Sony LA-EA5 vs LA-EA3: A-mount lenses on E-mount bodies

The LA-EA5 is the one to get: on Sony's supported newer bodies it autofocuses even motor-less screw-drive A-mount lenses using on-sensor phase detection. The older LA-EA3 only autofocuses lenses with their own SSM/SAM motors — everything else is manual focus.

Last verified 2026-08-14 · every claim below links its manufacturer source

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Adapter	Mounts	Autofocus (maker's wording)	Buy
Sony LA-EA5	Sony/Minolta A → Sony E	full on supported bodies (Sony JP page: SSM/SAM lenses use on-sensor phase-detect AF on latest E-mount bodies; 'モーター非搭載レンズでも像面位相差AF' — even motor-less [screw-drive] lenses get phase-detect AF, body-list footnoted) Limitation: Screw-drive AF works only on Sony's footnoted list of newer bodies; STF lenses are manual-focus only; teleconverters unsupported; Sony 2023-04-21 note: 'depending on the attached lens, autofocus may not operate' manufacturer source ↗	Amazon →
Sony LA-EA3 Listed as production-ended on Sony Japan	Sony/Minolta A → Sony E	limited (Sony JP page, translated: 'Focus is MF* — *AF available when an SSM or SAM [in-lens-motor] lens is attached') Limitation: No AF drive motor — screw-drive A-mount lenses are manual focus only; teleconverters unsupported; DISCONTINUED (生産完了) per Sony JP page manufacturer source ↗	Amazon →

Check the Sony LA-EA5 price on Amazon →

Or skip the adapter: native Sony E lenses

Adapting is a bridge, not a destination — the native range may already cover you. Every Sony E lens that fits without an adapter: the Sony E lens index, organized by focal length, aperture and use.

Does autofocus work with a Sony A-mount to E-mount adapter?

Sony LA-EA5: full on supported bodies. Sony LA-EA3: limited.

Which lenses does the sony a-mount to e-mount adapter unlock?

Sony/Minolta A lenses become mountable on Sony E bodies. See the full Sony E native-lens index for what fits without an adapter.

Sources: Sony LA-EA5 · Sony LA-EA3 — fetched and verified 2026-08-14. All mount adapters · Methodology