Allie

I understand that the Sony FE full-frame lenses can be used on the Sony APS-C crop cameras with E-mount. My question is, is the inverse true, can the E-mount lenses be used on the full-frame Sony mirrorless cameras? If so, would there be any vignetting or loss of sharpness using an E-mount wide angle on the full-frame?

BebuLamar

I don't know if you can use it. If you can I am sure there will be vignetting to some degrees and at certain focal length if the lens is a zoom. Sharpness outside of the APS-C area wouldn't be good. However, if you compare with an FE lens of about the same price then the E lens would likely be sharper at the center area.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Yes. You can absolutely use E lenses on FE cameras, with corresponding vignette in full frame mode. You can shoot them in crop mode with no vignette but have a 60% reduction in MP size due to the smaller sensor area used.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

That is correct. You can set you Sony FF camera to Auto, Manual (off), or super 35 which is APS-c crop mode (on). When shooting birds with my a7iii or a7Riii and Sigma 150-600mm I will often go into Super 35 to get extra reach. The APS-c lenses will crop unless you switch to auto (sony lenses) or manual on Super 35 with other brands.

wmurnahan Loc: Bloomington IN

E mount is E mount no matter what Sony you put it on. One made for FF will work on crop and one made for crop will work on FF, but the FF will switch itself to crop sensor size.

wmurnahan Loc: Bloomington IN

When you switch between FF and Crop on a FF all you are doing would be the same effect/quality as cropping in photoshop. That is why I have picked up an A6500 for birding so I get the extra reach and 24 megabits. Anymore, when I'm not wanting to carry much during hikes or whatever, I carry my a7II with a Zeiss 35 2.8 and my a6500 with 70-300.

gessman Loc: Colorado

I'm curious, where you mention "extra reach" do you ever use Clear Image Zoom (CIZ) or do you find that Super 35 mode is superior and if so, why, and would you please describe in what way it is superior? Thanks.

repleo Loc: Boston

Yes you can use the APS-C E-mount lenses on any of the FF Sony E cameras. If it is a Sony lens the camera will auto detect it (if set to auto) and change to crop mode for no vignette. You can also set it to crop mode manually. If you leave the setting at FF you can crop in post. The vignette has a pretty hard edge. The usable area of the image will be the same whether you use crop mode or crop in post. The crop from the FF will have less pixels, but the better sensor on the FF seems to compensate. I have done a few tests and found no discernible difference in IQ between the two.

Allie

Thanks. I’m not as familiar with Sony FF mirrorless... I have the Sony a6000 and the reason for my former question is that I am ordering the Sigma 16mm 1.4 E-mount lens that is so highly rated by the reviewers ($399–B&H!) (no image stabilization). For my next camera am torn between Sony a7ii and Sony A6500’s, both comparable in price. Am I right that either way, even with FF a7ii, I’ll only get an effective 24mm out of that lens?

Would appreciate also any opinion on a7ii vs A6500.

jno

You don't get "extra reach" you get a larger image with Super35.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

I have not done any comparison tests between the internal ciz vs switching to Switching in APS-c mode. When I go birding i’ll Almost always start out with the camera in APS-c mode. Then if I need the CIZ i’ll Go there. For me it’s just a matter of convenience at the flick of a button. The super fast focus of the a7iii and a7Riii just amazes me vs the a6000 for birds.

A7iii APS-c mode Sigma150-600mm at 600mm

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

It auto crops to aps-c and presents it as FF. So it would be similar as cropping in PP if shot full frame mode . Thus giving the impression of a 900mm lens vs the 600mm. Same thing only different.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

Yes, you can use E lenses on FF. With my A7Rii with an E mount lens, I get 18mb of information instead of 41mb size RAW file. If I use uncompressed RAW menu setting with the crop lens I get 36mb instead of 81mb. Picture quality is the same with all combinations.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

You can switch the APS-C mode on and off on the a7ii, therefore you have two cameras in one on the a7ii. You only have aps-c on the a6500. I think both cameras have internal CIZ so you could get more the 24mm out of it. Tough decision between the a7ii and the a6500. Lenses in APS-c cost less, are smaller, and lighter. FF cost more, are heavier, and larger. What would I choose? It would depend on what other lens and shooting I do. My a6000 is my travel camera . I have the 2 kit lenses. So I stick the camera with the 16-50 in one jacket pocket and the 55-210 in the other pocket and off I go. I can’t do that with my FF Sony’s. But my opinion as to if I had to choose just one camera, it would be the a7iii. It does almost as good in night shots as my a7s, but more MP. It’s focus is so much faster than my a99ii, a7s, and a6000 too. But it depends on your type of shooting. You might be able to find a “open box” or factory refurbish a7iii for about the same cost or a bit more than a new in the box a7ii or a6500. Tough choice. Play with them and see which one suits your needs better.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

The answer is a definite YES! If the camera is set for APS-C Crop Mode , it will automatically recognize and shoot correctly with an APS-C lens attached.

You can also force full frame mode with an APS-C lens. If you do, you'll probably experience some vignetting.

bwa