Alphatracks

What are Sony’s plans for the A500 series and when will it be available?

May 25, 2009 It appears the A230, A330 and A380 will not be the only new dSLRs in the Sony Alpha lineup. The website 1001 noisy cameras tipped me off to a screen-shot posted in the Dyxum forums. While registering their new camera at Sony-Style Canada, the poster noted that the drop down list for available cameras included choices for two mysterious models: A500 and A550.

This looks to be a genuine slip — there are no other details available. Naturally I am very curious to see what the A500 series will be like and when they will be available. At the same time, I don’t want to start rumors that could cause people to put off buying an Alpha dSLR because they are waiting “for something better.”

About ten years ago, I had a friend who wanted to buy an iMac. At the time, all iMacs had 15 inch screens. My fiend was ready to buy, but he heard rumors of a soon-to-be-released 17 inch iMac. So he waited. And waited. Every time he determined to go ahead a purchase the computer, he would hear a rumor about a new, better model. So he would put off his purchase. This indecision lasted over 18 months. I moved away and never heard from him again. I don’t know if he ever bought his computer.

The point is, rumors can cause people to hold off buying something while they wait for the “next best thing.” I hope my friend finally got the computer he wanted. Because he was always looking for something better, however, he went without the computer for a year and a half. He could have been enjoying the computer and expanding his skills during that time, but because he was always chasing rumors, he did without. The thing is, a computer with a 15 inch monitor trumps no computer at all.

This applies to cameras as well as computers, especially for someone wanting to move into their first dSLR. How many great pictures could you make in 18 months? How much sooner could you get up to speed on a digital SLR if you started 18 months sooner?

Of course there is no reason to think the A500 and A550 are 18 months away. The logical assumption is that someone at Sony Canada was readying the site for the release of the A500 series and made the changes live before the cameras were on the market. If that is true, we can assume the A500 and A500 will be announced very shortly.

There are another scenarios, however. Someone could have just made a mistake and typed 500 and 550 when it should have been another series of digits. Not likely, as they would have had to make same the mistake many times, because there are several versions listed with different kit lenses. Unlikely, but it has to be considered.

There is also a possibility that someone was simply experimenting with the database. I do quite a bit of web development work and I have seen database administrators make up fake data to fill in fields in the database. The fake info is just there to flesh out the database and see how it would work in actual production. It isn’t supposed appear in an actual live site, but sometimes these fake entries make into the wild.

That is exactly what happened several years ago when a computer science student was developing a database script for a class project. He must have been a photography enthusiast, because he made up some fake camera entries, including one for a 18 megapixel, Minolta Maxxum 9D dSLR.

It was just something the student created to flesh out the database, in order to test his script. It sounded logical. It was widely believed that Minolta would introduce a Maxxum 9D because that followed the usual naming convention for Minolta SLRs. They already had the 5D and 7D. History indicated the next camera in the series would be the 9D.

Minolta was undoubtedly working on a 9D model, but there is no reason to belive it would have had an 18mp sensor. The 5D and 7D were 6mp cameras and at the time anything over 10mp was unheard of.

The student published his code online so he could test his database script. Someone discovered the “evidence” of a 18mp Maxxum 9D. Word spread rapidly, and the Minolta faithful waited with baited breath for the official announcement of the 9D. It never came. Outside of Minolta’s laboratories, the Maxxum 9D never existed. Since Sony (who made sensors for Minolta) never released an 18mp sensor for dSLRs, it is highly unlikely Minolta was developing an 18mp Maxxum 9D. But there are those, who based on the imagination of a computer science student, still believe that Minolta was ready to unleash an 18mp super camera just before the company closed the doors on its photo operations.

Having said all that. I believe Sony does have A500 and A550 models in the works. I expect to see them announced very soon, yet I wouldn’t bet the farm they will be out this summer. When you will be able to actually order an A550 and what features it will have is anybodies guess. It won’t be real until Sony says its real.

If you are considering buying a current Sony Alpha, but are holding off because you are afraid of missing out on something better, I suggest you go ahead and buy now. It is possible the A500 series will be announced in the next few days. On the other hand, you could be like my friend, forever waiting for a new product announcement that never comes.

You will probably be much happier getting an actual dSLR you can use now, rather than waiting on a phantom camera whose features and shipping date are completely unknown. It’s awfully hard to take great pictures without a camera!

