{"id":52629,"date":"2024-05-08T05:18:40","date_gmt":"2024-05-08T04:18:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=52629"},"modified":"2026-03-23T14:39:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T13:39:07","slug":"review-monster-la-fe1-and-la-fe2-af-adapter-nikon-f-to-sony-e","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-monster-la-fe1-and-la-fe2-af-adapter-nikon-f-to-sony-e\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Monster LA-FE1 and LA-FE2 AF Adapter (Nikon-F to Sony-E)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h2>\n
\"monster
Monster LA-FE2 adapter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Canon users that wanted to get into the fullframe mirrorless E-mount world early were in a good spot: the Sigma MC-11 and the metabones Canon EF to Sony E adapters allowed using Canon EF-mount lenses on Sony cameras with only little limitations. For Nikon F-mount users the situation was sadly way worse and it took some time before the first similar adapter (Commlite CMF-EN1) was released – and that one had a lot of issues.<\/p>\n

But suddenly, out of nowhere, the situation changed. With the release of the Monster LA-FE1 and later the LA-FE2 adapter we can now finally adapt Nikon F-mount lenses in a similar quality as those Canon EF-mount ones. The LA-FE2 even allows auto focus with the screwdriven Nikon AF(-D) lenses to work on Sony – something not even possible on Nikon’s own Z-mount cameras. Let’s have a closer look.
\nUpdate 07\/24:<\/strong> more lenses tested, FW 06 for LA-FE1 tested<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n

Specifications\/Versions<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Monster LA-FE1 | Monster LA-FE2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
<\/td>LA-FE1<\/th>LA-FE2<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Weight<\/td>95g (without tripod foot)<\/td>149g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aperture Control<\/td>G and E lenses<\/td>G and E lenses<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Auto Focus<\/td>AF-S, AF-I, AF-P<\/td>AF, AF-D, AF-S, AF-I, AF-P<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Price<\/td>$250<\/td>$440<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

The important difference between these two adapters is that the Mark 2 version also allows autofocus with the AF(-D) lenses that do not feature an in-lens motor to drive the AF.<\/p>\n

buy the Monster LA-FE1<\/strong> for ~$250 from ebay.com<\/a> | ebay.de<\/a> (advertisement\/affiliate links)<\/em>
\nbuy the Monster LA-FE2<\/strong> for ~$440 from ebay.com<\/a> | ebay.de<\/a> (advertisement\/affiliate links)<\/em><\/p>\n

F-mount Background<\/h2>\n

Nikon used the F-mount from 1959 to 2018, so unlike Canon and Minolta, Nikon did not change the camera mount when transitioning from manual focus to autofocus. Their first autofocus lenses relied on a motor in camera to drive the focus groups. These lenses are called AF(-D) lenses and they were around from 1986 to 1998, before we saw a wide spread use of the AF-S motors inside the lenses themselves.<\/p>\n

\"nikon
Sony A7III | Nikon AF-S 24-70mm 2.8G | Monster LA-FE1 | 24mm | 2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 2006 Nikon released the entry level APS-C DSLR D40. This was their first DSLR not to feature an internal motor for those AF(-D) lenses anymore and from there on this was generally the case for all the entry and some mid level cameras. All the higher end DSLRs still did though, which includes all of Nikon’s fullframe DSLRs and also the higher end APS-C ones (D7X00 and DX00 series).<\/p>\n

When Nikon released their first fullframe mirrorless cameras Z6 and Z7 in 2018 they also released the Nikon FTZ adapter to allow the usage of F-mount lenses on these new mirrorless cameras. However, this adapter did not have a built-in AF motor, so all those AF(-D) lenses only work in manual mode.<\/p>\n

\"nikon
Nikon AF 105mm 2.0 D DC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It is 2024 now and there is still no adapter from any manufacturer available that would allow the AF of these lenses to work on the Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras. However, at the beginning of 2024 Monster released their Monster LA-FE2 AF adapter. This adapter has a built-in AF motor and will allow these lenses to autofocus in combination with a Sony E-mount mirrorless camera.<\/p>\n

If you only want to adapt AF-S, AF-I or AF-P lenses (doesn’t matter if they are G or E standard) and not those screwdriven AF(-D) lenses, the cheaper Monster LA-FE1 offers the same performance, it just lacks the built-in motor.<\/p>\n

