analog meets digital | apertureonepointfour

Objektive adaptieren

Adapting / Scanning

For several years now, I have been adapting vintage lenses designed for analog photography—mostly manual focus—onto mirrorless Sony cameras whenever I need the specific advantages of digital shooting. This allows me to draw from a seemingly endless selection of unique glass from a wide variety of manufacturers. It is also possible to utilize newer lenses from the Canon EOS system. Even medium format lenses can be adapted, as demonstrated by the Carl Zeiss CB Tessar 160mm f/4.8 T*.

If I take pictures with analog systems, the ones that are most interesting for me or the ones that I like best are scanned.

To this comes z. The Epson V850 scanner is currently in use.

Photography should be fun—so for me, there is no single "BEST" system.

It really doesn't matter to me how an image is captured. Whether it’s analog or digital, 35mm film or large format sheet film, a digital SLR, a mirrorless camera, a digital or analog compact, or even a scanned slide—every single imaging technology complements the others and has its own rightful place.

When I need results quickly and efficiently, digital cameras are my go-to. But when I want to feel the charm of the past millennium and enjoy the tactical feel of solid metal and glass, nothing beats vintage analog photo equipment.

It doesn't matter what you take pictures with, the main thing is that you take pictures.

apertureonepointfour, 2020

Sony A7III

A mirrorless digital full format camera with a sensor size of 24x36mm - my first choice for adapting lenses calculated for analog photography.

Sony A7III

Here with an Ernst Leitz Wetzlar 4/9 cm (4 / 90mm) lens on an E39 to Sony E adapter.

Sony A7III

Again the 4 / 9cm Ernst Leitz Wetzlar lens. The picture shows the retractable lens hood, which can be adjusted to different focal lengths.

Sony A7III / A7rIVa

My favorite analog 35mm system: Canon FD—shown here is the 50mm f/3.5 Macro adapted to the Sony A7III. I regularly use numerous FD lenses for both analog and digital shooting.

Sony A7III Canon EF 5,6 100-300mm L Sigma MC11

Sony A7III / A7rIVa

For a long time, I was on the lookout for an affordable yet optically excellent 100-300mm zoom lens. Even though I completed an apprenticeship in photographic retail back in the late '80s, this particular lens never crossed my mind.

For a while, it was my go-to telephoto zoom for landscape photography, until it was eventually replaced by the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II USM.

Sony A7III / A7rIVa

Olympus OM lenses - a good choice for adapting; here the OM G. Zuiko Auto-W 3.5 21mm

Olympus OM lenses designed for analog photography are characterized by their high-quality workmanship and small dimensions.

Sony A7III Canon EF 5,6 100-300 L Sigma MC 11 adaptiert

Sony A7III / A7rIVa

In combination with the Sigma MC-11 lens adapter, this lens works flawlessly on the Sony A7III / A7rIV, even with full Eye-AF support!

Sony A7III mit V-Objektivadaper Carl Zeiss CB 4,8 160mm T* Hasselbald

Sony A7III / A7rIVa

Medium format lenses can also be easily adapted. Shown here is the Carl Zeiss CB 160mm f/4.8 T* for Hasselblad.

Canon EF 3,5-4,5 50-200 mm L Canon EF 5,6 100-300 mm L

Sony A7III / A7rIVa

Here you see another early Canon EF "L" zoom from the dawn of the EF system:

the Canon EF 50-200mm f/3.5-4.5 L, or so I thought when I bought it!

I only grew skeptical when I noticed the sheer number of infrared index marks on the distance scale; way too many for a highly corrected, luxury L-series lens.

And sure enough, the iconic red "L" ring was just glued on. I guess I got greedy because the lens was dirt cheap, and I let that red ring blind me!

Today, we're looking at the most affordable Canon EF "L" lens you can adapt to your Sony A7 III or other Sony E-mount bodies. Thanks to the Sigma MC-11 adapter, it works like a charm—giving you full autofocus and even Eye-AF! It’s definitely an older lens, so my main plan is to use it for landscapes. If this zoom range fits your style and you don't need it for fast-paced sports... go for it! Optically, it punches way above its weight, delivering incredibly sharp and crispy images.

For a long time, I was on the lookout for an affordable zoom lens with a focal length of 100-300mm. And for just as long, I had completely forgotten about the early generation of Canon EF lenses—even though I did my training in photographic retail as a young man back then and knew these lenses inside out. For my last vacation to Norway, I picked up a Minolta AF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 APO and adapted it to my Sony A7III. However, I wasn't happy with it at all due to its underwhelming optical performance. But then I saw it: an "L" lens for under 200 euros? A 100-300mm telephoto zoom at that? I didn't think twice and won the auction.

When shooting with analog systems, I scan the images that I find most interesting or that I like the best. For this process, I currently use the Epson V850 scanner. Photography should be fun—so for me, there is no single "BEST" system. It really doesn't matter to me how an image is captured. Whether it’s analog or digital, 35mm film or large format sheet film, a digital SLR, a mirrorless camera, a digital or analog compact, or a scanned slide—every single imaging technology complements the others and has its own rightful place. When I need results quickly and efficiently, digital cameras are my go-to. But when I want to feel the charm of the past millennium and enjoy the tactile feel of solid metal and glass, nothing beats vintage analog photo equipment.

No matter what gear you use: The main thing is, you just shoot!