Sony / Minolta · DSLR / SLR mount

Sony A / Minolta A — flange distance, protocol, and adapter compatibility

Originally the Minolta AF mount (1985), inherited by Konica Minolta and then Sony in 2006. A-mount cameras stopped shipping new bodies in 2021. Two AF schemes coexist: screw-drive (most lenses) and in-lens SSM/SAM motors. Sony LA-EA5 adapter brings A-mount glass to E-mount bodies with on-sensor AF and built-in screw-drive motor.

Mount specifications

Flange focal distance: 44.5 mm
Throat diameter: 50 mm
Electronic protocol: Sony/Minolta A (SSM/SAM)
Supported formats: full-frame, APS-C
Manufacturer: Sony / Minolta
Introduced: 1985 (discontinued)
Status: Discontinued

Adapting Sony A / Minolta A lenses onto other bodies

You own Sony A / Minolta A glass and want to mount it on a body with a different lens mount. Rows are sorted by feasibility.

Body mount	Result	Adapter examples	Caveats
Canon RF flange 20 mm	Mechanical MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	generic mechanical adapter ring (multiple vendors)	Mechanical adapter only — no electronic communication between Sony A / Minolta A lens and Canon RF body. Lens has no aperture ring; choose an adapter with a built-in aperture-control wheel.
Canon EF-M flange 18 mm	Mechanical MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel1.5× crop	generic mechanical adapter ring (multiple vendors)	Mechanical adapter only — no electronic communication between Sony A / Minolta A lens and Canon EF-M body. Lens has no aperture ring; choose an adapter with a built-in aperture-control wheel.
Nikon Z flange 16 mm	Mechanical MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	generic mechanical adapter ring (multiple vendors)	Mechanical adapter only — no electronic communication between Sony A / Minolta A lens and Nikon Z body. Lens has no aperture ring; choose an adapter with a built-in aperture-control wheel.
Sony E (incl. FE) flange 18 mm	Mechanical AF fullIS fullAp. electronic	Sony LA-EA5 (full-frame, on-sensor AF + internal screw drive) Sony LA-EA4 (translucent-mirror PDAF, older A7 generations)	LA-EA5 supports phase-detect AF on E-mount bodies with on-sensor AF, including for screw-drive A-mount lenses. On older E-mount bodies without on-sensor PDAF, screw-drive A-mount lenses revert to contrast-detect AF or manual focus.
Fujifilm X flange 17.7 mm	Mechanical MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel1.5× crop	generic mechanical adapter ring (multiple vendors)	Mechanical adapter only — no electronic communication between Sony A / Minolta A lens and Fujifilm X body. Lens has no aperture ring; choose an adapter with a built-in aperture-control wheel.
Fujifilm GFX (G-mount) flange 26.7 mm	Mechanical MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheelvignettes	generic mechanical adapter ring (multiple vendors)	Mechanical adapter only — no electronic communication between Sony A / Minolta A lens and Fujifilm GFX (G-mount) body. Lens has no aperture ring; choose an adapter with a built-in aperture-control wheel.
Micro Four Thirds flange 19.25 mm	Mechanical MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel2× crop	generic mechanical adapter ring (multiple vendors)	Mechanical adapter only — no electronic communication between Sony A / Minolta A lens and Micro Four Thirds body. Lens has no aperture ring; choose an adapter with a built-in aperture-control wheel.
L-Mount flange 20 mm	Mechanical MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	generic mechanical adapter ring (multiple vendors)	Mechanical adapter only — no electronic communication between Sony A / Minolta A lens and L-Mount body. Lens has no aperture ring; choose an adapter with a built-in aperture-control wheel.
Leica M flange 27.8 mm	Mechanical MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	generic mechanical adapter ring (multiple vendors)	Mechanical adapter only — no electronic communication between Sony A / Minolta A lens and Leica M body. Lens has no aperture ring; choose an adapter with a built-in aperture-control wheel.
Canon RF (cine) flange 20 mm	Mechanical MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	generic mechanical adapter ring (multiple vendors)	Mechanical adapter only — no electronic communication between Sony A / Minolta A lens and Canon RF (cine) body. Lens has no aperture ring; choose an adapter with a built-in aperture-control wheel.
C-mount flange 17.526 mm	Mechanical MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel2.7× crop	generic mechanical adapter ring (multiple vendors)	Mechanical adapter only — no electronic communication between Sony A / Minolta A lens and C-mount body. Lens has no aperture ring; choose an adapter with a built-in aperture-control wheel.
