Lens adapters: which lenses fit which cameras

What you lose with an adapter

Aperture control

Many lenses have no aperture ring. The camera sets the aperture with electronic contacts (Canon EF, Sony E and most mirrorless lenses) or with a mechanical lever (Nikon G, Minolta and Sony A, Pentax DA). On a plain adapter the aperture stays at one value. Lever lenses need an adapter with its own aperture ring. Electronic lenses need an electronic adapter. In the table, these mounts have the tag “Electronic lens” or a note.

Autofocus and focus by wire

Autofocus needs an electronic adapter that passes commands between camera and lens, and these exist for some pairs only. Many mirrorless lenses focus by wire: the focus ring sends a signal to a motor. Without power from the camera, such a lens cannot focus at all.

Exact thickness

The adapter must match the gap to a fraction of a millimetre. If it is too thick, the lens does not reach infinity focus. If it is too thin, the lens focuses past infinity and the distance scale is wrong.

Mount width and rear elements

A narrow camera mount can block light from a lens with a large rear element, so the corners get darker. On a DSLR, a rear element that sticks out can hit the mirror when it moves up.

Sensor size

A lens projects an image circle for one format. An APS-C lens on a full-frame camera gives dark corners unless you use the camera's crop mode. A full-frame or medium format lens on a smaller sensor works, but the sensor uses only the centre of the image, so the view is narrower.

Leaf shutters and missing controls

Many medium format lenses have a leaf shutter (tag “Leaf shutter”), and the adapter must hold it open. Contax G lenses have no focus ring, so their adapters have a focus dial.

Stabilisation and lens data

Lens stabilisation, lens corrections and EXIF data need an electronic adapter. With a plain adapter on a camera with in-body stabilisation, enter the focal length in the camera menu.