Sony LA-EA4 A-Mount to E-Mount FF Lens Adapter

Introduction

The Sony LA-EA4 A-Mount to E-Mount Lens Adapter enables you to attach virtually any A-mount lens to an Alpha E-mount full-frame digital camera body. Teleconverters and Minolta XI lenses are however not compatible.

The adapter has a built-in AF motor, aperture-drive mechanism and Translucent Mirror Technology (an SLT mirror) to enable continuous phase-detection autofocus. AF is supported with all A-mount lenses except STF models, and auto exposure will be facilitated with all compatible lenses.

Sony LA-EA4 in use

The SLT mirror inside the box directs light to both the imaging and focus sensor simultaneously as it does with all the Sony A-mount cameras like the A99 Mark II and A77 II. Adding this adapter to an E-mount camera effectively transforms it into a A-mount body including an SLT (single lens translucent) mirror.

The LA-EA4 has it’s own phase detection autofocus module that has 15 autofocus points AF with 3 cross sensors. It’s rudimentary, especially by today’s standard, but it works. And it also works similarly (relatively) well with all E-mount cameras from the Sony A7 upwards.

Autofocus also works during video recording and continuous shooting. Remember that for video, in order to protect the sensor from too much light, aperture is fixed at the maximum f/stop of the lens or at f/3.5, whichever is lower. There is also a way to fine-tune your auto-focus of each lens using the micro adjust feature in the camera’s menu.

The LA-EA4 autofocus adapter also has a tripod mount for supporting large, heavy lenses so that all the weight does not stress the lens mount.

Conclusion

The Sony LA-EA4 is an ideal companion for an early full frame mirrorless camera like the ILCE7R  which only has contrast AF. The converter’s AF overrides the in-camera AF when connected and gives you a 15 point phase detection autofocus point AF system with 3 cross sensors. A drawback of the translucent mirror used for this focussing system is however the fact that you’ll lose 1/3-stop of light.

The Sony LA-EA4 is however an ideal way to give a second life to the older screw-driven Sony and late Minolta A-mount lenses like for instance the excellent SAL135F18Z. And this can be done with any E-mount camera upto the latest A9 and A7 mark 3. You should remember that a 15 point autofocus system won’t be what you’re used too by today’s standard, and that the Sony LA-EA3 adapter will work a lot better with mid to late era A-mount SSM lenses that don’t need the old mechanical screw drive system.