Monster LA-FE1 & LA-FE2 Nikon-F to Sony-E AF Adapters

Introduction

Canon customers that needed to get into the fullframe mirrorless E-mount world early have been in a great place: the Sigma MC-11 and the metabones Canon EF to Sony E adapters allowed utilizing Canon EF-mount lenses on Sony cameras with solely little limitations. For Nikon F-mount customers the state of affairs was sadly approach worse and it took a while earlier than the primary comparable adapter (Commlite CMF-EN1) was launched – and that one had numerous points.

However immediately, out of nowhere, the state of affairs modified. With the discharge of the Monster LA-FE1 and later the LA-FE2 adapter we are able to now lastly adapt Nikon F-mount lenses in the same high quality as these Canon EF-mount ones. The LA-FE2 even permits auto focus with the screwdriven Nikon AF(-D) lenses to work on Sony – one thing not even attainable on Nikon’s personal Z-mount cameras. Let’s have a more in-depth look.

Specs/Variations

The vital distinction between these two adapters is that the Mark 2 model additionally permits autofocus with the AF(-D) lenses that don’t function an in-lens motor to drive the AF.

purchase the Monster LA-FE1 for ~$250 from ebay.com | ebay.de (affiliate hyperlinks)
purchase the Monster LA-FE2 for ~$440 from ebay.com | ebay.de (affiliate hyperlinks)

F-mount Background

Nikon used the F-mount from 1959 to 2018, so in contrast to Canon and Minolta, Nikon didn’t change the digicam mount when transitioning from guide focus to autofocus. Their first autofocus lenses relied on a motor in digicam to drive the main focus teams. These lenses are known as AF(-D) lenses and so they have been round from 1986 to 1998, earlier than we noticed a large unfold use of the AF-S motors contained in the lenses themselves.

In 2006 Nikon launched the entry degree APS-C DSLR D40. This was their first DSLR to not function an inside motor for these AF(-D) lenses anymore and from there on this was usually the case for all of the entry and a few mid degree cameras. All the upper finish DSLRs nonetheless did although, which incorporates all of Nikon’s fullframe DSLRs and likewise the upper finish APS-C ones (D7X00 and DX00 sequence).

When Nikon launched their first fullframe mirrorless cameras Z6 and Z7 in 2018 in addition they launched the Nikon FTZ adapter to permit the utilization of F-mount lenses on these new mirrorless cameras. Nevertheless, this adapter didn’t have a built-in AF motor, so all these AF(-D) lenses solely work in guide mode.

It’s 2024 now and there may be nonetheless no adapter from any producer accessible that may enable the AF of those lenses to work on the Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras. Nevertheless, originally of 2024 Monster launched their Monster LA-FE2 AF adapter. This adapter has a built-in AF motor and can enable these lenses to autofocus together with a Sony E-mount mirrorless digicam.

In the event you solely wish to adapt AF-S, AF-I or AF-P lenses (doesn’t matter if they’re G or E commonplace) and never these screwdriven AF(-D) lenses, the cheaper Monster LA-FE1 presents the identical efficiency, it simply lacks the built-in motor.

What to pay attention to

There are numerous adapters from a plethora of producers that can enable autofocus of Canon EF lenses to work on Sony E-mount cameras. However nearly none that can do the identical for Nikon F-mount lenses. The primary to hit the market was the Commlite CMF-EN1. It solely allowed the AF to work with AF-S lenses that function their very own motor and once I tried this adapter up to now I discovered its efficiency to be fairly abyssmal. Possibly there was a firmware replace within the meantime elevating its efficiency to considerably acceptable ranges, I don’t know.

Based mostly on these experiences I didn’t count on any first rate autofocus efficiency from these Monster adapters. Oh boy was I incorrect about that (leap to Autofocus Part).

