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Those using A7 series (or other Sony) with Canon lenses

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ImageAmateur

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Hi,

Those using Canon lenses with adapters on Sony A7 etc, what is your experience?

Is it a seamless blend, does AF, metering etc work well?

Much thanks!

--
Wishing You Good Light.
 
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ImageAmateur said:
Hi,

Those using Canon lenses with adapters on Sony A7 etc, what is your experience?

Is it a seamless blend, does AF, metering etc work well?

Much thanks!
Click to expand...
 
This should be in the Canon SLR Lens forum.
 
I you haven't done so already, I would post this in the Sony E Mount Full Frame forum.
 
ImageAmateur said:
Hi,

Those using Canon lenses with adapters on Sony A7 etc, what is your experience?

Is it a seamless blend, does AF, metering etc work well?

Much thanks!
Click to expand...
 
There are many possile adapters, which can result in different types of performance, but in general:

Metering is no problem.

AF is accurate.

For less active use, AF is fast enough (IMO!)

AF will probably not be as fast as native solutions, so if you do sports or such which could need the fastest possible performance, it might be less than ideal.

Some features may be limited, such as eye-AF over the entire field or tracking with CAF.

For my (non sports, non-event) use, adapted AF is fine. YMMV...
 
1. The AF support on the first gen A7 and A7r is mediocre for EF lenses (in the range of several seconds if at all).

2. The AF support on the second gen A7 II and A7r II is much better.

Let's talk about option 2:

The result depends greatly on the converter/lens combination. Something that works with one version of a lens does not have to work with another and the same is true for the converters. For example we tried my 8 years old EF 85mm 1.8 on an A7rII and it did not focus at all with any of 3 converters we tested. A new sample of the lens worked well with 2 of the 3 converters.

For some lens/converter combinations the subject distance and the zoom setting made a difference like with my sample of the 70-200 4L IS which had trouble with 150mm+ and/or with distant targets.

Lenses like 35mm 2.0 IS worked fine on 2/3 converters. Not as native of course but fine for general use.

17-40L had some issues focussing below 5m with 2 converters.

The Sony AF system deactivates some AF features for adapted EF lenses. So not all options are available.

Mr. Northrup did some testing of the 16-35 4IS compared to the FE 16-35. He found that the Canon did wash out the extreme corners a bit which it does not do on a Canon.

Some web pages want to make us believe that everything is working perfectly fine but for sure with my 3 adapters and 10 Canon lenses it was not.

Overall I found it a bit hit and miss. My suggestion is to first try some converters with your lenses to see if it works fine for you. However the next Sony camera or lens you buy may or may not work as intended. Honestly buying FE lenses if you want to have a Sony might be the better option overall. Try for yourself.
 
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On newer cameras, that support PDAF with adapted lenses, they work pretty well. Metering is fine. AF is pretty fast and accurate, with no need for micro-adjustment. EXIF is provided. IBIS (in body stabilization) works. Depending on the adapter IBIS and IS, for lenses that have it, may work together.

Compared to native Canon bodies, I would guess that AF probably isn't as fast, and that tracking isn't as good. On the other hand, things like manual focus magnification in the viewfinder, focus peaking, zebras, and stabilization with all lenses are things you get on the Sony bodies that you don't get on the native Canon bodies.

So, seamless? No. Pretty good, and in some ways better? Yes.

Also, some of the Sigma lenses on the MC-11 adapter are pretty much seamless.

--
A7-II with kit lens and a number of legacy lenses (mostly Canon FD); NEX-7 converted to IR.
 
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I am using A7 for 3.5 years now. I still use the older Metabones III as the adapter and AF is slow, about 1-2 seconds. The only Canon lenses I still use are:

24/2.8 IS

35/2 IS

70-200/4 L IS

70-300/4-5.6 IS

I could send the Metabones in for upgrades for a little faster AF but often I use manual focus and I only use the adapter for electronic control of aperture, SS, and exif info YMMV.
 
