Photo by K.I.M, licensed to this campaign.

About LA-VE2

MonsterAdapter LA-VE2 is an electronic lens adapter to mount Minolta Vectis interchangeable lenses to Sony E-mount cameras with Autofocus enabled. It is an upgraded version of the previous MonsterAdapter LA-VE1, which is only MF capable.

Key Features

• Adapting all 8 Minolta Vectis interchangeable lenses to E-mount cameras
• Autofocus and auto-exposure AF tracking enabled on selected cameras
• Real-time Eye AF and tracking enabled on selected cameras
• Compact and lightweight design

About Minolta Vectis interchangeable lens system

Photo by Neo Young, licensed to this campaign.

This Vectis system has a total of eight lenses, three primes and five zooms as follows:

• 17mm F3.5
• 50mm F3.5 Marco 1:2
• 400mm F8 Reflex
• 22-80mm F4-5.6
• 25-150mm F4.5-6.3
• 28-56mm F4-5.6
• 56-170mm F4.5-5.6
• 80-240mm F4.5-5.6 APO

The 17mm F3.5 was introduced along with Minolta’s RD3000, equivalent to a classic 28mm lens.

The 400mm F8 Reflex, which was then designed to autofocus on the Vectis S-1, S100 or RD3000, is now able to autofocus again with the LA-VE2, becoming only the second AF capable mirror lens next to the famous Minolta 500mm Reflex.

Photo by K.I.M, licensed to this campaign.

In 1996, Minolta realized the design of built-in focus motor, electronic focus ring, electromagnetic aperture, electronic AF switch, and Weather sealing for V series lenses. These designs are not outdated till now. So, LA-VE2 is the best choice for you to try Vectis lenses.

Lens adapters for E-mount

Photo by K.I.M, licensed to this campaign.

The MonsterAdapter founder John Zhou created the world’s first(*1) V-mount to E-mount electronic adapter in 2015 in a personal hobby project, and in October 2020, demanded by Minolta fans over the world, this adapter was re-made and branded as MonsterAdaper LA-VE1 as the product model.

The original V-mount to E-mount adapter in 2015
(*1: based on MonsterAdapter’s research)

Now, the MonsterAdapter LA-VE2, as an upgrading of LA-VE1, is adding Autofocus (AF) and more features to release the maximum potential of the Vectis.

MonsterAdapter LA-VE1 & LA-VE2

Supported cameras

Following camera models that can be fully compatible:

• Alpha 7 II(With camera firmware Ver 2.0 or higher)
• Alpha 7 III
• Alpha 7 IV
• Alpha 7R II
• Alpha 7R III
• Alpha 7R IIIA
• Alpha 7R IV
• Alpha 7R IVA
• Alpha 7S III
• Alpha 7C
• Alpha 9
• Alpha 9 II
• Alpha 1
• Alpha 6100
• Alpha 6300
• Alpha 6400
• Alpha 6500
• Alpha 6600
• ZV-E10

Note: Due to camera performance limitations, Alpha 6300, Alpha 7 II and Alpha 7R II will NOT have Eye-tracking AF.

Following camera models that can use other automatic functions of the adapter but have limited autofocus performance:

• Alpha 7
• Alpha 7R
• Alpha 7S
• Alpha 7S II
• Alpha 3000
• Alpha 3500
• Alpha 5000
• Alpha 5100
• Alpha 6000
• All NEX cameras

Note: Limited autofocus performance means that the focus is slow or cannot focus correctly.

Since the imaging circle of Vectis lenses is very close to match 35mm full-frame, LA-VE2 does not set to APS-C crop mode. Some lenses(zoom lenses especially) may have vignetting when mounted on E mount full-frame cameras.

Comparison for LA-VE1 & LA-VE2

Autofocus in action

(video for autofocus in action coming soon)

Comments by testers

K.I.M (Japan):

The LA-VE2 finally implements conversion and emulation of AF operation, which was not yet possible with the 2015 MonsterAdapter and 2020 LA-VE1. The previously implemented MF and aperture control with the MF ring, focal length data transmission, and image stabilization functions remain effective.

The excellent AF function of the Sony Alpha camera enables the Minolta V-lenses to focus at full speed driving the built-in motor, and the AF operation is comfortable enough.

(*Note that the built-in AF motor of the V-mount lens is not an ultrasonic motor, so it is not a very fast AF.)

Minolta V-mount lenses, despite their outstanding capabilities, ended up out of the limelight due to various circumstances at the time. We hope you will confirm its hidden true potential with the latest digital cameras.

Ichizo Harimaya (Japan):

Minolta was serious. Minolta was the only company to launch an SLR with a new mount for APS (IX240 film).

The V-mount, which was introduced with great fanfare as a system camera with multiple lenses, was supposed to develop as a common mount for both analog and digital cameras. However, the transition to digital was so rapid that its future was quickly closed.

The V-mount lenses were put out of their long hibernation by the LA-VE1, and with the LA-VE2, they are fully awakened. I am impressed that the AF of V-mount lenses works with the latest E-mount cameras. There are a few caveats to using the LA-VE2 at this point, but they are no more complicated than using expired APS film with the S-1 or S-100, or setting up a shooting environment for the RD3000.

