Sony LA-EA5 adaptor marries old with new

Sony has announced the new LA-EA5, a 35mm full-frame A-mount lens adaptor that pairs with E-mount camera bodies, will be available from November for $449.The mount provides access to the autofocus and high-speed shooting capabilities from Sony’s E-mount camera bodies with A-mount SSM (Super Sonic wave Motor) and SAM (Smooth Autofocus Motor) lenses, as well as A-mount lenses that do not have internal focus motors.

When paired with the Sony a7R IV or a6600, the mount can power non-motorised screw drive lenses. It provides high-speed continuous shooting with AF/AE tracking at up to 11 fps (depending on the camera model, with lenses such as the Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA and Planar T* 85mm F1.4 ZA. Support is provided for focal plane phase-detection AF and wide-area focal phase-detection AF coverage, excluding video recording, along with Real-time Human and Animal Eye AF, and Real-time Tracking and AF/AE (auto exposure) tracking.

The LA-EA5 features an aperture drive unit and a new compact AF drive unit, and the diameter aligns with an A-mount.