Sony Alpha NEX Cameras and E Mount Lenses

Helical Mount Leica M to E-mount Lens Adapter Extended Helical Mount Leica M to E-mount Lens Adapter Retracted Hawk's Factory has produced a Leica M lens adapter for the NEX E-mount that incorporates a helicoid. The helical mount, when retracted, places the Leica M lens at the correct flange focal distance from the NEX's APS-C sensor to achieve infinity focus. At minimum focus distance (MFD), the lens can be moved further away from the sensor by using the helicoid, acting like a macro extension tube . This will allow for focusing closer than the lens' native MFD. The Helicoid Leica M to NEX E-mount Lens Adapter was tested on several lenses and here are the outcomes: SUMMILUX 50/1.4 V1: MFD 1 meter, with adapter 0.43 m SUMMICRON 50/2 V5: MFD 0.75 m, with helicoid adapter 0.38 m HEKTOR 73/1.9: MFD 1.2 m, with helicoid adapter 0.73 m SUMMICRON 90/2 V3: MFD 1 m, with helicoid adapter 0.73 m Rangefinder shooters know that MFD is one of the drawbacks of using rangefinder len

Macro extension tubes for the NEX E-mount are finally available. Macro tubes move the lens farther away from the sensor which allows for closer focusing which means higher magnification of the image. The tubes are hollow and have no optical elements to degrade the image. The current NEX macro tubes do not have electrical contacts, therefore the 16mm Pancake, 18-55mm OSS Zoom, and the 18-200mm OSS Zoom lenses will not work with the macro tubes. Adapted lenses will work great with them, NEX-C3 to Macro Tubes to E-mount lens adapter to adapted lens. This will be very helpful for rangefinder lenses and their large minimum focus distance (MFD). Sony NEX Macro Extension Tubes are available on eBay .

Sony NEX Firmware Version 04 Features: (thanks for the correction J.D.) Addition of the [Picture Effect] function. Addition of the [Peaking] function in manual focus mode. Focus peaking videos can be found here . Sony NEX Firmware Version 04 pdf manual . Here are the Sony NEX Firmware Update Version 04 links from Sony North America: NEX-5 http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=NEX5A NEX-3 http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=NEX3A Here are the Sony NEX Firmware Update Version 04 links from Sony Europe: NEX-5 http://support.sony-europe.com/dime/crl/nex/nex.aspx?site=odw_en_GB&m=NEX-5 NEX-3 http://support.sony-europe.com/dime/crl/nex/nex.aspx?site=odw_en_GB&m=NEX-3 Sony Asia NEX Firmware Update Version 04. Thanks for the email A.L. http://www.sony-asia.com/support/announcement/404503/product/nex-5a Sony Japan NEX Firmware Update Version 04. http://www.sony.jp/ichigan/info2/20110620_02dl.html The links include instructions on performing a firmware upgrade o

Here is the Sony NEX-C3 with a manual focus Jupiter-9, 85mm f/2 lens. The NEX-C3 comes with firmware upgrade 04 and will have the focus peaking feature. As the lens' focus ring is moved from minimum focus distance (MFD) towards infinity, the LCD screen of the NEX shows red highlights or peaking. The red highlights indicate greatest sharpness. Watch as the green leaves edges turn red and as the ring is brought back towards MFD the features of the Rolleiflex Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) camera turn red as they come into focus. This is great news for NEX users who enjoy using adapted manual focus lenses. The use of manual focus aid, zooming in at 7.5x and 15x, can be eliminated for casual focus. 7x and 14x zoom can still be useful for very critical focus. This will mean quicker captures. Frame, focus, shoot; instead of 7.5x zoom, move focus point, focus, exit to frame, frame, and shoot. We think that this feature will influence other manufacturers to incorporate peaking in their d

whatdigitalcamera is nice enough to share a hands on video of the new Sony NEX-C3 . You can see how much smaller the NEX-C3 is compared to the old NEX-3. The video also shows the new HVL-F20S flash for the NEX system. We can also see the new focus peaking feature of the new FIrmware 04, available later this month, the 20th. Focus peaking highlights the image to show what is in focus. This is great help for using manual lenses on the NEX system. Sony NEX-C3 in Japan Sony NEX-C3 and Sony SLT-A35 in Italy Sony NEX-C3 in German from Chip.de Sony NEX-C3 Review from CNET in English Sony NEX-C3 in Vietnamese Sony NEX-C3 in Pink Read more about the NEX-C3 here .

