Using Sony GM lens on Film Cameras

[markrewald]

My searches only have been coming back one way. That is I can use the lens on Sony E-mount camera, not the other way around. I am looking for the ability to minimize the number of lenses I have to carry. So I would be thrilled if I could carry just a film body that can use my Sony GM lens. Does anyone know of a 35mm film body that can use a Sony GM lens or is there an adapter that I can use?

Thanks!

 

[xkaes]

Sony's E-mount lenses have a short flange focal length. MOST 35mm SLR cameras have a much longer one -- around 40-45mm. Adapters create extra space between the lens and the camera. In order to use an E-mount lens on a 35mm SLR you would need an adapter to optically shorten the distance. I doubt that anyone does that. More importantly, there would be no way to adjust the aperture in the lens since this is done electronically -- and, in any case, you would have to focus the lens manually.

 

[grain elevator]

As above, wrong system for that. If you want to use the same lenses on film and digital bodies with full functionality, look at Nikon, Canon and Pentax SLR systems (all with specific restrictions regarding series and models), also the now orphaned Minolta and Sony SLR systems. With a mirrorless body, you can adapt SLR lenses to it and there are adapters that also allow fully functionality with electronic aperture and AF, but not the other way around.

 

[neilt3]

The only adapter that exists to use Sony E mount lenses on another camera system is one that fits them the the Nikon Z mirror less cameras .
Asides from the flange depth issue , the aperture is controlled by the camera body and most/all Sony E mount lenses are focus by wire .
So unless the lens is powered up by a compatible body to supply power to the focus motor , you can't even manual focus .
If you want to buy autofocus lenses that work on both film cameras and a Sony E mount camera , I'd suggest getting Canon EF lenses and the Sigma MC-11 or if you have the a7Riv, a6600 or a1, get the So y LA-EA5 and Sony/Minolta A mount lenses .
The A mount lenses work on Minolta SLRs .
If you get A mount SSM or SAM lenses , you need a body made from the Dynax 7 onwards , basically the Dynax 7 , 5 , and 60 .
The Canon EF lenses will work on any Canon EOS film body .

 

[xkaes]

The A mount lenses work on Minolta SLRs .

To avoid confusion:

SOME a-mount lens work on SOME Minolta SLRs.

A-mount lenses do no work on any manual focusing Minolta SLRs.

A-mount lenses with screw-drive focusing controlled by the camera body's motor will work on Minolta MAXXUM SLRs.

 

[Paul Howell]

It's a bit more complicated. As noted by xkaes Minolta changed mounts when it moved from manual focus to auto focus lens. None of the manual focus lens will work on auto focus body. There might have been a few adaptors with a balance lens and electronic interface for Minolta MD/C to work on Minolta Auto Focus or A mount bodies, I have not seen one. Minolta A lens were primarily gear driven and came in 5 and later 8 pin interfaces. Minolta started to make micro motor driven lens but only a few film bodies came factory ready for micro motor lens, and could work with gear driven motors as well, The Minolta 7 and 5, maybe the 3 as well work with micro motor lens and Minolta 9s that were factory modified. Sony took over the Minolta digital line, all Sony branded A mount bodies will work with micro motor and gear driven A lens. When Sony moved to mirrorless and the new E mount Sony made an adaptor that allows all A mount lens to work on E mount bodies even gear driven lens. As already stated there are many different adaptors to use a wide range of manual focus lens for use on E bodies, but there are no adaptors to use E lens on any MF or even Autofocus non mirror bodies.

 

[xkaes]

None of the manual focus lens will work on auto focus body. There might have been a few adaptors with a balance lens and electronic interface for Minolta MD/C to work on Minolta Auto Focus or A mount bodies, I have not seen one.

Minolta manual focus lenses work fine on MAXXUM and SONY a-mount and e-mount cameras. All you need is an adapter and there are a few to choose from. None of the offer auto-focusing for the manual focusing lens. None of them offer aperture control. These are set manually, but the MAXXUM or SONY cameras operate fine in M & A exposure modes.

The a-mount adapters are made with or without optical elements to achieve infinity focusing.

There are lots of people -- like me -- who use older, manual-focusing glass (not just Minolta) on MAXXUM and SONY cameras.

 

[neilt3]

To avoid confusion:

SOME a-mount lens work on SOME Minolta SLRs.

A-mount lenses do no work on any manual focusing Minolta SLRs.

A-mount lenses with screw-drive focusing controlled by the camera body's motor will work on Minolta MAXXUM SLRs.

Quite right . It's easy to take for granted that folk know most camera makes manual focus lenses and auto focus lenses are different mounts , apart from Nikon F and Pentax K .
Any other's ?

