A7 mostly manual lens comparison page

These are the lenses I tried on my Sony Alpha 7. It's not a scientific approach, it's just my personal impression, a quick and dirty review. It's a random selection, lenses I had in stock and those found on flea markets and on the big auction site for very little money. So no warranty that I'm right.

The most interesting thing about the Alpha 7 is its short flange focal distance. So there is plenty of room for adapters. Detailed informations about adapters are here. Some information on Russian and other eastern lenses, including the adaption of M39 Zenit mount lenses, is on this page. You will also find some hints for Braun Paxette lenses which have a similar problem on another page.

When using an old manual lens, there is no autofocus, but the A7 has two features to help you: focus peaking and focus magnifying. And, you have to set the aperture manually on the lens. So before buying a lens, be sure that there is an aperture ring present, most modern lenses don't have one, it's done automatically via electrical contacts and except Sony A and Canon EOS mounts there are no adapters with matching contacts yet. The good news: the viewing system of the A7 is capable to manage viewing even with a closed aperture. You have checked that the lens you want to buy is a full frame lens of course, haven't you?

For details and pictures click on the name of a lens, it will lead you to it's page. Behind the sample images there are bigger ones. So you may look at the full resolution image and judge yourself.  I had migrated to a Linux server recently. This caused some trouble with the sample pictures. I hope that it's repaired by now. So if a sample picture gives an error, please let me know. All sample pictures have been taken at 200 ISO unless indicated. Colour setting is "daylight" because "auto" is sometimes erratic with the tints of old glass. If you want to compare the difference, see the A6000 pictures, they were made with "auto" setting. Have a look at the EXIF data in case of doubt.

NameMount
 Focal lengthWidest apertureLength+Adapter mmWeight gr.



CANON FD 24mm 1:2.8.Can FD 24mmF 2.854/56 + 22325
CANON Zoom Lens EF 24-85mm 1:3.5-4.5 UltrasonicEOS 24-85mmF 3.5-4.570/97 + 26360
CANON Zoom Lens EF 28-200mm 1:3.5-5.6EOS 28-200mmF 3.5-5.689/139 + 26495
CANON Zoom Lens EF 80-200mm F 4.5-5.6.EOS 80-200mmF 4.5-5.677/123 + 26260



COSINA 24mm F 2.8  MC Makro.OM
 24mmF 2.840/46 + 27180



ENNA LITHAGON 1:4/ 24mm.Exakta 24mmF 453/58 + 26221
ENNA Ennalyt 1:3.5 28mm.M42
 28mmF 3.542/51 + 27185
ENNA TELE-ENNASTON 1:3.5 f 13,5cm PaxetteM39 Pax
 135mmF 3.576/81 + 25273
EXAKTA 1:2.8 f:35mm.M42
 35mmF 2.845/48 + 27212
EXAKTA 1:1.8 f:50mm.unknown
 50mmF 1.835/47 + 27174



HANIMEX Automatic MC 1:2.8 f=28mm-OM
 28mmF 2.843/48 + 27225



HELIOS 44 2/58.M39 Zen
 58mmF 2.046/56 + 27220
HELIOS 44 2/58. second lensM39 Zen
 58mmF 2.046/56 + 27230
HELIOS 44 M 2/58.M42
 58mmF 2.044/52 + 27299
HELIOS 44-3 2/58.M42
 58mmF 2.047/55 + 27247
HELIOS 44-4 2/58.M42
 58mmF 2.040/49 + 27240
HELIOS 44 M-6 2/58mm.M42
 58mmF 2.040/49 + 27237
HELIOS-103 1:1.8/53Contax rf 53mmF 1.833 + 19/25140



INDUSTAR-10 FED 1:3.5 F=50mm collapsible M39
 50mm
 F 3.5
 10/36 + 11
 112
INDUSTAR-22 1:3.5 F=50mm collapsible.M39
 50mmF 3.513/37 + 11100
INDUSTAR-26M 1:2.8 F=5cm.Contax rf 50mmF 2.827 + 19/25 90
INDUSTAR 26m 52mm F 2.8M39
 52mmF 2.836/40 + 11105
INDUSTAR-50 50mm F 1:3.5 collapsible
 M39
 50mm
 F 3.5
 15/36 + 11
 109
NDUSTAR-50 50mm F 1:3.5 M39
 50mm
 F 3.5
 36/40 + 11
 102
INDUSTAR 50-2 1:3.5 f=50mm.M42
 50mmF 3.520/25 + 27 56
INDUSTAR 61 L/D 53mm F 2.8.M39
 53mmF 2.837/41 + 11125



JUPITER-3 1:1.5 F=5cm ContaxContax rf 50mmF 1.526 + 19/25135
JUPITER-8 2/50.M39
 50mmF 2.034/37 + 11115
JUPITER 8M 2/50 ContaxContax rf 50mmF 2.023 + 19/25120
JUPITER-9 1:2 F=8,5cm.M39 Zen
 85mmF 2.051/58 + 27270
JUPITER-9 1:2 F:8,5cm ContaxContax rf 85mmF 2.078/86420
JUPITER-11 4/135.M39 Zen
 135mmF 480/97 + 27300
JUPITER-12 2.8/35.M39
 35mmF 2.827/30 +11 95
JUPITER-12 2.8/35 ContaxContax rf 35mmF 2.838/40115



