Archive 2020 · What are the best A-Mount lenses to put on A7 series cameras?

chiron
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p.1 #1 · What are the best A-Mount lenses to put on A7 series cameras?

With new LA-EA5 adapter getting good reviews in terms of autofocus precision and speed, eye-af, tracking, autoexposure, and in-camera corrections, what are the best a-mount lenses to put on an A7 series body?

I know nothing about the a-mount lenses.

Sep 09, 2020 at 06:08 AM

TheEmrys
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p.1 #2 · What are the best A-Mount lenses to put on A7 series cameras?

I don't usually say this, bit check the LA-EA5 thread. There is just too much too list. But, I will say this: I took delivery of the Minolta 100/2 yesterday. I do not yet have a Sony camera, either. I am essentially switching for this one lens.

Sep 09, 2020 at 06:56 AM

chiron
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p.1 #3 · What are the best A-Mount lenses to put on A7 series cameras?

TheEmrys wrote:
I don't usually say this, bit check the LA-EA5 thread. There is just too much too list. But, I will say this: I took delivery of the Minolta 100/2 yesterday. I do not yet have a Sony camera, either. I am essentially switching for this one lens.

Good to know!

Sep 09, 2020 at 07:23 AM

QuietOC
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p.1 #4 · What are the best A-Mount lenses to put on A7 series cameras?

There are only 11 up-to-date A-mount lenses--3 of those are APS-C lenses. These are the only ones that support 10 FPS burst AF-C on the LA-EA3 and the A9 models. These all support Lens Compensation.

�Lens processing has been revised for faster subject tracking, and it is dust and moisture resistant.
�with 4x faster autofocus
�Faster tracking and improved response
�A new LSI drive circuit takes that performance to a new level, achieving significantly faster autofocus subject tracking than previous models, and making the SSM drive system more responsive than ever.

SAL1650 DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM
SAL18135 DT 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 SAM
SAL55300 DT 55-300mm F4.5-5.6 SAM

SAL1635Z2 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II Vario-Sonnar T*
SAL2470Z2 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM II Vario-Sonnar T*
SAL50F14Z 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM Planar T*
SAL70200G2 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II
SAL70300G2 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II
SAL70400G2 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II
SAL300F28G2 300mm F2.8 G SSM II
SAL500F40G 500mm F4 G SSM

There are 15 older first-party lenses with focus motors--6 are APS-C. These are limited to 8 FPS burst tracking on the A9 using the LA-EA3. These all support Lens Compensation.

SAL1855 DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM
SAL18552 DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM II
SAL30M28 DT 30mm F2.8 Macro SAM
SAL35F18 DT 35mm F1.8 SAM
SAL50F18 DT 50mm F1.8 SAM
SAL55200-2 DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM

SAL1635Z 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM Vario-Sonnar T*
SAL2470Z 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM Vario-Sonnar T*
SAL24F20Z 24mm F2 ZA SSM Distagon T*
SAL2875 28-75mm F2.8 SAM
SAL70200G 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM (Minolta)
SAL70300G 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM
SAL70400G 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM
SAL85F28 85mm F2.8 SAM
SAL300F28G 300mm F2.8 G SSM (Minolta)

Only 13 screw-driven A-mount lenses have Lens Compensation and 5 of those are APS-C lenses:

SAL1680Z DT 16-80mm F3.5-4.5 ZA Vario-Sonnar T*
SAL16105 DT 16-105mm F3.5-5.6
SAL18200 DT 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 (Minolta)
SAL18250 DT 18-250mm F3.5-6.3
SAL55200 DT 55-200mm F4-5.6

SAL20F28 20mm F2.8 (Minolta)
SAL28F28 28mm F2.8 (Minolta)
SAL35F14G 35mm F1.4 G
SAL50F14 50mm F1.4
SAL50M28 50mm F2.8 Macro (Minolta D)
SAL85F14Z 85mm F1.4 ZA Planar T*
SAL100M28 100mm F2.8 Macro (Minolta D)
SAL135F18Z 135mm F1.8 ZA Sonnar T*

The SAL20F28 and SAL28F28 lack focus distance encoders and thus don't support 5-axis stabilization.

