Photographing with E-Mount Camera Lenses
Deciding which lens is right for you can be a difficult and overwhelming experience. There are A-mounts and E-mounts, aspherical lenses and fisheyes, as well as abbreviations, such as UMC and ED AS. So what is the difference between the mounting systems; what do the abbreviations, like UMC, mean; and how do you know if the lens is compatible on your camera body?
What Is an E-Mount Camera Lens?
Sony designed the E-mount as a mounting system for its mirrorless cameras, as well as some of its camcorders.
- The E-mount reduces the radius of the flange, which is the metal ring on both the front of the camera body and the rear of the lens where the two connect.
- The E-mount also shortens the flange distance to 18mm, which was a significant reduction from the company's previous flange distance of 44.5mm.
- It also removed the mechanical aperture and focus drive to reduce the mechanical complexity of the lens mounting system.
Which Features Do E-Mount Lenses Have?
As with most lenses on the market today, modern E-mounts contain a whole range of different optical technology features that buyers may want to consider.
- Look for lenses marked as ED AS, which indicates they have extra-low dispersion elements and are aspherical, which can help to reduce chromatic aberrations by making the glass more complex.
- You can find E-mount lenses as wide-angles and fisheyes, as well as prime lenses and zooms with a whole range of different variable focal lengths.
- Samyang UMC lenses indicate that they are ultra multi-coated (UMC) to help reduce flare.
What Should You Look for When Buying an E-Mount Lens?
In addition to branded E-mount lenses, you can also find a range of different third-party models, such as Samyang lenses, that are compatible with Sony camera bodies. The in-camera image stabilization of newer camera model bodies means that all compatible and adapted lenses can have image stabilization, regardless of their age or lens mount.
- Lenses designated with an "E" are part of the Standard E-mount Series and compatible with cropped image sensor (APS-C) and Super-35mm image format cameras.
- Lenses designated as "FE" are part of the Full-frame E-mount Series and are compatible with full-frame 35mm image formats.
- Due to the short flange distance of E-mounts, you can also use many lenses not designated as an E-mount with the format using a simple ring-like adapter. Keep in mind that you need to take into account a crop factor when using all APS-C and Super-35mm image format cameras.
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