Killfitt-Makro-Kilar E 1:3.5/4 cm.Exakta
 40mmF 3.538/59 + 26140
Kilfitt-Makro-Kilar D 1:2.8/4 cmExakta
 40mmF 2.839/78 + 26166
KONICA HEXANON AR 40mm F 1.8.Konica AR 40mmF 1.828/32 + 20123



LEITZ SUMMITAR 1:2 F=5cm.M39
 50mmF 243/47 + 11202
LEITZ ELMAR f=9cm 1:4.M39
 90mmF 478/88 + 11240
LEITZ HEKTOR f=13.5cm 1:4.5
 Leitz M 135mm
 F 4.5
 12/142 + 12
 450






LOMO-T43 1:4 F=40mm.M39
 40mmF 426/31 + 11 65



MIR-1 2.8/37.M39 Zen
 37mmF 2.848 + 27161
MIR 20 H 3.5/20 (MC).M42
 20mmF 3.555/59 + 27370



OLYMPUS Zuiko Auto-W 1:3.5 f=21mm OM
 21mmF 3.531/35 + 27167
OLYMPUS Zuiko Auto-W 24mm F 2.8.OM 24mmF 2.831/35 + 27181
OLYMPUS Zuiko Auto-W 28mm F 2.8.OM 28mmF 2.831/35 + 27155
OLYMPUS F.Zuiko Auto-S 50mm F 1.8.OM 50mmF 1.830/38 + 27170
OLYMPUS Zuiko Auto-Zoom 35-105mm F 3.5-4.5.OM 35-105mmF 3.5-4.585/110 + 27450
OLYMPUS Zuiko Auto-Zoom 65-200mm F 4.OM 65-200mmF 4146/157 +27680
OLYMPUS E.ZUIKO AUTO-T 1:3.5 f = 135mmOM 135mmF 3.574/88 + 27288



ORION-15 6/28M39
 28mmF 623/26 + 11 60



PENTACON auto 29mm F 2.8M42
 29mmF 2.845/51 + 27190



PENTOR Auto 1:2.8 F = 135mmM42
 135mmF 2.890/102 + 27370



REVUENON (Auto) 55mm F 1.4. M42
 55mmF 1.447/54 + 27315
REVUENON (Auto) 1:2.8 f=135mm.M42
 135mmF 2.888/102 + 27393



RIKENON (Auto) 55mm F 1.4.M42
 55mmF 1.445/52 + 27295



ROESCHLEIN LUXON 1:2/50mm PaxetteM39 Pax
 50mmF 226/29 + 25 85
ROESCHLEIN TELENAR 1:3.8/90mm PaxetteM39 Pax 90 mmF 3.843/48 + 25151
ROESCHLEIN TELENAR 1:5.6 f 13,5cm PaxetteM39 Pax 135mmF 5.660/67 + 25155




SARABER Finon 1:2.8/45 custom lens
 M39 cust
 45mm
 F 2.8
 46/56 + 12.5
 197






SIGMA Zoom 28-200mm 1:3.8-5.6 UCEOS
 28-200mmF 3.8-5.682/126 + 27460



SOLIGOR Wide-Auto 1:3.8 F 21mm.Minolta MD 21mmF 3.857 + 27340
SOLIGOR (Auto-) 135mm F 2.8.OM
 135mmF 2.886/94 + 27420
SOLIGOR C/D Zoom Makro 28-105mm 1:3.5-4.5.M42
 28-105mmF 3.5-4.581/112 + 27440



STAEBLE LINEOGON 1:3.5/35 PaxetteM39 Pax 35mmF 3.523/25 + 25127
STAEBLE CHORO 1:3.5/38 PaxetteM39 Pax 38mmF 3.517/19 + 25 63
STAEBLE KATA 1:2.8/45 PaxetteM39 Pax 45mmF 2.814/17 + 25 51
STAEBLE KATA 1:2.8/45 -E- PaxetteM39 Pax 45mmF 2.821/24 + 25 75
STAEBLE TELEXON 1:5.6/85 PaxetteM39 Pax 85mmF 5.633/38 + 25109



STEINHEIL CASSAR 1:2.8 f=45mm VL PaxetteM39 Pax 45mmF 3.5 18/21 + 25113
STEINHEIL CASSARIT 1:2.8 f=45mm PaxetteM39 Pax 45mmF 3.518/21 + 25 86



TAIR 11 1:2.8 133mm
 M39 Zen
 133mm F 2.8 105/123 + 27 567






TAMRON 1:2.5 28mm MC.Konica AR
 28mmF 2.545/49 +20227
TAMRON 500mm F 8 (Mirror).T2/Min MD 500mmF 895/104 + 27655



TOKINA Wide Auto 1:3.8 f=21mm.M42
 21mmF 3.853/55 + 27280
TOKINA RMC 17mm 1:3.5.Minolta MD 17mmF 3.556/58 + 27325
TOKINA RMC 25-50mm 1:4.C/Y
 25-50mmF 459/65 + 27330
TOKINA RMC 35-105mm 1 : 3.5-4.3.Minolta MD 35-105mmF 3.590/110 + 26610