There are 7 Sony A-mount lenses without Lens Compensation--2 are APS-C:

SAL1188 DT 11-18mm F4.5-5.6
SAL1870 DT 18-70mm F3.5-5.6

SAL16F28 16mm F2.8 Fisheye (non D)
SAL24105 24-105mm F3.5-4.5
SAL75300 75-300mm F4.5-5.6
SAL135F28 135mm F2.8 [T4.5] STF (non D)
SAL500F80 500mm F8 Reflex (non D)

(non D) = no focus distance encoder, no 5-axis stabilization

There are 15 Minolta lenses with focus distance encoders that support 5-axis stabilization (most already mentioned):

DT 11-18mm F4.5-5.6 D
DT 18-70mm F3.5-5.6 D
DT 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 D

17-35mm F2.8-4 D
24-105mm F3.5-4.5 D
28-75mm F2.8 D
28-80mm F3.5-5.6 D
28-100mm F3.5-5.6 D
50mm F2.8 Macro D
70-200mm F2.8 APO G D SSM
75-300mm F4.5-5.6 D
85mm F1.4 G D (Limited)
100mm F2.8 Macro D
100-300mm F4.5-5.6 APO D
300mm F2.8 APO G D SSM

There are 51 third-party A-mount lenses with focus motors (29: FF, 22 APS-C)

�Sigma and Tamron only
�8 pins
�distance encoder inaccuracy
�stabilization issues
�borrowed Lens IDs
�AF issues especially with Sigma lenses
-Sigma produced at least 11 A-mount lenses with OS which is not compatible with Sony internal stabilization.

There are 45 third-party screw-driven lenses that claim to have distance encoders (32 FF, 13 APS-C)

Sep 09, 2020 at 09:10 AM

MikeEvangelist
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p.1 #5 · What are the best A-Mount lenses to put on A7 series cameras?

I've got the Minolta 80-200mm �2.8 HS (one of my favorites) here, waiting for the adapter to arrive. And on a whim I ordered the 500mm Reflex from a Japanese seller. Both of these showed promise on the older LA-EA4, but I eventually gave them up. Thought I'd give them another chance.

Sep 09, 2020 at 09:15 AM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #6 · What are the best A-Mount lenses to put on A7 series cameras?

Now that a wide range of native FE lenses are readily available, it is hardly worth picking up any of the A-mount lenses, I am afraid. I had 4 in a few years back, the 135mm f/1.8, 100mm f/2, 85mm f/1.4 and 500mm f/8 Reflex/mirror. They were all great optically but the AF motor was noisy; I put up with it back then.

But now, I prefer the native FE lenses that are optically at least as good, maybe even better

, I don�t have to deal with any adapters, and yes, without the whirring noise and without any operational limitations. I understand that YMMV and that�s my personal opinion.

Sep 09, 2020 at 09:22 AM

Chris_88
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p.1 #7 · What are the best A-Mount lenses to put on A7 series cameras?

chiron wrote:
With new LA-EA5 adapter getting good reviews in terms of autofocus precision and speed, eye-af, tracking, autoexposure, and in-camera corrections, what are the best a-mount lenses to put on an A7 series body?

I know nothing about the a-mount lenses.

As TheEmrys mentioned above, a lot of great information in that other thread. It would help, if you could provide some hints as to what type of lenses you're after.

Newer, modern FF glass (developed after Sony acquired what used to be Minolta's camera division 14 years ago) is limited to the ZA line (16-35 2.8 and 24-70 2.8 as well as four primes 24 2, 50 1.4, 85 1.4 and 135 1.8) and the G line (70-300G, 70-400G and 500 4 G). The other a-mount lenses sold under the Sony brand (such as the 16 2.8, 20 2.8, 24 2.8, 35 1.4,50 Macro, 50 1.4, 100 2.8 Macro, the 135 STF, 70-200 2.8G, the 300 2.8 G and the 500 8) as well as the TC's are all rebadged Minolta lenses which may have received updated coatings.

Unfortunately, many classic Minolta's lenses were never rebadged/updated/remade. These include the 100 2 mentioned above, the 200 2.8 APO HS, 80-200 2.8, the 2004 Macro, 300 4, 400 4.5, 600 4 or the 70-210 (aka Beercan).

I have mentioned this site in the other thread already, but Kurt Munger's review site is definitely worth a visit, even though the a-mount reviews are quite old by now. Dyxxum is another valuable source.

Some of these lenses (e.g. the Minolta 85 1.4 Ltd., the 80-200 2.8 or the 135 1.8) have a particular rendering and hence remain in demand. Despite its age, the rather compact (72mm filter thread) 200 2.8 APO HS is still capable of keeping up with modern sensors, even though the APO label is misleading.