It's a bit more complicated. As noted by xkaes Minolta changed mounts when it moved from manual focus to auto focus lens. None of the manual focus lens will work on auto focus body. There might have been a few adaptors with a balance lens and electronic interface for Minolta MD/C to work on Minolta Auto Focus or A mount bodies, I have not seen one.

Nikon made the TC-16A ( https://kenrockwell.com/nikon/tc16a.htm ) teleconverter to mount MF lenses on AF bodies and had a moving element inside it to auto focus .
You had to manual focus close to what you need first and then let AF take over .
With a wide angle lens you could focus at infinity and let it fully AF as long as you weren't too close to anything .
Sigma did a couple of copies of these , one in Nikon F lens to Minolta A-mount body , and a Minolta SR mount lens to Minolta A-mount body .
I have all three TC's and they function quite well .
I sometimes use the Sigma's on my a77ii , but I haven't got around to trying them on my a99ii or a7Riv via the LA-EA5 .
They don't work on all Minolta Dynax bodies , but the Sony A mount SLR's and SLT's I've tried it on do work .

Minolta A lens were primarily gear driven and came in 5 and later 8 pin interfaces. Minolta started to make micro motor driven lens but only a few film bodies came factory ready for micro motor lens, and could work with gear driven motors as well, The Minolta 7 and 5, maybe the 3 as well work with micro motor lens and Minolta 9s that were factory modified. Sony took over the Minolta digital line, all Sony branded A mount bodies will work with micro motor and gear driven A lens. When Sony moved to mirrorless and the new E mount Sony made an adaptor that allows all A mount lens to work on E mount bodies even gear driven lens.

Not quite all A mount lenses .
The Minolta Zoom Xi lenses and Power Zoom lenses are not compatible .
Neither Sony or Minolta teleconverters are compatible with any of the LA-EA* adapters , though some third party ones are .
A firm called "Monster Adapter" do a replacement chip for the LA-EA4 that allows the adapter to ditch it's pellical mirror and focus by the cameras on sensor PDAF .
It also allows compatibility with Minolta teleconverters .
However you do lose compatibility with SSM and SAM lenses .
It's called the LA-EA4r .

As already stated there are many different adaptors to use a wide range of manual focus lens for use on E bodies, but there are no adaptors to use E lens on any MF or even Autofocus non mirror bodies.

Minolta manual focus lenses work fine on MAXXUM and SONY a-mount and e-mount cameras. All you need is an adapter and there are a few to choose from. None of the offer auto-focusing for the manual focusing lens. None of them offer aperture control. These are set manually, but the MAXXUM or SONY cameras operate fine in M & A exposure modes.

The a-mount adapters are made with or without optical elements to achieve infinity focusing.

There are lots of people -- like me -- who use older, manual-focusing glass (not just Minolta) on MAXXUM and SONY cameras.

I can't say I'm impressed with the adapters with the glass in , so don't use them .
I do use the glassless ones though , Minolta SR to A mount as well as a Nikon F to A mount .
You lose infinity focus , but with long lenses for taking shots closer than infinity it's not a problem and reducing the minimum focus distance can be a bonus .
Thinking taking shots of small birds with a 500mm lens here , other close up photography's fine too .

 

[Paul Howell]

Not quite all A mount lenses .
The Minolta Zoom Xi lenses and Power Zoom lenses are not compatible .

I dont have any E mount bodies, but a Power Zoom will not work in MZ mode?

will s

 

[neilt3]

I dont have any E mount bodies, but a Power Zoom will not work in MZ mode?

will s

Neither Zoom Xi or Power Zoom lenses are recognised .

When the Power Zoom 35-80mm is attached to either the LA-EA4 or LA-EA5 adapter nothing happens .
It's the same as attaching a manual focus lens .
The aperture reading on the camera is "--" as the lens isn't recognised as a compatible lens , so no aperture control , no auto focus .
To focus or zoom manually ( on a compatible camera - ie an A-mount camera ) you turn the lenses focus/zoom ring , but as the lens isn't recognised , no power is supplied to the motors to zoom .
And as it's a focus by wire lens , with no power , you can't even focus manually .
The reason being is that you don't directly move the focussing parts of the lens . The screw drive of the camera body turns when both AF and MF is being done , so as the lens isn't recognised , the cameras AF motor doesn't function .

So no zoom , no focus and no aperture . So no use .

The Zoom Xi lenses , in this case the one I've just tried ( to double check my memory !) is the 35-200mm , you still have no power being supplied to the lens as it's not recognised .
So again no aperture control , no AF or MF , but by holding the front of the lens barrel and twisting and it'll come forward . So yes you can zoom .
But without being able to focus manually or automatically , it's still no use .

So unless you want to use these lenses with A-mount bodies , film or digital , your best forgetting them .
To be honest , apart from the 28-80 and 35-200 , they aren't much good optically .
And the user interface is a pain as well , much better with direct control for zoom and focus .