Today I received my Sony adapter LA-EA4 and did a quick comparison with the older version LA-EA2. Both adapters add a translucent mirror to a NEX series camera and are built for the Alpha lens lineup. But the newer version LA-EA4 can also be used on the two new mirrorless full-frame sensor cameras with interchangeable lenses from Sony (the Sony A7r and Sony A7). The older version is only suitable for the Sony NEX series with APS-C sized sensors.
There is only a slight difference in weight (Sony LA-EA2 is 200g, the Sony LA-EA4 is 160g). Another difference is of course the size of the translucent mirror. The difference can easily be seen in the product shots. The speed of the autofocus seems to be the same (but I did no scientific test on that).
Both adapters work with the old “screwdriver” type autofocus lenses (Minolta 28-70/2.8 tested) and with the new SSM type autofocus lenses (Sony 70-200/2.8 tested). I did not test any SAM lenses. Both adapters work with my NEX-5 and also with the NEX-7.
With the NEX-5 I could only select a specific autofocus point with the old adapter. With the NEX-7 I could select a specific autofocus point with both adapters.
Would you please check if it is possible with la-ea4 and la-ea2 to use “Focus magnifier” in manual focus mode.
Review about the la-ea2 by Kurtmunger:
“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.”
I am very much interested in A7R with la-ea4 but only if I can use “Focus magnifier”.
Thank you very much.
Best regards.
Hi Gerd,
I only have the LA-EA1 at hand. The magnified focus view works with the peaking feature and the Sony ILCE-7. I know this does not answer your question exactely :-(. PanoTwin Jürgen is still waiting for his camera to be delivered and I neither have a LA-EA2 nor a LA-EA4. However we meet the following weekend. I’ll try to check this out then!
All the best,
PanoTwin Markus
Hi Gerd,
I tested both adapters (LA-EA2 and LA-EA4) on the Sony A7 (ILCE-7). My current setup of the camera is described in a separate article. With the camera set up as described the function Focus Magnifier works with both adapters if you set Focus Mode to Manual Focus. The magnification worked with the old screwdriver type autofocus lenses (Minolta 50/1.4 tested) and with the new SSM type autofocus lenses (Sony 70-200/2.8 tested). I did not test any SAM lenses.
Best regards
PanoTwin Jürgen
Thank You very much for Your answer.
Best regards
Gerd
how the performance on minolta 50mm f1.4 AF ?
focus speed and intelligence ?
thanks
I understand the EA2 and EA4 may handle differently on the A6500, with the EA4 using all the AF points of the A6500 sensor. Supposedly, only 15 AF points are available when the EA2 is attached to an A6500. We need to find out it his is true.