I've been using the A7II with Canon lenses for a year. I use the Fotodiox EF adapter. In AF-S, focus speed is pretty much native speed. It's amazing. I also have an LM-EA7.... that has been a little hit or miss; seems to confirm focus without actually having it. I'm going to give that a test drive this weekend. But yea, if you are OK with just AF-S and nothing fancy like Eye-AF Canon glass works really well on the A7II and A7RII. Everything else is a crapshoot or poor performer.
 
TORN said:
1. The AF support on the first gen A7 and A7r is mediocre for EF lenses (in the range of several seconds if at all).

2. The AF support on the second gen A7 II and A7r II is much better.

Let's talk about option 2:

The result depends greatly on the converter/lens combination. Something that works with one version of a lens does not have to work with another and the same is true for the converters. For example we tried my 8 years old EF 85mm 1.8 on an A7rII and it did not focus at all with any of 3 converters we tested. A new sample of the lens worked well with 2 of the 3 converters.

For some lens/converter combinations the subject distance and the zoom setting made a difference like with my sample of the 70-200 4L IS which had trouble with 150mm+ and/or with distant targets.

Lenses like 35mm 2.0 IS worked fine on 2/3 converters. Not as native of course but fine for general use.

17-40L had some issues focussing below 5m with 2 converters.

The Sony AF system deactivates some AF features for adapted EF lenses. So not all options are available.

Mr. Northrup did some testing of the 16-35 4IS compared to the FE 16-35. He found that the Canon did wash out the extreme corners a bit which it does not do on a Canon.

Some web pages want to make us believe that everything is working perfectly fine but for sure with my 3 adapters and 10 Canon lenses it was not.

Overall I found it a bit hit and miss. My suggestion is to first try some converters with your lenses to see if it works fine for you. However the next Sony camera or lens you buy may or may not work as intended. Honestly buying FE lenses if you want to have a Sony might be the better option overall. Try for yourself.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your practical experience / knowledge.

Not as rosy as I had hoped, good to know. Much thanks.
 
ImageAmateur said:
Hi,

Those using Canon lenses with adapters on Sony A7 etc, what is your experience?

Is it a seamless blend, does AF, metering etc work well?

Much thanks!
Click to expand...
 
ImageAmateur said:
Hi,

Those using Canon lenses with adapters on Sony A7 etc, what is your experience?

Is it a seamless blend, does AF, metering etc work well?

Much thanks!

--
Wishing You Good Light.
Click to expand...
I'm a landscape shooter but use SAF for walkabout. With Metabones 4 or 5 and latest firmware you get near native SAF speed and accuracy, Dual IS etc on A7R2. Amazingly you get reasonable SAF speed on A7R but only with the last two firmware upgrades, before which it was unusable. On the A7R2, a Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS feels just like a FE 55mm f/1.8 in use, apart from the Dual IS.

Not tried more advanced AF modes but you could read the Metabones site. Their documentation is reasonably accurate. MC11 works well on Sigma EF lenses, according to reports. Haven't used other adapters because of the light scatter problem, especially with my TSE.

Andrew

--
Infinite are the arguments of mages. Truth is a jewel with many facets. Ursula K LeGuin
 
