charles tabb Loc: Richmond VA.

s Sony coming out with the a7RII that takes A Mount lenses?

JPL

No, but you can put adapter between lens and camera to make the lens work on it.

charles tabb Loc: Richmond VA.

Have you seen the adapter price?
If Sony will be having a new camera with A Mount then and only then I'm looking to trade up.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

It's the LA-EA4 lens adapter that allows you to mount Sony A-mount lenses and Minolta lenses to the Sony E-mount. It goes for around $350.00. Probably well worth it, too. It provides for the camera's full function, with little to no loss in performance.

I don't believe that Sony is offering an A7RII with an A-mount, but if that would be the only change, I'd save my money and just keep the A7RII as it currently is, and get the lens adapter. You already have the camera, the adapter isn't that expensive, in the grand scheme of things, and it opens up a whole new world of available lenses beyond the native E-mount lenses for a lot less money.

charles tabb Loc: Richmond VA.

Sony's E to A adapter sells for around $200.00
If Sony does indeed come out with a A7RII that takes "A" Mount lenses I'm willing to wait.
$3,000 + is a big expense for a hobbyist.
I'm not ready to give up my a99 A Mount lenses just yet.
I have too much money invested in them.

Seems sort of like Printers.. The Mgf's. almost give them away because they have you hooked on buying there Ink. :)

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Here ya go. This one is a bit more expensive than the first 3, but will allow full camera function.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?N=0&InitialSearch=yes&Ntt=%2BSONY+%2BLAEA4

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

Sir, IF you truly have that much invested in those lenses and IF you're willing to blow $3200 on that Sony a7R II, what's another $350? Just buy it!! Think of it this way: in order for you to use your precious lenses with that camera, the effective cost of the camera is $3550.

Yes or No? Do you have that kind of money or not? If you don't, then I opine that it's a waste for you to air your brand of G.A.S. It all boils down to your values and how much disposable income you and your wife have. Btw, what does she think of your self-imposed agony as to this decision?

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

I have been looking at the A7R2 and the A to E adaptor. My research is showing that LA-EA3 is the better adaptor to use with the A7R2.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

Sony is scheduled to release TWO new Full Frame A mount cameras; a replacement for the A99... the A99II which will be a professional level camera, and the new version of the A850 (probably to be designated the A88) which will have most of the A99II features but be geared towards enthusiasts.

The A99II will be priced like the A7RII, and will share the sensor, 4K internal recording, and high ISO capability of the E mount. It will ALSO have the 4D AF module currently found in the A77II with additional modes and refinements, putting it on par with both the 1DX and the D4S. It will also be able to shoot either 15 or 16 frames per second with full autofocus and exposure control.

The new introductory FF A mount will be similarly featured as the existing A99, but with an updated sensor and the same 4D AF module as the A77II.

Both of these new cameras will continue using Sony SLT technology.

There HAVE been fan based rumors about a new A mount mirrorless camera with a larger form factor than the current A7 range of cameras. That remains to be seen though.

In any case, Sony is updating ALL of it's existing A mount lenses... a sign that the A mount line is here to stay. At least for the immediate future. ;)

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

Thanks so much, Cholly, for that informative update on Sony's near-future plans! I have one question, though.

By "updating ALL of" Sony's existing A-mt lenses, do you mean redesigning each of them for sale? Or do you mean that some of their A-mt lenses already sold by them may be updatable by having the consumer bring them in?

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

Sony has been and actually is redesigning their existing line of A mount lenses by installing the new SSM/SAM motors for increased AF speed and accuracy. Additionally, in the higher end glass (G models and Sony Zeiss lenses) they are including nano AR coatings to increase contrast, reduce flare, and improve image quality. These new lenses actually ARE an improvement over the existing lenses in terms of AF speed and contrast. There are several new lenses already available with more on the way.

These are the new mark II lenses... not to be confused with the existing range of A mount glass.

To my knowledge, Sony would rather sell you a new (and in most cases MORE EXPENSIVE) lens than just upgrade your existing lens for less money. :x

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

As for the difference between the LA-EA models 3 and 4... well; I own the LA-EA4. It allows two things; the use of screw drive Sony, Sony Zeiss, and Minolta/Konica Minolta AF lenses. Additionally, it uses the SLT based autofocus system from the A57.

