I have in my hands a stack of adapters for different optics to the Sony E-mount. My friend is going to switch to Sony, more precisely, to buy it as a second video camera for his Canon and asked if I have any adapters? Adapters were unexpectedly found: 4 - for Canon, 2 - for Nikon. Cheap, expensive and very expensive. I had to try them out.
Why talk about adapters at all? As soon as people for some reason are going to switch to Sony, they are faced with the problem of the cost of Sony optics, which is sky-high. Sony has very good optics, but they are not at all budget and this is a serious problem. Some put non-autofocus optics. Others are wondering - can we adapt the existing fleet of optics of another brand to Sony?
Judging by the number of adapters in my hands, we can. Therefore, it was decided to test in practice whether it is worth doing and how successful the result will be.
Having got acquainted with the principle of operation of adapters, it turned out that they provide much more functionality than I expected. They provide not only the transition from one mount to another, but they provide some functions, often very interesting.
You can take a full-frame lens, put it through an adapter on a cropped matrix, and the adapter, thanks to its lenses, will collect the light beam and “shove” it into your crop, i.e. your crop will not be 1.5 or 1.7, but actually 1.1. The luminosity increases by one step. Sounds like magic. Unfortunately, the price of such an adapter is also magical - about 60 thousand rubles. My adapters are somewhat cheaper - up to 36,000 - you can't say that they are cheap either.
Let's try to describe two typical scenarios for using adapters.
First, we want to save money. For example, you buy a Sony a7S of the first generation, put a cheap fifty dollars from Zenit or FED through an adapter, and you can shoot by adding only 5-6 thousand rubles to the cost of the camera. From an economic point of view, this is significant.
The second scenario - you already have a fleet of optics, for example, Canon. You want to buy Sony and use your optics. And this is where a bunch of nuances begin. My adapters support focus functions, incl. and tracking, and even the inclusion of optical stabilization in the Canon lens. But only in photo mode. Unfortunately, in video mode, tracking autofocus on Canon lenses is not supported, unlike Sony's native optics, which focus great when shooting video. But with Canon optics, you will not get this convenience.
Further, when you buy autofocus adapters, autofocus will work efficiently only on Sony cameras with phase focusing, there are only four such cameras today: a6300, a6500, a7RII and a7II. On them, the focusing speed will be the same as on Canon cameras. On other Sony cameras (a7S, a7SII, a7R ...) - you can assume that you do not have autofocus.
And that's not all the reservations. All adapters work very differently with each individual lens. And choosing an adapter for yourself can be a serious and difficult task. The adapter is a complex device, and its firmware supports certain lenses. The firmware should be updated regularly, which is also unnecessary trouble.
And if you have optics, for example, for Canon, but released by third-party manufacturers (Tokina, Sigma, Tamron ...)? Will it work for Sony? It will, but also with nuances. My Tamron has a built-in stabilizer. So, on the most expensive Metabones adapter, the stabilizer refused to work, but on the adapter from Sigma, it worked! And who could know about it, and where could one read about it? It turns out that you need to come to the store with your camera and your optics and select the best adapter.
By the way, Sony recommends using their cameras with recommended adapters. A Sony engineer, at the time, said that when they were preparing their adapter from A to E mount, they had to do a lot of work until they tested all possible optics on their adapters and were not convinced that it worked flawlessly in all modes, including .h. and when shooting video. Therefore, in the case of working with Sony and Minolta multi-bayonet lenses, it is probably worth buying a native Sony adapter in order to get full-fledged optics in all modes.
On the other hand, if for some reason you still need to install third-party optics on Sony, adapters will allow you to do this, but try to choose them very carefully.
Overview of the Metabones EF-E mount adapter (Mark III)
Adapter (adapter) Metabones EF-E mount Mark III allows you to install lenses with bayonet Canon EF And Canon EF-S for Sony cameras with mount Sony E.
The 'E' mount is used by Sony NEX interchangeable lens cameras, Sony ILCE (including a7, a7r, a7s), some Sony camcorders (NEX-FS and NEX-VG series) and, in addition, Hasselblad Lunar.
Lens and Metabones EF-E mount adapter (Mark III)
The adapter has contact groups, both on the lens side and on the camera side, the built-in microprocessor translates the 'Sony signals' into the 'Canon lens language' and vice versa, resulting in full compatibility of the two systems.