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Brand New HVL-F20AM flash unit will appeal to Sony Alpha users on a budget, as well as A900 shooters

May 20, 2009 Besides three new dSLRs, Sony has also announced a new low-cost flash unit. Details of the new flash are somewhat sketchy, but the first units should ship in June. Known as the HVL-F20AM, the flash will have a Guide Number of 20 and carry a list price of $130.

While the GN of 20 isn’t particularly powerful, it is double the power of the built in flash on the new A230, A330, A380. More importantly, it offers bounce capabilities, something lacking in the built-in flash. While it doesn’t appear that the new flash can itself be triggered wirelessly (at least not by the Sony wireless system), with an optional sync cord and adapter from Sony this flash could be used off-camera in a wired mode..

With the low price and light weight, it is natural to assume this flash is targeted at first time dSLR shooters. While that is true in part, the F20 should be very appealing to owners of the top-of-the-line A900 as well. As I outlined a few months ago, the A900 doesn’t have a built-in flash, making the A900 the only Sony Alpha that cannot trigger the Sony wireless system out of the box. Until now, the only way the A900 could fire a Sony wireless flash unit is by attaching a HVL-F58AM flash to the hot shoe. The F58AM was the only flash capable of acting as a controller. The rest of the flash units in the Sony stable (F36, F42 and F56) can not be used to trigger other flash units. So A900 users had to buy the high-dollar F58 flash if they wanted a wireless flash trigger.

In my earlier post, I suggested Sony might offer a lower cost method of triggering the Wireless Flash System. Enter the HVL-F20AM.

Like the F58AM, the new flash can trigger other external flashes in the Sony system. This is great news for A900 owners, who can now use wireless flash units without dedicating a very expensive HVL-F58AM to the role of mere flash trigger.

Details are somewhat limited, but Sony has emphasized that the F20AM will only work as a trigger with the A900. Apparently there is circuitry in the A900 that is absent in the rest of the Sony Alpha line.

Some people have expressed disappointment over this, but I don’t really understand why. All of the Alpha dSLRs, with the exception of the A900, already have the ability to trigger the Sony Wireless Flash System. I guess the greater guide number might give the F20 a slightly greater wireless range than the built-in flash units, but that is a pretty weak argument. (no pun intended!)

Here is what the Sony press release has to say:

Wireless flash trigger function (DSLR-A900 only)
When teamed with the a900, the HVL-F20AM can also be used to trigger wireless flash setups. Please note, however, that this functionality is only available with DSLR-A900, and does not include luminosity ratio control.

So no ratio control, which I didn’t expect in a basic, low-cost flash/wireless trigger.

Lowering the HVL-F20AM (left) turns the unit off. Raising the flash to full height powers it on.

That the new flash is fairly basic is indicated by another section of the Sony release:

Unlike most external flash units, the HVL-F20AM has no dedicated On/Off switch. Instead, power is automatically switched on simply by raising the flash unit into the shooting position…The new design also eliminates the LCD display panel found on many conventional flash units, further contributing to easy-use simplicity and stylish design.

Classic marketing — remove the LCD panel and call it a feature.

Obviously there are no adjustable power settings. It is a bare-bones flash, but it is a dedicated Sony flash offering both ADI and TTL flash metering. When you add the ability to swivel the flash head to use bounce lighting, this is a nice addition to the Sony flash line-up, especially when you consider the suggested list price.

I read somewhere that the new flash will be powered by two AA batteries, but I cannot confirm this. All of the other flashes offered by Sony use four AAs for power.

Most Alphatracks readers are in the advanced amateur category, and these shooters might be better served with one of the more feature-rich Sony flash heads that feature a higher guide number and can be fired wireless off-the-camera. For those moving up to a dSLR from a P&S camera or A900 owners looking for a way to trigger their external flash units wirelessly, the HVL-F20AM should be a very attractive addition to the Sony flash inventory.

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New A380 and A330 retain the tilt-out LCD used in earlier Alpha dSLRs, but the range of motion has been increased.

May 18, 2009 Sony has officially announced three new dSLRs, the seventh, eighth and ninth cameras in the Alpha lineup. The new models will be known as the A230, A330 and A380. Although some may see them as updates to the current A200, A300 and A350, the new dSLRs go far beyond a mere reworking of existing units. While the sensors are similar, the body and controls are completely new, setting the new trio apart from previous Sony Alphas.

Look ma, I have an Auto-focus motor!

