When i heard Sony’s new Fe 400-800 mm F/6.3-8 G OssI was excited. As a wildlife photographer, an appeal of a lens with 800 mm access in a zoom format is undisputed.
Earlier this month I took it to Namibia, where I spent a week through my pace. Ongwa game reserved And Oconjima Nature ReserveMy goal was simple: Find out if this lens can earn a permanent place in my kit.
first impressions
The moment I picked up 400–800 mm was clear that Soni focused on balance and purpose. The internal zoom mechanism is a major victory, which avoids shifting balance that you often get with telescoping designs. The lens maintains its length throughout the zoom range, which not only makes it easy to handle, but also prevents dust intake – a real bonus that I often encounter in Africa when working in dusty environment. The lens is similar to 200–600 mm and is not very large, so it felt familiar from the beginning.
The weight of the lens is 2.77 kg (6.1 pounds), which is not light at all, but it is remarkably manageable given the 800 mm access. I spent a long time to hand over the lens, with the tight strongholds of a vehicle, and never felt it was very heavy or too heavy. Smooth zoom ring with its small throw for quick and accurate adjustment, which helped me easily create my photos.
Autofocus
Autofocus performance is important when using a long lens, and 400–800 mm did not disappoint. High -speed linear motors also focused rapidly and accurately when infection between passes and distant subjects. Tracking capabilities were on par with Sony’s G master lens, making it a great tool for capturing rapidly growing wildlife.
Even as light faded, the autofocus remained reliable to the point where the quality of the image began to degrade due to too much ISO, on which I was shooting.
Aperture and low-light performance
With a aperture range of F/6.3 to F/8, 400–800 mm is not a low-publish specialist, but it performs well in natural light. Despite the F/8 aperture, I found that I was able to achieve good theme isolation with pleasing Bokeh, and well blurred foreground vegetation, thanks to the long focal length.
As the sun’s strength faded, I needed to push the ISO quite high, but modern cameras handle high ISO well, and together with Danoizing software, I found that I can still receive fully usable images in most situations.
Of course, the low-light performance of the fast Prime lens is much better. However, the versatility and extended access to the zoom reduced the challenges of low-light in many situations. When you are also a factor in portability, value and flexibility, 400–800 mm becomes a very compelling option.
Push the boundaries with a 2x teleconverter
I had doubts about creating a pair of 400–800 mm with 2x teleconverted, effectively turned it into 800–1600 mm f/13–16 lenses. For my surprise, the setup was quite usable. Shooting from a hiding, I managed to get sharp images by resting the lens for stability.
The autofocus remained functional in good light, and I found that the animal-eye air force also works well on 1600 mm F/16.
Compared to 200-600 mm and 100–400 mm
In my lens comparison video, I tested 400–800 mm with 200-600 mm f/5.6-6.3 g and 100–400 mm f/4.5-5.6 gm. Each lens has unique strength, and the correct option will depend on your specific needs:
100-400 mm: Its compact size and bright aperture is an excellent choice for travel, but it lacks necessary access to distant wildlife and small birds. A teleconverter can be added to increase access, but this solution does not match the performance of long native zoom.
200-600 mm: A good all -rounder with internal zoom provides a good balance of access and versatility. This is ideal for those who require single telephoto solution, but in many situations, an additional 200 mm will be useful. In a wider end, it is more than 400–800 mm versatile because 200 mm focal length may include too much reference.
400-800 mm: The longest access to the trio, providing impressive results with strong autofocus performance. While F/8 aperture is an idea in low light, good lights and benefits in hand use. It makes my favorite option for wildlife photography.
Benefits of the real world of a zoom
400–800 mm impressed me not only with its reach, but also with the practicality of its real world. The ability to zoom in and out allow me to catch animals in my environment as well as catch tight pictures. The lens proved invaluable when I found that the Namibia’s landscape was given a blanket in yellow flowers – I can pull back to the reference or zoom for expansion, compatible with the creative opportunities presented by the vibrant environment.
This underlines how valuable a zoom lens can be on the safari, where the condition of the vehicle often prevents you from changing your distance. 400–800 mm allowed me to create creative options that was impossible with a certain focal length.
final thoughts
Sony 400-800 mm F/6.3-8 G OSS is a versatile lens that has crossed my expectations in many areas. It especially provides a practical balance of access, handling and image quality in good light. While it has boundaries in low-light conditions, they are manageable and often overtake the benefits of the zoom range.
It is a lens that I can see myself arriving often, especially for bird photography and conditions where maximum access is required. It cannot replace prime rapidly for every landscape, but it fills a difference in my camera bag that I did not know that I had.
To keep an eye on how 400–800 mm was performed in Namibia, watch my field test video below, and if you are deciding between this and other telephoto zoms of Sony, then my lens comparison video above offers a comprehensive breakdown.
About the author: Will Bird-Lukas is a wildlife photographer, founder CambaraptionAnd a Sony Ambassador. He dedicates most of his time to work on long -term book and conservation projects in Africa. Get more information www.willbl.com,
