Sony A7S and Minolta: Does anyone have experience using the Sony A7S (i or ii) with Minolta lenses and the Sony LA-EA4 adapter, or any other adapter? The prices for used A7S and A7Sii...

jburlinson Loc: Austin, TX

Does anyone have experience using the Sony A7S (i or ii) with Minolta lenses and the Sony LA-EA4 adapter, or any other adapter? The prices for used A7S and A7Sii are half-way reasonable now, but the prices for lenses are not. So I was wondering about the Minolta Maxxums, of which I have several.

Thanks for your consideration.

User ID

I have a pair of a7s-II [and other Sonys] plus a
heap of left over Maxxum lenses. They get along
very well. Not needing much use of AF, I use the
MF adapters more than the AF adapters. The AF
adapters do not use the camera's AF system but
instead rely on an SLR-type AF mechanism built
into the adapter. IOW, it works OK ... just OK.

An "S" body is usually prized for either video or
"night vision" stills, two applications that do very
well without AF. The Sony adapters [and also the
3rd party Canon EF adapters] are worthwhile for
two conveniences that you don't get with a Nikon
adapter: 1. Auto Iris, and 2. auto setting of IBIS.

If you have access to Canon EF lenses, expect to
work without AF on a7s cameras, Mark I or II.

Legend has it that film era lenses are not optimal
for digital sensors. Fear not. "Optimal" lenses are
hardly worthwhile for shooting 12MP at high ISO,
which is what we do with "S" bodies, right ?

This is how the world looks at ISO 40,000. Would
a better lens be helpful here ?
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mikeschwartz Loc: Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago

I have several Minolta lenses that I have used with my A7RII. They worked OK including the autofocus but they all had much more flare than Sony FE lenses so, over time, they were replaced. I have read that this is due to modern coatings being superior.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

jburlinson wrote:

Does anyone have experience using the Sony A7S (i or ii) with Minolta lenses and the Sony LA-EA4 adapter, or any other adapter? The prices for used A7S and A7Sii are half-way reasonable now, but the prices for lenses are not. So I was wondering about the Minolta Maxxums, of which I have several.

Thanks for your consideration.

I use about ten Minolta AF lenses with an A7S and A7 III using a LA-EA4 adapter. They're inexpensive and work very well! Minolta Maxxums work equally as well, maybe even better.

The Minolta lens I seem to grab most often is the 35-70mm.

bwa

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

bwana wrote:

I use about ten Minolta AF lenses with an A7S and A7 III using a LA-EA4 adapter. They're inexpensive and work very well! Minolta Maxxums work equally as well, maybe even better.

The Minolta lens I seem to grab most often is the 35-70mm.

bwa

I too have the same cameras. I find that I have no problems with old minolta lenses and Sony adapters. They all work very well. My go to is the 24-85 Minolta. I like the extra reach on both ends. I have also found that the Sigma MC-11 adapter (Canon-Sony E) works very well on Canon lenses too.

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

bwana wrote:

I use about ten Minolta AF lenses with an A7S and A7 III using a LA-EA4 adapter. They're inexpensive and work very well! Minolta Maxxums work equally as well, maybe even better.

The Minolta lens I seem to grab most often is the 35-70mm.

bwa

I too use the laea4 and it works great! I found a Sigma 70-300mm OS lens for Sony/Minolta and that is a great lens! Too bad they don't make it anymore

Bill P

Although their bodies were less than reliable, they had some exceptional lenses.

Any comment that film lenses aren't up to what digital needs are just plain stupid. Yes, older lenses often lack in the coatings, but otherwise there are many that are better than their over designed modern equivalent lenses. The lenses that are designed to wring every drop of sharpness out of a formula can often have nasty side effects. Those of you who visit museums that show photography have seen fome amazing photos that are lacking in sharpness, but no one ever said that.

The folks that say they aren't good enough are likely ones that never shot film, and like to show off their ability to buy the latest most expensive things.

User ID

ORpilot wrote:

I too have the same cameras. ..........
I have also found that the Sigma MC-11
adapter (Canon-Sony E) works very well
on Canon lenses too.

I find the MC11 works reasonably well
only on my a7-III. On a7s-II and basic
a7-II the AF ranges from barely usable
to "ain't happ'nin".

The lenses that work best are USM. Of
STM, some good some not. The old AF
drives in the rather early non-USM are
hopeless. Just zip in and out, no focus.

The Sony adapters never fail to deliver.
Not world beater 2019 class, but very
good for general use, and very reliable.

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

Yep! It's nonsense. I have a wonderful 100mm f4 macro from Canon, the Sigma 70-300mm os for Sony Minolta and a 50mm f1.7 Minolta manual focus for my A7II and they are terrific!

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

Bill P wrote:

Although their bodies were less than reliable, the... (show quote)

And Sony's in-body stabilization works with any adapted lens; really nice!

bwa

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

User ID wrote:

I find the MC11 works reasonably well
only on my a7-III. On a7s-II and basic
a7-II the AF ranges from barely usable
to "ain't happ'nin".

The lenses that work best are USM. Of
STM, some good some not. The old AF
drives in the rather early non-USM are
hopeless. Just zip in and out, no focus.

The Sony adapters never fail to deliver.
Not world beater 2019 class, but very
good for general use, and very reliable.

You might have a faulty MC-11. I've used it with the A7S, A7R, A7 II, A7R II and A7 III with a wide range of Canon, Tamron and Sigma (Canon EF mount), all with excellent performance. It sure beats the questionable performance of Metabones (III & IV), Commlite, Fotodiox and a couple of other (auto) adapters.

The only one I'd recommend is Sigma's MC-11.

And yes, Sony adapters never fail to deliver!

bwa

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

That's why I went from the A7 to the A7II

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

jburlinson wrote:

Does anyone have experience using the Sony A7S (i or ii) with Minolta lenses and the Sony LA-EA4 adapter, or any other adapter? The prices for used A7S and A7Sii are half-way reasonable now, but the prices for lenses are not. So I was wondering about the Minolta Maxxums, of which I have several.
Thanks for your consideration.

I own a Sony a7 II, the LA-EA4 adapter, and a Minolta 200 mm f/2.8 lens and have used them together just a couple of times thus far. Is there something about this arrangement that could be useful to you? Yes, I realize you're referring to an a7S model.

jburlinson Loc: Austin, TX

User ID wrote:

I have a pair of a7s-II and other Sonys plus a ... (show quote)

Very helpful -- thanks!

jburlinson Loc: Austin, TX

mikeschwartz wrote:

I have several Minolta lenses that I have used with my A7RII. They worked OK including the autofocus but they all had much more flare than Sony FE lenses so, over time, they were replaced. I have read that this is due to modern coatings being superior.

Good point. Thanks.