When using streaming FileMessageAdaptor with a FileInputStream payload is used by default. When not using streaming FileContentsMessageAdaptor is used with a byte[] payload is used by default. Since work on the file transport to make streaming work correctly it is no longer possible to pass a java.io.File payload. We either need to: i) Create a 3rd message adaptor for this case (which I suppose would only be used when overriding defaults) ii) Make the FileMessageAdaptor a bit more intelligent so if it is created with a File getPayload() returns a file, and it is was created with a FileInputStream it returns a FileInputStream when getPayload() is called.