Emount

E-mount, commonly written with a hyphen as E-mount, is a lens mount developed by Sony for its interchangeable-lens digital cameras. Introduced in 2010 with the NEX line, the mount was designed to support compact bodies while enabling a broad range of lenses. The E-mount uses a bayonet connection with electronic communication between camera and lens and features a short flange focal distance that enables compact lens design and versatile autofocus performance.

Native lenses are designated E-mount for APS-C bodies and FE-mount for full-frame bodies. The ecosystem includes Sony’s own E and FE lenses and a wide range of third-party options from brands such as Sigma, Tamron, and Carl Zeiss. Sony also offers an official A-mount to E-mount adapter to use legacy A-mount lenses on E-mount bodies, and there are third-party adapters to mount other brands’ lenses, with varying autofocus behavior and imaging results.

History and evolution: The E-mount began with the NEX series and was later adopted as the standard for Sony’s Alpha mirrorless cameras such as the α7 and α9 families. The FE designation is used for full-frame E-mount lenses, while E-mount covers the APS-C ecosystem. The mount supports modern autofocus technologies, electronic aperture control, and image stabilization in both bodies and select lenses.

Impact: E-mount’s compact form factor and expanding lens ecosystem have contributed to its broad adoption in consumer and professional markets, particularly in Sony’s Alpha line and the earlier NEX and α6000-series cameras. It competes with other mirrorless mounts and remains Sony’s primary interface for interchangeable lenses.