New possibilities for sports and wildlife

Hands On: Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS

With the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 and the 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3, Sony already has two good telephoto zooms in its range. The new 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS is now intended to complement these two Lens, adding a completely new focal length range to the selection, which could be particularly exciting for wildlife and sports photographers. We were able to take the new Lens in our hands for you in advance and subject it to a short practical test. In this blog post, we reveal how the Lens fared here and, above all, for whom it might be worth considering.

Size, weight and handling

We were pleasantly surprised by the size and weight of this Lens. For a 400-800mm, just under 2.5kg with a length of slightly less than 35cm is really not bad at all.
It is also extremelygood that the lens is equipped with an internal zoom, which ensures that the length of the lens does not change when zooming. In combination with the integrated image stabilizer, the lens is also ideal for hand-held photography and video recording. To ensure that the lens can also be used as conveniently as possible on a tripod, Sony has also given the new 400-800mm telephoto zoom its own thread on the underside so that it can be quickly and securely attached to a tripod.

For even better operability, the Lens is also equipped with a total of three focus hold buttons, which can be freely assigned and are easy to reach when working in both portrait and landscape format. It is also really easy to switch from landscape to portrait format and vice versa using the lens clamp; two dot-shaped markings help you to quickly find the right position.

Focal length and image quality

With a focal length of 400-800mm, Sony is expanding its range of telephoto zooms with an extremely exciting option for all those who would like to get a good deal closer to their subject than is possible with the 200-600mm. This can be extremely helpful, not least with shy wild animals, which could quickly be frightened off by being too close. In combination with the two optional teleconverters (1.4x or 2x), the focal length can even be extended up to 1600mm. The bokeh of the new 400-800mm is also really impressive. The 11 aperture blades ensure a beautiful, soft bokeh, with which you can separate your subject from a soft and even background and set the scene. The autofocus of the 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS works quickly, precisely and reliably. In the event that the focus is not right, there is the option of readjusting it with the Direct Manual Focus. Manual focusing is also extremely intuitive and precise thanks to the Linear Response MF.

Conclusion:

Sony's new 400-800mm will probably make the hearts of wildlife fans beat faster. This Lens can be a great companion, especially for shy wild animals that you can't get that close to. But the new 400-800 mm f/6.3-8 G OSS could also open up new possibilities in sports photography.

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