Sony switch to mirrorless in my immediate future: Hi to Sony users (since I'm a Sony user past, present and future). Am moving from Sony 77II into a Sony a7R V in the near future and...

goofybruce

Hi to Sony users (since I'm a Sony user past, present and future). Am moving from Sony 77II into a Sony a7R V in the near future and have a question on lenses. I have several lenses for my Sony 77 which have A mounts and am wondering if I need to get new (expensive) lenses for the mirrorless (moving to take advantage of constant focus, eye/face recognition, weight, etc.) or can I go with a Sony converter to the E mount. What, if anything, will I lose by using the adaptor?
Thanks in advance (and I'm looking for facts, not criticism/sarcasm).

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Strongly consider the laea 5 instead of the laea 4 as it should use your cameras focus system instead of the adaptors af system.
But make sure it works with the a7r v first, it doesn’t work on my a7r iii.
Have fun!

User ID

Youre switching from APSC to FF, and so hopefully all, or most, of your lenses are for FF (a99 type).

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

I’m with BassmanBruce. Use the adapter until you can afford E mount lenses. Definitely get the LAEA5 as it works much better than the LAEA4 on the newer bodies. I’ve had an A7RIII for about 3 1/2 years. Not sorry that I switched to mirrorless.

gwilliams6

DPReview: Sony LA-EA 5 Adapter Review: Real Time Tracking with vintage lenses! Note: this is a 2020 video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8naWq_Lp5U

From Sony about the LA-EA 5:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXpAtouJVPk

Professional Sports shooter, Patrick Murphy-Racey using the LA-EA 5:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN3N6ZMxJys

BTW, after using both pro Nikon and Canon gear (both brands for over 40 years) I moved to Sony mirrorless in January 2017 and have never regretted it. I have owned A6500, A7RII, A7RIII, A7III, A9, and currently own A7RIV, A1, A7SIII. And I currently own 13 native E-mount lenses covering 12mm-600mm from Sony, Sigma, Tamron.

I would have loved to have that A-mount 300mm 2.8 lens. Sony has said there finally will be an E-mount 300mm f2.8 GM coming in 2024.

Cheers and best to you.

Ltgk20 Loc: Salisbury, NC

As they've said, get the la-ea5 as it works well. You'll likely eventually want native glass, but what you have will work and possibly you have one or more of the classic Minolta lenses (I like the 35f1.4, Zeiss 85f1.4, 100f2, 200f2.8, 80-200f2.8, etc.)

ronichas Loc: Long Island

I have 3 ff Sonys. I have found the Tamron lenses for Sony to be excellent & less expensive than the Sony lenses. I have the Tamron 28-200 f2.8-5.6 on my Sony 7A4.

bkwaters

ronichas wrote:

I have 3 ff Sonys. I have found the Tamron lenses for Sony to be excellent & less expensive than the Sony lenses. I have the Tamron 28-200 f2.8-5.6 on my Sony 7A4.

I agree. The Tamron lenses are fantastic. Just came back from a sunrise photo shoot at the beach where I used the 28-200. I also use the Tamron 18-300 on my Sony for bird photography in APS-C mode and the bird eye focusing and tracking is perfect.

Basil_O Loc: Minneapolis, MN

I would suggest looking at this chart: https://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/www/cscs/lens_body/index.php?mdl=ILCE-7M4&area=gb&lang=en

It allows you to pick what camera you are using and then which lenses you want to adapt to it using the various adapters. You will see what limitations are present. There will be limitations using an adapter. Some are livable, others are deal breakers. Just a quick glance shows that the LAEA 5 adapter would probably be your best bet, but only you can answer that based on your current lens selection.

Canisdirus

goofybruce wrote:

Hi to Sony users (since I'm a Sony user past, pres... (show quote)

I have the lEA-5...it's probably the best adapter on the market...of any system. Very fast and accurate.

That being said...you will probably find some of your lenses won't look as good image wise as they did on the A77II.

Unless your lens is seriously tack sharp...the flaws will be exposed by the sensor. In all ways actually...not just sharpness.

I had the Sony 70-400mm the sony 135mm STF... bunch of minolta lenses...including the 400mm prime...a few siggy's...and a Tokina 300mm f/2.8.

Only the Sony 135mm STF and the Tokina 300mm f/2.8 held up to the new body.
Out of a dozen lenses...two that were still excellent.

You won't realize what you are missing until you put a native piece of serious glass in front of that sensor.
Then you just...pull away from everyone around you...one less thing as Forrest said.

Options...

NormanTheGr8 Loc: Racine, Wisconsin

When I went from Canon to Sony I used an adapter until I could afford to replace all the Canon L glass I had with native E mount glass for the most part everything worked good enough to keep me shooting. I would expect your adapted Sony lenses would work well until you can replace with new.

Canisdirus

NormanTheGr8 wrote:

When I went from Canon to Sony I used an adapter until I could afford to replace all the Canon L glass I had with native E mount glass for the most part everything worked good enough to keep me shooting. I would expect your adapted Sony lenses would work well until you can replace with new.

Oh...it will all work...that won't be the issue.

It's not a crisis...lol. Just keep the ones that you don't notice a drop off in IQ...and sell the rest...towards native glass...though I would say lately...third party choices have become much more attractive...a few of them anyway.

Lens selection goes down a bit with the Sony A7RIV/V...but when you get the right lens in front of it...look out.

goofybruce

Have ordered the "5" adaptor... my A mount lenses are mostly Sony, so my initial kit will be with those lenses in the bag. Will have to wait a year until my next tax refund (plus savings over the next year) to get some Sony E mount lenses.
Delivery of the camera is Monday.
Thanks to all who responded and y'all have helped my confidence that I'm making a good choice...

Canisdirus

goofybruce wrote:

Have ordered the "5" adaptor... my A mount lenses are mostly Sony, so my initial kit will be with those lenses in the bag. Will have to wait a year until my next tax refund (plus savings over the next year) to get some Sony E mount lenses.
Delivery of the camera is Monday.
Thanks to all who responded and y'all have helped my confidence that I'm making a good choice...

You will love both the camera and adapter...both are home runs.

u1003074 Loc: Goshen, New York

bkwaters wrote:

I agree. The Tamron lenses are fantastic. Just came back from a sunrise photo shoot at the beach where I used the 28-200. I also use the Tamron 18-300 on my Sony for bird photography in APS-C mode and the bird eye focusing and tracking is perfect.

I've been using the Tamron 28-200 on my Sony A7R2, and it is amazingly sharp for a zoom lens.