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Note: this camera was first sold in Jun 2006. There may be newer versions available.
Sony Alpha a100
Sony Alpha a100
B-
HQ Grade: B-
A is outstanding and exceptional, rated in the top 10% of digital cameras.
B means they are good, with some standout features.
C means they are mediocre, and probably more trouble than they are worth.
D & F mean they are absolutely awful or old. Avoid at all costs.
  • 4 out of 5
"sony a100"
  • 4 out of 5
"Excellent Introductory to DSLR Cameras"
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Question Answered!
Marco (aiellom) 0 pts
February 25, 2007 7:23 AM

How can avoid a "no lens attached" message when I plug my old MC lens with an adapter?

I tried a Sony Alpha camera in a shop. I could fit my old MC-rokkor lens, but could not bring the camera in full manual mode and get rid of the "no lens attached" message on the display. Before buying one, I want to be 100% sure that I can use my old lenses. Thanks for the attention!
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Answers This question has been answered!
bukit97 (bukit97) 12611 pts
February 27, 2007 12:33 AM
1 people rated this answer helpful, 3 people rated this answer not helpful
 
Sony Alpha matches well with Minolta auto focus lens but not the MC or MD lens.

The "no lens attached " message is one of the signs that Sony Alpha cannot establish electrical contacts with the MC lens, even though an adapter is in place.

There have been many discussions over the internet on Minolta lenses and Sony body. The general view is that if you have auto focus Minolta lens, then it is worthwhile buying Sony body.

One chap just gave up the idea when he was told by another that after mounting the MC or MD lens on Sony body, he was " astonished at how awful it (the result) was "

To sum up, if quality is your primary concern, matching MC/MD lenses to Sony Alpha body is not a good idea because you just cannot be " 100% sure " that it works the way you want it to be.


Best Answer
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Jura 11 pts
May 17, 2007 4:09 PM
9 people rated this answer helpful, 0 people rated this answer not helpful
 
Go to Menu - Custom menu - second screen.
The second raw will read "Shutter lock: On: no lens".
Change it to "shutter lock: Off: no lens".
This will enable shooting even if there is really no lens mounted to the camera.
Works for me with M42 adapter and 1100mm mirror lens with manual focus and fixed aperture.
I cannot tell what functions you will lose when mounting MC-Rokkor lens.

This explanation was posted by VAgreyman at
http://lensbabies.com/phorum/read.php?1,52467
I am merely a messanger.
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bukit97 (bukit97) 12611 pts
May 31, 2007 1:02 AM
0 people rated this answer helpful, 4 people rated this answer not helpful
 
Julia,
Your 4th sentence "This will enable shooting even if there is really no lens mounted to the camera." is a misconception and does not make sense.
A camera needs a lens to take pictures, no matter what camera it is.

2. The link you provided is a forum for ' Lensbabies '. The original Lensbabies' instruction for unlocking the shutter of Sony A100 is found at this location
You will find that you need to do more than just unlocking the shutter before it works, like switching the mode dial from Auto to Manual and using the lens in stop-down mode.
For further information,take a look at Robert Paul's comments on May 02, 2007 at this site

3. As reported in the Internet, many people have used adapters to mount and take pictures with MC/MD lens on Sony A100, but this is not recommend by Sony.
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Jura 11 pts
June 4, 2007 5:56 AM
2 people rated this answer helpful, 2 people rated this answer not helpful
 
Dear bukit97

Thank you for clarification but...
1. My name is not "Julia" but "Jura"

2. My 4th sentence says "shooting" and not "taking pictures". It makes perfect sense. If you follow my instructions the mirror will flip up and down and shutter will expose the sensor. The picture will not be sharp at all but I made no promises about that.

3. If you check the original Marco's question it was about getting rid of the "no lens attached" message on the display. My answer replies to that question while both of yours do not.

4. What was your point in replying to the first question and confronting me for giving the right answer???

5. How old are you anyway and don't you have better things to do?

6. Please don't reply. I don't want to get into a fruitless argument over nothing.

Regards
Jura
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guest 0 pts
July 25, 2008 3:58 AM
0 people rated this answer helpful, 0 people rated this answer not helpful
 
Thanks for the help folks, it was very helpful for my ghetto makeshift pinhole lens. Aka, light tight piece of cardboard...
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Kathleen 0 pts
March 4, 2009 9:05 AM
0 people rated this answer helpful, 0 people rated this answer not helpful
 
Thank you for the actual instructions how to make this work ! For a newbie like me I found I got a lot of jargon thrown at me but no real answer as to HOW to do this! I was given a MF Rokinon mirror lens and really wanted to try it out, but kept getting hte "lens not attached" message! THANK YOU!
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Jason 0 pts
May 3, 2009 10:02 PM
0 people rated this answer helpful, 0 people rated this answer not helpful
 
I have the same problem with my Sony Alpha, but I'm using AF lenses. It's like the lens powers down intermittently, no autofocus, and no lens attached message. What the hell?
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Eric 0 pts
June 21, 2009 1:27 PM
0 people rated this answer helpful, 0 people rated this answer not helpful
 
I have the similar problem - A100 intermittedly refuses to work with Tamron 17-50. Taking some pictures A100 shows an error massage "lens not attached". Sometimes it helps, if I turn the camera off and on again. In the same time the Tamron lens works perfectly on my old Minolta D5. Help is welcomed!

P.S. After writing this note I found a suggestion to clean the contacts on lens and on camera. I had done this before with microfibre tissue - no help. This time I cleaned the contacts carefully with spirit - and it worked! It's too early to jump from happiness, but during a whole day no refusals.
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Rob 0 pts
August 12, 2009 7:55 PM
0 people rated this answer helpful, 0 people rated this answer not helpful
 
Jura... This helped me a ton. I take picks with a telescope. So I may be a huge lense,<12"> But it got me taking pictures
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Kris 0 pts
September 23, 2009 10:04 PM
0 people rated this answer helpful, 0 people rated this answer not helpful
 
I just found out that for an a300/330, you just need to switch it to "M" Mode to override the shutter lock with a manual lens, or in my case a reversing ring.
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