • FotodioX Adapter for Rollei 35mm to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • FotodioX Adapter for Topcon to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • FotodioX Adapter for Yashica 230AF to Sony E-Mount (Amazon | B&H Photo)

    Vello Lens Adapters for Sony E-Mount

  • Vello Canon EF/EF-S Lens to Sony E Camera Adapter (B&H Photo)
  • Vello Leica M Mount Lens to Sony E-Mount Adapter (B&H Photo)
  • Vello Nikon F Mount Lens to Sony E-Mount Adapter (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Vello Nikon G Lens to Sony E-Mount Adapter (B&H Photo)
  • Vello T Mount Lens to Sony E-Mount Adapter (B&H Photo)

    Voigtlander Lens Adapters for Sony E-Mount

  • Voigtlander VM-E Close Focus M Mount to Sony E-Mount Adapter (Amazon | B&H Photo)
  • Voigtlander M Mount to Sony E Mount Adapter (Black) (B&H Photo)
  • Voigtlander M Mount to Sony E Mount Adapter (Silver) (B&H Photo)
  • Voigtlander Nikon F to Sony E Lens Mount Adapter (B&H Photo)
  • Voigtlander Pentax K to Sony E Lens Mount Adapter (B&H Photo)

    BACK TO: SONY A7/A7R/A7S LENS MOUNT ADAPTERS – PART 1

     

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    Read: Photography Gear Guide: Lens Adapters
    Read: Guide to Sony a7 a7R a7S a7II a7RII a7SII Lens Mount Adapters – Part 1
    Read: Guide to Sony a7 a7R a7S a7II a7RII a7SII Camera Accessories
    Read: Field Test: Sony a7R
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    142 thoughts on “Guide to Sony a7 a7R a7S a7II a7RII a7SII Lens Adapters – Part 2”

    1. Pingback: Ultimate Guide to Sony A7 / A7R Lens Mount Adap...

    2. Pingback: Ultimate Guide to Sony A7 / A7R Lens Mount Adapters

    3. Nice roundup, Brian. I’ve used inexpensive adapters for my M and LTM lenses and FD lenses on my NEX-6 – and found no significant issues till I obtained a mint FD 100-300 f5.6 zoom where the lens’ aperture control arm was closer to the centerline of that lens than other FD lenses – and so, the “open-lock” adjustment didn’t work.

      Looking forward to trying my old lenses on an A7. Somehow I believe my 1982 f2 Summicron will be at least competitive with the better modern lenses of that focal length.

      1. Yes, there are always a few exceptions to the rule. That’s where the premium adapters tend to excel. Vintage glass often has a different “look” than transcends sharpness. It’s kind of like post-processing in-camera.

    4. Pingback: Ultimate Guide to Sony A7 / A7R Lens Mount Adap...

    5. Pingback: Ultimate Guide to Sony A7 / A7R Lens Mount Adap...

    6. Thanks for the excellent work, Brian! IMHO the Sony A7/7R can be called the only FF body to give us the best flexibility for lenses of any brand!
      I wonder when Sony will come up with an adapter for FE lenses to A-mount… ! The reason would be that some lenses are showing up for E-mount for a reasonable price, smaller size/weight and equivalent IQ as similar existent A-mount ones, like:
      Sony FE 70-200 F4 G OSS
      Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T*
      Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS
      Sony FE 55mm F1.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T*
      Sony FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar T*
      I really don’t know is that adaption is possible or not!

      Lucas

      1. Hello Lucas,

        You can adapt A-mount to E-mount, but no the other way around.

        The reason that the Sony A7/A7R has more flexibility than other lens mounts is it’s very shallow flange depth (measured as the distance from lens mount to sensor).

        E-Mount flange depth is 18mm. A-Mount flange depth is 44.5mm. The difference between those depths determines the thickness of the LA-EA3 and LA-EA4 lens adapters

        E-mount lenses can’t be adapted to A-Mount bodies because the adapter would have to mount the lens 26.5mm inside the camera.

        1. Thanks, Brian! I guess I expected that impossibility.IMHO that also makes the design of an A body which can handle both E and A mounts, as has been rumored, very complex and maybe prohibitively expensive!

          Lucas

          1. Would be difficult and it would have to be mirrorless to work. I think the rumor sites my be confused with A-mount + PL-mount video camera that was shown at NAB last year.

    7. Hi, Love your reviews on lens adapters and the Sony A7. Like a lot of folks, we have a lot (A LOT) of manual lens primes we want to use. Does one usually keep the adapter on the body and remove the lens? Or remove adapter/lens combo, undo the adapter, add new lens, pop back into camera?

      1. I firmly believe that the least complex solution is usually the best. If I was changing to another lens with the same mount like from EOS 85/F1.2 to EOS 50/F1.2 on a Metabones Smart Adapter III, I’d leave the mount adapter on the body and simply swap lenses.

