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.

NameFocal lengthWidest apertureLength+Adapter mmWeight gr.





CANON FD 24mm 1:2.8.24mmF 2.854/56 + 22325
CANON Zoom Lens EF 24-85mm 1:3.5-4.5 Ultrasonic24-85mmF 3.5-4.570/97 + 26360
CANON Zoom Lens EF 28-200mm 1:3.5-5.628-200mmF 3.5-5.689/139 + 26495
CANON Zoom Lens EF 80-200mm F 4.5-5.6.80-200mmF 4.5-5.677/123 + 26260





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





ENNA LITHAGON 1:4/ 24mm.24mmF 453/58 + 26221
ENNA Ennalyt 1:3.5 28mm.28mmF 3.542/51 + 27185
ENNA TELE-ENNASTON 1:3.5 f 13,5cm Paxette135mmF 3.576/81 + 25273
EXAKTA 1:2.8 f:35mm.35mmF 2.845/48 + 27212
EXAKTA 1:1.8 f:50mm.50mmF 1.835/47 + 27174





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





HELIOS 44 2/58.58mmF 2.046/56 + 27220
HELIOS 44 2/58. second lens58mmF 2.046/56 + 27230
HELIOS 44 M 2/58.58mmF 2.044/52 + 27299
HELIOS 44-3 2/58.58mmF 2.047/55 + 27247
HELIOS 44-4 2/58.58mmF 2.040/49 + 27240
HELIOS 44 M-6 2/58mm.58mmF 2.040/49 + 27237
HELIOS-103 1:1.8/5353mmF 1.833 + 19/25140





INDUSTAR-10 FED 1:3.5 F=50mm collapsible 50mm
 F 3.5
 10/36 + 11
 112
INDUSTAR-22 1:3.5 F=50mm collapsible.50mmF 3.513/37 + 11100
INDUSTAR-26M 1:2.8 F=5cm.50mmF 2.827 + 19/25 90
INDUSTAR 26m 52mm F 2.852mmF 2.836/40 + 11105
INDUSTAR-50 50mm F 1:3.5 collapsible
 50mm
 F 3.5
 15/36 + 11
 109
NDUSTAR-50 50mm F 1:3.5 50mm
 F 3.5
 36/40 + 11
 102
INDUSTAR 50-2 1:3.5 f=50mm.50mmF 3.520/25 + 27 56
INDUSTAR 61 L/D 53mm F 2.8.53mmF 2.837/41 + 11125





JUPITER-3 1:1.5 F=5cm Contax50mmF 1.526 + 19/25135
JUPITER-8 2/50.50mmF 2.034/37 + 11115
JUPITER 8M 2/50 Contax50mmF 2.023 + 19/25120
JUPITER-9 1:2 F=8,5cm.85mmF 2.051/58 + 27270
JUPITER-9 1:2 F:8,5cm Contax85mmF 2.078/86420
JUPITER-11 4/135.135mmF 480/97 + 27300
JUPITER-12 2.8/35.35mmF 2.827/30 +11 95
JUPITER-12 2.8/35 Contax35mmF 2.838/40115





Killfitt-Makro-Kilar E 1:3.5/4 cm.40mmF 3.538/59 + 26140
Kilfitt-Makro-Kilar D 1:2.8/4 cm40mmF 2.839/78 + 26166
KONICA HEXANON AR 40mm F 1.8.40mmF 1.828/32 + 20123





LEITZ SUMMITAR 1:2 F=5cm.50mmF 243/47 + 11202
LEITZ ELMAR f=9cm 1:4.90mmF 478/88 + 11240
LEITZ HEKTOR f=13.5cm 1:4.5
 135mm
 F 4.5
 12/142 + 12
 450





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





MIR-1 2.8/37.37mmF 2.848 + 27161
MIR 20 H 3.5/20 (MC).20mmF 3.555/59 + 27370





OLYMPUS Zuiko Auto-W 1:3.5 f=21mm 21mmF 3.531/35 + 27167
OLYMPUS Zuiko Auto-W 24mm F 2.8.24mmF 2.831/35 + 27181
OLYMPUS Zuiko Auto-W 28mm F 2.8.28mmF 2.831/35 + 27155
OLYMPUS F.Zuiko Auto-S 50mm F 1.8.50mmF 1.830/38 + 27170
OLYMPUS Zuiko Auto-Zoom 35-105mm F 3.5-4.5.35-105mmF 3.5-4.585/110 + 27450
OLYMPUS Zuiko Auto-Zoom 65-200mm F 4.65-200mmF 4146/157 +27680
OLYMPUS E.ZUIKO AUTO-T 1:3.5 f = 135mm135mmF 3.574/88 + 27288





ORION-15 6/2828mmF 623/26 + 11 60





PENTACON auto 29mm F 2.829mmF 2.845/51 + 27190





PENTOR Auto 1:2.8 F = 135mm135mmF 2.890/102 + 27370





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





RIKENON (Auto) 55mm F 1.4.55mmF 1.445/52 + 27295





ROESCHLEIN LUXON 1:2/50mm Paxette50mmF 226/29 + 25 85
ROESCHLEIN TELENAR 1:3.8/90mm Paxette90 mmF 3.843/48 + 25151
ROESCHLEIN TELENAR 1:5.6 f 13,5cm Paxette135mmF 5.660/67 + 25155