This magical ring will bring you into the “what if” world of the “near future that never came”. Now, let’s wake up the V-mount lenses that are lying And let’s enjoy it together.

Sample shots

十和田市内(Towada city)

Photo by K.I.M
α7C + MonsterAdapter LA-VE2 + Minolta Vectis Macro 50mm F3.5, F3.5-1/320s-ISO10000, 100% non-crop

弘前城(Hirosaki Castle)

Photo by K.I.M
α7C + MonsterAdapter LA-VE2 + Minolta Vectis 22-80mm F4-5.6, 25mm F5.6-1/1000s-ISO100, 1.26x crop

高山稲荷神社(Takayama Inari Shrine)

Photo by K.I.M
α7C + MonsterAdapter LA-VE2 + Minolta V 28-56mm F4-5.6 33mm F4.5-1/800s-ISO100 100% non-crop

長崎（長崎駅前・浜の町界隈）/ Nagasaki (in front of Nagasaki Station/Hamanomachi area)

Photo by Ichizo Harimaya
α7C + MonsterAdapter LA-VE2 + Minolta Vectis 80-240mm F4.5-5.6 APO, 89mm F5-1/125s-ISO100, 100% non-crop

長崎港周辺(Around Nagasaki Port)

Photo by Ichizo Harimaya
α7C + MonsterAdapter LA-VE2 + Minolta Vectis 17mm F3.5, F4-1/60s-ISO100, 100% non-crop

長崎（長崎駅前・浜の町界隈）/ Nagasaki (in front of Nagasaki Station/Hamanomachi area)

Photo by Ichizo Harimaya
α7C + MonsterAdapter LA-VE2 + Minolta Vectis 22-80mm F4-5.6, 38mm F9-1/100s-ISO100, 100% non-crop

長崎（眼鏡橋界隈・唐八景界隈）/ Nagasaki (Meganebashi area/Karahakkei area)

Photo by Ichizo Harimaya
α7C + MonsterAdapter LA-VE2 + Minolta Vectis Macro 50mm F3.5, F5-1/100s-ISO100, 100% non-crop

長崎（眼鏡橋界隈・唐八景界隈）/ Nagasaki (Meganebashi area/Karahakkei area)

Photo by Ichizo Harimaya
α7C + MonsterAdapter LA-VE2 + Minolta Vectis 400mm F8 Reflex, F8-1/500s-ISO250, 100% non-crop

Perks

MSRP for MonsterAdapter LA-VE2 is USD 249. During this campaign, you can get LA-VE2 at the prices listed below:

• USD 179 for first 50 backers;
• USD 199 for 51-200 backers;
• USD 219 for 201 and later backers.

International shipping included for all above price.

However, please be aware that import-related taxes and fees in your country are not included in this price. Once such taxes are incurred, you will be responsible for them.

What You Get

Since The Vectic is short-lived and remains a rare system and unknown to many people, it will be difficult for us to predict the number of sales and thus decide how many LA-VE2 adapters will be produced. Our work on software and development is almost complete, so this crowd funded result will greatly help us with the arrangement of production to make sure high quality adapters are made and delivered in time.

Products are scheduled to be sent globally via FedEx and will generally arrive in your hands within 5 business days after we ship. FedEx fees are included in the fee you pay. 

What’s in the package:

• Mount adapter LA-VE2 x 1
• E-mount Rear cap x 1
• Warranty Card x 1
• Printed User’s Manual x 1

Warranty: One-year free warranty for non-artificial damage. Man-made damage or damage after one year, need to pay for repair parts and labor costs. The warranty start date is based on the FedEx package receipt date.

The Impact

We are a group of technical enthusiasts loving to research and revive old lenses because we respect and admire the great efforts engineers for photography have put in them and we believe some nicely built optical lenses should stay and work as long as possible and never be wasted. 

We will use the sales profits to provide free firmware upgrades for existing products, as well as to purchase new equipment and conduct research and development of new products, so you are supporting us every time you buy our product.

We are happy to have the ability to develop these electronic adapters and then the possibility to make those old lenses shine again from the dustbin of history. Hopefully our adapters will take their part in capturing your precious memories.

Risks & Challenges

According to MonsterAdapter’s records of developing various electronic autofocus adapters for different mounts to E-mount, we believe that the current fulfillment rate of LA-VE2 is about 90% or more.

The current risk of this project mainly lies in production. Because of the lasting impacts of the COVID-19, we may suffer delays in supply and production which are not in our prediction and control. Just in case we suffer such delays we will immediately let you know by updates on this page. Nevertheless, we are completely confident that even we are affected, it will only be some delay in delivery time and will NOT lead to the failure of this project.

About Us

MonsterAdapter is a camera accessories developing and manufacturing company established in 2020 in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. 

MonsterAdapter has successfully developed Minolta/Sony A mount screw drive lenses to Sony E mount adapter chip replacement LA-EA4r, Nikon F-mount to Sony E-mount AF adapter LA-FE1, and world’s first Pentax K-mount to Sony E-mount AF adapter LA-KE1. And we assure you, more will come.

John Zhou (aka Gururu), the founder of MonsterAdapter

Please visit www.monsteradapter.com for more products & information.