Konica AR flange 40.5 mm	Mechanical MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	generic mechanical adapter ring (multiple vendors)	Mechanical adapter only — no electronic communication between Sony A / Minolta A lens and Konica AR body. Lens has no aperture ring; choose an adapter with a built-in aperture-control wheel.
Canon EF flange 44 mm	Speed booster MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	Speed Booster / focal-reducer family	Flange clearance is only 0.5 mm — a plain mechanical adapter cannot reach infinity focus; a focal reducer (Speed Booster) with optical glass is required. Speed Boosters typically widen the effective focal length (~0.71×) and add ~1 stop of light, which can be desirable on crop bodies.
Canon EF-S flange 44 mm	Speed booster MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel1.5× crop	Speed Booster / focal-reducer family	Flange clearance is only 0.5 mm — a plain mechanical adapter cannot reach infinity focus; a focal reducer (Speed Booster) with optical glass is required. Speed Boosters typically widen the effective focal length (~0.71×) and add ~1 stop of light, which can be desirable on crop bodies.
Nikon F flange 46.5 mm	Speed booster MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	Speed Booster / focal-reducer family	Flange clearance is only -2.0 mm — a plain mechanical adapter cannot reach infinity focus; a focal reducer (Speed Booster) with optical glass is required. Speed Boosters typically widen the effective focal length (~0.71×) and add ~1 stop of light, which can be desirable on crop bodies.
M42 (Pentax / Praktica screw mount) flange 45.46 mm	Speed booster MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	Speed Booster / focal-reducer family	Flange clearance is only -1.0 mm — a plain mechanical adapter cannot reach infinity focus; a focal reducer (Speed Booster) with optical glass is required. Speed Boosters typically widen the effective focal length (~0.71×) and add ~1 stop of light, which can be desirable on crop bodies.
Pentax K flange 45.46 mm	Speed booster MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	Speed Booster / focal-reducer family	Flange clearance is only -1.0 mm — a plain mechanical adapter cannot reach infinity focus; a focal reducer (Speed Booster) with optical glass is required. Speed Boosters typically widen the effective focal length (~0.71×) and add ~1 stop of light, which can be desirable on crop bodies.
PL (Positive Lock) flange 52 mm	Speed booster MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	Speed Booster / focal-reducer family	Flange clearance is only -7.5 mm — a plain mechanical adapter cannot reach infinity focus; a focal reducer (Speed Booster) with optical glass is required. Speed Boosters typically widen the effective focal length (~0.71×) and add ~1 stop of light, which can be desirable on crop bodies.
Canon EF (cine) flange 44 mm	Speed booster MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	Speed Booster / focal-reducer family	Flange clearance is only 0.5 mm — a plain mechanical adapter cannot reach infinity focus; a focal reducer (Speed Booster) with optical glass is required. Speed Boosters typically widen the effective focal length (~0.71×) and add ~1 stop of light, which can be desirable on crop bodies.
Exakta flange 44.7 mm	Speed booster MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	Speed Booster / focal-reducer family	Flange clearance is only -0.2 mm — a plain mechanical adapter cannot reach infinity focus; a focal reducer (Speed Booster) with optical glass is required. Speed Boosters typically widen the effective focal length (~0.71×) and add ~1 stop of light, which can be desirable on crop bodies.
T-mount (T2) flange 55 mm	Speed booster MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	Speed Booster / focal-reducer family	Flange clearance is only -10.5 mm — a plain mechanical adapter cannot reach infinity focus; a focal reducer (Speed Booster) with optical glass is required. Speed Boosters typically widen the effective focal length (~0.71×) and add ~1 stop of light, which can be desirable on crop bodies.
Praktica B flange 44.4 mm	Speed booster MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	Speed Booster / focal-reducer family	Flange clearance is only 0.1 mm — a plain mechanical adapter cannot reach infinity focus; a focal reducer (Speed Booster) with optical glass is required. Speed Boosters typically widen the effective focal length (~0.71×) and add ~1 stop of light, which can be desirable on crop bodies.
Minolta SR / MC / MD flange 43.5 mm	Speed booster MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	Speed Booster / focal-reducer family	Flange clearance is only 1.0 mm — a plain mechanical adapter cannot reach infinity focus; a focal reducer (Speed Booster) with optical glass is required. Speed Boosters typically widen the effective focal length (~0.71×) and add ~1 stop of light, which can be desirable on crop bodies.