I am very happy to report that the speculation that the new Alpha models would jettison the in-body auto focus motor is false. All three dSLRs have an in-body auto focus motor, making them fully compatible with older Minolta and Sony A-Mount lenses. There was speculation Sony might have removed the body AF motor for weight and size considerations. The upshot is the A230, A330 and A380 should be filly compatible with the complete range of A-mount lenses.

One other major rumor about the new cameras suggested that Sony would drop the Compact Flash Slot in favor of smaller SD and Memory Stick slots. This time, the speculation was spot on, as the new cameras feature slots for both a SD card and a Memory Stick Duo. These will be the first Sony Alphas that cannot use CF cards.

After reflecting on Sony’s target market for these cameras, I am much more accepting of the SD/MS memory cards. Sony is clearly aiming these cameras at people moving up from Point & Shoot cameras. These users may have a collection of SD and/or Memory Stick cards that saw use in their older P&S digital cameras. They can reformat them and use them in the new Alpha dSLRs, reducing the cost of entry.

Unlike the CF and Memory Stick slots in the A700, which can both be used at once, users will need to choose which card slot will be active. If the SD slot is live, the MS slot will be unusable. If the user shifts to the MS slot, the SD port will become inactive.

Vastly improved LCD display offers graphical representations of exposure settings as well as an onboard user manual.

If there was any doubt that Sony is targeting first time dSLR users with the new cameras, all you have to do is look at the new graphical menu interface. In addition to graphs that help explain the relation of various settings to each other, there is an on-board manual that can be read on the LCD screen. This is a great feature that should enhance the appeal of the cameras to those just dipping their feet in the dLSR pool.

Although the three cameras correspond neatly to the earlier models (A230 to A200, A330 to A300 and A380 to A350) the bodies are physically different. The most obvious difference is the smaller grip, which contains a new battery. Actually, it isn’t completely new, as it is the same NP-F50AM battery used in certain Sony CyberShot models. The new battery is ony rated at 510 images per charge, while older NP-F500 used in the current Alphas can reel off 750 frames before recharging.

That is a minor drawback, but 510 images is more than most users will shoot in a single day.

Where is the vertical grip?

One thing I haven’t seen anyone comment on is Sony’s silence about a vertical grip for the new cameras. Since there is a new battery, I doubt that the new cameras will accept the older VG-B30AM vertical grip.

There is no mention of a grip in the Sony press release, nor are the new cameras pictured with a grip. When the A300 and A350 were announced, the pre-relese photos showed them attached to the optional grip.

Sony may have a grip in the works for the new cameras, or they may feel that the target market isn’t interested in a vertical grip. On the other hand, Minolta didn’t think users would be interested in a VG for the Maxxum 5D. The 5D begat th Sony A100 — which also did not have factory VG.

The demand for grips to fit the 5D and the A100 shows that both Minolta and Sony erred by not offering a grip for these cameras. At the time, the posts I wrote about aftermarket and DIY grips for the A100 were extremely popular. Even now, with both cameras long out of production, my server logs still show I get several visits a week to the pages about the 5D/A100 grips.

There is lots more news, including the welcome addition of a new inexpensive flash unit that can also serve as a flash controller on the Sony A900. I will look more deeply into that next time.

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May 9, 2009: The rumors of new dSLR’s from Sony continue to swirl about the internet. Many people expected something at the PMA show in February, but a Sony official was quoted as saying no dSLRs would be released until after PMA — fueling speculation that new models would be coming soon after that.

There are several sources speculating that new models would be known as the A230, A330 and A380. There is yet another rumor of an A800. I have heard talk of other models, but I don’t want encourage rumors of cameras that may not be available for months or even years from now — if at all.

It does appear, however, that new models in the A300 and A200 line may soon be introduced. David Kilpatrick of PhotoClub Alpha (in the UK) has some screen captures from a SonyStyle site that contain photos of some of future Alpha dSLRs. These appear to indeed be the A380, A330 and A230.

You can read David’s musing on the PhotoClub Alpha site.

So what can we expect from these new dSLRs? Until now, all the Sony Alpha dSLRS carried names that fit neatly into an even 100 digits: A100, A200, A300, A700, A900. The only exception is the A350, which is more or less an A300 with a denser, 14mp sensor.

Since the new models carry names like 330 and 380, it appears the new cameras may be variants of the existing A300 and A350. If the photos are accurate, however, the new models appear to have newer, smaller bodies.

So other than the bodies, what will the new dSLR’s offer?

