Sony has just announced two new super-telephoto full-frame FE lenses, the FE 600mm F4 GM OSS & FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS. This now brings Sony’s E-mount lens line up to 33 full-frame models and 51 lenses in total.
FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
The FE 600mm F4 GM OSS becomes Sony’s longest reaching prime lens and is designed for professional sports, wildlife and news photographers who are required to capture subjects at great distances.
Being a 600mm, it is quite large but only weighs 3040g. Just a tad lighter to Canon’s 600mm L (3050g) & almost a kilo lighter than Nikon’s 600mm (3.8kg)
The lens is designed using 24 elements in 18 groups, including a large XA (extreme aspherical) and an ED (extra-low dispersion) element to minimise telephoto aberrations, plus three fluorite elements that help to minimise CA & colour bleeding. An 11-blade circular aperture helps to produce nice, round bokeh.
Multiple switches can be found on the body, as well as two customisable buttons near the focus ring. The toggles set the image stabilisation modes, full time DMF, focus limiters & function ring preset.
A drop-in filter slot is also accessible at the rear of the lens and accepts 40.5mm filters.
The lens is also compatible with Sony’s 1.4x & 2.0x teleconverters, extending the reach to a maximum of 840mm at F5.6 or 1200mm at F8. It will complement Sony’s 400mm f/2.8 GM FE OSS lens.
The FE 600mm F4 GM OSS will retail for $12,998 USD. This is priced similarly to Canon & Nikon’s offerings at $12,999 & $12,299 USD respectively. It is set to ship in August.
FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
Priced at $1,998 USD, the FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS offers the same reach as the G Master 600mm but as a zoom lens with a variable aperture. It is designed more for amateur photographers, enthusiasts, and professional sports photographers.
The lens consists of 17 elements in 24 groups, including five ED (extra-low dispersion) elements & one aspherical lens to minimise chromatic aberrations. Like the 600mm G Master, it also has an 11-blade circular aperture.
It’s not the lightest lens, but also not the heaviest. Weighing in at 4.67 lb / 2.12 kg. For comparison, Sigma & Tamron have 150-600mm EF mount lenses which both weigh under 2kg (4lb) but start at f/5. Neither of these lenses are available in Sony E-mount.
Unlike the 600mm G Master, this lens does not have a rear filter slot.
The lens is also compatible with Sony’s 1.4x & 2.0x teleconverters, extending the reach to a maximum of 840mm at F9 or 1200mm at F13.
The Sony FE 200-600mm FE f/5.6-6.3 G OSS will retail for $1,998 USD.