On the other hand, the LA-EA3 is simply an electronic pass-thru meant for use with SAM and SSM AF lenses. This includes Sony, Sony Zeiss, and a few later KM "G" lenses, as well as a handful of Tamron and Sigma lenses. The LA-EA3 relies on the internal AF system of your camera, which MAY or MAYNOT be superior to the LA-EA4 A57 based AF system.

It also AVOIDS the 30% light loss inherent with any SLT system because of the use of a pellicle mirror which in turn, reflects that light into the AF module. So while you may LOSE some AF speed, you GAIN additional light and therefore, greater performance at higher ISO with the LA-EA3 as opposed to the LA-EA4.

BTW, I think that if I keep my A7RII... I will look into purchasing the LA-EA3 for exclusive use with my A mount Zeiss and G lenses. First off, it is smaller and lighter. Secondly, it uses the cameras built in AF module rather than the older A57 based system in the LA-EA4.

Of course the LA-EA4 allows me to use my Minolta Beercan... a TRULY beautiful lens with outstanding performance under the right conditions, AND my 28-135mm "Secret Handshake" lens which is one of the sharpest lenses I own, but glacially slow on that adaptor, both in terms of AF and lens speed.

Each adaptor has it's advantages and disadvantages. If all you have are SAM and SSM A mount lenses... and that's all you plan to use with your E mount camera... then the less expensive LA-EA3 is the way to go. :thumbup:

Actually, I am waiting for Sony to UPDATE the LA-EA4 with a better AF module... say the one from the current A77II with it's 4D AF module and 79 AF points. THAT my friend, would make ANY E mount camera into a SERIOUS sports snapper. ;)

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

Cholly,
I have a few questions about what you wrote above. First, though, here is my shorthand notation for the LA-EA 3 & 4 Adapters; respectively, I'll label them as "3" and "4".

1. When comparing the "3" to the "4", you state that more light gets to the E-mt sensor using the former. That makes sense. I realize that are multiple factors that influence the speed at which the Autofocus function can work, but wouldn't a ~30% increase in the amount of light be sufficient to improve AF function compared with the advantage provided by the pellicle mirror in the "4"?

2. If the answer to this question takes too long for you to write, then don't feel obliged to. How is it that a mirrorless camera is able to take advantage of the mirror in the "4"?

3. I own a few legacy A-mount Full Frame lenses made by Minolta, Sony, & Sigma. I'm completely unfamiliar with your "alphabet soup" of lens categories, e.g. SAM, SSM. What do these letters stand for, what do they mean, and how do I determine which of my lenses are which?

Thank you,
lev29

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

Let's start with question 3 first.

Sony has 3 types of AF lenses. The simplest are screw driven AF, powered by a motor inside the camera or LA-EA4 adapter. The other two types have built in autofocus motors.

SAM is Sony's acronym for Smooth Autofocus Motor which is a standard AF motor that Sony includes in it's less expensive, plastic body lenses. They are noisy and don't AF as fast as the SSM... Super Sonic Motor.

SSMs are ring type, piezoelectric motors that are extremely fast and accurate.

Both the SAM and SSM mark II drives are substantially faster than the originals.

You generally find SSM drives on Sony G (professional) lenses and Sony Carl Zeiss lenses (with a couple of exceptions) and on higher end Sony lenses.

Minolta AF lenses are all screw driven. Konica Minolta made a couple of SSM lenses; the 300mm f/2.8 APO G and the 70-200mm f/2.8 G.

Sony lenses will all have either SAM or SSM printed someplace on the barrel. If you don't see either designation, then chances are it is a screw driven lens.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

To answer your second question (and subsequently the first), the LA-EA4 communicates with the camera it is mated to. In certain E mount cameras, it substitutes it's AF module for the existing camera.

The pellicle mirror in the LA-EA4 redirects about 30% of the light from the lens to a DEDICATED AF sensor, the other 70% passing through to the imaging sensor. A dedicated AF sensor allows faster, more accurate AF under a greater range of lighting conditions than is possible with a combined AF/Imaging sensor.

This is also the reason why mirrorless camera AF doesn't quite match the capability or performance found in DSLR and SLT cameras. Not yet.