Sony hasn’t yet revealed the specs on the new models, so everything said here is pure conjecture.

Several people have suggested that Sony may remove the AF motor from the new bodies. This is bolstered by the recently announced Sony lenses. The new lenses overlap existing glass in the Sony catalog. There doesn’t seem to be a need for the new lenses, unless they have internal motors. These motors could handle the autofocus duties on cameras that lack their own AF motor.

This could produce lighter, more compact camera bodies. That is all well an good, but it breaks compatibility with older glass. Until now, you could use almost any A-Mount lens on any Sony Alpha. Minolta A-Mount lenses. Aftermarket (Tamron, Sigma, etc.) A-Mount lenses. And of course all the existing Sony A-Mount glass.

If the rumor is true, most of these older lenses will not offer full compatibility with the new bodies. I assume you should be able to attach the lenses and shoot using manual focus. Only the handful of older lenses that include internal focusing motors will actually offer auto focus ability on the new cameras.

Which is more important: lens compatibility or overall weight?

If this is true, I will be a little disappointed with the new models. In the first place, I don’t really like overly-light cameras. Heavy cameras dampen vibration and feel more solid to me. My all time favorite film SLR was the incredible XK-Motor. The camera itself was as heavy as a tank, and that was before you bolted on the battery pack that held ten AA batteries. As heavy as it was, the XK-M was so well balanced that felt and handled beautifully.

I do have a lot of experience in backpacking, and I understand the importance of eliminating extra weight. But if I have the choice between maximum lens compatibility and a smaller, lighter body, I would choose lens compatibility every time.

Kilpatrick also speculates the new bodies may abandon Compact Flash cards. Once again, I hope this isn’t so. Sony has only recently started selling their own line of CF cards. I prefer having a single card type that I can exchange between cameras. If the new digi-SLRs don’t accept CF cards, it will break compatibility with many of the older models. If the new cameras use SD cards, there will be no memory card compatibility with any current Sony Alpha. This might not be a problem if you only shoot with one camera. If you use multiple bodies, however, it will be pain to keep different memory cards for different bodies.

Different strokes for different folks, and Sony may have found that there is a considerable market for smaller, lighter bodies. Considering the limited amount of available lenses, I wouldn’t think the lower weight and smaller size would be worth the trade off. In my opinion, one of the best features of the Alpha is the huge array of Minolta A-mount lenses. Take away the ability to use those lenses and what do you have?

When will Sony offer a dSLR with video capabilities?

The other question is whether any of the new dSLRs will offer video. I’m not all that hungry for video myself, but with both Canon and Nikon offering dSLRs that have video modes, I find it puzzling that Sony isn’t stepping up to compete in the video/dSLR segment.

After all, Sony is a huge player in the camcorder market. The last I heard Sony was a close second to Canon in camcorder sales. So I would expect Sony to enter into the fledgling dSLR with video market with both feet.

Rumors — and remember these are only rumors — say the new Alpha dSLRs will not contain a video mode.

If this is true, I won’t be heart broken, but I want the Alpha to be competitive on all fronts. If the market is moving to onboard video on dSLRs, I want Sony to offer a video dSLR. This has nothing to do with being a Sony “fan.” The stronger the Alpha line becomes, the more aftermarket support we will see. It will also encourage Sony to release new and improved Alpha products.

Then again, it wouldn’t put it past Sony to abruptly release a new model that no one is expecting. After the release of the A700, everyone was expecting the A900 to be the next Sony dSLR. Without warning, Sony suddenly replaced the A100 with the A200. Only about a month later, the A300 and A350 were announced.

So until Sony clarifies the situation, this is all speculation. There is also no indication of when the new cameras will be on the market. The important thing is the Sony Alpha market is continuing to grow. Even if I don’t want to see a video-free dSLR without onboard internal focus motors and no CF slot, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a market for such an animal.

I sure hope folks at Sony has done their homework.

So what is your take on the future the Sony Alpha? Is there room for SD cards and bodies stripped of AF motors? Should Sony add a video mode? What say you?

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This aluminum adapter converts a M42 screw mount lens into a A-mount lens.

May 4, 2009 A few weeks ago, I discussed using an M42 lens with the Sony Alpha. The way you pull this off is with a M42 to A-mount adapter.

The adapter is nothing more than a thin piece of metal with a Sony/Minolta A-mount bayonet fitting and a threaded opening for a M42 lens. The term M42 represents 42mm — the diameter of the threaded lens mount. There are other similar lenses, including M39 and M40 diameter lenses. The M42 mount is the most popular of the”M” mounts, especially when it comes to lenses designed to fit a 35mm SLR.