When using such an adapter, following features lens:
- Auto focus
- Aperture control
- Canon IS image stabilizer operation
- Data transfer
- Support for many other Canon lens features
- The adapter is hollow, without additional lenses, in no way affects the original image quality of the lens
Lens with Metabones EF-E mount adapter (Mark III) mounted
I was very surprised when I saw with my own eyes how the lens came to life on the Sony a7R camera. When using such an adapter, the camera considered that it had its own lens installed - Sony 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS. At the same time, all the necessary functions worked, even such as corrections for vignetting and chromatic aberration. The only thing I had to use shooting with APS-C mode is because it is designed for cropped cameras with an APS-C sensor.
View of Metabones EF-E mount adapter (Mark III)
The adapter is very well made, almost all of metal and high-quality plastic. Supplied in a small box with two small L-shaped curly keys and two plugs.
Supplied keys and detached tripod foot
Using the keys, you can remove the tripod foot and even disassemble the adapter, and plug the holes formed with plugs. The tripod foot has a tripod socket. The foot is compatible with some tripod heads certain manufacturers.
Labels for lens mount and camera mount
The adapter is powered by the camera, has a lock button for removing the lens and another additional button for fully opening the aperture. The aperture is automatically controlled from the camera, metering, as expected, always occurs with the aperture fully open, so I did not find the use of the aperture opening button. It is stated that such a button sometimes helps with manual focusing.
Lens and Metabones EF-E mount adapter (Mark III)
Installing such an adapter on the camera and lens is as easy and simple as attaching the lens to the camera :)
Programming port and aperture button
In addition, the adapter has a special plug-in connector through which it can be reprogrammed for full compatibility with almost any camera and lens. You can reprogram it, but so far it has been stated that software for this does not exist :).
Metabones EF-E mount adapter (Mark III) for Sony a7r
When using this adapter with a lens, the auto focus speed was very slow, it was almost impossible to take pictures with auto focus, even architecture and landscapes. The lens motor moves the lenses as fast as if it were running on a native camera, but the Sony a7r takes a very long time to focus. Also, there is a huge list of lenses that are incompatible with this adapter, especially from third-party manufacturers. A huge number of different fine focus settings are not supported either. There is a huge list of restrictions:
- Only native Canon lenses released after 2006 are officially supported. Most likely autofocus with old lenses will be absent
- tracking focus and direct manual focus DMF not supported
- Nex-FS camcorders will auto focus only in photo mode
- with some lenses, auto focus may simply freeze, to 'unfreeze' the lens, you must press the focus button again
- and so on:(
Canon lens on Sony a7R camera
When I used a similar bunch, there were no problems other than focusing. On Sony a7R it was much easier for me to use manual mode focusing with a picking function, this greatly accelerated focusing.
Linking Canon lens and Sony a7r camera using Metabones EF-E mount adapter (Mark III)
A small gallery of pictures of this unusual bunch.
Differences from the previous version (T Smart Mk IV):
- rubber sealing ring to protect the camera from dust and moisture
- separate IBIS/ON button to control in-camera stabilization of compatible cameras
- LED indicator showing the operating mode, the operation of optical stabilization (in the lens), etc.
- compatible with the latest Sony PXW-FS7 Mark II camcorder
Exclusive benefits of Metabones T Smart adapters:
- Optical stabilization is supported in the lens, in the camera, or both stabilizers at the same time.
- Smooth aperture performance with the latest Canon lenses (models since 2009), Tamron (SP series, since 2013), Sigma (from 2016)
- A programmable button on the lens barrel can be assigned to access any of over 50 camera functions (default: AF lock).
- Separate button to turn SteadyShot INSIDE on and off for those Sony Alpha models where it is available
- Support for Sony teleconverters, Sony FS7 Mark II camcorder
- Cinema EOS (CN-E) lens support including autofocus, auto iris and power zoom
- The rubber ring-seal on the bayonet (on the side of the camera) protects against penetration of dust and moisture into the body
- Detachable tripod adapter compatible with Arca Swiss system and standard tripod screws
Usage features:
- The adapter supports contrast focusing with all E-Mount cameras. Phase focus is supported with Sony cameras A9, A7R III, A7R II, A7 II, A7 III, A6300 and A6500.
- Working with SteadyShot INSIDE: If the lens transmits distance information, 5-axis in-camera stabilization is available. If it does not transmit, the stabilizer in the camera works only in 3 axes. Compatible cameras: Sony A7 II, A7 III, A7R II, A7R III and A7S II. Optical stabilizer in the lens is supported if available.
- Electronic manual focus supported (with lenses such as EF 85mm f/1.2L II or EF 50mm f/1.0L)
- LED indicator on the body: shows the adapter mode, the stabilizer in the lens and the communication status with the lens
- EXIF recording supported ( focal length, aperture value, lens model name)
- When used on VG and FS series camcorders, as well as A9, A7 series, A6300 and A6500, distance and zoom position information is displayed (if the lens transmits distance information)
- Auto zoom (when focusing manually, if the lens is transmitting distance information)
- Supports the installation of full-frame and partial-frame lenses (EF and EF-S). EF-S lenses may exhibit increased vignetting due to differences in crop factors.