    8. Hi Brian

      Thanks for your posts. I am still searching for the right adaptor for my Contax IIa (circa 1953) Zeiss 50mm 1.8 lens to my newly pruchased Sony A7r. B&H tell me it is not the Contax/Yaschica (CY) adaptor. Kipon have a Contax Rangefinder to Sony NEX (over $200) and some coming out of Russia a tad cheaper on ebay, is that the right one. Can you shed any light. Cheers Christina

      1. Yes, that is the Contax rangefinder mount – not Contax/Yashica – which was SLR. I believe the Kiev 5 also used the same mount so you might indeed have luck on eBay out of Russia. Good luck and let me know what you find.

    9. Thanks Brian for the prompt response and confirmation – the zeiss contax lens I have is actually 1.2 and awesome so I will give the russian adaptor a go the reviews from those that have bought the adapter are quite good and it specially states for Contax II a zeiss and jupiter lenses. They are about $AUD 180 but seem solid quality items. I will let you know how it goes. I also have a Rollei SL35 circa 1975 that has the Ziess 50mm 1.8 lens do you know if the Rollei 35 to Sony nex is the right adaptor for that? Cheers Christina

    10. Hi Brian no luck with the russians on ebay they sold out only one left and the seller doesn’t ship to Australia..oh bother. It is vexing a bit like wand lore in the land of wizards. That leaves the Kipon adaptors out of HK and China on ebay but they are confusing me with two types simple $US 30 and advanced (US$200-250). Does the adaptor need to have aperture and distance to subject controls on it or is having these controls already on the manual focus lens enough, hopefully that is the right question to ask as that seems to be difference visually at least … the item descriptions don’t provide any clarity. Hoping you can save me from insanity setting in.

      1. If focus is also on the lens – not mount or body then you are likely fine with the cheaper adapter. But I’d suggest contacting Kipon to be certain. It might help if you included a photo of your lens when you contact them.

    11. Thanks Brian I worked it out by taking the lens off the contax then it became apparent which one I need to get which was the advanced. It was more to do with inner and outer bayonets. I will let you know how it goes. In the meantime will l keep shooting with Nikon d600 while I wait the the adaptors and the Ziess 24-70 mm lens to arrive. Many thanks for your help. Cheers Christina

      1. “Best” is different for different users. The 90mm is by far the most popular, though there are lots of fans of the 100mm and 60mm macros. My personal choice is the 80mm 1.4 which is very close to the design of the legendary Leica Summilux-M 75mm f/1.4 Lens

    12. Thanks for the valuable resource Brian!
      The A7R is top of my wish list.
      I shoot Contax 645 and own all the lenses. It’s amazing how Sony is innovating in such a way that reminds me when I fell in love with my first Contax camera in 1979 – the 139 Quartz camera. And I will get a C/Y adapter for these lenses. Although have you heard of an adapter for these Contax 645 lenses? It would be interesting to try. I read “somewhere” that there is a Hasselblad mount to fit the Contax 645. Not sure if that’s an avenue to explore”¦
      Thanks, Glen

      1. I suspect if enough people ask FotodioX for a Contax 645 to Sony E adapter they’ll make one. Their Hasselblad V to Sony E adapter is beautifully made and Contax 645 would certainly merit the same treatment. I generally try to avoid doubling up adapters if possible.

    13. Hi Brian, thanks for a great write up. I am leaning towards the a7r and I’m trying to find out if anyone has an adaptor for legacy Olympus lenses. Any idea? (I have a very sweet 50mm 1.2)

    14. Thank you for your sharing! Do the sony a mount lenses work perfectly with a7r? I just buy one and wonder if I should wait for more e mount lens (tele) or just buy a mount? Thanks!

      1. Hi Paul. If you’re looking for a 70-200 F4, I’d wait a month for the FE version. Nothing longer than that has been announced. The obvious plus for A-mount lenses is that they can be used on both E-mount and A-mount cameras. While they may not focus quite as quickly on the A7/A7R with the LA-EA4 adapter as they would on an a99, they’re pretty good for most uses. The bigger difference is size & weight though that difference diminishes with longer glass.

        1. Hi, Brian,
          I can’t wait for the sony e-mount 70-200 (also too bulky for me) and I am looking for a light weight tele zoom lens. Is the tamron “18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III VC” designed for apsc format? Can I use it in a7? If not, any suggection for a light weight tele zoom lens (any brand, I know I need to buy an adapter)?
          Thank you very much! Hope won’t waste your time!

          1. After searching from internet, the tamron is apsc format and I am afraid no full frame emount lenses available. Right? Then is the sony a-mount lenses is the best choice so far? Thanks!!

          2. Paul, I’m not sure that lens is up to the standards of the camera. Fullframe sensors are 2.33x larger than APS. Good full frame zooms won’t be tiny.