SIGMA Zoom 28-200mm 1:3.8-5.6 UC28-200mmF 3.8-5.682/126 + 27460





SOLIGOR Wide-Auto 1:3.8 F 21mm.21mmF 3.857 + 27340
SOLIGOR (Auto-) 135mm F 2.8.135mmF 2.886/94 + 27420
SOLIGOR C/D Zoom Makro 28-105mm 1:3.5-4.5.28-105mmF 3.5-4.581/112 + 27440





STAEBLE LINEOGON 1:3.5/35 Paxette35mmF 3.523/25 + 25127
STAEBLE CHORO 1:3.5/38 Paxette38mmF 3.517/19 + 25 63
STAEBLE KATA 1:2.8/45 Paxette45mmF 2.814/17 + 25 51
STAEBLE KATA 1:2.8/45 -E- Paxette45mmF 2.821/24 + 25 75
STAEBLE TELEXON 1:5.6/85 Paxette85mmF 5.633/38 + 25109





STEINHEIL CASSAR 1:2.8 f=45mm VL Paxette45mmF 3.5 18/21 + 25113
STEINHEIL CASSARIT 1:2.8 f=45mm Paxette45mmF 3.518/21 + 25 86





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





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





TOKINA Wide Auto 1:3.8 f=21mm.21mmF 3.853/55 + 27280
TOKINA RMC 17mm 1:3.5.17mmF 3.556/58 + 27325
TOKINA RMC 25-50mm 1:4.25-50mmF 459/65 + 27330
TOKINA RMC 35-105mm 1 : 3.5-4.3.35-105mmF 3.590/110 + 26610





VIVITAR Wide Angle 28mm F 2.5.28mmF 2.560 + 27385
VIVITAR Auto-Telephoto 300mm F 5.6.300mmF 5.6164/181 + 27720





VOIGTLÄNDER Super Wide-Heliar 15mm F 4.5 aspherical.15mmF 4.530 + 11100
VOIGTLÄNDER Snapshot Skopar 25mm F4 MC25mmF 429 + 11 95





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





YASHINON-DS (Auto) 50mm 1:1.9.50mmF 1.939/46 + 27180
YASHINON-DX (Auto) 50mm 1:1.4.50mmF 1.443/48 + 27305





ZEISS SONNAR 1:2 F=5cm Contax.50mmF 2.011/22 + 19/25150
ZEISS TESSAR 1:2.8 f=50mm Paxette50mmF 2.832/34 + 25100





NON FF AN OTHER LENSES








35mm PCS ARSAT H 1: 2.835mm shiftF 2.879/87 + 27571





DIANA LENSES20, 38, 55, 75, 110mmnone ~F8differentdiff.





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



FUJIAN TV Lens f=35mm 1:1.7.35mm (crop, 52mm equiv.)F 1.742130





HOLGA HL(W)-SN 25mm F8 zone focus25mm (crop, 37mm equiv.)F 824/26 30
HOLGA HPL-SN 0.25mm Pinhole~28mm (crop, 42mm equiv.)F 14025 25





INDUSTAR 69 28mm F 2.8.28mm (crop, 42mm equiv.)F 2.818/19 + 11 45





LENSBABY 2.0
 50mm
 F 2
 52 + 27
 117
LENSBABY CONTROL FREAK
 50mm
 F 2
 70 + 26
 170
LENSBABY Ukrainian Clone
 52mm
 F 2.8
 30-64
 98
LOREO PC Lens in a cap (f=35mm)35mm shiftF 1116 + 2735





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





PINHOLE CAP for M39~28mmF 1273 + 11  5





ROBOT Zeiss Tessar 1 : 2.8 f = 3cm30mmF 2.812/19 + 13 89
ROBOT Schneider Xenagon 1 : 3.5/3030mmF 3.521/24 + 13140
ROBOT Schneider Xenagon 1 : 4 spy lens30mmF 48 + 13 41
ROBOT Zeiss Tessar 1 : 3.5 f = 3 3/4cm37.5mmF 3.517/20 + 13118
ROBOT Schneider Radionar 1 : 3.5/3838mmF 3.521/25 + 13140
ROBOT Schneider Xenon 1 : 1.9 / 4040mmF 1.929/32 + 13216
ROBOT Schneider Xenon 1 : 1.9 / 40 new40mmF 1.931/35124
ROBOT Schneider Tele-Xenar 1 : 3.8 / 7575mmF 3.844/50200
ROBOT Schneider Tele-Xenar 1 : 3.8 f = 7.5 cm75mmF 3.844/50195
ROBOT Schneider Tele-Xenar 1 : 4.5 / 110110mmF 4.575/78 + 13200





SONY E 3.5-5.6/PZ 16-50 OSS.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 S12024-120mm equiv.F 1.8-5.7whole cam218

* no sample pictures yet