Having a camera with interchangeable lenses has plenty of benefits. It gives you access to a broad range of lenses, including OEM and third-party options. It allows you to keep up with the technology at a low cost. Also, it encourages you to use purpose-based lenses, such as fish-eye lenses, creative focus lenses, and lenses designed for a particular type of photography. However, a camera with interchangeable lenses doesn’t guarantee access to all lenses on the market. You are limited to lenses compatible with your camera model. But this can change if you use lens adapters.
What is a Lens Adapter?
A lens adapter is a small device able to connect a lens with a camera it is not compatible with. At one end, it has the mount your camera model expects from a lens (the male fitting). At the other end, it has the mount specific for the lens you want to use (the female fitting). For example, Nikon offers a lens adapter that allows you to use an F-mount DSLR lens with a Z-mount mirrorless camera.
The simplest ones provide just a physical connection between two different lens mounts. Therefore, some features — such as autofocus and EXIF data — don’t work when the adapter is on. However, many lens adapters can do much more than a physical connection. They can also enable electrical communication between the lens and camera, or incorporate optical elements that influence the photo setup.
When to Use a Lens Adapter
You can use a lens adapter in any photo setup to mix and match different lenses with your current camera. It’s an inexpensive way to expand your creative possibilities.
Use a basic lens adapter to connect different brands or types of cameras and lenses. For example, even if you are a Canon fan and own a Canon camera, you can benefit from the best Nikon lenses. Or you may want to keep using your old camera with new generation lenses, or vice versa. You can also use an adapter to gain access to classic lenses, such as Leica, Petzval, Minolta, Tessar, and others. Lens adapters offer versatility and help you become a more sustainable photographer.
A lens adapter with extra optical features is an active lens adapter. It does more than a simple connection between incompatible fittings. For example, you may want to use a Metabones Speed Booster adapter to reduce the focal length and increase the lens speed. Or you may want an adapter that allows you to use a lens designed for small-size sensor cameras (e.g., APS-C) with a large-size sensor camera (e.g., full-frame cameras). In addition, adapters may behave like extension tubes or teleconverters because they increase the distance between the lens and sensor.
For more on these other options, read What is a Teleconverter? and What is an Extension Tube?
How to Use a Lens Adapter
As you would mount a lens, mount the adapter on the camera using the male fitting. Then, attach the lens to the female fitting of the adapter. The procedure is the same regardless of whether you have a zoom, prime, telephoto, or wide lens. If you have more than one lens that fits the adapter, you can keep it on the camera and change only the lens.
If you use a basic adapter that provides only a physical connection, the electronic connection between the camera and lens is lost. As a result, you can’t rely on the camera’s autofocus system anymore and the aperture remains wide open. There are some ways to regain control over the aperture, such as using the lens’ aperture ring (if it has one). But an adapter with an integrated aperture control function is a much better choice. It comes with an aperture ring and allows you to set the aperture manually.
Adapters that maintain the electronic connection between the camera and lens are much easier to use. They let you use the autofocus system and control the aperture from the camera. However, you may still experience a few issues with displaying the aperture settings on the screen or other functionalities.
Active lens adapters require a learning curve. A speed booster adapter, for example, shortens the lens’ focal length and provides a larger f-stop. You need to consider its features and adjust camera settings accordingly. By giving you an additional f-stop, a speed booster adapter lets more light into the camera. You can use faster shutter speeds and lower ISO values.
Effects of a Lens Adapter
Adapters with no optical elements — theoretically — shouldn’t affect image quality. However, they tend to enhance the flaws of the lens. For example, if the lens is prone to vignetting, adding an adapter will intensify the effect. In addition, some adapters may introduce distortions and chromatic aberrations and decrease the level of sharpness. This is because they don’t consider the flange focal distance (FFD) or lens–sensor distance. More advanced adapters include an additional corrective lens that preserves the original design of the lens.
