A Handful of NEX Adaptors

David Kilpatrick demonstrates some of the unusual optical options open to NEX owners, helped by an overheating Alpha 55 (left with Steady Shot enabled by mistake) and a Canon 60D which doesn't focus (but did record rather better sound, so it's Alpha 55 main image, 60D audio track). Please note the out of focus clips are from the Canon not the Alph; if I had a second Alpha, it would have been able to track the focus on the close-ups.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Sony
• Alpha
• NEX
• lens
• adaptor

[daviddkilpatrick]

Find me any video shooter who would try to AF a 140-315mm equivalent tele lens during filming... short answer, don't worry about the AF, and don't buy the Alpha fit lens either unless you have an Alpha system. Get any decent zoom in that range, such as a Minolta MD/MC, Vivitar, Sigma, Soligor, Cosina and get it in a suitable manual mount like Minolta MD for which an adaptor costs £20. Then you just use manual aperture and focus. You might even find a push-pull sleeved zoom for zoom/focus pulling

[daviddkilpatrick]

xplodalive - no, sadly you are not right. Only Minolta SSM or Sony SSM and SAM lenses, with built-in motors, can AF on the NEX LA-EA1 adaptor. It does not have a motor inside, so it can not focus regular AF lenses. But it will control the aperture and allow very easy accurate manual magnified-view focusing. If you want live video focusing - AF during video - then you are limited to using original NEX E-mount SEL series Sony lenses, nothing else works.

[daviddkilpatrick]

This is the new C3 and I have not checked how it functions. On the NEX 3 and 5, you go to the Setup menu and scroll down until you reach RELEASE W/O LENS, and you set this to YES,.

[daviddkilpatrick]

Yes, they all 'work'. So does an old magnifying glass or anything you care to use. All these adaptors allow infinity focus OK and hold the lens securely. That is all the NEX requires.

[daviddkilpatrick]

Most of the Chinese-made MD Minolta type adaptors are fine on the NEX. No electrical or mechanical connections are needed, so they are simply enough. Just buy one which looks nice, mine looks horrible. Then get an M42 to MD/MC mount adaptor. You will be able to use both lenses on the NEX. The MD 50-135mm was a very good constant f/3.5 lens.

[daviddkilpatrick]

I have the Helios-44M as well, and it fits both a Minolta adaptor plus an M42 ring (it's always worth remembering that M42 adapts to several other fits, so you can double up that way), and also the M42 screw thread tilt adaptor. It's quite big but the 58mm focal length is great on APS-C as a portrait lens - almost perfect 85mm equivalent.

[RokDAWG1]

This is probably the BEST & most useful video I have found on the NEX cams with actual real world lens uses. I actually picked up a Tamron Canon EOS compatible 18-200 lens & picked up a ring adaptor for Canon EOS lens' in order to use it.

Now I'd like to possibly pick up that Sony LAEA1 Adaptor. Will it also autofocus with the other lens' with that adaptor?

[masticina]

Mmm that leica option sounds interresting.. smooth manual lenses..

[lorenzovalenzuela]

Wow! Kickass research. Thanks!

[tevezmania]

gyggtt55ggy sddddxg%

[TheBunabun]

Great information thankyou.

[matchstickpro]

I have a series of Minolta af md lenses, and a nex 3. Is there an adapter that will make the lense autofocus?

[ALL7CAPS]

can you show us some photos taken with the bellows :)?

[MATTFL380]

Hello David, I have recently purchased a nex c3 and I am really interested in buying a 70-210mm alpha fit sony lens, but the sony adapters that control af func cost too much, I have seen adapters that dont control af for £20. Would you recommend I have the af func and count the cost or save money and not have af func. What would you recommend.

thanks

[Ellisr1000]

Hi David excellent video. Can a Sony 5N with a LA-EA2 and Canon EOS adapter, mount a EF lens and offer the full complement of AF, Aperture and IS? If so how does this compare to using the stock Sony NEX lens 18-200mm f3.5-6.3?

[Albinoooooo]

Were can i buy the adaptor MD/MC Minolta to Pentax 42 in 4:40? Thanks!