Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS Super Telephoto Zoom Lens (SEL200600G)

Jan 2020 UPDATE: Finally, I went out into the field with the lens- Test shots will no longer be static. I've raised my rating from 4 to 5 stars because of the lens's excellent performance. I complained about the bulk in my initial review. In comparison to the 500mm and 600mm f/4 monsters carried by other birders, my gear felt incredibly light. It was no problem for me to carry and shoot it handheld for nearly three hours. I've included some bird shots from my mile hike. The focus speed, accuracy, and lock-on time are all important factors. on an A7RIV were far superior to my Nikon gear (D850 and 200-400mm lens). (Zoom to 500mm). The 200- The 600mm lens performs admirably with the 61MP sensor, and cropping yields excellent results. For $8-$10, it's not quite on par with the exotic long primes, but it's pretty close. Less than $10,000! The lens is incredibly sharp in good light for stationary shots (see the egret photos). I couldn't have asked for anything more from the in-house staff. in addition to the body It is a camera. With the OSS turned off, however, I'm curious if I can get a little more sharpness out of BIF shots. I'm going to try something new. In any case, shots up to 400mm are razor-sharp for stationary birds (as sharp as any 100-mm lens). (Lens: 400mm). At 600mm, however, the images become a little softer.
- (original review below)br>I suppose I'm a fan of consumer super zooms (see my reviews of the Nikon 200-400mm and the Nikon 200-400mm). Sigma 60-500 Tamron 150-600mm, 600, 600, 600, 600, 600, 600, 600 600). In a nutshell, it's the best so far (which isn't surprising; (It is the most recent. ) It is not, however, a clear victor. Unless I was switching to Sony (which I am), I would not trade the Nikon for the Sony. Except for the fact that I prefer to shoot handheld, I'd choose the Sigma as the best (sharp across the entire range with reasonably fast AF). The Sigma weighs almost 6 pounds, making it impossible to use handheld. Both the Sony and the Nikon weigh under 5 pounds. That extra pound means a lot to me. br>br>The sharpness of these lenses is not a distinguishing feature. Cover the Nikon, Sigma, and Sony with a blanket at 500 or 600mm (the first-generation Tamron trails all three). I have an excellent Nikon copy and find it difficult to distinguish it from the 600mm lenses. At the longest focal length, both the Sigma and Sony provide more resolution (I believe the Sigma slightly more than the Sony, but they're very close), but the differences between the three lenses are minor. The majority of people will be disappointed by how little an extra 100mm will buy them. The Canon (as well as the Sony 100-megapixel camera) 400 GM) has a "crispness" (micro-crispness) to it. At 400mm, there is a contrast that is not present in the Sony long zoom at 600mm. This comes as no surprise. For professional-level work, I anticipate a little more. Lenses that are level. The 200- Although 600 is a (very small) step down in resolution, it does provide a noticeable improvement. br>br>The distinguishing factor is handling. In comparison to the other behemoths, the Canon (shot on a Sony A7r3) feels like a pancake. The image stabilization (IS) clamps down on the camera like a clamp, and there are very few misses. While the Nikon's VR (vibration reduction) locks on during focus, it appears to jump around while shooting. I am able to accomplish more- With the Nikon, I was able to get a lot of focus shots, but only a small percentage of them were sharp. In comparison to the Nikon, the Sigma is a good option. The OSS from Sony lags behind the competition. During focusing and shooting, the OSS jumps around. The Sony lens produces more misses than any other lens. This isn't to say that the OSS isn't useful; it is. The objective was modest, with a 60-minute time limit. 70 meters away, so it'll be a tough test-- , it simply means that you should use a tripod to get the best focus. The OSS should work fine for most normal-sized targets (small birds will be larger and closer than my test target). br>br>The internal zoom has gotten a lot of attention, which is nice, but the result is a 12. Package measures 5 inches in diameter. I believe the length is directly responsible for my inability to concentrate. Despite the fact that it isn't particularly heavy, the length makes it difficult to keep the kit steady, particularly when compared to the "compact" 100-piece kit. 400 The Canon 100-megapixel SLR camera has a maximum resolution of 100 With the adapter, 400mm equals just over 8". I have to extend my left hand further out when focusing because the Sony does not telescope. I believe the difference in arm extension could be as much as 6 inches, which is a significant difference. br>br>Other musings: br>br> Although the internal zoom is useful, handling could be improved if the lens could be telescoped like other lenses in this class. Another disadvantage is that the weight of the lens may deter you from taking it with you on a trip. I like how the zoom ring has a short throw. Going from 200 to 600mm requires half a rotation. From 200 to 500mm on the Nikon, on the other hand, it takes about two full rotations. br>br>Conclusionbr>Overall, this is a fantastic package for Sony wildlife photographers. It's comparable to other lenses in this category, but not significantly better. The IQ is excellent, though it falls short of what one would expect from a professional-level IQ. level and exotic primes, but it's clearly superior to the Tamron 150- 600mm . A Sony camera with a 100-megapixel sensor. 400GM would benefit from the addition of a 1. Purchasing this lens with a 4x TC is a better deal. The 200600 will simply add bulk to your collection while having no effect on your keeper rate or intelligence. Nikon photographers have nothing to envy about this Sony. Although the Sony's autofocus is likely to be faster (I'll comment after testing), the IQ is comparable. However, Sony nature photographers who cannot afford the over $3k 100-megapixel camera will have to settle for a lower-resolution version. 1. 400 GM 4x TC is an "affordable" option that allows you to get shots that were previously unavailable in Sony mirrorless without sacrificing quality. As a result, I strongly suggest the Sony as a cost-effective alternative to the exotic primes, but it is not without flaws.

