Lens Adapter

A lens adapter is a ring that lets a lens made for one type of camera fit on another, so you can keep using lenses you already own.

On this page 3 sections

How it works
Two broad kinds
What it does not promise

A lens adapter is a ring that sits between a camera body and a lens. It joins a lens built for one mount to a camera with a different mount.

How it works

Mirrorless bodies have a short distance between the mount and the sensor, while DSLRs need more room for a mirror. An adapter fills the extra distance, so the lens sits at the correct distance from the sensor. This is why adapters usually work in one direction only: from a lens made for a longer distance onto a body with a shorter one.

Two broad kinds

Simple ring: it only joins the mounts. Focus and aperture are set by hand.
Electronic adapter: it passes information between lens and body, so autofocus, aperture control and stabilisation can keep working, depending on the lens and the camera.

What it does not promise

An adapter makes a lens fit, but it does not make the lens behave like one built for that camera. Autofocus can be slower, and some features may not work at all. It adds a little length and weight. A loose or poorly made joint can tilt the lens and leave one side of the picture soft.

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