Using M-mount lenses for E-mount Sony video cameras (FX3, FX6)

[Shore]

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Hello -- anyone have any results, or opinions using M-mount on Sony video cameras? Interested in choice of adaptor; general results and limitations. Thank you. 

[Carlos cruz]

Never tried it on sony but it should work as long as camera has e or m mount, you’re ok with short focus throw, 0.7 m close focus. You could bypass minimum focusing distance with close focusing adapter( but that would mean two stages focusing)  as to adapters I believe they are just a piece of metal pipe cut to proper length. 
My personal experience  is that superangulon 21 can’t be mounted on Alexa 35 due to filters on the sensor, all other lenses should be ok.

[Carlos cruz]

55 minutes ago, Al Brown said:

but anything below 35mm is pretty meh in the corners wide open

Never had such observation, I have worked with 0.8 and Hugo and they are optically identical to any other m lens. Only explanation I can think of is some sort of secret agreement between Wetzlar and Munich(I started to suspect something when within few months both leica and arri released monochrome cameras) 

 

[3D-Kraft.com]

As others have said already, you should choose lenses wider 35mm (and even the 35mm) carefully due to the thicker Sony filter glas stack. But there are also wide angles with a more telecentric design that work good (Leica WATE was used for Superman 2025).

Thypoch offers an interesting cine lens kit (4 lenses) with M-mount (but also available with E-Mount).

[hansvons]

On 4/14/2025 at 5:56 PM, Shore said:

Hello -- anyone have any results, or opinions using M-mount on Sony video cameras? Interested in choice of adaptor; general results and limitations.

 

On 4/14/2025 at 7:35 PM, Al Brown said:

A much better choice are the R series lenses.

What Al says. The flange distance of the R mount is much longer. Thus, the thicker sensor glass of the Sony cameras isn’t interfering as much with wider focal lengths, 35mm and below, and the corners are sharper.

The Summicron 35mm V2 R is particularly usable for video allowing for moody, yet sharp shots. Also, the longer focus throw makes it better suited than its M sibling, the 35mm Summicron ASPH.

Regarding adapters, don’t cheap out. I once bought a cheap adapter for a Sony FX3 and got bitten because infinity was way off.

Other great R workhorse lenses for video are the E55 Summilux 50mm in the latest version (the E60 is too expensive) and the latest version of the 28mm Elmarit. 

 

[FlashAndPoof]

What's a good M to E mount adapter you would recommend?

[Carlos cruz]

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Don’t have much experience with e mount, years ago bought my then gf voigtlander e-m with close focusing capability haven’t heard word of complaint.

[J S H]

I like the Hawk's Factory helicoid adapter with adjustable infinity focus, if you desire the close focus capability. Otherwise, Novoflex is a solid choice. I also have the first version of the Voigtlander close focus adapter and it works well, although it is noticeably heavier than the other choices. 

[sebben]

Not the same camera but I bought the M mount for my Arri Alexa Mini and shot one documentary project using my m lenses because I wanted a small light weight kit. 
 

I would say that I was somewhat disappointed with the performance. The M lenses breathe a lot and are ergonomically a pain to use. They are also very inconsistent in look because the designs are from all sorts of different generations and each focal length is seemingly optimised for something different. Mostly prioritising size and weight. The close focus distance is also a big limitation. 
 

In the end I felt I was loosing more than I gained. I would much rather invest in a set of lenses that are conceived to be a set like the Zeiss Milvus family. 
 

 

Edited June 15 by sebben

[Carlos cruz]

I believe only set built on modern summiluxes aka 0.8 or Hugo’s are somehow visually consistent, but out of the box m lenses are not built for set life. It takes more than just a handful of lenses to build a set, I think Cooke, thypoch did their homework.

Edited June 15 by Carlos cruz

[sebben]

Sure the Hugo set looks nice and fixes most of the thing Is mentioned but at 15,000 euros per lens I personally would choose something even more fit for the purpose to buy

The M 0.8 set still suffers from close focus limitation, inconsistent sizing and short focus throws that make them a pain to focus accurately.