There are some things price noting although. The producer has a compatibility checklist on the product web page of this adapter and customarily you shouldn’t have too excessive hopes for lenses not on that checklist. I attempted just a few older Sigma lenses that aren’t on the checklist and so they not often labored correctly. I additionally tried numerous lenses which might be on the compatibility checklist and that is what I discovered:

*when attaching the lens to digicam you initially need to undergo the main focus vary manually for the AF to work

**taking stopped down footage when the digicam is ready to AF-C will result in digicam freezes

The lenses focus at most aperture like on a DSLR and solely cease down for taking the shot. This isn’t nice if you’re utilizing lenses with focus shift and it might probably additionally result in considerably much less dependable publicity metering in comparison with what you might be used to from native lenses.

Construct High quality/Dealing with

The adapters usually really feel strong. The heaviest lens I used with them was the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm 2.8G VRI and I didn’t thoughts having the lens simply hanging on the adapter.

The LA-FE2 adapter has an AF/MF lever on the facet which is able to disengage the screw for the AF. The LA-FE1 doesn’t function any controls.

The LA-FE2 additionally has a bulge on the backside which homes the AF motor. the LA-FE1 comes with a detachable tripod foot.

With lenses that function an aperture ring you need to set the aperture ring to the very best worth (often f/16, f/22 or f/32) for the aperture management of this adapter to work correctly and from there on use the dial on digicam to set the aperture. This additionally works with Cosina’s Voigtländer SL IIs sequence lenses with digital contacts. The F-mount facet has some radial play and you need to pay some additional consideration for the lens to be rotated all the best way, as in any other case it won’t contact the adapter’s aperture lever correctly and the lens shall be barely stopped down even at its most aperture. In accordance with the producer the adapters have been designed like this to permit compatibility with all third social gathering F-mount lenses.

In case you are utilizing Nikon lenses with lens buttons (e.g. the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm 2.8G VRI) these additionally work.

AF efficiency

There are such a lot of Sony cameras with completely different AF algorithms accessible immediately and on prime of that the cameras function so many various autofocus settings, I can’t presumably take a look at each mixture even when I needed to. And I don’t even wish to.

I used these lenses like I usually use any native AF lens: AF-C Broad together with eye-AF or Versatile Spot and I used it on a Sony A7III in addition to a Sony A7rII.

With all of the Nikon AF lenses I attempted the autofocus was very quick and dependable. It truly felt as snappy as utilizing a local lens. However there may be extra: with the AF(-D) lenses the AF was truly a lot quicker than on a Nikon digicam (tried with a D700 with MB-D10). The attention-AF additionally labored completely, irrespective of the place within the body the attention was positioned.

Take a look on the desk above although, with the AF-D lenses the mixture of stopped down taking pictures and AF-C wasn’t attainable with the LA-FE2. I already contacted the producer of the adapter about this.

Stills

Curiously even monitoring labored moderately properly. However I’m speaking about regular use right here, not chasing your canine working in the direction of you or some loopy hen in flight stuff.

I used these adapters with a number of consecutive hours of taking pictures and I didn’t encounter any points like digicam freezes or the like.

I did encounter a noticeable drop in AF velocity in low gentle although.

Video

In video mode AF doesn’t work in any respect, it hunts like loopy however by no means manages to hit the goal.

Conclusion

I want these Monster adapters had already been accessible in 2016. They’d have allowed me to maintain utilizing a few of my Nikon lenses and that may have saved me some huge cash again within the day.

These are additionally usually a number of the higher AF adapters and the AF works at the least in addition to that of the metabones and Sigma MC-11 Canon-EF to Sony-E ones.

I did encounter some compatibility points as described above although and I additionally discovered there to be some variations between the LA-FE1 and the LA-FE2, which I didn’t count on. Typically my impression is: the newer the lens, the higher it can work. All of the six f/1.4 “gold ring” primes (launched 2010 to 2017) for instance labored flawlessly on each adapters.

Thanks to those adapters there will certainly be extra opinions of Nikon F-mount AF lenses within the close to future so we are able to attempt to discover out, if there are some good offers to be discovered there.

purchase the Monster LA-FE1 for ~$250 from ebay.com | ebay.de (affiliate hyperlinks)
purchase the Monster LA-FE2 for ~$440 from ebay.com | ebay.de (affiliate hyperlinks)

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