            1. Thanks Brain,
              “Which Sony a-mount lens are you asking about?”
              I found a few a-mount lenses. such as
              Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA,
              SAL75300 (75-300mm F4.5-5.6)

    15. Hello Brian,

      As an enthusiast, rather than a pro, I’ve been considering upgrading from my older Rebel to a 70D, but then caught wind of the Sony a7. In my film days I had relied on my Contax RTS II (along with a 139 body) and a reasonable (if modest) selection of Contax glass, plus a 3rd party 500 f8 CY mount catadioptric. I also still have my (even older) FD lenses from my A1 days, and even some nice (and older still) Pentax screw-mount lenses like my tack-sharp super Takumar 135 f3.5.

      So now that I know I can use at least some (all?) of this glass on an a7, what would be your opinion – upgrade to the full-frame a7, or stick to Canon with the 70D APS-C?

      1. Hi Karl, I think the A7 was MADE for you! With the appropriate adapters, you should be able to use all those lenses in their original manual focus glory on the A7.

    16. Thank-you the quick response Brian.

      As a follow-up to the previous question, how would you rate the a7 against Canon’s 6D? I ask this since I have large hands, plus I understand that I can also use my Contax glass with a Canon adapter.

      1. No problem, I have very large hands too. The A7 fits very nicely in big hands. I think you’d be happier with the A7. The Contax > Canon adapter is extremely thin and I don’t believe the 6D offers Focus Peaking through the Viewfinder. That comes in very hand with manual focus lenses.

    17. So Brian, considering that Sony now has obvious plans to some pretty serious cameras with access to Zeiss lenses, and considering also that they produce Nikon’s sensors, do you suppose we could be seeing the demise of Nikon? After all, why would Sony continue to assist Nikon once they are on a competing level?

      1. LOL! I don’t think we need to fear the demise of Nikon – though I like your attitude. Sony makes sensors for virtually every camera company except Canon (and Sony’s even made a few of Canon’s sensors.) Even Phase One and Hasselblad have chosen to go with Sony CMOS sensors in their new Top of the line digital backs.

    18. Well, after just a few days of due diligence, I must say that I can’t really see any good reason to stick to Canon (or Nikon). Now it’s just a matter of squirreling away a bit of my paycheck each month, and I’ll be purchasing the a7.

      Thank-you Brian, for your insights.

      Best regards,
      Karl

    19. Any information on a DKL adapter?
      I have a set of lenses for my “kodak retina reflex iii” that I am hoping to adapt. There are a few cheap DKL to E-mount adapters out there, but nothing with revews or comments on FE compatibility. Any information is appreciated.

      Thank you!

    20. Excellent article Brian. I am wondering if you can help me to figure out what is the magnification and minumum focus distance for the A7 when used with appropriate adapter, for both the Hasselblad V 120 Makro Planar and the Mamiya 645 120 Macro.

      1. Hi Peter, the minumum focus distance for either lens will exactly as marked on the lens. The magnification is also unchanged, you simply capture a smaller filed of view but at the same magnification.

    21. Sorry Brian I should have forwarded you this question this way rather than direct.
      Have purchased the Sony A7r with CZ 55 and 35 mm lens- inclued in the purchase (no cost) was the metabones 3 adaptor.I opted for the Canon EOS mount.I would like to purchase an 85 mm lens and have been looking at several options (1) purchase the low cost Canon F1.8 85 mm lens – however I suspect this lens would not do the sensor justice but the Canon 1.2 85 mm lens is very expensive.(2) Sigma make an excellent F1.4 85 mm lens with Canon mount but would this work with the Metabone Adaptor ? (3) purchase an older FD type Canon 85 mm lens (manual focus only) such as the Canon FD F1.2 lens which has superb optics,
      Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated .As I got the Metabones 3 Adaptor and Vertical Grip included with the A7r (Sony Australia was very generous) I don’t have to stay with the Metabones Adaptor .

      1. Canon FD lenses would take a different adapter and are manual focus only. Version 1 of the Canon 85/1.2 is also manual focus only but with Metabones Smart Adapter III. But to the best of my knowledge all the others are AF. If so, the Sigma might be your best bang for the buck.

    22. Brian, I’ve read myself blind on trying to settle in on Sony A7 vs Nikon D610 vs Fuji X-T1. I need to purchase a single lens to perform multiple tasks. Complying to budget I find the Tokina ATX 16-28 f/2.8 PRO FX Nikon lens looking very desirable for Real Estate, Interiors, Lamdscape, and small Products.

      Is there an adapter you would recommend for the A7 that delivers the benefits that I want with that Tokina without compromising its strengths?

