Legacy Lenses

I've bought a chipped adaptor in the hope of using M42 lenses on my Sony Alpha 230 with focus confirmation. This has worked with my Canon EOS 400D but that doesn't have an in-camera AF drive. However, I'm finding that the Sony's in-camera AF drive behaves as if an AF lens is attached by audibly running and there is no focus confirmation. Is there any way I can stop the drive running and have focus confirmation?

We have all seen the price of tilt shift lenses, for the amount of use they will get is it worth the expense? Not in my book. Then I came across a video of a cheap alternative hand adapted by a person from Ukraine who sells on ebay under the name of budmo! , He takes old soviet lenses such as Helios, refurbishes them, attaches a rubber tube and the mount for whichever camera you have and ships them to you within a week. My version uses the Industar-61 52mm on a Sony e mount. There is no focus helicoil, to focus you move the lens in and out, and by tilting up, down, left and right the field of focus changes., no two shots are the same. I enjoy using this lens …

I've read at a number of places that Rangefinder lenses tend to be sharper than conventional SLR type lenses because of their design being closer to the film plane. Do we think this is true? what experience have people had with adapting these lenses to mirrorless bodies? I'm thinking of buying an adapter to try out an old Braun Paxette 35mm lens ...

I'm just genuinely curious; one of the significant reasons I invested in a Sony full frame camera when I already have a large collection of other makes was the ease with which it handles legacy glass. There seem to be far more adaptors around for the Sony e-mount and if the absolute plethora of media output from magazines to YouTube is anything to go by, everyone and their mother is experimenting with this stuff. Is it just that people on this site don't do this stuff or just don't bother to report their activities, and is anyone interested?? Asking for a friend...😂

I've just realised my previous thread about connecting multiple adaptors should have been in this section so I apologise for that! But I do have a question about Nikon to NEX adaptors, and specifically whether anyone knows if they can cope with pre-AI lenses? I have a number of very decent old Nikon lenses that I would love to put on front of my a7ii, including the 20 mm UD 3.5 and a pre-AI version of the Afghan Girl lens...I've used them on a D5300 but if course there's the crop issue, and my D750 won't take them. I'd happily convert them as I'm no purist, but in France where I live there is nobody doing AI conversions and although I would usually have a…

I've recently started using my old Vivitar 75-210mm lens (from my old Olympus SLR) on my A7Rii - using the appropriate adapter. The images of relatively close subjects are lovely, and the Bokeh very creamy. However, I cannot get long distant subjects in focus - is this usual when using adapters?

Hello there, A couple of years ago I bought an A7r2 at a very reasonable price and an adaptor. My old film camera is a Pentax S1a hence the 55mm in the title. This is one of the first pics I got right. The plantation off the trail, the area used to be railway sidings not so many years ago. Cheers - J

I've got a Tamron SP 150-600 mm f/5.0-6.3 Di USD G2 Sony Lens (Sony A fullframe) with a Sony LA-EA4 Alpha Lens Mount adapter. It fits on my Sony A7RV, manual focus without problem, but the autofocus is not working in this setup. Is that correct or am I missing something here? Thank you!

Hello, Looking fot an old budget superzoom, does the Tamron 28-200 / 3.8-5.6 work with my A7 ? If not, any alternatives ? Sony 24-240 and the new Tamron 28 -200 are too expensive for me. I only work with M39 and M42 lenses, old school manual 🙂 Thank you .

Does anyone know the diameter for the lens hood for the Minolta MD 35mm shift. It has two front threads an inner 55mm filter thread and an outer thread for the hood. I thought it was 67mm after measuring but trying a couple of step rings the 67 is too big, 62 is too small?

Hi, I am needing a 85mm f2 or better lens for my A7 Before I save for a new Batis I am looking for sharpest option on "legacy" market. Would like to hear what you got and how do you like it. My budget would be around $250. Best,

Hi, sorry if this type of question has been asked before! I have a Sony A6000 with the kit lens but would like something a bit longer to compliment it for landscape shooting. I could wait and save for the 55-210 but wondered if something like the Pentax would be a good alternative at a bargain price. Currently it looks like a good copy with adapter will set me back less than £50. Thanks. Scott

I just bought a 50mm f1.4 from minolta Mount A. Everything works fine but i cannot change the aperture, so now I'm wondering if the lens is broken or if i have to buy some sort of mount a to mount a adapter to get the apertrure to work. Thanks!

I have seen a couple of videos shot with the Sony lens seen in the photos. I cannot upload the video because it is too heavy. I just need to know which Sony lens the model is holding. Someone knows?

