Sony LA-EA5 Adapter $250 October

I received my LA-EA5 this past Tuesday and have been testing, mostly on the a6600. I will spend some time with it attached to the a7Rii as well, but this isn't where the advantages will be as apparent.

Obviously, the advantage on the a6600 (once I did the firmware update, more on this later) is the ability to use all my screw drive lenses in full Real-Time AF. So far, I've tested the Sony 2.8/50mm macro, Minolta 2/100mm, CZ 1.8/135mm, Minolta 2.8/200mm and Minolta AF Reflex 500mm. I have many other lenses to test, but these are the FF lenses that I've used the most on APS-C cameras, so seemed the best choices for early testing.

So far, I am extremely happy with the 5's performance, especially with the 2/100mm and 1.8/135mm. Focus is fast and accurate, especially in Eye AF, which I mostly use for animals (my pup is getting bored with the "look here!" so that I can nail focus on her eyes). I bought the a6600 because I wanted the benefits of the bigger battery, in-body IS and Real-Time AF. Getting Real-Time AF with screw mount lenses is the frosting on the cake.

The Reflex 500mm is still limited to just the center spot focus point, as stated by Sony. I can't say that I have noticed any differences in performance, but I may take some time and see if there's any noticeable differences using either an A mount camera, or LA-EA4.

The one difference apparent with all these lenses is the sound of the 5's focus motor. First, it appears quieter than either A mound cameras or the LA-EA4. I say appears because it has a higher pitch and "may" be faster. Separate testing, not sure I care enough to spend the time...

A pleasant discovery is using SSM and SAM lenses. No noticeable performance differences, but the ease of using them in Real-Time AF is better than with the LA-EA3, plus animal AF (come here pup!).

The biggest disappointment is one I expected, I have the Sigma 18-300 DC.
I really enjoyed this lens with the a77, but adapting it to an E mount has been less so. It works fine with the LA-EA4 within the limits of that adapter's AF system. With the EA3, it just hunts and hunts and never settles on anything. Sadly, the EA5 gives exactly the same non-results. Ah well.

With the a7Rii, I imagine I will limit my usage to the CZ 2.8/24-70mm and the SAM 2.8/85mm. I will also try it with the Sony G 70-300mm, but since I recently bought the Sigma 100-400mm DC DN, I've been thinking it's time to sell the Sony. Mostly, I'm thinking the LA-EA4r Monster upgrade may still be in my future plans. $200-250 to get AF with my screw lenses on FF is a lot better deal than the cost of an a7R IV.

Just this morning I read Gary Friedman's newest blog, and he is reconsidering becoming a dealer for the Monster. He thinks the firmware upgrades have become more stable and he will do further testing after he gets his own LA-EA5.

Lastly, just a little ranting: I really hate firmware upgrades! Luckily my Macbook Pro runs on 10.13.6, but it was still a cluster! What with the registering, the downloading and the waiting for it to load it was an hour and 15 minutes I will never get back! Rant over.

I imagine I will post some more updates when I have something interesting to comment on. Until then a lot of shooting. Sit pup! Good girl!

I JUST ordered an A7R m3 tonight to try to replace my A99 using the LAEA4 adaptor that I had used on my A7 m1 now and then. Now I am wondering if Inshould have held out longer hoping for A7R m4 discounts to get the most out of my A-mount Zeiss and G lenses.

I do not know what your Zeiss and G-lenses are, but if they have in lens motors, they would work just fine with the A7r3 and LA-EA5 (so does the LA-EA3). The 85 and 135z will indeed need the LA-EA4 (or the A7r4).

For anyone in Australia the la-ea5 is on sale for AUD$224.50 (which is half price) in the boxing day sales. I've even bought one and I'm still on a-mount cameras! https://store.sony.com.au/lenses-converter/LAEA5.html

tomcat1983 wrote: For anyone in Australia the la-ea5 is on sale for AUD$224.50 (which is half price) in the boxing day sales. I've even bought one and I'm still on a-mount cameras! https://store.sony.com.au/lenses-converter/LAEA5.html

Thanks for that David - I was trying to cut back on spending after a $5k repair on my Prado,but this ius too good to pass up, even though I hve the EA3 & 4.
It means I should be able to use just the one adaptor for all my A mount glass.
It would be nice to think I could actually sell the 3 & 4 for something at least to refresh the bank a/c a little.

Update - just ordered - not in stock until Feb 15

Edited by happyjack - 26 December 2020 at 22:31

Quick update now that I have my hands on all the pieces, I finally am testing out the LA-EA5 on the A7R III.

Brief summary, it seems to work really well, with faster AF than I was expecting. Works great with the 24-70Z and the 70-200G, both MkI versions. I plan to test it with my 16-35Z and 24/2 Z.

Sadly no love with my 85Z and 135Z as expected. Both are screw drive so no shock but I hope it will get support soon. MF is still great with them and the killer view finder.

I do have an LA-EA4 but the 5 seems WAY better for SSM lenses. I do not have an LA3 for comparison.