Adapter confusion

neilt3 wrote: If your happy with the a77ii and your after an adapter just so the lenses work the same way on e-mount , why not just get a backup a77ii body ? Or an a99ii ... Your asking about current adapters that work on current bodies to replace a camera that might still be working in 5 years , by which point this information is out of date anyway . As you seem happy now , and aren't seeking to upgrade / improve , just to retain what you already have , just getting a backup , new or used seems the best option to me .

+1 There's a link in the sales section for some A-Mount NOS bodies at reasonable prices. I already stocked up at a discount, so it wasn't for me.
Barring that "click away" and await the next generation of offerings and look again.
You appear to need an a99II, a9 or a7RIV to get an upgrade bounce worthy of your wants and desires but lack the current budget. These camera features may find their way to lower line products in the future.

QuietOC wrote: No one else is making adapters for A-mount lenses.

Actually there are also non-Sony A mount to E mount adapters. However, these are dummy ones, so I think these might be useful only for those few fully manual lenses that are available for A mount (some LAOWA models, Lensbabies etc.).

Cool - was worth a double check that you've considered a long term look.

Often people will collect a couple of lenses that do similar things. And sometimes one alternative lens might capture that in a new system.

And I am lucky that even if a lens took 1s to AF and the camera shot at 2fps I'd be happy - I'm single point AF and single frame advance and live in the 28-50mm zone ... but did do the 300mm stuff a while back (in my Dynax 7D and Nikon D200 days). Really (financially) pleased that the A7II was the gateway drug for me

And to add, the A7ii wouldn't be a great option for me. It only does 5fps and my primary focus is fast moving dogs. The a7riii is probably where I'd have to go for what I need.

Also at play here is your format. APS to APS by the looks. And a respected and very usable size it is too. Sony seems to me to have put a LOT of effort into the A7 series (and A9 and now A7C). And some considerable effort in APS which still gets some nice new cameras (at a price).

If you are at a junction - you may wish to consider a format change as well. Note that I'm not suggesting that FF is better than APS. It is a personal, per photographer, per subject type, per budget decision.

One benefit you have to transition is the adaptors (hence your question). Adapter performance and price is a factor. And ex-Canon EF shooters can also play nice with Sony?

But if you are considering an end point that puts you 100% in mirrorless you could consider other systems. Fujifilm XF (APS) for example - it didn't work out for me but might work for you.

I personally do not like the idea of adaptors and will always vote for native mount - but people love adapting. And mirrorless is an adaptors dream!

System changes are hard work but sometimes worth it. I've done Canon FD > Canon EOS (1987-2004), 17 solid years in total (via shop trade in, this was expensive!). Then A-mount (Dynax 7D), then Nikon DX and FX, then to m43 (2005-2020, 15 years with more change but almost all via eBay and much more fun). 4 system changes in 33 years - each change was difficult and each one was worth it.

5 systems now, my A7II arrived this week. It'll be my system for 3-5 years at least. Will happily follow my decade with m43 as a decade in FE mount - but after 5 years in if another system suits me better I'll walk.

eBay is kind to good quality kit. We now get 65-75% of new price as a sales price (minus fees). Compare to the 25-30% you'd be lucky to see at shop trade in. Plus we no longer feed our cameras with expensive film.

Sorry - long reply - timing isn't super urgent - but if the A6600 is the camera you want (?) then maybe wait until it is a little older/cheaper. The A7II price is pretty sweet (if that camera works for you, it did for me).

Edited by dCap - 09 January 2021 at 14:43

Yes, as @neil says - my immediate thoughts here are to scout for an additional A77ii camera. Not being familiar enough with the Sony SLT series (I exited shortly after the a100 and returned this week [A7II]).

If that camera does what you want then stick with it. Or similar models up/down the range?

While looking for a new camera system Oct/Nov/Dec 2020 - after a decade+ in m43 - I found a LOT of low frame rate Canon and Nikon pro bodies. I didn't look for any SLT cameras as it isn't something that interested me. But I've seen crazy low frame rate NEX bodies (3k frames) and e.g. Nikon D2Xs with 8,000 frames.

Since the A-mount is pretty much over (nothing new will be released?) you are not necessarily in stuck with your gear or abandoned. There will be a lot of people continuing to shoot that mount. And at the same time a lot of people exiting to go to a mirrorless system. So, my guess is that used lenses will turn a bit more niche and might level off in price ... but the bodies - they will have an end of life. But it could be a longer time before then.

Canon AF seem to have the greatest volume and the prices are silly low. Pentax has a very niche and dedicated following ... and Sony SLT will become an equal to that strange corner of the camera club. Valid toys for people who know what they want.

You will also have some protection in the used value of your A-mount lenses if you doo eventually switch to mirrorless (or exit to another brand). There will continue to be people wanting your lenses - more niche.

In - normal times - the advice would be: visit your local camera store and try your lens on an adaptor on the body in a shop. But well, 2021 hasn't really cancelled out 2020 yet! And might not until 2022?

It does look like, per Sony's page, the A6600 has full AF with the LA-EA5 and the old Minolta lenses. I guess at least I know there's some option out there that doesn't involve all new lenses.