Thanks to the reduced draft, the mirrorless cameras allow you to easily adapt the ‘old’ optics of reflex or rangefinder systems on new camera bodies without mirrors. Initially the adapters were largely passive , i.e. they simply placed the lens at the right distance to being able to focus, which was done in a totally manual way. All other electronic controls are also excluded from use, such as that of the aperture in lenses without a direct ring.
Over the years the evolution has been very rapid and adapters have become intelligent and active and now allow you to use focus and aperture control even between different systems. Pioneered adapters for Sony mirrorless , the first brand to choose full format frame and to be able to use optics created for film or full frame reflex cameras throughout their coverage circle.
The first adapters focused on the most common systems, for example to allow the use of Canon EF lenses on Sony A7 bodies, but progressively the panorama has been widening. The latest good news concerns all those who have optics born for the Pentax K-Mount system and they would like to use them on Sony full frame bodies.
Monster Adapter (Magic Ring) showed the first prototype of LA-KE1, a K-Mount / E-Mount adapter equipped with internal motors for diaphragm control and focusing , which therefore allows you to take full advantage of the KAF optics with all the automatisms. This is the first electronic K-Mount adapter in the world and not all that glitters is gold: the manufacturer himself for reasons of noise and energy consumption declares that the adapter was created for photographic use and is not optimized for video use. .
Initially the adapter supports lenses with more old , with mechanical diaphragm control and autofocus delegated to the internal motor to the camera body (F, FA, DA, DFA series), but gradually through firmware update the latest optics with SDM and DC autofocus motor and electromagnetic diaphragm control will also be added. A and M series lenses prior to the KAF system are not supported.
At the moment there is no indication on the possible price and availability date.