Sony α system

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Revision as of 14:49, 23 November 2013 by U. kulick (talk | contribs) (Minolta compatibility issues)
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The Sony α system is a camera system which comprises two different autofocus lens mounts.

When Sony took over the DSLR development of Konica Minolta in 2006 it decided to use the Japanese system name α ("alpha") of Minolta's AF mount cameras and lenses since the new Sony DSLRs had the same autofocus lens mount (image of the mount, see Minolta Dynax 9‎).

In 2010 Sony introduced the Sony α NEX compact digital still cameras for interchangeable autofocus lenses, supplied with the new Sony E-mount which they share with Sony's flagship NEX camcorders. The Sony α NEX Camera Mount Adapter‎'s first version allows mounting most Sony α system lenses but not most of the old Minolta α system lenses: it only accepts α lenses with internal autofocus motor-drive. The second version even allows to use most old Minolta AF lenses in autofocus mode. The third version is made for full-format Minolta AF lenses on the NEX-VG... camcorders.

The Sony α33/α55 "SLT" cameras (single lens translucent cameras) proved that the old Minolta AF mount is also good for smart non-DSLR digital system cameras. But some of the old lenses once designed for the Minolta AF mount won't work with the SLTs, especially not with lenses made by Sigma.

The NEX cameras proved that compact digital system cameras with APS-size image sensor are no bad idea.

Sony α system

... camera bodies, ...

  • Sony α 850/900 advanced DSLRs with 24x36mm (35mm) image sensor and α-mount
  • Sony α 700 advanced DSLR with APS-C-size image sensor and α-mount
  • other Sony α DSLRs with APS-C-size image sensor and α-mount
  • Sony α "SLT"s with APS-C-size image sensor and α-mount
  • except Sony α 99, the SLT flagship with 24x36mm image sensor and α-mount
  • Sony NEX/Hasselblad Lunar digital compact system cameras (CSC) with APS-C-size image sensor and E-mount
  • Sony NEX-VG ... camcorders with APS-C-size or 24x36mm image sensor and E-mount
  • Sony α7/α7R CSCs with 24x36mm (35mm) image sensor and E-mount
  • Sony α3000 budget CSC with APS-C-size image sensor and E-mount

... lenses ...

  • Sony SAL ... α-mount autofocus lenses
  • Sony SAL ... SAM α-mount autofocus lenses with internal focusing motor
  • Sony SAL ... SSM α-mount autofocus lenses with quiet internal focusing motor
  • Sony SAL ... ZA α-mount autofocus lenses made by Carl Zeiss

... and lenses for use only with APS-size image sensor

  • Sony SEL ... E-mount autofocus lenses
  • Sony SAL ... DT α-mount autofocus lenses
  • Sony SAL ... DT ... SAM/SSM α-mount autofocus lenses with internal focusing motor
  • Sony SAL ... DT ... ZA α-mount autofocus lenses made by Carl Zeiss

Sony continued Konica Minolta's tradition of marking its high-value autofocus lenses as G lenses, except the lenses constructed by Zeiss.

Minolta compatibility issues

Sony's DSLRs and SLTs and the NEX-7 as well as Konica Minolta DSLRs can be used with the last generation of Minolta's flashguns for the AF SLR-system. Some of the newest Alpha system cameras use an oldstyle hot shoe (for modern electronic flashes only! using old simple hot shoe flashguns might be hazardous!) with new contacts scheme instead of Minolta's inverse flash shoe, and some of the simpler NEXes use an own screw mount for miniature flashes.

Sony's α-mount lenses can be used on the old Konica Minolta DSLR bodies. SAM- and SSM-Lenses can be used with a few of the last Dynax/Maxxum 35mm film SLRs like the Minolta Dynax 3L and on Konica Minolta DSLRs. Older Sony lenses with mechanically body-driven focusing (non-SAM/non-SSM) can even be used on the oldest of Minolta's autofocus SLRs like the Minolta 7000. CSC cameras with the E-mount like the Sony NEXes need adapters to attach Minolta AF lenses and other α-mount lenses:

  • Sony LA-EA2 converts a Sony NEX or another E-mount CSC into a SLT by adding a phase detection AF via pellicle.


Links

 

Appendix

Table of Sony Alpha system DSLR and SLT cameras and their predecessors with the Minolta AF mount:

classification 2 3, 4 5 6, 7, 8 9
"still video" back Minolta 7000 w/ SB-70 (1987) Minolta 9000 w/ SB-90 (1987)
based on SPxi MS-C1100 (1992)
based on 500si RD-175 (1995)
Konica Minolta DSLR Dynax 5D/Maxxum 5D
/α Sweet Digital (2005)
Dynax 7D/Maxxum 7D
/α-7 Digital (2004)
Sony DSLR

DSLR era
2006-2010

Sony α100 (2006) Sony α700 (2007)
Sony α200 (2008) Sony α300 (2008)
Sony α350 (2008)
Sony α900 (2008)
full-format sensor (24x36mm)
Sony α230 (2009) Sony α330 (2009)
Sony α380 (2009)
Sony α500 (2009)
Sony α550 (2009)
Sony α850 (2009)
full-format sensor (24x36mm)
Sony α290 (2010) Sony α390 (2010)
Sony α450 (2010)
Sony α560 (2010)
Sony α580 (2010)
Sony SLT

SLT era
2010-2016

Sony α33 (2010)
Sony α35 (2011)
Sony α37 (2012)
Sony α55 (2010)
Sony α57 (2012)
Sony α58 (2013)
Sony α65 (2011)
Sony α68 (2016)
Sony α77 (2011)
Sony α77 II (2014)
Sony α99 (2012)
Hasselblad HV (2014)
Sony α99 II (2016)
full-format sensor (24x36mm)

Table of Sony Alpha system CSC cameras with the new E-bayonet:

sensor frame size APS-C sensor frame size 35mm
(full format)
w/o finder built-in EVF
remote controlled with neither EVF nor screen
optional OVF optional EVF