Sony A mount lenses on A6400

sneeks

I'm looking at a adapter to allow me to use my old A mount lenses with the A6400. Not sure if the LA-EA3 or 4 would be my best option and cannot decipher why to choose one over the other.

The lenses I would like to use are:

Sony 16-50mm 2.8 SAL1650
Sony 85mm 2.8 SAL85F28
Sony 50mm 1.8 SAL50F18
Sigma 100-300mm APO DG EX

Any help greatly appreciated. I plan to eventually replace these with E mount options but it would be nice to utilise these while I save money.

Do the adapted lenses work well or would I be better not to bother?

I have the choice of either the 16-50mm or the 18-135mm kit when I purchase my A6400, is there any benefit in choosing the more expensive 18-135mm kit or should I keep the money and put it towards something like the 18-105mm F4 G at a later date?

springtide

From my understanding, you go for the LA-EA3 adaptor for SAM/SSM lenses, and the camera then uses it's internal AF.

LA-EA4 provides AF on all lenses as well as AF during video, using PDAF within the adaptor.

What is the difference between the LA-EA1, LA-EA2, LA-EA3, and LA-EA4 lens mount adapters? | Sony TH

I've owned a LA-EA2 and LA-EA4 but not a LA-EA3.

Biggest thing with the LA-EA4 adaptor was the size together with the bigger A Mount lenses.  Not a huge issue but a bit clumsy.

Do you still have an A Mount camera btw?

Regarding the 16-50mm pancake, it's an OK lens but not great. The advantage is the size which makes it very appealing.

Faldrax

The LA-EA3 is for lenses with in-lens motors - which would cover all but the Sigma 100-300
The LA-EA4 has a built in AF motor, and so can drive lenses designed for in-body AF motors, including your Sigma 100-300.

So you could get an LA-EA4 and it would allow you to use all of your lenses on the A6400.

BUT

The LA-EA4  also includes it's own AF system, using a (fixed) SLT mirror.
Which means you 'loose' ~ 1/3 stop of light (it's diverted to the AF module), and you are limited to the LA-EA4 AF system.
So you are noticeably better off using an LA-EA3 for lenses which it supports (as it has no impact optically, and uses the A6400 AF system).

Given that you have the 16-50 f/2.8, I'd be tempted to either get the A6400 body only, or just with the 16-50 kit - either that or get the 18-105 and sell the 16-50 f/2.8 - I'm not sure you'd want both.
The only reason for getting the 16-50 kit is that it's so small when powered down - on my A6000 I can fit camera & lens in a coat pocket - and while it does have compromises to achieve the small size, in-camera jpegs correct for most, and LR profiles do the same for RAW - and you can create great shots in an extremely compact set up.

sneeks

Many thanks for both replies. From what you've both said I think I'd gain more from buying the LA-EA3 as this will work best with the majority of my lenses. I do still own my A77 and can continue to use my Sigma 100-300mm with that.

Do the adapted lenses work well?

I think I'll stick with the 16-50 kit bundle rather than the 18-105. I'm sure the 16-50 kit lens will be a handy option for times I do not need my 16-50 2.8 A mount version.

Faldrax

Just to add, you will still be able to use the Sigma 100-300 on the A6400 via the LA-EA3, BUT it will be manual focus - which may still be fine for certain applications.

sneeks

Yes that could be useful for some scenarios where fast focus is not necessary. Will focus peaking work when using the lens in this way?

Faldrax

I'm not sure - I've looked into adaptors for A-Mount in terms of looking for an upgrade path from my A900, but don't have one as my 27-70 f/2.8 on it's own weighs more than my 16-50, 55-210 and 50 f/1.8 combined, which would rather defeat the 'small and light' aspect