Recently, bought those two, clearly, very different vintage lenses. I did not have enough time yet to use thos a lot, just made few test photos. First one, Canon 35-70mm F4, zoom one, must say is having very strange rings, filter thread placements and movement. Not just unusual but more, it's somehow making problem when using filters, or when attaching hood (filter thread one), to the lens. I will have to make some hundreds of photos related, having in mind the reviews, telling the sharpness of the lens is great. Not the fastest lens, but, if the sharpness is good, it really has it's value. And seems, it has. Jupiter 21M 200mm F4. Heavy one. I already have the …

I'm looking for a prime around 20mm for my A7, what are my options? I like the native zeiss 21mm but it's out of my price range. Flare resistance is the top priority for this lens Thanks

Hey everyone. I'm new to the world of legacy lenses. Modern lenses are a bit out of my price range at the moment, so I'm looking into the legacy lens market for some nice lenses. I currently own a Sony A7 III with a Sony Sonnar Zeiss 55 1.8. The lens is great, but the focusing distance isn't that great. I shoot a lot of action figures, and like a macro lens for still photography. Any recommendations as to what I should be looking for?

After over two years of experimenting with many, many lenses (first on the A7R and then on the A7RII as soon as it came out), below is where I have landed in terms of a small lens kit producing very high IQ. It would be great to hear from others on their experience. A couple notes before I get into my small lens kit: (1) I own the 24-70mm G Master and am waiting on my 70-200mm G Master; these lenses are incredible and have their place if money / bulk / weight is no issue; but the focus in this post is small. Lenses small enough to fit in a pocket so you can walk around without even a camera bag but still have great IQ. (2) The three primary lenses discusse…

Few days ago, I bought Minolta MD W.ROKKOR 28mm 2.8 (version with 49mm thread) and Revuenon AUTO REVUENON MC 50mm 1.7 (thread 49mm). I would not compare it to modern lenses now. During few days, I was able to see (late afternoon; sunset time, and middle of the day), some great capabilities of those. At low(er) light, results are still good, details are visible clearly. Of course, at "full" daylight; sunny day; all looks very clear, sharp, detailed, Minolta's minimum focus distance is ~1feet. Revuenon photos are with nicely defined details as well. Took photos of autumn leaves (using both lenses, and Canon FD 50mm 1.8), rosehips at forest, great colors and …

You may or may not know this already. MOST long lenses -- 300mm and higher -- are designed to focus PASSED infinity. They design them this way to counteract thermal expansion of the glass in hot environments. Normally this is not a concern, but this fact allows you to use these lenses with an adapter on A-mount cameras WITHOUT a converter element -- without any extra glass. Typically, with an adapter, you can't focus to infinity, but with my long lenses infinity focusing is no problem. These include an OSAWA 650mm f8.5, Vivitar Series 1 800mm f11, and Honeywell 1250mm f10.5. I'll have to check out my other telephoto glass -- and you should to!

Hello, Using an A7ii and a6000 combo for few weeks now with 10-18, 24-240 and canon fd 50/1.4 and all these lenses doing a great job. However just came back from Malaysia and realised I would need a slightly longer and shorter prime fix for wonders in the evening, and not to generate too much attention ( 24-240 is too long/big and slow ) I was reviewing many different 35mm and 85mm lenses, however trust real life personal experience more over to stats and corner sharpness pictures. Looking for these each with F1.4 max F2 and no more than £200ish per lens purely for personal use ( I can handle some CA and corner softness ) with similar out of focus characteristic …

I can't wait to see the results in this case Minolta ABIII with Rokkor-X 25mm f2.0.

The Spring birds are starting to arrive, and I have to get my gear ready for taking pictures. This always has its challenges. First, I've got to get everything I need, and then I have to dust it off, and then I need to test it. One of the challenges is that the birds show up in the early morning and it can be very cold here -- BATTERY PROBLEMS!!! I've got three cameras -- each with a remote control. I've got three lenses: a Sigma 500mm APO f7.2, a Yashica 500mm f8 CAT, and a Tokina 650mm f8.5 CAT. I've got to get up early and set these up quickly -- on tripods -- and pre-focus everything as these are manual-focusing lenses. The cameras contr…

Just got a basically new Koboran 28-105mm. It's a full-frame, manual-focus, one-touch zoom. No one knows of Koboron, but they have been making photographic lenses for over 100 years. AND they made/make many of Minolta Maxxum -- and Sony lenses. I can't wait to try it on my Sony a850 -- shortly.

Hi I'm looking to buy a 500mm lense for wildlife photography, so I was wondering if a SIGMA 150-500MM 1:5-6.3 APO OPTICAL STABILZER would fit my a68? There isn't alot of information online on this and trying to find a store with Sony equipment is hard. Thanks