Another image quality issue is the cropping effect. When you use an adapter to connect a full-frame lens with a cropped camera, there will be no image data where the image formed in the lens exceeds the size of the sensor. The issue is much more serious when you use a smaller format lens with a large sensor camera. You’ll have a strong vignetting effect, sometimes going as far as producing a circular image surrounded by a black area. To overcome this problem, you need a speed booster adapter that knows how to correct the crop factor, or stick to matching cameras and lenses with similar properties.
You should also consider other drawbacks of basic adapters, such as the loss of autofocus, aperture control, and through-the-lens metering, the impossibility to record EXIF data, issues with camera settings display, and firmware conflicts. Most of these drawbacks will keep you from photographing fast-moving subjects, such as sports and wildlife.
But not all adapters’ effects are problems. For example, adapters with variable built-in ND filters allow you to create smooth long exposures. They are also more practical than regular ND filters. Speed Booster adapters provide a wider focal length and increase the amount of light that enters the camera. You can use faster shutter speeds and create unique effects. The Fotodiox DLX Stretch adapter reduces the minimum focusing distance and blurs the background beautifully. Other adapters control the bokeh effect or include a polarizing filter.
How to Know What Adapter to Buy
The main focus point when buying an adapter is compatibility. You should have a clear view of what camera model and lenses you want to match and choose the highest compatible adapter. Often, the camera manufacturer offers the best adapters. However, camera manufacturers only offer adapters for their cameras and lenses. So, for connecting different brands of cameras and lenses, you need to look for a third-party adapter.
Although adapters that provide electronic connectivity are more expensive, they are necessary if you need autofocus and auto aperture control. If you want to pair a camera and lens with different image dimensions, consider an adapter that knows how to deal with the crop factor and creates a good match between the two. Also, if you plan to use the adapter regularly, choose one that preserves image quality and allows you to take sharp photos.
Adapters with additional features, such as tilting, panning for panoramas, built-in filters, and the ability to reduce the minimum focusing distance, open the door for creativity. They aren’t something that you need, but something that you desire. Therefore, buying them is a matter of personal preference.
Lens Adapter Examples
Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R
You need this adapter if you want to use the Canon lenses you own with the new full-frame mirrorless Canon EOS R cameras. It matches any EF or EF-S lens with the new RF lens mount without affecting image quality or camera-lens communication. The adapter is lightweight, and dust and weather-resistant.
Commlite Lens Adapter EF/EF-S to Nikon Z-Mount Mirrorless Camera
The Commlite Lens Adapter is a third-party adapter that facilitates the connection of an EF or EF-S lens with Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless Z cameras. It provides electronic communication between camera and lens, allowing you to use autofocus and auto exposure functionalities. It is lightweight and resistant and includes a detachable tripod foot with 1/4″-20 threads.
Sony LA-EA5 35mm Full-Frame A-Mount Lens Adapter for E-Mount Cameras
Sony LA-EA5 connects A-mount lenses with E-mount cameras, allowing you to use Sony APS-C lenses with full-frame cameras. Because it is a Sony product, it provides complete compatibility between camera and lens, preserving autofocus, image stabilization, high-speed shooting up to 11fps, and auto exposure functionalities.
TTArtisan Leica M Lens to Fujifilm GFX-Mount Camera Lens Adapter
If you need to use a Leica M-mount lens on a Fujifilm GFX-Mount camera, this is the adapter for you. TTArtisan adapter maintains all camera functions and provides a smooth fit between the lens and camera. You can also find TTArtisan adapters for Canon RF, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Sigma Sa, and Sony E cameras.
Conclusion
Lens adapters allow you to use a broad range of lenses without a massive investment. They give you access to different brands and generations of lenses, second-hand lenses, and even vintage lenses. Furthermore, some of them include additional features for special effects.
However, choose them wisely and always prioritize image quality. Just because they are more affordable than a new camera or lens, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be careful about your purchase and stick to what you really need and frequently use. Like any other photography equipment item, lens adapters should be used at the right time and for the right purpose.