Adapting other lenses onto a Sony A / Minolta A body

You own a Sony A / Minolta A body and want to mount glass from other systems. Mirrorless-lens-onto-DSLR-body combinations are omitted (rear element collides with the mirror box).

Lens mount	Result	Adapter examples	Caveats
Nikon F flange 46.5 mm	Mechanical MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	generic mechanical adapter ring (multiple vendors)	Mechanical adapter only — no electronic communication between Nikon F lens and Sony A / Minolta A body. Lens has no aperture ring; choose an adapter with a built-in aperture-control wheel.
PL (Positive Lock) flange 52 mm	Mechanical MFIS lens-onlyAp. ring	generic mechanical adapter ring (multiple vendors)	Mechanical adapter only — no electronic communication between PL (Positive Lock) lens and Sony A / Minolta A body.
T-mount (T2) flange 55 mm	Mechanical MFIS lens-onlyAp. ring	generic mechanical adapter ring (multiple vendors)	Mechanical adapter only — no electronic communication between T-mount (T2) lens and Sony A / Minolta A body.
Canon EF flange 44 mm	Speed booster MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	Speed Booster / focal-reducer family	Flange clearance is only -0.5 mm — a plain mechanical adapter cannot reach infinity focus; a focal reducer (Speed Booster) with optical glass is required. Speed Boosters typically widen the effective focal length (~0.71×) and add ~1 stop of light, which can be desirable on crop bodies.
Canon EF-S flange 44 mm	Speed booster MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheelvignettes	Speed Booster / focal-reducer family	Flange clearance is only -0.5 mm — a plain mechanical adapter cannot reach infinity focus; a focal reducer (Speed Booster) with optical glass is required. Speed Boosters typically widen the effective focal length (~0.71×) and add ~1 stop of light, which can be desirable on crop bodies.
M42 (Pentax / Praktica screw mount) flange 45.46 mm	Speed booster MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	Speed Booster / focal-reducer family	Flange clearance is only 1.0 mm — a plain mechanical adapter cannot reach infinity focus; a focal reducer (Speed Booster) with optical glass is required. Speed Boosters typically widen the effective focal length (~0.71×) and add ~1 stop of light, which can be desirable on crop bodies.
Pentax K flange 45.46 mm	Speed booster MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	Speed Booster / focal-reducer family	Flange clearance is only 1.0 mm — a plain mechanical adapter cannot reach infinity focus; a focal reducer (Speed Booster) with optical glass is required. Speed Boosters typically widen the effective focal length (~0.71×) and add ~1 stop of light, which can be desirable on crop bodies.
Canon EF (cine) flange 44 mm	Speed booster MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	Speed Booster / focal-reducer family	Flange clearance is only -0.5 mm — a plain mechanical adapter cannot reach infinity focus; a focal reducer (Speed Booster) with optical glass is required. Speed Boosters typically widen the effective focal length (~0.71×) and add ~1 stop of light, which can be desirable on crop bodies.
Exakta flange 44.7 mm	Speed booster MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	Speed Booster / focal-reducer family	Flange clearance is only 0.2 mm — a plain mechanical adapter cannot reach infinity focus; a focal reducer (Speed Booster) with optical glass is required. Speed Boosters typically widen the effective focal length (~0.71×) and add ~1 stop of light, which can be desirable on crop bodies.
Praktica B flange 44.4 mm	Speed booster MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	Speed Booster / focal-reducer family	Flange clearance is only -0.1 mm — a plain mechanical adapter cannot reach infinity focus; a focal reducer (Speed Booster) with optical glass is required. Speed Boosters typically widen the effective focal length (~0.71×) and add ~1 stop of light, which can be desirable on crop bodies.
Konica AR flange 40.5 mm	Speed booster MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	Speed Booster / focal-reducer family	Flange clearance is only -4.0 mm — a plain mechanical adapter cannot reach infinity focus; a focal reducer (Speed Booster) with optical glass is required. Speed Boosters typically widen the effective focal length (~0.71×) and add ~1 stop of light, which can be desirable on crop bodies.
Minolta SR / MC / MD flange 43.5 mm	Speed booster MFIS lens-onlyAp. wheel	Speed Booster / focal-reducer family	Flange clearance is only -1.0 mm — a plain mechanical adapter cannot reach infinity focus; a focal reducer (Speed Booster) with optical glass is required. Speed Boosters typically widen the effective focal length (~0.71×) and add ~1 stop of light, which can be desirable on crop bodies.

