Emounts

Emounts, commonly written as E-mount, is a camera lens mount designed by Sony for its interchangeable-lens mirrorless cameras. It was introduced in 2010 with the NEX system and later became the standard across Sony's α (Alpha) mirrorless lineup, serving both APS-C and full-frame bodies. The mount supports a broad range of native Sony lenses and, via adapters, lenses from other brands as well as legacy A-mount optics.

Technical specifications include a short flange focal distance of 18 millimeters and a mount diameter of about 46.1 millimeters, factors that contribute to compact lens designs. Native lenses are designated E for APS-C models and FE for full-frame models; FE lenses are designed to cover the larger image circle required by full-frame sensors, while many older E-mount designs remain optimized for smaller sensors.

In terms of compatibility, E-mount cameras include Sony’s NEX and the α6000-series on APS-C, along with the full-frame α7, α9, and related models. The system preserves electronic communication for autofocus, aperture control, image stabilization data, and metering between body and lens.

Adapters allow broader compatibility: Sony has produced official adapters (for example, LA-EA1/2/3/4) to mount A-mount lenses on E-mount bodies, with varying AF performance. A variety of third-party adapters exist to mount Canon EF, Nikon F, and other mounts, often with manual focus or limited electronic support.

Today, the E-mount ecosystem remains Sony’s primary lens platform, characterized by a large catalog of native FE and E lenses, strong video and autofocus performance, and expanding third-party support.