# Lens adapter
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[[File:Lens adapters Exakta to Sony E-mount and Minolta MD to Sony E-mount.jpg|thumb|right|Two passive adapters to mount lenses to Sony E-mount cameras – for [Exakta](/source/Exakta) (left) and for [Minolta SR/MD](/source/Minolta_SR-mount) lenses (right).]]
[[File:Lens Adapter.jpg|thumb|This lens adapter is a passive adapter designed for mounting a [Nikon F-mount](/source/Nikon_F-mount) lens to a Micro Four Thirds camera.]]
thumb|Active lens adapter: Canon EF to Sony E.
[[File:Nikon FTZ Z-mount side.jpg|thumb|Nikon FTZ Mount Adapter (first gen), for mounting Nikon F-mount lenses to [Nikon Z-mount](/source/Nikon_Z-mount).]]
[[File:Nikon Zfc with FTZ Adapter and Lens.jpg|thumb|Sigma 18-35mm {{f/|1.8}} DC HSM Art F-mount lens mounted on a Z-mount [Nikon Zfc](/source/Nikon_Zfc), using the Nikon FTZ adapter.]]
In [photography](/source/photography) and [videography](/source/videography), a '''lens adapter''' is a device that enables the use of camera and lens combinations from otherwise incompatible systems. The most simple lens adapter designs, passive lens adapters provide a secure physical connection between the camera and the lens. Some passive adapters may include a mechanism for manual [iris](/source/Diaphragm_(optics)) control. So called, active lens adapters will include electronic connections, enabling communication between the lens and the camera.[Plant, Ian. [http://www.popphoto.com/how-to/2013/02/lens-adapters-introductory-guide "Lens Adapters: An Introductory Guide"], 11 February 2013.]
Some lens adapters include a special optical element called a [telecompressor](/source/telecompressor), focal reducer, or more recently a "speed booster", a [genericised trademark](/source/Generic_trademark) that refers to the Metabones Speed Booster line of lens adapters.[[http://blog.uniquephoto.com/metabones-speedbooster-tele-compressor-speeds-up-mirrorless-cameras/ Metabones Speedbooster Tele-Compressor Speeds Up Mirrorless Cameras]] This type of adapter is designed to reduce [focal length](/source/focal_length), increase lens speed, and in some instances improve MTF performance. Another innovator in the field is KIPON, a German/Chinese co-operation between Kipon and IB/E Optics.[{{cite web | url=http://www.adorama.com/g/kipon-main | title=Kipon Adapter Finder }}] Another branch of lens adapters include an ND-filter to simplify changing lenses, which HolyManta introduced in 2013.[[https://web.archive.org/web/20110207160158/http://holymanta.com/ HolyManta] ]
The [depth-of-field adapter](/source/depth-of-field_adapter) (also called a DOF adapter or 35 mm adapter) is a largely obsolete device that uses a [ground glass](/source/ground_glass) [focusing screen](/source/focusing_screen) to enable the use of [interchangeable lens](/source/interchangeable_lens)es on a fixed lens [camcorder](/source/camcorder).[Bloom, Philip. [http://philipbloom.net/other-stuff/faq/35mm-adaptors/ "35mm Adapters"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231095502/http://philipbloom.net/other-stuff/faq/35mm-adaptors/ |date=2014-12-31 }}] There are also lens adapters made for other optical systems, including [microscope](/source/microscope)s and [telescope](/source/telescope)s.
== Basic design ==
Most lens adapters feature a male fitting and a female fitting. The male fitting attaches to the camera, and the female fitting attaches to the lens. There is also an opening in the center to allow the light to pass through. Lens adapters can be shorter or longer, based on the respective [flange focal distance](/source/flange_focal_distance) of the lens and camera being adapted. Flange focal distance is the key specification in determining whether or not a particular type of lens can be adapted to any given camera. Generally speaking, cameras with a shorter flange focal distance can be adapted to a greater diversity of lenses. This is because there must be enough room to fit an adapter between the lens and the camera.
It is possible to physically mount a lens with a short flange focal distance on a camera with a long flange focal distance, but this will make it impossible to achieve [infinity focus](/source/infinity_focus). The effect will be similar to that of an [extension tube](/source/extension_tube), because the lens will be mounted further from the image plane than intended. Some lens adapters utilize an optical element to compensate for this, effectively acting as a [teleconverter](/source/teleconverter). This introduces the typical side effects of a teleconverter, namely decreasing the amount of light that reaches the sensor, and adding a [crop factor](/source/crop_factor) to the lens.
Additionally, there are several secondary factors to consider. Lenses designed for a smaller image sensor may not be adaptable to camera bodies with larger sensors as the [image circle](/source/image_circle) may not be large enough to cover the entire sensor, and will therefore exhibit [vignetting](/source/vignetting). The age of the camera body may limit the availability of adapters; as camera bodies typically reach obsolescence before lenses. Finally, some adapters may include electronic or mechanical provisions in order to control the [lens aperture](/source/lens_aperture) and [autofocus](/source/autofocus), to record the correct [Exif](/source/Exif) data, or to report focus confirmation.