Of course, in the cases where there is an e-mount equivalent, the newer e-mount lens is going to offer better performance, but given the state of a-mount, many of those older Sony/Minolta lenses are available at very reasonable prices (the 85 1.4 Ltd or the 200 4 Macro being among the exceptions). Edit: I see, Joshua, already mentioned the e-mount comparison, above.

Sep 09, 2020 at 09:31 AM

QuietOC
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p.1 #8 · What are the best A-Mount lenses to put on A7 series cameras?

I like the late Tamron SP F1.8 USD prime trio: 35, 45, and 85. These are also available with VC in EF mount, but the non-VC A-mount versions work well and tend to be less expensive used.

The SAL24F20Z is inexpensive compared to the native FE options.

I use the Sony 28-75 F2.8 SAM as my event lens.

The Minolta/Sony 24-105 F3.5-4.5 D is light and compact as are the Minolta 100-300 and 100-400 zooms. The Minolta 135 F2.8 is very small and light.

The original AF zooms like the 28-135 F4-4.5, 35-105 F3.5-4.5, and 70-210 F4 are well liked.

The Minolta/Sony 100mm F2.8 Macro is much more affordable than the FE 90 G OSS.

Sep 09, 2020 at 09:36 AM

mogul
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p.1 #9 · What are the best A-Mount lenses to put on A7 series cameras?

Besides the mentioned glass, I do like my 300f2.8 ssm (rebadged KM) & 500f4, not to mention the 70/400

Sep 09, 2020 at 09:40 AM

InFocus2014
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p.1 #10 · What are the best A-Mount lenses to put on A7 series cameras?

I had a ton of A-mount glass that I tried with the LA-EA4 & LA-EA3 adapters when I switched to A7RX cameras from the A99 and A99II. I finally gave-up and sold all those lenses since the LA-EA3 could produce "iffy" results (i.e., the 70-400mm) and the LA-EA4 turned my A7RX cameras into ten year old focusing technology. I wish Sony had produced the LA-EA5 much sooner.

While much of that A-mount glass was excellent, technology has moved-on and the GM and ART (and others) lenses have taken optics to the next level.

The lenses I wish I still had for the LA-EA5 are the Sony/Zeiss 135mm f1.8 and the Minolta 80-200mm f2.8. The 135 might not be as cuttingly sharp as the GM 135 across-the-field, but the rendering was pure magic and some of my best images came from that lens.

The Sony/Zeiss 85mm f1.4 and 50mm f1.4 lenses were good, but the LoCa's (longitudinal chromatic aberrations) were so bad in contrasty light, it looked like someone took green and magenta felt markers to my prints (and post-processing "correction" left soft edge artifacts). I obtained some nice images from those lenses, but it is a lot easier to obtain good images with newer lenses, since the Sony, Sigma and Samyang lenses are technically superior. Some might argue for that Zeiss "pop", but such comes with significant sacrifice, IMHO.

The good news is that, since Sony has essentially abandoned A-mount, a lot of decent glass can be had on the cheap, as long as one is not pixel peeping at 100% on 61mp... particularly at the edges. As an example, the 85mm f2.8 SAM can be had for well under $150 and this lens can produce some very sharp results.

Another aspect of some older Sony and Minolta A-mount lenses is that repair parts are not always available for repairs.

Jeff
www.gr8photography.com

Sep 09, 2020 at 10:22 AM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #11 · What are the best A-Mount lenses to put on A7 series cameras?

QuietOC wrote:
I like the late Tamron SP F1.8 USD prime trio: 35, 45, and 85. These are also available with VC in EF mount, but the non-VC A-mount versions work well and tend to be less expensive used.

The SAL24F20Z is inexpensive compared to the native FE options.

I use the Sony 28-75 F2.8 SAM as my event lens.

The Minolta/Sony 24-105 F3.5-4.5 D is light and compact as are the Minolta 100-300 and 100-400 zooms. The Minolta 135 F2.8 is very small and light.

The original AF zooms like the 28-135 F4-4.5, 35-105 F3.5-4.5, and 70-210 F4 are well liked.

The Minolta/Sony 100mm F2.8...Show more →

Indeed, most Sony FE lenses comparable to those you listed are more expensive but there are Sigma and Tamron lenses for less. If there are still too expensive, then there are more affordable Samyang lenses or if MF is okay with your, then there are Laowa lenses. I firmly believe that Sony introduced the LA-EA5 at least 3-4 years too late. Too bad... Oh, well. Of course, I understand fully that your mileage may vary.

Sep 09, 2020 at 12:07 PM


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