      Thanks !

      don

      1. The Metabones Smart Adapter III auto-focuses fairly well with all the lenses I tested except for the original version of the 85mm/f1.2 which lacks SSM. The speed is similar to using the Sony LA-EA3 adapter with Sony A-mount lenses

    23. Hello, You recommend the Novoflex adapter for Canon FD lenses. Do you know if using that adapter allows full frame coverage? or will it be crop?

    24. Pingback: Anonymous

    25. Hello Brian, I was looking into getting a lens for my a7r and I was wondering if you could post an exact description and/or link for the Nikon 55mm f1.2. I’ve found a few online but I’m not too sure on which is preferred.

    26. James Holloway

      Hi Brian: Great site and advice. I am hoping to use my OM Zuiko 50mm f2 macro, 85mm f2 and 28mm f2.8 on sony a7r. I wondered which adapter you used for OM legacy lenses. At Fotodiox and Novoflex sites I couldn’t tell if their adapters cropped or were full frame? Thanks.

      1. Hi James, most adapters are nothing more than hollow tube spacers that make up the difference between the native lens mount and thinner Sony E-mount. Fullframe a lenses will cover the fullframe Sony A7/A7R/A7S sensor as long as you avoid focal reducers such as adapters called “Turbo” or “Speed Booster”.

    27. I have the A7R. So many brands, so many lenses… I have a nice Canon 50 mm 1,4 – but no adapter. And the Leica M adapter – but no glass… While we wait for Sony; what would be smart to do in terms of hunting on ebay for legacy lenses; what mount/brand would give us a nice and not too expensive selection of lenses from 21/24mm to 90/135mm?

    28. There are at least three optically very different Leica R lenses to which “the 90mm” could refer. Please be specific! 90/2 pre-asph, 90/2 APO Aspheric, 90/2.8????? (My pet peeve is very helpful lens review comments with no way to tell which lens is being discussed.)

      1. Ah, you’re missing the point of this post. As the title suggests, it’s about lens mount adapters – not lens reviews. All three versions of the Leica R 90mm use the same lens mount adapters.

    29. Sorry, but no: the post said “What do you think the best Leica R lens is for portraiture? The 90mm?” and you responded “The 90mm is by far the most popular … ” That exchange was not about the adapters, and failed to identify which of the three Leica R 90mm lenses was being discussed.

      Thanks for the terrific review about adapters!

    30. Brian,

      Did you happen to note which types of adapters maintain the proper flange focal distance? Inexpensive adapters are almost all just a bit too short, shifting the focus scale and letting you focus beyond infinity. It’s not a big deal for primes, but on zoom lenses this makes them not parfocal anymore. Do Metabones or Novoflex get it right? Thanks.

    31. alexander modenos

      Thank you Brian for providing an unbiased opinion regarding legacy glass on the Sony a7. Manual focusing allows me to enter into the picture in a sensual fashion, which I believe reveals itself in the final image.

    32. Peter MacDonald

      Brian, there is another option for using autofocus with Contax G lenses on the A7/A7R. They are made in China, branded “Yeenon”, and go for about $330 on eBay. The autofocus speed is not as good as on the Contax body, but it’s not bad. I’m quite happy with mine.

    33. HI Brian, I have contax G lens (45mm and 90mm) and a Minolta MD 24mm, as well as some Konica hexanon lenses. I have the nex E mount adapters for them. I am thinking about getting an a7 series camera, would I need new adapters? YRC

      1. Most of the adapters you mentioned for those lenses are simply hollow tubes – so unless they’re ‘Speed Boosters’ or ‘Turbo’ adapters that scale the image down to APS or have some sort of internal rectangular baffle – they’ll likely cover fullframe on Sony A7/A7R/A7S. Consult with the manufacturer to be certain.

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    37. Hi Brian,
      Great articles, thanks for taking the time to answer all of our questions! As for my question, I’m curious if you have an recommendations as to which company’s lens adaptors you prefer in general and/or specifically for Nikon? I have two lenses that I will be “porting” over to a new Sony A7II: an 18-200 and an 11-16 Tokina. (I realize neither are full frame lenses, but I’ve got to start somewhere!) I’ve been doing a bit of research, but I can’t really tell the difference between the different companies. Any help would be much appreciated!

      1. Thanks Ben. Novoflex was the first Nikon to Sony E-Mount adapter and though it’s still probably the best – it’s also the priciest which is why I included other lower priced alternatives like FotodioX that work quite well. Just remember Nikon G adapter will work with either Nikon G or Nikon F lenses – but Nikon F adapters can’t control the iris on Nikon G lenses. So if you’ve got a mix, get a Nikon G adapter.

        1. I tried the Novoflex Minolta MD adapter, and I was really unimpressed. The flange focal distance was off. It focused beyond infinity and my zoom lenses were not parfocal. It has no baffles and does not come with a tripod mount. It’s way too expensive for what it is. Every eBay adapter I got was just as good.