- Automatic switching to APS-C mode when attaching lenses for APS-C format
Restrictions:
- Tracking AF only works in Green mode with the A9, A7R II, A7II, A6500 and A6300.
- Autofocus during movie recording only works in Advanced mode. It has been improved, but may still be unsatisfactory depending on various factors (lens, lighting, object contrast, etc.)
- Autofocus may not work when effective lens aperture (with teleconverter) is below f/8
- The SEL14TC teleconverter may not work satisfactorily with some telephoto lenses: slow focusing and increased vignetting
- Focusing speed is highly dependent on lens design and condition
- Cinema lenses such as CN-E 18-80mm T4.4 are not supported in photo mode
- Some lenses are noisier than usual
- Older Tamron lenses with IS may not support free switching between OIS and IS.
- Non-original battery grips may cause the adapter to work incorrectly (erroneous aperture change)
The adapter has been tested in operation as with the photo. as well as Sony camcorders. Full list of tested models:
- A9, A7S II, A7R II, A7R III, A7 II, A7S, A7R, A7
- A6500, A6300, A6000, A5000
- PXW-FS5, PXW-FS7, PXW-FS7M2, NEX-FS700, NEX-FS100
- NEX-EA50, NEX-VG900, NEX-VG30, NEX-VG20, NEX-VG10
- NEX-7, NEX-6, NEX-5R, NEX-5N, NEX-5, NEX-C3, NEX-3
Metabones adapters use chrome-plated brass bayonet rings, both on the lens side and on the camera side. Compared to cheap aluminum, brass can be machined more accurately, wears out less and expands less when heated, so the lens is mounted on the camera very tightly, without any backlash or rocking. Thus, the image quality is fully preserved. The inner surface of the adapter is covered with a black velvet fabric, which excludes re-reflections of the light scattered by the lenses. The design of the adapter provides infinity focusing and correct operation with lenses that have "floating" elements in the scheme.
Tested lenses.
Fast autofocus on all E-mount cameras:
Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L USM Fisheye*
Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM*
Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM
Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II*
Canon EF 20-35mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L USM
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Canon EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II
Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM*
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM*
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM*
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM*
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM*
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM*
Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM
Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM
Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
Canon EF Extender 1.4x III
Canon EF Extender 2xII
Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC Art
Sigma 24-105mm f/4 DG OS Art
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM
Sigma 50-100mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art 016*
Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 VC USD A012*
Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3
Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3
Tamron 18-250/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Aspherical MACRO A18
Tamron 18-270/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD B008
Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD A007
Tamron SP 45mm f/1.8 Di VC USD F013*
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD A009*
Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6
Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Macro
Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 VC USD A011*
Tokina 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5DX
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 DX II
* - smooth operation of the diaphragm
Fast phase focus, slow contrast focus (tested on A7R II:
Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM
Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM
Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L USM
Canon EF 35mm f/2L IS USM
Canon EF 35-350mm f/3.5-5.6L USM
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM (Mark I)
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM (non-IS)
Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM (Mark I)
Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM (Mark I)
Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 (Ver I)
Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art
Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 OS HSM
Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 APO EX DG OS HSM
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM
Sigma 150mm f/2.8 Macro
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 OS HSM Contemporary
Phase focusing on A6300, A6500, A7II and A7RII, contrast focusing does not work:
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
Canon EF 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5II
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM
Contax N Vario Sonnar 17-35mm f/2.8
Contax N Planar 50mm f/1.4
Contax N Vario Sonnar 70-200mm f/3.5-4.5
Contax N Planar 85mm f/1.4
Kenko Teleplus Pro 300 1.4x
Kenko Teleplus Pro 300 2x
Sigma 18-125mm f/3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM
Tamron SP 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II VC LD Aspherical B005
Tamron 18-270/3.5-6.3 Di II VC LD Aspherical MACRO B003
The following lenses only work in manual focus mode:
Samyang 35/1.4
Zeiss CP.2 25mm/T2.9
Zeiss CP.2 100mm/T2.1
Zeiss ZE Distagon 15/2.8
Zeiss ZE Distagon 21/2.8
Zeiss ZE Distagon 35/2
Zeiss ZE Makro-Planar 50/2
Zeiss ZE Makro-Planar 100/2
Not supported:
Manual lenses or adapters with a handicraft "chip" focus confirmation ("dandelion")
Tamron 28-300/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical MACRO A20
Loading...