Head-to-head · Sony A → Sony E
Sony LA-EA3 vs LA-EA5 — pass-through or built-in screw-drive A-mount adapter
Both adapt Sony A-mount lenses onto E-mount bodies. The LA-EA3 (2013) is a thin pass-through ring relying on the body for AF. The LA-EA5 (2020) adds an internal screw-drive motor that drives legacy Minolta and Sony screw-drive A-mount lenses on PDAF E-mount bodies.
Side-by-side specifications
| Spec | Sony LA-EA3 Sony · 2013 | Sony LA-EA5 Sony · 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Lens side | Sony A | Sony A |
| Body side | Sony E | Sony E |
| Release year | 2013 | 2020 |
| Body-side contacts | 9 pins | 9 pins |
| Firmware-updatable | No | No |
| Weather-sealed | No | No |
| Has glass (focal reducer) | No | No |
Differences that matter
Internal screw-drive motor is the headline split. LA-EA5 has one; LA-EA3 doesn't. If your A-mount kit includes legacy Minolta AF lenses (50 f/1.7, 35-70 Beercan, 70-210 Beercan) or early Sony screw-drive A-mount lenses, the LA-EA5 keeps autofocus on a PDAF E-mount body (a7 III and later). The LA-EA3 leaves them manual-focus-only because nothing turns the screw.
SSM / SAM A-mount lenses (Sony 70-200 f/2.8 SSM II, Sigma EX HSM A-mount) work on both with full AF — the in-lens motor handles focus, the adapter is just a pass-through for electronics. For an SSM / SAM-only kit the LA-EA5's added motor is dead weight.
Size and weight: LA-EA3 is ~115 g lighter and noticeably shorter. The LA-EA5's motor adds bulk that matters if you're carrying the adapter unmounted in a small bag.
Body compatibility: on E-mount bodies without on-sensor PDAF (a6000 / NEX / a7 / a7S original / a7 II), neither delivers usable AF on screw-drive A-mount lenses — the LA-EA5's motor still spins, but contrast-detect alone can't keep up. For those older bodies the LA-EA4 (with its in-adapter SLT mirror and AF sensor) is the only path to predictable AF.
Price: LA-EA5 is roughly twice the LA-EA3 at retail. The premium buys the screw-drive motor and nothing else.
When to pick which
Pick the
Sony LA-EA3 when
- Your A-mount kit is exclusively SSM / SAM (in-lens-motor) — Sony 70-200 f/2.8 G SSM, Sony 16-35 f/2.8 ZA SSM, Sigma HSM A-mount.
- You shoot on a PDAF E-mount body (a7 III or later) and don't own any screw-drive Minolta or early Sony A-mount glass.
- Weight and size matter — the LA-EA3 saves ~115 g over the LA-EA5.
Pick the
Sony LA-EA5 when
- Your A-mount kit includes screw-drive Minolta AF or early Sony A-mount lenses — the LA-EA5's internal motor restores AF on these.
- You shoot on a PDAF E-mount body (a7 III, a7 IV, a7R V, a1, a9 II, FX-line) and want a single adapter that works across both SSM / SAM and screw-drive A-mount glass.
- Future-proofing: even if your current bag is SSM / SAM, the LA-EA5 covers any A-mount lens you might add second-hand later.
Common questions
- Will my Minolta Maxxum 50 f/1.7 autofocus on the LA-EA3?
- No — Minolta Maxxum AF (and most early Sony A-mount) is screw-drive, and the LA-EA3 has no internal screw-drive motor. It will mount and meter, but focus is manual-only. The LA-EA5 has the motor; LA-EA4 has both the motor and an internal AF sensor.
- Why pick the LA-EA3 over the LA-EA5 if the LA-EA5 does everything the LA-EA3 does plus more?
- Size and weight. The LA-EA3 is shorter and ~115 g lighter. If every A-mount lens in your kit is SSM / SAM (in-lens motor), the LA-EA5's screw-drive motor is added bulk you'll never use.
- Do both adapters preserve IBIS on stabilised A-mount lenses?
- Yes — Sony body SteadyShot (IBIS) runs as normal on both, and A-mount lens electronics pass through for EXIF, aperture control, and lens identification. Combined with body IBIS on a7 III / a7 IV / a7R V, stabilisation is comparable to a native FE lens.
- Are these adapters still being made?
- Sony's A-mount lens line was officially discontinued in 2021, but LA-EA3 and LA-EA5 remain in production as legacy-glass adapters. Stock is generally available new through 2026; second-hand prices are stable.
Open the individual adapter pages
- Sony LA-EA3 — full spec, firmware history, per-lens compat notes
- Sony LA-EA5 — full spec, firmware history, per-lens compat notes
- Sony A to Sony E adapter page — every adapter for this mount pair, verdict, format notes
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