Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens

Big lenses are a big deal for Sony mirrorless, and the latest are its biggest and best yet. The just-launched FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS Lens and FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens are impressive by their specs with both reaching the new maximum focal length of Sony’s entire lineup.

The Biggest and Best Sony Lens: the 600mm Prime

With the 2020 games around the corner—and in Tokyo, of all places—it is no surprise that we received the announcement of Sony’s largest telephoto lens so far. The a9 and 400mm were certainly a step in the right direction, and the 600mm only bolsters Sony’s standing in sports and wildlife circles. From our limited time with the lens, we can easily report that it lives up to the expectations and demands of professionals.

Being an f/4 super telephoto means that it is a monster of a lens, but with modern lens design, Sony’s 600mm is now the lightest full-frame 600mm f/4 lens on the market. It also balances very well. By moving most of the optics to the rear of the lens, the weight sits more comfortably in the hand—very impressive for a lens of this size.

Optics on the 600mm are extremely good. This should be no surprise since flagship super telephotos are some of the best lenses money can buy. The real benefit of these serious lenses is all the other technology crammed inside. It has some of the best autofocus and image stabilization technology currently available and should provide impressive speed and image quality in some of the most demanding shooting conditions.

In use, shooting some birds near my house, the 600mm certainly kept up. I attached the lens to my a7 III and the autofocus was fast and accurate. The f/4 aperture also helped on the cloudy days I was shooting, since every little bit of extra light helps performance. It also meant I could use a teleconverter. Using the 2x Teleconverter is the most strenuous test for any lens, both because it reduces light and magnifies any potential imperfections in the optics.

 

 

Not too surprisingly, the 600mm holds up well to the use of a teleconverter. Now a fast focusing, native 1200mm f/8 lens is available to Sony mirrorless shooters. It is very sharp and contrasty, which allows it to work well with teleconverters. Looking at the images, there wasn’t much to pick apart during editing. Being a super tele means it has very minimal distortion, at least not the kind that most viewers would be able to easily identify. Flare is minimal, thanks to good coatings and a massive lens hood.

I used the lens mostly handheld and it was lightweight enough that it wasn’t too much of a struggle. Now, I’d still recommend a monopod or support for extended shoots, say an entire sporting event, but if you wanted to pull it out for a couple shots here or there or just have it slung for a hike it shouldn’t weigh you down too much. With a camera it’ll weigh less than 10 lb. A battery grip does help, too.

 

 

Finally, the lens is large, allowing it to have a lot of well thought out controls on the barrel. The focus ring is extremely large and easy to operate. Fortunately, the AF system is good enough that I didn’t need to rely on it too much except for a couple specific shots. There are also plenty of switches for faster operation, including a programmable focus hold button and a focus range limiter. A function ring provides even more control and can help hit preset focus points or be programmed for rapid access to specific settings. For filters, there is a nice 40.5mm drop-in slot. Additionally, it is weather sealed, an essential part of any super telephoto prime.

All things considered, the 600mm is an impressive release for Sony and once again puts the company in serious competition in a space previously reserved for the other big camera manufacturers.