Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

The search function on this site needs a serious overhall. I'm sure this has been discussed repeatedly, but search results show me an occasional post about adapters along with everything from the color of Lady Gaga's panties to the price of oil in Venezuela.

I thought I had seen several aftermarket adapters to mount vintage Maxxum-era lenses or Sony alpha lenses onto the new a7 series bodies, but now that I ordered a body all I can find are the Sony EA3, EA4, and a couple of worthless metal rings by Fotodiox and some another that have no aperture control. MF is okay, but who would want to shoot only wide open?

I've read about the Sony adapters and I'll probably go with the EA3 for starters because I hear the EA4 doesn't focus well with vintage Minolta glass anyway - and some say you're better off using MF than the EA4's slow AF.

Are there other choices I've overlooked? Anyone with experience using these adapters that can offer any insights? Much appreciated.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Your Sony a7 is a full frame mirrorless E-mount. I know someone who has bought the older Minolta manual A-mount lenses from eBay for A-mount DSLR. Yes, they make adapters, but it seems somewhat troublesome to do that to me. The EA3 adapter may be your best bet. Or buy a Sony Alpha body used and go complete manual like the old days. Sony FE lenses are generally expensive. Excellent too, the few they have now.

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

Thanks for you thoughts. I already own a couple Sony SLTs. That's why I have a bunch of Maxxum-era and Sony alpha lenses. I'm adapting my old glass because I cannot afford to buy the three or four FE lenses I would need to cover different types of shooting with the new body.

Some of my lenses are very, very good, even Sony G (which will auto focus on the EA3, I understand), so they are worth adapting. For landscapes, manual focus isn't a problem, either, but it would be nice to be able to mount a walk-around lens with AF for general use. Or, if I am to use MF only, I wonder if there is an adapter with aperture control less expensive than the EA3.

From what I've been reading lately, it seems there are better options and more choices for lenses other than Sony alpha!

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

I have the LA3 and the LA4 adapters. Be aware that the LA3 will not auto focus most, if not all, older Maxxum lenses. The LA3 does not have the drive shaft to focus a lens without a built in motor. The LA4 does have this drive.

As for focusing, I don't the LA4 all that slow in focusing. It true that the LA4 doesn't have so many focus points built in, but it still focuses rapidly and accurately.

I do have a couple SLT type bodies to compare with: the A99 and the A77ii. And I have the A6000 and A6300. I have perhaps 10 Minolta Maxxum lenses and they all focus quite nicely with the LA4 on the A6000 and A6300. I don't really think I can notice any difference in focus speed compared to the SLT type bodies. Now I only have 2 or 3 lenses that I use with the LA3 since the lens needs to have an internal focusing motor. And with these lenses and the LA3, the focus is nice too. But the LA3 is worthless will all these other lenses, unless of course I want to manually focus.

I also have a number of older M42 type mount lenses and I do use the LA3 for those lenses since there is no Translucent Mirror to contend with.

TucsonCoyote Loc: Tucson AZ

If you can afford a Sony a7 you have to be a somewhat discriminating photographer with some critical standards at the least.
You can poke around for an "auto adapter" but if you don't find anything up to your standards it is not the end of the world to go manual .....when you have the time ! :)

Better to go manual focus than settle for half assed auto-focus of any sort !

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

Jim,
Thanks for a thoughtful, comprehensive reply. I have some ssm and sam lenses which would auto focus with the EA3, but they aren't the walk-around kind.

It's good to know AF is decent with the EA4. I'm thinking my minolta 35-105 (I can't remember the model, but it's the good one), or my Tamron 35-135 Tele-Macro might be a decent walk-around (the Tamron might be my best lens, after my G glass).

The only issue that might still be of concern is the translucent mirror in the EA4, but perhaps needlessly so. I've read it takes anywhere from 1/3 to a full stop, and I like to shoot stars, so I really am trying to get away from that.

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

Yeah, I'll keep one of my old bodies for action/sports, at least. And I bought the a7R primarily for landscapes and my growing interest in astrophotography, but because its imaging is so superior, I'd like to carry it for general use if I can. That's why I'm asking about adapters. Either I would like an AF that works pretty well, or if that's not possible, a less-expensive adapter for AF. Right now the only way I can do that is with adapted lenses because I can't afford the FE lenses I would like (I've got my eye on the FE 24-240, eventually.)

Sounds like Jim has good luck with the EA4 on older lenses, so maybe I'll give it a try. Thanks.

TucsonCoyote Loc: Tucson AZ

LOL....we can all dream can't we ..... :XD: :thumbup:

The technology is out there, the people who can assemble all this to work are out there.....remains the dream maker to make it all happen to show up with the $$$ and the vision ! :roll: 8-)

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

Desert Gecko,

You might benefit from reviewing my report regarding those two Sony Adapters. It's titled Trials applying both Sony LA-EA3 & LA-EA4 Adapters on my a6000 camera.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-368842-1.html

lev29 :D 8-)

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

... and your point for quoting what Desert Gecko wrote is .... what, JimH123?

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

I like to shoot stars also. The translucent mirror loses about 1/3 stop of light. It has not been a big issue. With the mirrorless bodies, I have been using the EA3 for this as it is an open hole for light to go through, and can still control the aperture. I bought the LA3 earlier this year when it went on sale for $99, and I am glad I got it. So I have to pick and choose EA3 or EA4, depending upon what I am doing and what lenses I want to use. I also bought a cheap manual adapter before I bought the EA3, but not much use for it now.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

Did you figure out why your Minolta lenses were over exposing? I was having this issue with a Sony A57 and found a setting in the menu that fixed the problem. I gave the camera to my daughter, and it was something like back sise or front side shutter, or something like that. Once set, never had the problem again. My A99 and A77ii didn't seem to need this setting.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

I think that quote was a misfire. Not intentional. I'm pecking around at keys on my tablet and don't alway do what I want to do.

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

Thanks for asking, Jim! Actually, it's only my Minolta 50 mm f/1.7 that's overexposing. I bought it used 10 years ago for $60. I don't think it'd be worth repairing. 🤔😀👍🏻😎