Can Canon EF lenses on a Sony NEX-C3 use autofocus and electronic aperture control with an adapter?
Asked 7/16/2012
4 views
2 answers
0
I use a Sony NEX-C3 and I'm considering buying Canon lenses for a future Canon body. I know EF-to-E adapters exist, but can any of them provide electronic communication such as aperture control, autofocus, and EXIF data when using Canon EF lenses on the NEX-C3? If not, is full support likely in the future, or is it limited by the technology?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
4
Metabones makes an EF-to-E adapter that brings all of the electronic features across except autofocus and some of the lens correction information. A full-featured adapter could happen, but you could lose out on an awful lot of shooting waiting for it.
Selecting lenses with an eye toward the future is a good idea, but the adapter's US$400 price tag makes the economics of upgrading to a SLR body sooner rather than later somewhat favorable. This is especially true if you'd like the full function of the lenses available and you don't already have a lot sunk into E-mount glass for your NEX. Bottom-of-the-line SLR bodies can be put on the road for US$500-700 depending on which one you buy.
As you've observed, Sony's shortcoming is that there isn't anywhere near as much of an ecosystem of E-mount lenses as there is for some of the better-known systems like Canon's EF and Nikon's F. If your needs aren't being met and you don't see them being met in the near future, it might be time to pull the rip cord and buy into another system. I ran into the same problem in 1994, switched systems and still occasionally use the first lens I bought then despite being several bodies removed.
Once you've bought into one of the major systems, the old saw that bodies are for Christmas and lenses are forever holds true. As long as the manufacturer doesn't change the lens mount, you get to take all of your lenses with you when you change to another body within the same system.
Originally by user6508. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user6508
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—electronic EF-to-E adapters do exist. Based on the community answers, adapters such as those from Metabones can provide electronic lens control, including aperture control and some EXIF communication, but not full autofocus support, and some lens correction data may also be missing.
So if your goal is full DSLR-like operation of Canon EF lenses on a NEX-C3, adapters were not offering the complete experience described in the answers. A more capable adapter might appear in the future, but it’s not something to count on if you want to shoot now.
Practically, if you’re planning to move to Canon mainly for the lens ecosystem and full native functionality, buying Canon lenses now for use via an adapter may be less attractive than it seems—especially since electronic adapters add significant cost and still don’t deliver full performance. If you don’t already have a strong investment in Sony E-mount lenses, it may make more sense to save toward the camera system you ultimately want rather than buying into an adapter workaround.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI14y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Can Canon EF and Tamron EF-mount lenses work on a Sony A7R with autofocus and stabilization?
How well do Canon EF-to-Sony E adapters work on an A7S/A7 series body?
Can Pentax lenses be used on a Sony NEX with an adapter, and will autofocus work?
How can I control aperture on a Canon EF lens with a non-electronic EF-to-Sony E tilt adapter?
Do Canon EF/EF-S lenses work better on Canon mirrorless bodies than on other brands via adapters?