Sony NEX LA-EA2 adapter review

Posted by Kurt on January 28, 2012 in Reviews

Here at Photojottings, the most requested photo accessory to review (lately) is the LA-AE2 adapter, which seems to be very appealing to Sony alpha users that plan on jumping on the NEX cameras, especially the NEX-7.   This adapter allows Minolta AF and Sony a-mount lenses to auto-focus when mounted on the newer NEX cameras.  Currently, Sony’s US website is listing this product as compatible with the NEX-7, NEX-5N, with a NEX-C3 update in the future.  NEW, Sony’s Asia website has firmware updates for the adapter use on the original NEX-3/5, and NEX-C3.

I’ve tested this adapter on the NEX-7 and 5 different Sony lenses so far, along with using the Sony A580 as the ‘standard’  for AF speed and accuracy.  Right now, with my limited use, the LA-EA2 adapter really works well, in fact, I find no difference in focusing speed and accuracy between the NEX-7 with adapter and Sony A580.

SONY LA-EA2 adapter

Box and case

SONY LA-EA2 adapter

with Sony 70-400mm

SONY LA-EA2 adapter

with Sony 35/1.8 SAM

SONY LA-EA2 adapterSONY LA-EA2 adapterSONY LA-EA2 adapter

In the box is a nice zippered hardcase, with caps and instruction manual in multiple languages.

 

Here are a few specs on the little adapter.

 

Focus System : TTL phase detection system

Focus Points : 15-point AF system with 3 cross sensors

AF Modes : Continuous AF, Single-shot

Dimensions (Approx.) : Approx.3 1/8 x 3 1/2 x 1 3/4 inches (78.5 x 86.5 x 44mm) (WxHxD)

Weight (Approx.) : 7.1 oz (200g)

 

Observations:

 

Made in Japan.

Perfectly matches the finish of Sony black speckled lenses, like the 16-50mm F/2.8.

Build quality is very good.

If you look closely, you’ll see a very small crop to the adapter image, but this is not noticeably unless you overlay the images, it’s that small.

Magnified focus view doesn’t work, although the ‘peaking’ feature works in the normal screen view.  Apparently the adapter is not set up for manual focusing.

Focusing on some lenses results in subtle focusing differences from the A580 in distance, meaning the adapter is apparently reacting to a very slight increase/decrease in length from lens to sensor.  This is only noticeably if you use manual focus extensively, and know where the lens usually focuses properly at when using a DSLR/SLT.

Camera battery life seems about the same with, or without the adapter.  Some people are reporting very low battery life using this adapter, but that’s BS.

 

Lenses tested with adapter and NEX-7.

 

Sony 70-400mm G SSM.  Perfect accuracy, even at 400mm, that’s better than my A900, although camera and lens calibrations may differ, so your results may vary.

Sony DT 16-50mm F/2.8 SSM.  The same as on the A580.

Sony CZ DT 16-80mm F/3.5-4.5.  The same as on the A580.

Sony DT 35/1.8 SAM.  The same as on the A580.

Sigma 10-20mm F/4-5.6.   More accurate on the NEX-7  than on the A580

 

Conclusion.

 

The Sony LA-EA2 adapter really does work as advertised, giving you full phase detection AF with your NEX camera body and ‘a’ mount lenses.  It’s especially useful for smaller zooms, like the CZ 16-80mm, and prime lenses like the 35/1.8, or 85/2.8 which are not yet available in the NEX ‘e’ mount.  The Adapter does add bulk to the package, and even more so when using large lenses, so at some point you might just use a regular DSLR or SLT as the additional size and weight aren’t so noticeable.

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  • Graham

    Ah, have a question that I havn’t seen posed on the forums before, and if you have an LA-EA1 adapter as well as the EA2, perhaps you will be able to answer it. Sensor reflections! As you know certain lenses are reported to be prone to them, I can confirm M. AF 50 f1.4, others indicate M. & S. AF 50 f1.8 Macro, and the M. 17-35 f3.5 G. What might be interesting to find out, if you have access to one of these lenses too, is the extent to which sensor reflections are reduced by the angled “translucent” mirror in the EA2. Theoretically should be reduced since the light must pass twice thru the mirror. Would be an advantage for all the SLT’s if this were shown to be the case.

    • http://photojottings.com/ Kurt Munger

      I don’t have an SLT camera for a comp, but during my review of the A33/33/55, I could elicit mirror ‘ghosts’ or ‘reflections’ with all lenses. In order to see them you need to know what to look for, most people don’t', that’s why it really doesn’t take away from the usefulness of the SLT system.

      With that said, I’ll see what I can come up with using the adapter.

