What is the difference between an A-mount and E-mount camera lens?
There are two types of lens mounts for Sony interchangeable lens cameras: A-mount and E-mount.
Note: The mount is the part where the camera's body and lens connect. Attach the lens to the camera's lens mount to start shooting images, and the units will sync electronically.
- 1: The mount on an A-mount body
- 2: The mount on an E-mount body
| A-mount Lenses | E-mount Lenses |
|---|---|
| A-mount lenses can be used on camera models with a mirror or translucent mirror (e.g. ILCA-xx, DSLR-Axx, SLT-Axx). | E-mount lenses are the standard lenses used on mirrorless camera models (e.g. ILCE-xx, NEX-xx). |
|
The model name starts with SAL (Sony A-mount Lens) |
The model name starts with SEL (Sony E-mount Lens) |
|
A-mount lenses can be used on an E-mount body via a lens mount adapter. Note: There may be some differences between lens mount adapters, including Autofocus or SteadyShot function availability. | E-mount lenses cannot be used on an A-mount body. |
Notes:
- The A-mount and E-mount standards have different diameters.
- Sony offers A-mount and E-mount lenses designed to work with their corresponding camera mounts.
- For lenses or accessories compatible with Sony cameras, refer to the following articles:
-
For lenses or accessories compatible with non-Sony cameras, refer to this article: Can I use lenses and accessories manufactured by companies other than Sony?
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