The following table shows commonly available adapters that don't require an optical element.[{{cite web |title=Lens mount compatibility chart |url=http://www.similaar.com/foto/lensmount/lensmount.html |access-date=2016-11-29}}] Hover the cursor over the cells to see examples for mount adapter product names for that mount combination.
{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="2" rowspan="2"|
!colspan="15"|Lens Mount
|-
|-
!rowspan="13" {{vert header|va=middle|Camera Body Mount}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes|{{abbr|Yes|Boryoza XF-Z}}}}
|{{yes|{{abbr|Yes|Megadap ETZ11, ETZ21, ETZ21 Pro+; Viltrox E-Z; Techart TZE-01, TZE-02; Meike ETZ; Fotodiox Pro Fusion SNE-NKZ}}}}
|{{yes}}†
|{{yes}}‡
|{{yes|{{abbr|Yes|Fotodiox LM-NKZ-PRN; Megadap MTZ11; Techart TZM-01, TZM-02; TTArtisan M-Z 6-Bit; Shoten LM-NZ M II, LM-NZ (EX)}}}}
|{{yes|{{abbr|Yes|Techart TZG-01; Shoten GTZ}}}}
|{{yes|{{abbr|Yes|Novoflex Leica M39 Lens to Nikon Z-Mount Camera Adapter; Urth M39 to Nikon Z Lens Mount Adapter}}}}
|{{yes|{{abbr|Yes|Fotodiox Pro FD-NKZ-P; K&F Concept FD-NIK Z (KF06.366); Metabones MB FD-NZ-BT1}}}}
|{{yes|{{abbr|Yes|Viltrox EF-Z, EF-Z2; Megadap EFTZ21; Techart TZC-01; Fringer EF-NZ, EF-NZ II}}}}
|{{yes|{{abbr|Yes|a stacked combination of Sony LA-EA5 and Megadap ETZ21 Pro+ adapters (A to E, then E to Z mount); Fotga AF-NZ (AB292)}}}}
|{{yes|{{abbr|Yes|K&F Concept PK/DA-NIK Z (KF06.491), PK-NIK Z (KF06.368); Fotodiox PKAF-NKZ-P; Urth ULMA-K-Z}}}}
|{{yes|{{abbr|Yes|Pholsy M42-N/Z}}}}
|{{yes|{{abbr|Yes|Nikon FTZ, FTZ II; MonsterAdapter LA-FZ1 (can drive screw AF lenses); Viltrox NF-Z}}}}
|{{yes|{{abbr|Yes|Metabones MB LR-NZ-BT1}}}}
|-
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}*
|{{yes|{{abbr|Yes|RafCamera MFT to Fuji X adapter}}}}†
|
|{{yes|{{abbr|Yes|7Artisans LM-FX (Ring-FX-G); TTartisan M to X adapter (M-FX); K&F Concept L/M-FX}}}}
|{{yes|{{abbr|Yes|K&F Concept C/G-FX (KF06.352)}}}}
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|{{yes|{{abbr|Yes|Fringer FR-FTX1, FR-FTX2 with AF; Viltrox NF-FX1; Urth Nikon F to Fujifilm X adapter}}}}
|
|-
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}†
|{{yes}}‡
|{{yes}}
|{{yes|{{abbr|Yes|Urth ULMA-C/G-E; K&F Concept C/G-NEX (KF06.319); Metabones MB CG-E-BM1}}}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes|{{abbr|Yes|Sony LA-EA5}}}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes|{{abbr|Yes|Viltrox NF-E1 AF, NF-E MF}}}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}‡
|{{yes}}
|
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}‡
|
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}‡
|{{yes}}‡
|{{yes}}
|{{yes|{{abbr|Yes|FptpdopX Pro}}}}
|{{yes}}‡
|-
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}‡
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
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|-
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}*
|
|{{yes}}[{{cite web |title=Minolta SR/MC/MD Lens To Canon FL/FD/FDn Body Adapter|url=https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:135038}}]
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}∗
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}∗
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}∗
|{{yes}}
|-
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}∗
|{{yes}}
|-
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|}
†Image may exhibit vignetting due to sensor size.
‡Theoretically possible, but may be difficult to find.
∗Although the camera's flange distance is shorter than the lens', there is not enough distance between the flange and the lens to integrate the bayonet.
==See also==
* [Lens mount](/source/Lens_mount)
* [MC-11 (mount adapter)](/source/MC-11_(mount_adapter)) – Sigma MC-11 SA-E mount adapter for Sigma SA-mount lenses to Sony E-mount cameras; and Sigma MC-11 EF-E mount adapter for Canon EF-mount lenses to Sony E-mount cameras
==References==
{{reflist}}
Category:Photography equipment
---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lens adapter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lens_adapter) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lens_adapter?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.