M42 adapter has an A-mount bayonet on one side and a threaded opening that accepts a 42mm screw in the center.

There is one other screw-mount lens you need to be aware of: the T-Mount. I’m not sure why there was a need for the T-mount, because the screw threads on the T-Mount are also 42mm in diameter. The difference is the thread pitch: the M42 lens uses 1 thread per mm, while the T-Mount uses a slightly coarser 0.75 thread per mm. This is important, because the M42 and T-mount look extremely similar. but they are not interchangeable. You can screw either lens into a M42 adapter, but only the M42 lens will thread fully home. If you try to thread a T-mount lens into an M42 adapter, it will seize up before the lens flange seats properly. The same is true if you try to install a M42 lens on a T-mount adapter.

I’m spending a lot of time on the M42 and T-mount lenses, because most lenses of this type do not have any markings indicating the mount type. You really need to use caution when buying a used screw mount lens. In many cases you will find T-mount lenses advertised as M42, and M42 lens sold as T-mount. There are both M42 and T-mount adapters available for the Sony Alpha, but it is important to know what type of 42mm diameter screw lens you are buying. If your screw mount lens doesn’t thread into the adapter smoothly, do not force it. Mixing lenses and adapters can result in damage to either the lens or the adapter.

Now that we’ve established what an M42 adapter is, lets look at why you would want to use an adapter in the first place.

You can see the 42mm thread on this Vivitar lens. Note the switch next to the red M. Not all M42 lens have this switch. This Vivitar can be switched into a auto mode when used on auto diaphragm cameras like the pre-bayonet Pentax film SLRs. To use the lens on a Sony Alpha adapter, it needs to be switched into the manual (M) mode.

The fact is there are millions of optically excellent M42 lenses available, many at ridiculously low prices. Carl Zeiss actually produced the first M42 lenses in 1938. The mount was used by Practica and became the standard Pentax 35mm lens mount until Pentax switched to a bayonet mount the mid ’70s. Today, Carl Zeiss continues to produce new M42 lenses under the ZS model name. These are manual focus lenses and other than Zeiss quality, have little in common with the AF Zeiss lenses sold by Sony.

The Russian Zenit line produced M42 lenses quite recently. They may or may not be still manufacturing M42 lenses and cameras. In addition, there are countless used M42 mount lens available on ebay, pawn shops, used camera dealers, garage sales and the like.

While M42 lenses are plentiful, there are good reasons you can buy them so inexpensively. As a universal style lens, initially designed over seventy years ago, these lenses are devoid of may of the innovations modern photographers take for granted.

Here is a partial list:

• No Autofocus
• No Automatic diaphragm
• You need to use manual exposure on the A200, A300 and A350
• Image stabilization does not work

M42 lenses don’t offer auto focus

The lack of auto focusing doesn’t bother me very much. After years of shooting action sports with manual focus cameras, I am somewhat uncomfortable turning over the focusing duties to a silicon chip. That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate auto focus; but its absence isn’t a deal beaker to me.

Adapters cannot provide automatic diaphragm connections

Not having an automatic diaphragm is more troubling. On the other hand, I am using my M42 lens when I want a fast telephoto. This means when I use this lens, I am nearly always shooting wide open. This negates any concern about the auto diaphragm, since the lens is usually open to the maximum aperture.

The result is the M42 lens becomes a special purpose lens to be used only in low light. If conditions are such that I can shoot at f/4 or higher, I switch to one of my A-mount, auto focus telephotos.

Manual exposure is required with M42 adapters on the A200, A300 and A350

The Alpha A200, A300 and A350 cannot use a lens adapter in the automatic mode. The camera will not not recognize that there is a lens attached, and will not fire the shutter in the auto mode. The only way to use an ordinary adapter on these cameras in the manual mode.

Most of the Minolta Maxxums and other models of the Sony Alpha can use adapters in the aperture priority mode. Different cameras use different methods to allow you to use an adapter in the auto mode. Consult the owners manual if you are unsure of the procedure for your camera.

Shooting with manual exposure outdoors can be a pain, especially if the light is shifty. Since I am using the M42 lens to shoot under fairly constant indoor lighting conditions, this isn’t a real problem either. I shoot a couple of frames and use the LCD to make sure the exposure looks good. Since I’m shooting in a sports arena, the light is not likely to change during a game. So once I have a good exposure on the LCD, I can shoot the rest of the day without changing anything.