What to be aware of<\/h2>\n

There are a lot of adapters from a plethora of manufacturers that will allow autofocus of Canon EF lenses to work on Sony E-mount cameras. But almost none that will do the same for Nikon F-mount lenses. The first to hit the market was the Commlite CMF-EN1. It only allowed the AF to work with AF-S lenses that feature their own motor and when I tried this adapter in the past I found its performance to be pretty abyssmal. Maybe there has been a firmware update in the meantime elevating its performance to somewhat acceptable levels, I don’t know.<\/p>\n

\"nikon
Sony A7III | Nikon AF-S 28mm 1.4E | Monster LA-FE2 | f\/1.4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Based on those experiences I did not expect any decent autofocus performance from these Monster adapters. Oh boy was I wrong about that (jump to Autofocus Section).<\/p>\n

There are a few things worth noting though. The manufacturer has a compatibility list<\/a> on the product page of this adapter and generally you shouldn’t have too high hopes for lenses not on that list. I tried a few older Sigma lenses that are not on the list and they rarely worked properly. I also tried a lot of lenses that are on the compatibility list<\/a> and this is what I found out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
<\/td>LA-FE1 (FW 05)<\/th>LA-FE2 (FW 02)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Nikon AF-S 24mm 1.4G<\/td>OK<\/td>OK<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF-S 24mm 1.8G<\/td>OK<\/td>OK<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF-S 28mm 1.4E<\/td>OK<\/td>OK<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF-S 28mm 1.8G<\/td>OK<\/td>OK<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF-S 35mm 1.8G<\/td>OK<\/td>OK<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF-S 35mm 1.4G<\/td>OK<\/td>OK<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF-S 50mm 1.4G<\/td>OK<\/td>OK<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF-S 60mm 2.8G<\/td>OK<\/td>OK<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF-S 58mm 1.4G<\/td>OK<\/td>OK<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF-S 85mm 1.4G<\/td>OK<\/td>OK<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF-S 85mm 1.8G<\/td>OK<\/td>OK<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF-S 105mm 1.4E<\/td>OK<\/td>OK<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF-S 200mm 2.0G<\/td>OK<\/td>OK<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF-S 14-24mm 2.8G<\/td>OK****<\/td>OK****<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF-S 17-35mm 2.8D<\/td>OK****<\/td>OK****<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF-S 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G<\/td>OK****<\/td>OK****<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF-S 24-70mm 2.8G<\/td>OK<\/td>OK<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF-S 70-200mm 2.8G VRI<\/td>OK***\/*****<\/td>OK*****<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF-S 70-200mm 2.8E FL VR<\/td>OK*****<\/td>OK*****<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF 14mm 2.8D<\/td>no AF<\/td>OK**<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF 28mm 1.4D<\/td>no AF<\/td>OK**<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF 60mm 2.8D Macro<\/td>no AF<\/td>OK**<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF 85mm 1.4D<\/td>no AF<\/td>OK**<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF 105mm 2.0D DC<\/td>no AF<\/td>OK**<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF 135mm 2.0D DC<\/td>no AF*****<\/td>OK**\/*****<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon AF 180mm 2.8D<\/td>no AF<\/td>OK**<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Samyang 14mm 2.4 XP<\/td>OK****<\/td>OK****<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sigma 14mm 2.8 EX<\/td>no AF, shutter doesn't fire<\/td>no AF, shutter doesn't fire<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX<\/td>OK<\/td>no AF<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sigma 85mm 1.4 EX<\/td>no AF<\/td>no AF (works with FW 03)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sigma 105mm 1.4 DG HSM Art<\/td>OK<\/td>OK<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sigma 150mm 2.8 EX Macro<\/td>OK***<\/td>no AF<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sigma 300mm 2.8 EX<\/td>no AF, shutter doesn't fire<\/td>no AF, shutter doesn't fire<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tokina 17mm 3.5 AT-X AF Pro<\/td>no AF<\/td>no, camere freeze<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Yongnuo 14mm 2.8 AF<\/td>OK<\/td>OK<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

*when attaching the lens to camera you initially have to go through the focus range manually for the AF to work
\n<\/em>**taking stopped down pictures when the camera is set to AF-C will lead to camera freezes
\n***needs FW 06 to work properly
\n****reduced image quality due to adapter being slightly too short
\n*****the adapter will introduce additional vignetting<\/em><\/p>\n

The lenses focus at maximum aperture like on a DSLR and only stop down for taking the shot. This is not great if you are using lenses with focus shift and it can also lead to somewhat less reliable exposure metering compared to what you are used to from native lenses.<\/p>\n

I also noticed the adapter not having the correct length, which can\/will lead to a degradation in image quality with ultra wide lenses like the Nikon AF-S 14-24mm 2.8G and the Nikon AF-S 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G:<\/p>\n