    38. Hi Brian, Thank you for answering my earlier questions. A couple others that I have are 1) Which is the mount that would be used for the Nikon E series? I found a 50 1.8 but can’t seem to figure out which adapter this one would work with! And 2) as, like you said, there are SO MANY choices of great lenses out there, especially of the “old school” variety of which I know very little about and get fairly overwhelmed when trying to take it all in- would you have any interest in doing a bit more of an in-depth review of lenses spreading the gamut from the cheap end to maybe moderately more expensive? I’d love to get your opinions and comparisons of some more of the different lenses out there. I realize you’re probably pretty busy, but if you find some time to be able to do that I think there would be many of us who would be greatly benefited! Thanks again!

    39. Brian,
      Thank you for the comprehensive information. This obviously took you a lot of time to compile, and your willingness to share is greatly appreciated.

      I’m wondering if you are aware of any tests with Contax G on the Sony FE mount?

      For me architectural photography puts food on the table, landscape photography is food for the soul. The idea of having a small 21 mm, and 35mm, with Zeiss quality AND autofocus is very attractive. What scares me is image quality in the corners. I hear a lot of people talking about Leica on the Sony’s, how it gives a wonderful look. Then I read Lloyd Chambers and others that say due to the angle that the light hits the sensor the corners are just not great.

      Do you think the Contax will have the same issue?

      1. I haven’t heard great things about the Contax G 21mm on Sony a7 cameras, but I think the 35mm is fine. As for Leica, Voigtlander wide angle lens design preforms much better than Leica on mirrorless cameras.

    40. Hi Brian, Excellent roundup of lens adapters. I currently use la-ea2 on Nex-6 but I don’t have DOF preview available and the aperture closes down with a jolt when I release the shutter (actually making the thing unusable unless on a tripod). Does the a7ii / a7rii stop down the aperture ‘live’ with an LA-EAx adapter (before shutter release like a native FE lens) or is the behaviour the same? It seems odd that I can get BETTER performance using Metabones/Canon lenses than I can using Sony A-Mount lenses on an E-Mount system.

      1. Actually, Canon Smart adapters are all essentially clones of the Sony LA-EA3 Lens Mount Adapter so the function almost exactly the same. It’s my adapter of choice for a7RII. Sony A-mount screw-drive lenses like the 85/1.4 ZA and 135/1.8 ZA require a LA-EA4 Adapter for AF – much like the way that many pre-2006 Canon EF lenses may not auto-focus using Canon Smart Adapters.

        You can assign Aperture Preview to a Custom Button on a7II / a7RII if you wish to stop down A-mount lenses prior to exposure.

        1. Thanks Brian. I appreciate your taking the time to reply. It’s so hard sometimes to gather the information one needs from the internet. (I wish that the local camera shop had more Sony equipment for me to try for myself). Anyway, I’m really liking the E-Mount system in general because of the multitude of lens options available.

          From what you have on your site, I think that the Sony a7II with an LA-EA4 looks like a nice upgrade for my NEX-6 AND a700 to maintain use of my A-Mount lenses.

          Time to bag up some kit for a trade-in!

          Thanks again.

    41. Hey Brian,

      Considering purchasing the Sony A7rii. I currently own a canon 24-70 2.8 L ii, Which I will most likely keep for an all around lens. I also own a mamiya 7 and I’m thinking about selling and purchasing some lenses to compliment the Sony. I own a Mamiya 65mm and 90 mm. Basically I’m looking for a really sharp portrait and landscape lens. I saw your suggestion of using Leica R lens and was wondering if you might have some suggestions.

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    43. MEN!!!!!!
      WHAT AN AWESOME GUIDE!!!!!
      THANKS FOR REAL!!!!! ^^

      i have in my hands a Sony Alpha 7 and i was looking to learn more about its lenses and how to develop a full potential with this camera ^^

    44. I have a 120mm macro lens from a Pentax 645n that I would love to use with the A7rii. Could I use the Pentax 645 to K adapter and then use the Novoflex Pentax K to Sony E adaptor to attach to the camera? Do you know if anyone has tried two adapters together?

    45. Just in case someone else is interested in an adapter for Pentax 645 to Sony E, I thought I would add that I found Fotodiox does make one. Manual focus and stop-down metering.

    46. For what it’s worth, I have had a chance to test the Sony LA-EA3 adapter with the Sigma 35 1.4 art on the Sony A7ii and my finding was that Autofocus does NOT work – it’s very, very s l o w and even when you think it has reached focus and you shoot, it’s gone again. Autofocus with the more expensive LA-EA4 does work thanks to the internal lens motor, and you can’t use the camera’s phase focussing. Given the total cost I am now contemplating buying native lenses. I have seen tests which suggest the Canon adapters don’t enable reliable autofocus either; so at this stage, IMHO adapters are not really an option for anyone who wants to use the autofocus capabilties of the newer A7 models.