Here is the SLR Magic x Noktor HyperPrime 50mm F0.95 for the Sony NEX E-mounhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gift. That is correct the maximum aperture is 0.95 similar to that of the very rare Leica 50mm Noctilux-M priced at $10,495. The Noktor is priced at $1000 which is very close to the Voigtlander 50mm f/1.1 Nokton . This fully manual lens, with an FOV of 75mm on the NEX, will allow plenty of light onto the sensor for low light shooting. We are waiting for sample photos to see how this lens from the new Noktor company performs, recently acquired by SLR Magic. For more information check out Noktor.com .

Here is a generic Leica M to Sony NEX E-mount lens adapter . The adapter allows for infinity focus but it occurs before the infinity mark. We wanted to get closer to the infinity mark so we took off the (4) screws that attach the silver part to the black part. We used a precision slotted screwdriver and made sure not to strip the very tiny screws. We used pieces of aluminum foil to add thickness to the adapter. This will get the Leica M lens farther away from the Sony NEX sensor and infinity focus should be closer to the infinity mark on the lens. If the foil is too thick, the lens will be too far away and infinity focus may not be achieved. Reassemble the adapter and test the lens for infinity focus.

Sony NEX-5 with a 1920s Sirene 135 9x12 cm large format camera Face emailed us with an interesting contraption. He had a Sirene 135, with a 13 cm lens and maximum aperture of f/8, that was collecting dust and a new Sony NEX-5 . He cut a hole in the back of the Sirene 135 and attached an E-mount lens cap to it. The NEX-5 now functions as a digital back for this large format camera made between 1914 and 1926. Face tells us that focusing is quite difficult since the lens needs plenty of light with a maximum aperture of f/8. He sets the NEX shutter at 4 seconds and uses the Sirene 135's shutter mechanism to take the shot. Amazing for a camera almost 100 years old. The NEX sensor size is 23.4 x 15.6 mm which is more than 5 times smaller than the original 9x12 cm film plates that the Sirene 135 used. Here are some impressive sample photos taken with the Sirene 135 and the NEX-5 digital back. Thanks Face!

Here are Steve N's pictures of his Sony NEX-VG10 , a Nikon F mount to Sony E-mount lens adapter, and a Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 APO Ultra Telephoto, aka the Bigma . This would give an equivalent of 90mm to 900mm zoom lens on the NEX-VG10 with it's 1.8x crop factor. We'll post videos soon... Check out Steve N's work !

MS Optical Super Triplet Perar photo by jonmanjiro Here is the smallest available lens for the Leica M mount and Luca A. has mounted it on his NEX-5. It is the MS Optical Super Triplet Perar Lens with a 35mm focal length, 52.5mm equivalent on the NEX and a maximum aperture of f/3.5. A Leica M to Sony E-mount adapter was used. Super Triplet Perar Lens Extended on the NEX-5. Super Triplet Perar Lens Collapsed. For reference: Super Triplet Perar on the Leica M8. Here are the key features of the Perar lens: Very high optical quality triplet formula lens. Ultra compact design, weight 75g, collapsible (4.2 height when collapsed). Premium quality Tantalum glass, superior to Trium and Lanthanum glass with best refractive qualities. Refined triplet design with two double thickness positive lenses, superior to Tessar design. Round aperture for smooth and pleasing bokeh (Edmund Optics, Made in USA) Minimum focus distance 0.8m. ALL glass surfaces multicoated, 97% light transmission. Vivid, real

Sony NEX Reverse Lens Adapter Screwed on Filter Ring Here's a very inexpensive way to get great Macro shots on you Sony NEX. E-mount reverse lens adapters are now available. The adapter allows us to use any lens reversed by using the lens filter thread. Make sure to use a lens with a manual aperture ring to conrtol depth of field. They come in 49mm, 52mm, 58mm filter ring sizes. They are available on eBay . Sony NEX with µ4/3 Lens Adapted in Reverse for Macro Here are some real world shots from Hot using the reverse lens adapter on the NEX-5.

Here are some sample shots from the NEX-5 with a Zeiss ZM 25mm f/2.8 Biogon, available from Adorama . The shots were taken by D. Lau . Thanks D. Lau !

We wanted to test out what the NEX-5 can do with a fast lens and low light so we got a chance to play with a Cosina Voigtlander 35mm f/1.7 Ultron. The CV 35 Ultron is a Leica screw mount with a Leica M adapter, a Leica M to Sony NEX E-mount adapter is then used. These are all handheld at f/1.7, High ISO NR = weak, long exposure NR = off, and center weighted metering. Here is the discontinued CV 35 Ultron on the NEX-5. The silver on silver looks great, we just need to convince adapter makers to make them in silver as well. The lens has a large focusing ring which is very easy to use. The 52.5mm equivalent focal length makes it an exceptional walk-around lens.