Rayden Macias

| Nov 30, 2021

It's an incredible lens, and the crystal clarity of the images it produces astounds me. This is backed up by other reviews. Despite mixed pixel peeper reviews of the 2X teleconverter, I decided to give the combination a shot; after all, who wouldn't want to DOUBLE the reach of this incredible glass? My experience with an A7RII body, a sturdy tripod, and a wired shutter release has been extremely positive, with the extreme reach and crispness that this combination can produce blowing me away. Some of the negative feedback I've seen about the 2X teleconverter seems to stem from people expecting too much; yes, the reach is doubled, but it won't transform your camera into the Hubble Space Telescope(!). ), the distance at which a subject can be seen clearly remains a limitation. It makes a significant difference to stop the aperture down a few steps and do everything possible to eliminate any source of movement or vibration. The sandhill crane images attached to this review show what's possible when shot from a distance of about 50 yards. All subsequent images are cropped from the first (shot at 1200mm f16), demonstrating how much detail is preserved until the sensor runs out of pixels. br>br>Would recommend this lens to anyone who is interested in nature photography, especially if they use meticulous technique and the 2X teleconverter.

Wrenley SWIFT

| Apr 21, 2021

This is a fantastic telephoto zoom with a huge field of view. I've had the 70-year-old car for quite some time now. Tamron 150, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300. 600 with adapter (both ways, Sony A mount with Sony adapter, Canon EF mount with Sigma MC-1) 11), as well as the Sony 100- Using a teleconverter, I was able to get a lens with a focal length of 400mm. The 100- The 400 is also a fantastic lens, and the fact that it is smaller and covers a wider range of focal lengths may suit some people better. But I'm always in need of more range, and my 100-mile range isn't enough for me. The 400 was always wearing a TC. The 600mm is a less expensive option that always has that range; I use it with an a7riv, which gives me 26mp in crop mode and an effective 900mm range. I've avoided using teleconverters with this lens and camera combo because of the resolution and ability to switch at the touch of a button, which has worked out well. br>br>For me, the fact that the lens has internal zoom makes it much easier to use because the balance remains consistent across all focal lengths. This aids in both hand holding and gimbal/ball head balancing. The zoom's short throw makes it simple to switch from 200 to 600 with just a 90° turn. The 100-year-old structure is one of the flaws in its design. The hood of the 400 is secured by a lock, which is fantastic. I'm familiar with the 100-percent rule. The 400mm lens is referred to as a "GM" lens, while the 200mm lens is referred to as a "normal" Although the 600 is only a "G," it'd be nice to have it locked in place with such a large hood. I've read some reviews that say it's "loose," and while I'm not sure it's any different than any other lens with a non-locking hood, I will agree that it feels easier to bump when it's this big. I used a silicone wrist band (like those livestrong bands) to keep the hood in place, and it's a cheap fix. br>br>This lens has excellent OSS and image quality. Even with OSS, I'd say that hand holding a lens that's 12" on its own and 18" when mounted on a body with the hood requires some good technique. A tripod, ball head, or gimbal may be required depending on the type of photography. However, once you've found a good subject, you'll be able to create some incredible photographs. The background blur, also known as "bokeh," is the only flaw in this lens' image quality. It (and the 100-year-old building) can get a little crowded at times. However, with this lens, getting some distance between your subject and the background pays off handsomely.

Elaina King

| Oct 23, 2021