    47. Brian…the adapters that you mentioned for Leica R lenses does or does not activate the auto focus? While I know you probably noted focusing limitation and metering issues, would you be kind enough to post again on those topics. I have about 25 superb lenses sitting in a case….help?

    48. Now, if only the Sensor had a nice thin cover like the M240, Film lenses would be alot better on the A7 series, especially 35mm and wider. Open mount is great if the camera is designed to perform well with other lenses. The sony is not. The best performance is with the few native primes. Leica M 35 and wider are mostly terrible, unless all you care about is the central frame. I had Kolari strip the cover off and replace it with a thin one, and now my A7 is far better with Leica M and better with all film lenses.

      1. Personally I believe it has more to do with the distance from the surface of the glass to the photo diode. Sony a7RII does extremely well due to its back-illuminated sensor design.

        1. The only M lens at 35mm I know which performs close to the level of the natives and close to how it was designed is the new CV ultron-M 35/1.7.

          This lens is quite accurately reviewed here:

          http://phillipreeve.net/blog/voigtlander-ultron-11-7-35-mm-review/

          There is much confusion on the issue since the extreme effects show in landscape style images, and not so much in closer focus, or when edges are not focus anyway. The central frames are always good.

          The A7r2 does improve colorshift but still induces a field curvature in varying degree to all the wider lenses designed for film. Rangefinder lenses are the most extreme.

          The thick sensor cover issue is widely documented. In truth, the Sony is only the equal of the D810 etc with the handful of primes, 25/2 35/2.8 55/1.8 and the 90.

          Yes it’s fun to mount other lenses, but all A7 camera too date are ill-equipped to shoot them as they were designed simply because of the decision to place a very thick cover glass over the sensor, including the BSI.

          With so many variants, and so many who wish to use other lenses, we have to wonder why they cannot just release a model with a thin cover like the M240. But this would mean their natives would not perform quite as well on that model. They have painted themselves into a corner.

          I have never heard a good explanation of the decision on cover glass design. Now they and we are stuck with it.

          Thanks very much for your polite response. You are a superb photographer. 🙂

          Charlie

    49. Hellow sir… Want to know which one is better for video, filmaking sony a7sii or canon 5dmark iii.
      Plz give me explanation sir.

      1. Not even close, a7SII !!!

        Where to start….

        a7SII shoots Native 4K with no line skipping or pixel-binning. 5DIII Doesn’t.
        a7SII offers great AF video with native lenses.
        5DIII Does Not.

        a7SII rocks high ISO with lowest noise of any camera.
        5DIII Does Not.

        a7SII offers over 14-stops dynamic range. 5DIII Doesn’t.
        a7SII offers SLOG-3.
        5DIII Does Not.

        a7SII offers live-view through the viewfinder.
        5DIII Does Not.

        a7SII offers in-camera image stabilization with any lens.
        5DIII Does Not.

        a7SII allows you to use almost every fullframe lens ever made using lens adapters.
        5DIII Does Not.

        a7SII can even shoot with Canon FD glass.
        5DIII Can’t. Go figure that one…

    50. The conundrum with 4/3’s adapters is to not have full frame corrected for except with a booster adapter which introduces another set of lens elements altering the “purity” of the original lens, in this case, Leica R’s. In the case of the adapted for the R to a7. I believe, you answered earlier but I am asking again to confirm that even with the adapter rings you suggest the lenses will take a full frame picture at the same focal length? In other words, a 90mm remains at 90mm even with the adapter or does the length increase proportionally like they do in the 4/3’s adaptation? As if that question us at all understandable! This could mean a renaissance for Leica R lenses to the digital generation. if only Leica had not dropped the SLR in deference to the Japanese mass manufacture of SLR bodies then they could have quite easily shifted to digital format with sensors replacing film in the R bodies. that is one example where the Germans got behind in technological development. The M3, etc as film based viewfinders are still consequential in a remedial kind of way but the lenses and glass used by Leitz Wetzlar are so unique as to be unsurpassable in look and feel of result thus the need for film to continue as a viable medium albeit thoroughly anachronistic.

      1. As long the adapter is not called a ‘Speed Booster’, ‘Turbo’, ‘Focal Reducer’ or has a designation like 0.71X in the name, Sony lens adapters do not contain glass elements that change the field of view. A 90 is a 90…

    51. Hi! I was considering buying a new camera mostly for macro and portraits and was considering the A7ii with a 60mm macro and circle flash….. However I’ve found there are none for this mount! If I buy this lens with an adapter would I still have AF? If, yes what lens would you recommend? Or should I settle for an inferior camera like the Oly OM-D 1 and its native 60mm? Thanks!

