How to mount a Sony-E lens on a Nikon F-Mount Camera?

[Michael Erlewine]

If I don't care about focusing at infinity (because I am a close-up photographer),  my question is it possible to mount a Sony E-Mount Lens on Nikon F-Mount Camera? If so, where could I find an adapter? Or cobble one together that works?

[tommiejeep]

Michael,  I do not know of any adapter for Sony E mount lens to any other brand body.  One of the reasons I am selling my FE lenses.   With the glut of adapters coming out of China it must be too hard (or Sony lenses are just too expensive to use as adapted  ) .   The other thing I'm unhappy with is that the Native lenses cannot be set for anything but hybrid Auto Focus and that can give mixed results.  Dreaded Focus Shift when Contrast tries to 'fine tune' the Phase Detection.   Easier just to use MF with non-Sony lenses.
Maybe someone has found a way.  Like to hear about it.
I probably would have been more interested in the new Voiglander 65 f2 in a different mount.
Tom

[Michael Erlewine]

Michael,  I do not know of any adapter for Sony E mount lens to any other brand body.  One of the reasons I am selling my FE lenses.   With the glut of adapters coming out of China it must be too hard (or Sony lenses are just too expensive to use as adapted  ) .   The other thing I'm unhappy with is that the Native lenses cannot be set for anything but hybrid Auto Focus and that can give mixed results.  Dreaded Focus Shift when Contrast tries to 'fine tune' the Phase Detection.   Easier just to use MF with non-Sony lenses.
Maybe someone has found a way.  Like to hear about it.
I probably would have been more interested in the new Voiglander 65 f2 in a different mount.
Tom

I hear you. I have the Sony A7rII, so I can us it there, but would like to use it on Nikon, and don't care about infinity.

[Akira]

Michael, are you thinking about the new Voigtländer Macro APO-Lanther 65/2.0?

Unfortunately, the lens isn't likely to offer its maximum performance, even if you can mount it onto your D810 or any F-mount body.  The CRC won't work correctly when the flange back is extended by around 26mm.  It is way off from the intended flange back of Sony E mount.

[Michael Erlewine]

Michael, are you thinking about the new Voigtländer Macro APO-Lanther 65/2.0?

Unfortunately, the lens isn't likely to offer its maximum performance, even if you can mount it onto your D810 or any F-mount body.  The CRC won't work correctly when the flange back is extended by around 26mm.  It is way off from the intended flange back of Sony E mount.

Among other lenses, yes.  I am sure it won't be natural, but I wonder what does happen in that case.

[David H. Hartman]

Does CRC always perform the same function? I've though it was correcting field curvature at close range.

Dave

[Bill De Jager]

Michael, in putting together an assortment of adapters this is one issue I ran into.  It's really hard to find any adapter for an E-mount lens to any other mount, since this mount has such as short flange distance.  In general, manufacturers assume that people want to maintain infinity focus so they make adapters accordingly.  Rarely you'll find an adapter that does not try to maintain correct flange distance for the lens; I've found these for L39 and M42 lenses for instance.

On the plus side, some Chinese manufacturers have been producing oddball adapters that I expect would have limited markets, so there is hope that something might come up one of these days.  Check Amazon now and then.

[Michael Erlewine]

Michael, in putting together an assortment of adapters this is one issue I ran into.  It's really hard to find any adapter for an E-mount lens to any other mount, since this mount has such as short flange distance.  In general, manufacturers assume that people want to maintain infinity focus so they make adapters accordingly.  Rarely you'll find an adapter that does not try to maintain correct flange distance for the lens; I've found these for L39 and M42 lenses for instance.

On the plus side, some Chinese manufacturers have been producing oddball adapters that I expect would have limited markets, so there is hope that something might come up one of these days.  Check Amazon now and then.

I have checked all over, Amazone, Ebay, B&H, web, etc.

[Jan Anne]

Don't think you would find an adapter anytime soon but you can always make your own using multiple adapter rings.

Just search ebay for "adapter sony e m42", some even come with built in focussing helicoids

[Michael Erlewine]

Don't think you would find an adapter anytime soon but you can always make your own using multiple adapter rings.

Just search ebay for "adapter sony e m42", some even come with built in focussing helicoids

Not sure how that would work. What I need is a female E-Mount to male F-Mount. I don't see any of those on Ebay. Perhaps I am missing something.

I only see M42 to Sony Male.

[Jan Anne]

I thought I also stumbled on some female versions when looking for the male adapter but I might be mistaken, can't find them either at the moment.

[Michael Erlewine]

I thought I also stumbled on some female versions when looking for the male adapter but I might be mistaken, can't find them either at the moment.

Well, if you do, please let me know. I can't find any. It just means I have to use the Sony A7RII, but highlights on that camera are not as good as I would like. Thanks.

[Les Olson]

Get a EF extension tube and an F mount extension tube, cut both crosswise and glue the relevant halves together - should not be too difficult because the EF throat diameter is 46mm and the F is 44mm so the tubes will be about the same size. 

[Jan Anne]

Les, your suggestion just rang a bell how I stumbled on the female adapter rings.

When looking for macro extensions of course 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Macro-Extension-Tube-Ring-for-Sony-NEX-C3-NEX-5C-NEX-7-NEX-6-NEX-5R-A7-A7R-A7S-/172258537724?hash=item281b68b0fc:g:w34AAOSwRQlXdNG8

Find one with a common thread like M42 for which you can very easily find the male Nikon F mount.

[Oskar O]

What Les and Jan Anne said. Another variation would be using an F mount extension tube and just replacing the female mount with an E mount one, should not be too hard.

But that gives a mechanical only linkage which is fine for the few lenses that have a manual aperture -- most FE lenses are electronic. And that gets to the reasons why there aren't adapters: the E mount flange distance is so short that an adapter without optics wouldn't preserve infinity focus on any popular mount and since most FE lenses require electronics for aperture control and focus a smart adapter is required. Smart adapters are, however, difficult to make: only the Canon EF to Sony E adapters are somewhat robust and even they have a long list of caveats and disclaimers. There are Nikon F (E) to Sony E smart adapters but based on reports I deem them experimental. So there are some huge technical (and thus economical) challenges to make commercial adapters for Sony FE lenses to other mounts and thus I doubt we'll see any adapter soon.

Sony also makes pretty competitive cameras, reducing the interest in adapting their lenses