27Jan Sony LA-EA4 E to A-mount adapter Audio test
I finally got my hands on an A-mount lens to test with the Sony LA-EA4 adapter. The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 is a lens that’s been around for quite awhile and it’s been released for a number of camera mounts including, Sony (A-mount), Nikon, Canon, and Pentax. The Tamron 28-75mm won’t blow your mind, but I managed to pick this up used on ebay for $160 which makes it an extremely affordable f2.8 zoom lens to test with the Sony a7s and LA-EA4 adapter.
The first thing you’ll notice when testing out the LA-EA4 adapter on the Sony a7s with an A-mount lens is the auto focus system is very snappy. It isn’t always accurate in low, but it gives the Canon 6d’s center focus point a run for it’s money.
Secondly you’ll notice the sound. When using the LA-EA4 adapter, a small motor spins up everything you focus the camera and this is a somewhat noisy experience. I’ve read a lot of complaints about how loud it is, and I don’t disagree. It’s much much louder than a USM lens on a Canon body, but it’s about the same volume as a cheap kit lens or non USM zoom. Don’t take my word for it though, here’s an audio sample.
That “pop click” sound at the beginning of the sample is the power switch, followed by the drive screw engaging and the rest is the sound of the focus system from infinity to shot. It’s not unbearable, but if you are trying to shoot incognito, it’s a problem. The sound is also a little jarring. I know that there isn’t anything wrong with the focus system, but a sound like that coming out of a camera still makes me think that there might be something dangerous going on.
The Sony a7s is a tiny little camera, even when compared to the Canon 6d, but with the LA-EA4 adapter and the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 lens, you give up the size advantage. The body is still petite, but now it’s about the length of a 6d with a Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 lens attached which makes sense. With the LA-EA4 adapter attached you are adding an SLT mirror and turning an a7 body into a Sony a99.
While the LA-EA4 adapter will set you back around $350 and does bulk up the a7s body, it also gives you a lot more lenses to choose from. The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 is a good example, but the Minolta 50mm f1.4 is also a bargain at a used price of $150, as are many of the Tokina zooms
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I think for film, i’ll be using my Canon lenses for the most part, but if I want to use the extreme low light power of the Sony a7s for photography, this is an affordable way to pick up a few lenses without braking the bank.