    52. Hi Brian!

      I just wondered if you’d noticed any autofocus improvement with the LA-EA4 on the a7II with firmware 2.0?

      It seems to me as though it’s MUCH more accurate now and I no longer need to use micro-adjust on ANY of my lenses (in fact, I’ve switched micro-adjust off altogether).

      Regards.

      1. The firmware update doesn’t affect LA-EA4 because it uses its own self-contained AF system – not the camera’s. But it’s good that you’re getting good results with it.

    53. Hello Brian. Do you know if the sensor design of the A7/A7II/A7RII (including flange depth etc) is likely to reduce the resolution of 3rd-party and legacy lenses … and perhaps cause other problems? The reason I mention this is that I was interested in the Voigtlander 15mm Super-Wide Heliar and found out that the version III lens is apparently better as it has been optimized for digital sensors. For example, http://photoncollective.com/voigtlander-15mm-f4-5-heliar-iii-lens-review, says “But these older ultra wide angle lenses (Voigtlander 15mm prior to Mark III in this case) for M mount were not optimized for use on a digital sensor. As a result, many of these compact wide angle rangefinder lenses exhibit pronounced color shifts and reduced sharpness or smearing of the image on the edges of the image when used on full frame digital camera sensors.”

      This seems to indicate that the problem is mainly with very wide-angle lenses, so it would seem wise to stay away from film lenses below 25mm, say (I’m talking about purchase obviously as one could always try out an owned lens). Is this your experience, or have you found that M-Mount and R-Mount wide-angle lenses are OK on the A7s?

      As it happens, Voigtlander are producing a 15mm lens specifically for the A7, so I would tend to wait for this lens … which will hopefully focus at a short distance. Otherwise it might be back to the 15mm III and the Voigtlander VM-E Close Focus Adapter.

      Many thanks for your really helpful site and for your help (I’m new to Sony having just moved over from Canon and it is all still quite confusing … but fun :)).

      Robert

      1. This has nothing to do with flange depth since M-mount to E-Mount adapters place the lens at exactly the same distance from Sony E-mount sensors as they’re designed for on m-mount cameras.

        Rather it has everything to do with designing lenses for digital instead of film. Wide angle rangefinder glass often used retrofocus degigh that isn’t a great match for digital sensors. Voigtlander Super Wide-Heliar 15mm f/4.5 Aspherical III Lens was designed for better performance on digital sensors. Voigtlander will be rolling out an E-mount version of this lens and two others this Spring: https://briansmith.com/voightlander-announces-10mm-12mm-15mm-e-mount-lenses/

    54. Thanks Brian … so would you agree then that using very wide-angle legacy lenses is potentially problematic (as they would be most likely to use a retrofocus design)? It’s just that there are some very good legacy lenses being sold these days at bargain prices, so it’s tempting to pick one up.

      Do you know if the A7RII sensor (back-lit) is better or worse than a normal CMOS sensor for legacy lenses?

      1. If you mean ultra wide Leica M legacy glass, yes many of the older designs are not well suited for digital sensors. However that’s rarely an issue with SLR lenses that were made to sit farther from the film plane.

        1. Thank you Brian.

          This article explains quite well the reasons why lenses (especially wide angle wide aperture) need to be optimized for digital: http://www.shutterbug.com/content/digitally-optimized-zoom-lenses-do-they-really-make-difference#xGWJe7ytmjprPYBg.97.

          And this article http://coinimaging.com/retrofocus.html goes some way to explaining why a legacy retrofocus wide angle (especially rangefinder) lens is more likely to be problematic for a mirrorless camera with a short rear lens to sensor distance.

          So I guess it’s a question of suck-it-and-see, but without too much optimism for very wide-angle legacy lenses (particularly rangefinder lenses, as you say).

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    56. Brian,

      I’m wondering if you know of any m39-NEX adapters that will allow infinity focus with the Jupiter 8 and Industar 55mm lenses (in conjunction with a Sony A7ii). So far I’ve tried two adapters: A Fotga M39-NEX and a no-name L39-NEX. Both adapters are not allowing me to focus to infinity. These adapters are both too thick, and I’ve not the means to shave them down.

      1. Typically most adapters focus past infinity – rather than failing to focus to infinity. But I have heard a few complaints about Jupiter lenses so it’s entirely possible that some of these Cold War Soviet lenses might not match the specs of other M39-mount lenses.

    57. Hi Brian thanks for all the info on these pages. I have a Sony a7rii and a 70 to 400mm G SSM II lens with the LA-EA3 adapter. I also have the time-lapse app. I am experiencing light flickering when using the 400mm on the time-lapse app. Also one more question, do i need to buy a LA-EA4 to have AF when shooting video? Fred

    58. I don’t know whether it’s just me or if everybody
      else encountering issues with your blog. It seems like some of
      the text in your posts are running off the screen. Can somebody
      else please provide feedback and let me know if this is happening to them as well?
      This may be a problem with my web browser because I’ve
      had this happen previously. Many thanks

    59. You should probably remove the reference (and link) to the Fotodiox adapter considering the product description says:

      “NOTE: This adapter will NOT fit on the Sony a7S, a7 II, a7S II, and a7R II.”

