Need some help with the Sony A-to NEX mount adapter

[Rurouni76]

I got the adapter today, together with the new Sony SAM 35/1.8 Was all eager to rush back to test it out...

When I opened the box for the A-to-E mount adapter, I noticed some very fine light white grease on the mounting flanges of the adapter. (looks like some very very light vaseline).

Hesistant to mount it because I can't recall seeing something like this before I called the Sony tech helpdesk and was passed to a tech who told me that it was odd. I called back to the shop and the staff at the shop opened up a few more boxes of the adapters and found each to have the same sort of light grease on the flanges (easily wiped off).

Just wondering if other users have noticed this as well with their new adapters? You have to look carefully at the metal flanges to see it and its pretty easily wiped off. Just not sure if its normal to see that on these adapters.

Any help appreciated!

[pakodominguez]

Mine was clean -no grease at all...
this layer of grease was even?
there is an engine inside the adapter that control the aperture of the lens, I imagine this is the place from were the grease/oil can come from...
otherwise, the adapter works properly?
How do you like the SAM 35 f1.8?

[Rurouni76]

Its a very thin layer of white lithium grease I suspect. Not exactly even, but found in v small amounts underneath the metal flanges of the adapter. I managed to wipe it all off with a soft tissue though.

Strange however that it should be there.

I'd like to post my thoughts about the 35/1.8 but its sitting in the box still. My local shop is checking with the Sony rep if this is normal and will give me a call when they hear. Meantime I better be sure no mechanism is overgreased lest in operation it ends up getting it all over the sensor.

Strange however that my local shop found the other adapters they had in stock in similar conditions.

[pakodominguez]

Strange however that my local shop found the other adapters they had in stock in similar conditions.

probably the batch was stocked in a too hot place and the grease melt down...

[UrsaMajor]

Strange however that my local shop found the other adapters they had in stock in similar conditions.

probably the batch was stocked in a too hot place and the grease melt down...

Unless the Sony designer made an error in the specification of the grease, that should not have happened. With modern greases, the drop point of the grease should be at a much higher temperature than the worst case environment to which the lens will ever be exposed - including in shipment, which is frequently a more severe situation than the actual service environment.

With best wishes,
- Tom -

[Rurouni76]

I'm just surprised that that's any grease at all on the adapter flanges. The A-mount adapter is built really solidly (Made in Japan) and those metal flanges look to be stainless steel. Unless I guess they were concerned that the mount flanges might rust during storage.

Anyways its frustrating staring at my new lens and not being able to use it heh : p But the Sony tech is still checking on the issue for me and I was advised to not use it for the time being..

[Rurouni76]

Ok I got a reply from Sony.

They explained that the grease I saw on the flange mount is a small coat to prevent abrasion on the mount itself and that it's also present on their A-Mounts.

I guess that sounds about right? it was only a small amount of white grease on the edges of the metal flanges when I found it and it was wiped off easily.

[Greg Beetham]

I wonder what became of the self lubricating special alloy that Minolta used too use in the A-mount and Lens flanges so they didn't wear? maybe Sony isn't using that for some reason.
Greg

[Dusty]

I wonder what became of the self lubricating special alloy that Minolta used too use in the A-mount and Lens flanges so they didn't wear? maybe Sony isn't using that for some reason.
Greg

It probably got banned by the EPA because lab rat that eat 2 kilos per day of it for 6 years all died.

Dusty