VIVITAR Wide Angle 28mm F 2.5.M42/T2
 28mmF 2.560 + 27385
VIVITAR Auto-Telephoto 300mm F 5.6.M42
 300mmF 5.6164/181 + 27720



VOIGTLÄNDER Super Wide-Heliar 15mm F 4.5 aspherical.M39
 15mmF 4.530 + 11100
VOIGTLÄNDER Snapshot Skopar 25mm F4 MCM39
 25mmF 429 + 11 95



WELTBLICK 300mm F 6.3 (Mirror).T2/EOS 300mmF 6.393/95 + 27350



YASHINON-DS (Auto) 50mm 1:1.9.M42
 50mmF 1.939/46 + 27180
YASHINON-DX (Auto) 50mm 1:1.4.M42
 50mmF 1.443/48 + 27305



ZEISS PLANAR T 1:1.7 F 50mm
 C/Y
 50mm
 F 1.7
 36/41 + 27
 195
ZEISS SONNAR 1:2 F=5cm Contax.Contax rf
 50mmF 2.011/22 + 19/25150
ZEISS TESSAR 1:2.8 f=50mm PaxetteM39 Pax
 50mmF 2.832/34 + 25100



NON FF AN OTHER LENSES









35mm PCS ARSAT H 1: 2.8EOS
 35mm shiftF 2.879/87 + 27571



DIANA LENSESDiana
 20, 38, 55, 75, 110mmnone ~F8differentdiff.



FOTODIOX PROSHIFT ADAPTER (with OLYMPUS 24mm lens)EOS
 lenslens24 +3176




FUJIAN TV Lens f=35mm 1:1.7.C-mount
 35mm (crop, 52mm equiv.)F 1.742130



HOLGA HL(W)-SN 25mm F8 zone focusSony E
 25mm (crop, 37mm equiv.)F 824/26 30
HOLGA HPL-SN 0.25mm PinholeSony E
 ~28mm (crop, 42mm equiv.)F 14025 25
HOLGA HL-C 60mm (+ Fisheye adapter)
 EOS
 60mm (crop, 90mm equiv)
 F 8
 24/26 +26
  30
HOLGA  HLT-C  Turret  Lens
 EOS
 ~60mm (crop, ~90mm equiv) F8
 35 + 26
  60






INDUSTAR 69 28mm F 2.8.M39 cust
 28mm (crop, 42mm equiv.)F 2.818/19 + 11 45



LENSBABY 2.0
 EOS
 50mm
 F 2
 52 + 27
 117
LENSBABY 3 G
 EOS
 + 50mm
 F2
 70 + 27
 177
LENSBABY COMPOSER PRO
 EOS
 50mm
 F2
 60 + 27
 170
LENSBABY CONTROL FREAK
 Pentax
 50mm
 F 2
 70 + 26
 170
LENSBABY SCOUT Fisheye
 EOS
 12mm
 F 4
 52 + 27
 230
LENSBABY Ukrainian Clone
 Sony E
 52mm
 F 2.8
 30-64
 98
LOREO PC Lens in a cap (f=35mm)M42
 35mm shiftF 1116 + 2735



PENTAX 110 SLR LENSES
 Pentax 110
 18, 20-40, 24, 50, 70mm F 2.8 different diff






PINHOLE CAP for M39M39
 ~28mmF 1273 + 11  5



ROBOT Zeiss Tessar 1 : 2.8 f = 3cmRobot M26 30mmF 2.812/19 + 13 89
ROBOT Schneider Xenagon 1 : 3.5/30Robot M26 30mmF 3.521/24 + 13140
ROBOT Schneider Xenagon 1 : 4 spy lensRobot M26 30mmF 48 + 13 41
ROBOT Zeiss Tessar 1 : 3.5 f = 3 3/4cmRobot M26 37.5mmF 3.517/20 + 13118
ROBOT Schneider Radionar 1 : 3.5/38Robot M26 38mmF 3.521/25 + 13140
ROBOT Schneider Xenon 1 : 1.9 / 40Robot M26 40mmF 1.929/32 + 13216
ROBOT Schneider Xenon 1 : 1.9 / 40 newRobot M26 40mmF 1.931/35124
ROBOT Schneider Tele-Xenar 1 : 3.8 / 75Robot M26 75mmF 3.844/50200
ROBOT Schneider Tele-Xenar 1 : 3.8 f = 7.5 cmRobot M26 75mmF 3.844/50195
ROBOT Schneider Tele-Xenar 1 : 4.5 / 110Robot M26 110mmF 4.575/78 + 13200



SONY E 3.5-5.6/PZ 16-50 OSS.Sony E
 crop, 24-75mm equiv.F 3.5-5.629/52110



AND FINALLY, JUST FOR FUN AND COMPARISON, THE IMAGES FROM A GOOD QUALITY POCKETABLE CAMERA, THE CANON S120



CANON S120
 24-120mm equiv.F 1.8-5.7whole cam218

* no sample pictures yet