Bringing Old Glass to Life: Exploring the TechArt LM-EA9 Mark II and the Magic of Electronic Lens Mount Adapters
In a recent feature on Kitamura’s Shasha blog, the spotlight was placed on one the TechArt LM-EA9 Mark II adapter. While lens adapters have long allowed vintage optics to mount onto modern digital bodies, this one takes things a step further by enabling autofocus, face/eye detection, and even continuous AF for fully manual legacy lenses.
This smart adapter is designed to mount Leica M-mount lenses onto Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras. But its true power lies in its versatility — with the right secondary adapters, it opens the door to an entire world of legacy lenses: Nikon S, Contax, M42, L39, Canon FD, and more.
And unlike traditional passive adapters, the LM-EA9 Mark II features a built-in motorized helicoid, enabling autofocus even on lenses that were never designed for it. This means you can now bring your old Zeiss, Canon Rangefinder, or Voigtländer glass to life in ways that were previously impossible.
With most lenses, the autofocus is reasonably fast and surprisingly accurate — even AF-C (continuous autofocus) and eye-detection AF worked in the tests. You’re essentially turning an all-manual vintage lens into something that behaves like modern glass — a dream for street photographers and retro gear lovers alike.
Another major advantage is the ability to shorten minimum focusing distances. Many vintage lenses — particularly rangefinder types — are limited in how close they can focus. But thanks to the adapter’s internal mechanism, you can “cheat” that limit and bring your subject much closer into view, effectively giving your old lens macro-like capabilities.
The LM-EA9 Mark II maintains a compact form factor, especially compared to DSLR lens adapters. Paired with a Sony A7C R or A7 IV, your setup stays relatively light and stealthy, ideal for travel or documentary work.
Why It Matters
There’s an enormous market of high-quality legacy lenses out there — many with unique rendering styles, swirly bokeh, or legendary sharpness — but up until now, they’ve remained mostly limited to manual focus. With this adapter, those lenses are given a second life in the autofocus era.
And for those looking to get the most from their gear collection without breaking the bank on new lenses, the LM-EA9 Mark II offers a compelling value proposition.
Whether you’re a vintage lens collector, a Sony mirrorless shooter, or just someone who wants to experiment with unique optics, this adapter is a must-watch innovation. It’s not just about compatibility — it’s about transformation. And it’s further proof that in photography, what’s old can be new again — and even better.