Right alongside the launch of the FE 16mm F/1.8 G ultra-wide-angle prime lens, Sony also launched a super-telephoto zoom lens: the FE 400-800mm F/6.3-8 G OSS. This massive piece of glass has the longest focal length amongst Sony E-mount lenses and will be perfect for bird, wild, or sport photography and filmmaking. So, let’s take a closer look at it!
Back in 2019, Sony released the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS and the massive FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS telephoto prime lens. While the super-telephoto zoom lens market can seem relatively “niche,” Sony continues to expand their Sony E-Mount lineup, which will now cover all focal lengths from 12mm up to 800mm with this new FE 400-800mm F/6.3-8 G OSS.
Sony FE 400-800mm F/6.3-8 G OSS – features
The Sony FE 400-800mm F/6.3-8 G OSS is a massive lens with an outside diameter of 11.9cm/4.68in, a length of 34.6cm/13.6in, and a weight of 2.47kg/5.22lbs with the tripod collar. As you can tell, this is the kind of lens you bring on purpose, as it takes a lot of room in a backpack/case.
This super-telephoto zoom lens covers full-frame image sensors. With a wide zoom range that goes from 400mm with a maximum aperture of F/6.3 to 800mm at F/8, it has the most extended focal length of the Sony E-Mount lens lineup. Furthermore, if you use it with the optional 1.4x teleconverter, you can reach 1120mm at F/11 and even 1600mm at F/16 with the 2.0x teleconverter.
On the lens body, you’ll find two large rings, one for the zoom and one for the focus. When you zoom in/out, the lens doesn’t extend or retract; it has an internal zooming design, which almost doesn’t change the center of gravity of your setup when zooming.
There is also a plethora of buttons and switches, including:
- Three focus hold buttons.
- One AF/MF focus mode switch.
- A full-time direct manual focus (DMF) switch. You can directly set full-time DMF On/Off with this switch without needing to access it in the camera’s menu.
- Since this is an OSS lens, it features Optical SteadyShot image stabilization. You’ll find one OSS On/Off switch and one OSS mode switch to select from three stabilization modes.
- A focus range limiter with three settings: full, 10m – near, and 8m to infinity.
At the bottom of the Sony FE 400-800mm F/6.3-8 G OSS, you’ll find a tripod mount with one 1/4″-20 and one 3/8″-16 mounting point. The lens comes with a lens hood that has a filter window.
Primarily designed to shoot outdoors, this super-telephoto zoom lens is dust- and moisture-resistant. All seams are sealed, buttons and switches have silicone rubber gaskets, and a rubber ring seals the lens mount.
In terms of performance, the autofocus system features two linear motors, which should provide fast, precise, and quiet AF performances. If you switch to manual focus, the focus ring has a linear response for precise adjustments.
Last but not least, Sony claims that the FE 400-800mm F/6.3-8 G OSS has nearly zero focus breathing, and it supports breathing compensation with compatible cameras.
Lens design
The lens design of the Sony FE 400-800mm F/6.3-8 G OSS consists of a whopping 27 elements in 19 groups, including six ED glass elements to compensate for chromatic aberration.
The front element has a Fluorine coating that repels water/oil and helps with cleaning while adding an extra protection layer.
The aperture diaphragm features eleven rounded blades for smooth and rounded bokeh. The minimum focusing distance is 1.7m/66in at 400mm and 3.5m/137in at 800mm. Lastly, the front filter diameter is massive at 105mm.
Price and availability
The Sony FE 400-800mm F/6.3-8 G OSS will be available in March for €3,000.
For more information, please visit Sony’s website here.
What do you think about this super-telephoto zoom lens? Do you often shoot with telephoto zoom lenses? Could it be a valuable addition to your kit or a lens you would rent for specific projects? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!