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It goes to show that the different experiences are not only due to different interpretations/expectations of what "good" and "fast" are, but also on different camera/firmware/adapter setting/camera setting combinations. For example:
TORN said:
1. The AF support on the first gen A7 and A7r is mediocre for EF lenses (in the range of several seconds if at all).
Click to expand...
I find that all 8 of my Canon lenses will focus on my A7, with speeds varying, depending on the lens and adapter (Metabones IV T and MC-11) from a typical half second with some lenses to from 1-2 seconds with others.
TORN said:
The result depends greatly on the converter/lens combination. Something that works with one version of a lens does not have to work with another and the same is true for the converters. For example we tried my 8 years old EF 85mm 1.8 on an A7rII and it did not focus at all with any of 3 converters we tested. A new sample of the lens worked well with 2 of the 3 converters.
Click to expand...
An ancient 100-300 5.6 L works fine on both adapters.
TORN said:
For some lens/converter combinations the subject distance and the zoom setting made a difference like with my sample of the 70-200 4L IS which had trouble with 150mm+ and/or with distant targets.
Click to expand...
My 70-200 4.0 L IS works dependably well at 200mm.
TORN said:
Mr. Northrup did some testing of the 16-35 4IS compared to the FE 16-35. He found that the Canon did wash out the extreme corners a bit which it does not do on a Canon.
Click to expand...
Assuming you meant that the Sony "washed out the corners": that "test" is notorious, usually being intepreted as meaning that Canon wide-angle lenses have softer corners on Sony bodies than Canon ones. All I can say is that the EF 16-35 4.0 gives superb results on my Sonys. Mr. Northrup's results could be explained as being a consequence of using a slightly short adapter sample.
TORN said:
Some web pages want to make us believe that everything is working perfectly fine but for sure with my 3 adapters and 10 Canon lenses it was not.
Click to expand...
2 adapters and 8 (previously 10) lenses say fine (maybe not perfectly, but still fine).
TORN said:
Overall I found it a bit hit and miss. My suggestion is to first try some converters with your lenses to see if it works fine for you. However the next Sony camera or lens you buy may or may not work as intended. Honestly buying FE lenses if you want to have a Sony might be the better option overall. Try for yourself.
Click to expand...
Indeed! Make sure you try different camera focus settings and different adapter settings (in the case of Metabones), also check which firmware is being used: all that can make a big difference.
 
KwhyChang said:
I am using A7 for 3.5 years now. I still use the older Metabones III as the adapter and AF is slow, about 1-2 seconds. The only Canon lenses I still use are:

24/2.8 IS

35/2 IS

70-200/4 L IS

70-300/4-5.6 IS

I could send the Metabones in for upgrades for a little faster AF but often I use manual focus and I only use the adapter for electronic control of aperture, SS, and exif info YMMV.

--
Dave
Click to expand...
with a7 II, rII,sII those lenses focus as fast as on canon bodies with sigma adapter..(maybe slightly slower i aggree)
 
sportyaccordy said:
I've been using the A7II with Canon lenses for a year. I use the Fotodiox EF adapter. In AF-S, focus speed is pretty much native speed. It's amazing. I also have an LM-EA7.... that has been a little hit or miss; seems to confirm focus without actually having it. I'm going to give that a test drive this weekend. But yea, if you are OK with just AF-S and nothing fancy like Eye-AF Canon glass works really well on the A7II and A7RII. Everything else is a crapshoot or poor performer.
Click to expand...
 
With Metabones IV, latest firmware, in Advanced Mode (default with teh a7), AF works amazingly well and fast. Not record breaking, but fast enough in many situations. And accurate. a7r2 and a6300 work well with both, Sigma MC-11 and Metabones, less well with Commlite.
 
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Yea, I had the 50 STM and still have the 40 STM... they both work great. Just wasn't a fan of the 50's IQ wide open; my 30-40 year old Minolta 45 and 55 are better. The 40 STM is an underrated lens though; I'll only sell it if I leave the FE system.
 
I have used various Canon lenses on A7r, A7 II and A7r II in landscape, traveling, family and weekend photos. They all work great. But if you shoot in fast sport, wildlife and action type photos, adapted lenses in general are not ideal.

My Canon lenses adapted on A7-series are,

17L f4.0 TS-E (which is a manual focus lens, but much easier used on A7-series because of EVF)

16-35L/4.0 IS

24-70L/2.8 II

35/2.0 IS

70-200L/2.8 IS II

Above 200mm, AF is slow but still usable

100-400L IS II (ok in zoo but not in airshow or safari)

500L/4.0 IS (very slow AF, only on static subject or pre-focus)

I use Metabones IV-T and Sigma MC-11 adapters.
 
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