    60. Thank you for the information you’ve provided. I’ve taken advantage of a few of your suggestions. One of the lenses I most want to use is my Canon 50 f/0.95 and I thought the 39mm screw mount would work, as it has with my other Canon RF manual lenses. However, the 0.95 doesn’t have a screw mount, only a bayonet mount which works perfectly on my old Canon 7s but I’m at a loss for how to attach it to the Sony 7II. Does such an adapter exist and, if so, can you recommend one? Sorry if you’ve covered this before but I went through your site a few times and didn’t see any reference to it.
      Thanks, Lorne

    61. Hello Brian, I have a specific problem to solve. I am considering the Samyang 24mm tilt-shift lens, only available in A-mount. I currently use a Fotodiox adapter for my Zuiko OM lenses (including 35mm shift lens) and encountered two problems. First, the basic Fotodiox adapter was not perfectly horizontally aligned, so using L-R shift for panoramic stitching, the lens was not moving horizontally and the images would not line up. The deluxe version fixed this, but the second problem is a light leak between the lens and adapter, which only becomes apparent when using high ND filters (>=10 stops). Fotodiox are aware of this but do not have an adapter to solve this problem. Do you know if the LA-EA3 adapter is correctly aligned and light tight?

      1. I wouldn’t recommend that lens. Some Samyang lenses are quite good but the build in their tilt/shift is not great. You’re better off getting a Canon T/S and adapting that. If you’re shooting extreme time exposures you’ll have more issues from light leaks from a tilt shift lens than you’ll ever have from the adapter.

        1. In that case, which of the Canon adapters are most reliable for alignment and light leaks?

          1. What software are you using to align the images? The auto-align stacking function in Photoshop and Lightroom works brilliantly – even with handheld images!

            If you don’t trust anything named ‘auto’ – set the blend mode of the top layer to ‘Difference’ and alignment will be a snap. Then change blend mode back to normal and you’re done in 5 seconds…

            The seams of ANY Tilt-Shift lens will leak much worse than any lens adapter, so it you’re getting light leaks on long exposures the lens is probably the culprit – not the adapter. Wrap a dark cloth around it when shooting daylight exposures longer than 30 seconds and you’ll be good to go. Normal exposure should not be an issue.

            1. Thanks for the advice Brian. The alignment issues are not software ones: getting the lens to move horizontally requires the adapter to have its horizontal-vertical axes aligned; if they are not, using shift on the lens results in the lens not moving horizontally, resulting in wasted image area in the panoramic stitch.
              As far as my current OM 35mm shift lens is concerned, I tested all the places where light could get in and found it to be the join between the lens and the adapter. I have tried wrapping a black cloth around the lens – this improves the situation but is very difficult to eliminate all internal reflections. I may have to wait for a native E-mount lens – and pay the price Sony or Zeiss decide to put on it! I have considered other options like Hartblei and Cambo Actus, but seem to end up being even more expensive.

            2. Reflections and light leaks are different issues. T/S lenses have very coverage so there’s a greater chance light will bounce around. If that’s your concern Metabones Smart Adapter IV has the best internal anti-reflective coatings of any adapter I’ve tested.

              As for losing a couple pixels when stitching – you may just have to deal with that. Lens adapters are made for thousands of users and 99.9% would likely not be willing to pay the added cost to make a perfectly aligned adapter.

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    63. Great list, Brian, and much appreciated and oft-visited. Just a wee comment that might help for those folks adapting vintage lenses to their Sony A7iii. Minolta MD adaptor works perfectly, giving me endless fun with their Rokkor MD and MC lenses. My prized vintage is a 1959 Canon 50mm 1.4 L39 mount. And that’s the most troublesome as far as a adaptor goes. My first – Fotasy – wouldn’t tighten the screwed-in lens, giving the (erroneous) impression it had stripped the threads. The second, a Fotodiox Pro, screws tight and works well, AND it tiny, but it’s worth noting that the lens doesn’t screw flush with the adaptor. No light leaks, so all good. But it also is off alignment by around 22 degrees down to the right. Again, not causing any issues other than being a little annoying, but I am beginning to think I’ve been missing a trick somewhere. Love the lens, I should say.

    64. Brian

      Can you suggest the cause of dark banding at the top of images taken with adapted lenses on Sony A7II especially at higher shutter speeds

      Its maiking the camera useless to me. Im suspecting that this camera needs communication between lens and camera.
      Mark Layne
      Nova Scotia

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