Hey I thought in-body stabilization works with all lenses…

Some of you might be wondering about the lack of image stabilization. The whole premise of the Sony in-camera anti-shake system is that it works with any lens right? Well not exactly.

Because the system is built into the camera, technically it should work on any lens you attach to the camera. However, in order to maximize effectiveness, the Steady Shot system needs to know the focal length of the lens. Without this knowledge, the camera doesn’t know how much IS to apply. This isn’t a problem with Sony, Minolta and aftermarket A-mount lenses. These lenses have electrical contacts that let the camera know the focal length of the lens.

There is no way for the Sony Alpha to “read” the focal length of a M42 lens. Since the camera cannot identify the focal length of a M42 lens, SSS can’t operate.

Upgrade to a chipped adapter for SSS and aperture priority exposure

If you are willing to spend a little more money, you can have IS and aperture priority auto exposure. There are M42 adapters that include a “focus confirmation” chip. These adapters attempt to fool the camera into thinking there is a real Sony A-mount AF lens installed.

M42 lens (top) pictured with a T-Mount lens. You can see the threaded portions look very similar, but they are not the same. Make sure you know what type of mount your screw mount lens actually has.

Naturally, you won’t actually have AF, and you still won’t have an automatic diaphragm. Your camera will let you use Aperture Priority automatic exposure, so you can select the aperture and the camera will select an appropriate shutter speed. You cannot use shutter priority, since the Alpha series has no communication with a M42 lens, so it cannot adjust the aperture.

A focus confirmation chip will also return Super Steady Shot functionality, because the camera now knows the focal length of the lens…at least it thinks it does.

The confirmation chip works by convincing the camera that there is a real Sony lens attached. The camera reads the information from the chip and uses that data to determine how to react.

This means you can’t use just any chipped adapter with any particular lens. If the chip in the adapter tells the camera there is a 50mm f/1.7 lens attached and you actually are using a 400mm f/8 lens, Image Stabilization will be less then optimal. In short, you have to match the chipped adapter to the focal length and f/stop of the lens. You can use a plain, non-chipped adapter with any M42 lens, but if you want IS, you will need an adapter matched to your lens.

There are a couple of other things to watch out for. Although a well made Sony M42 adapter should be capable of focusing to infinity, some of the cheaper models are slightly too thick. Even a few thousands of an inch of extra thickness will move the lens too far away from the focal plane, so you cannot achieve infinity focus. I haven’t encountered that problem, but over on the Flickr forums Arkku has set up a nice demonstration of the problem. Arkku solved the thickness problem by sanding the adapter until it brought the lens close enough to the sensor to focus at infinity.

Here a T-Mount lens is threaded as far as it will go into a M42 adapter. Note how much space there is between the lens flange and the adapter. Attempting to thread the lens further onto the adapter would likely result in damage to the lens, the adapter or both. Because the lens doesn’t meet the adapter, this setup will not focus properly.

The second problem involves some poorly made adapters that can jam onto the camera’s lens mount. David Kilpatrick of Photoclub Alpha encountered this problem on an A700 and had to resort to a pipe wrench (gulp!) to remove the adapter. In one of the Sony Alpha foruns on Flickr, another reader reported his adapter had become jammed.

I have had no problem with my no-name aluminum adapter, which I originally bought from a Singapore vendor off ebay. I would use care using the adapter for the first time, until you are confident it won’t jam. If the adapter doesn’t attach the camera easily and smoothly, I wouldn’t use it. The older Amount dSLRs (Sony A100, Minolta 5d, 7D have slightly different lens mount. Sony beefed the mount up on the A700, A200 A300, A350 and the A900, so even if you have an adapter that works OK on the A100, you still need to ensure it works on later Sony dSLRs.

There are a world of inexpensive, high quality M42 optics available if you are willing to forgo auto-focus, auto diaphragm and other niceties.

There is one other thing to consider if you decide to go the M42 route. If you make a real effort to master using M42 glass on a dSLR, you will undoubtedly become a much better photographer. If you can wring out the best from a screw mount lens, you will find you are a better shooter no matter which lens is on your camera. Since you cannot simply put the camera on full automatic when dealing with a M42 lens, you are forced to think carefully about how to use the lens. The result is that you will be far more comfortable and knowledgeable about your camera and all your lenses

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