Adapter SKU teardown

Curated adapter SKUs that involve the Sony A / Minolta A mount on either side, with the operational specifics — body-side electronic contact count, firmware-update path, weather sealing, and whether optical glass is in the path.

Sony LA-EA5
released 2020
Sony A / Minolta A lens → Sony E (incl. FE) body
- 9 body-side contacts
- no firmware updates
- not weather sealed
- no glass — pass-through
- Adds an internal screw-drive motor inside the adapter, restoring AF on screw-drive A-mount lenses (legacy Minolta + early Sony A) when paired with on-sensor PDAF E-mount bodies (a7 III and later).
- On older E-mount bodies without on-sensor PDAF, screw-drive A-mount lenses revert to contrast-detect or manual focus.
Sony LA-EA4
released 2014
Sony A / Minolta A lens → Sony E (incl. FE) body
- 9 body-side contacts
- no firmware updates
- not weather sealed
- no glass — pass-through
- Contains a full SLT (Single-Lens Translucent) mirror module and a dedicated AF sensor inside the adapter — gives any E-mount body, even those without on-sensor PDAF, 15-point phase-detect AF on every A-mount lens.
- Includes an internal screw-drive motor, so legacy Minolta AF and Sony A-mount screw-drive lenses retain autofocus when the body itself cannot drive them.
- SLT mirror costs ~⅓ stop of light; the AF coverage is the older 15-point pattern, not the full-sensor AF of modern Sony bodies. Superseded by LA-EA5 on bodies that have on-sensor PDAF (A7 III and later).
Sony LA-EA3
released 2013
Sony A / Minolta A lens → Sony E (incl. FE) body
- 9 body-side contacts
- no firmware updates
- not weather sealed
- no glass — pass-through
- Pure pass-through electronic adapter — no SLT mirror, no internal motor. Relies entirely on the body for AF.
- On modern E-mount bodies with on-sensor PDAF, the LA-EA3 drives SSM / SAM (in-lens motor) A-mount lenses with full AF, but screw-drive A-mount lenses are manual-focus-only because nothing turns the screw.
- Lighter and shorter than the LA-EA4 by ~115 g; preferred when every lens in the kit is SSM / SAM. Cannot meaningfully focus on bodies without on-sensor PDAF.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minolta_A-mount_system

Mount specifications

Adapting Sony A / Minolta A lenses onto other bodies

Adapting other lenses onto a Sony A / Minolta A body

Adapter SKU teardown

Sony LA-EA5

Sony LA-EA4

Sony LA-EA3

References

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