  • Chris Jankowski

    Considering that the LA-EA2 adapter costs nearly $400 and makes NEX-7 as bulky as an SLT I would posit that most people would be better off buying A65 body for ~$700 less than NEX-7+LA-EA2 combo or even A77 body for $200 less than the combo. I do not really see value in this adapter.

    • http://photojottings.com/ Kurt Munger

      You’re right, if you only plan on using a-mount lenses, the NEX system doesn’t make much sense, but for occasional use of smaller alpha lenses for certain photo projects; the adapter does what it’s supposed to do.

      I’d think the A55 with small alpha lens would be a nice alternative to the NEX system.

  • Matthew Durr

    4 Things (and looking forward to your conclusion!)
    1. Thanks for the picture of the 70-400 attached, it actually isn’t as big as I initially thought.
    2. I would love to see an expanded mini-review of the 16-50 f/2.8, along with possibly the Sony 70-200 f/2.8, but of course you already knew that I wanted that. :)
    3. Sigma 50 f/1.4 rather than the Sony f/1.4 (according to your reviews the Sigma is better all around, especially when wide open?)
    4. Have you made a note anywhere if there are Alpha lens profiles in the NEX firmware (for instance, the profile in the a65/a77 that makes the 16-50 f/2.8 distortion free).

    • http://photojottings.com/ Kurt Munger

      Unfortunately, I don’t have those lenses anymore. The NEX-7 doesn’t appear to have any profiles for the alpha lenses, even the new 16-50mm, which I tested on the NEX-7. Loading those profiles would be an easy firmware update.

      • Matthew Durr

        Well darn. Hopefully you’re right, and they’ll get added sometime. Considering all five of those lenses performed at least as well on the NEX-7 vs the A580, then I guess it’s safe to assume that would apply to the whole range of Sony lenses.

  • Villa Fabio

    hi..

    I would like to know if, with this adapter, the burst speed with autofocus in continuous mode, is always 2.5 fps (on nex 7) or is increased..
    Thanks for your attention
    greeting

    • http://photojottings.com/ Kurt Munger

      It’s shooting about 3fps with a Sony Memorystick pro HG Duo HX, however, it depends on the amount of AF travel as it’s shooting, meaning little or no change in focusing distances, 3fps.

      • Villa Fabio

        ok :) thanks

  • A77superNex

    I’ve the LA-EA2 and it works perfectly with my NEX-5 and CZ 16-80, 70-300 G and old Minolta 50/1.7 lenses that I currently use. I’ve also the A77 so have the top SLT model to compare against. Speed and accuracy is nearly on a par with the A77.
    My original intention was that the LA-EA2 would simply offer me the flexibility to be able to occassionally use A-mount lenses on the NEX-5 – what I hadn’t appreciated is that in practice, the CZ 16-80 on the adaptor is very well balanvced with the NEX-5. Out and about the combination has significantly less presence compared to the A77, and so I’ve found it less intimdating to those I’m photographing.

    • http://photojottings.com/ Kurt Munger

      Yes, I came to the same conclusion about the CZ16-80mm with adapter, even though it makes the package larger, it’s far better than lugging around a big DSLR.

  • Aavo

    Kurt,

    It will be nice, if you can compare EA2 and EA1 use on NEX-7 with some of the lenses, as example 35/1,8 SAM. How big is the difference in AF speed?

    • http://photojottings.com/ Kurt Munger

      I don’t have the EA1 at this time, but I’m guessing it would be the same as contrast detect.

  • Guest

    Somewhere I already read a review of the NEX-5 with this adapter. There the conclusion was that teh combo was practically unusable due to teh very limited power of the NEX-5 battery. It has to supply not only the NEX-5 but the adapter and the lens as well. So the guy could not take much more than 8-10 images before the battery got flat. What is your experience regarding this?

    • A77superNex

      No issue with my Nex5 EA2 combo. Seems to last for hundreds of shots.

    • http://photojottings.com/ Kurt Munger

      I’m getting about the same number of shots with the adapter as without.

    • Anonymous

      That review is garbage. My NEX-5 and LA-EA2 gives me a few hundred shots per battery. I don’t actually have a fair comparison because previously, I was using the LA-EA1 and used MF for all my shots. Obviously, I’m getting less shots than before, but it’s not significant.

  • http://www.pbase.com/jacodub Jacques Dubé

    Works fine and fast most of the time, but sometimes simply fails to focus. It happened three times that I remember of: it was always outside (with a temperature around minus 5 the three times), twice using the wide autofocus area and once using the spot area; when using the wide area, I remember there was a great many branches or the like, but I don’t see why this should be an issue. Anyone had a similar problem?

  • Eric

    I wonder if there is any effect to the lens like a extension tube would do? 1.1 or 1.2? given the added distance to the senser?

  • Jacques

    @ Eric: Interesting comment indeed, but no such effect.