p.34 #2 · Pre-order: Sony FE 200-600 f5.6-6.3 G OSS ($1,998)
Fred Miranda wrote:
Totally agree Steve!
If 400mm is enough for you, the 100-400 should be the best option for its size and speed (only 1/3 stop advantage: f/5.6 vs f/6.3).
After that 400mm, the TC is needed for the GM zoom and the 200-600 bare seems to be a better option. (2/3 stop advantage: f/6.3 vs f/8)
If going in a Safari. Which one to take?
I am going to Namibia next year. This lens will be in my bag, that's for sure. I am not quite sure about likelihood of the GM 600mm being in my bag though. We will see how the situation develops on the pre-order day .
p.34 #3 · Pre-order: Sony FE 200-600 f5.6-6.3 G OSS ($1,998)
arbitrage wrote:
When Sony fetch out the 500f4 then yes it will be 2k difference but I thought the sigma version was significantly cheaper
Whoops, didn't catch you meant the Siggy 500/4. Yes that is a decent option and 1/2 price. I used it many FW updates ago on A7R3 and A9 and even back then it did okay adapted. it is probably even better now with more adapter and camera FW updates because certainly my adapted 400DOII is much better these days.
p.34 #4 · Pre-order: Sony FE 200-600 f5.6-6.3 G OSS ($1,998)
Fred Miranda wrote:
I remember paying $9,500 for the Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM when it first came out. The best lens I ever had.
It was also light at 7 pounds. Can't wait to see what Sony does for this focal length.
With the Canon 1.4x, it was a competent 700/5.6 lens, The new Sony G super-tele zoom is not too shabby at 600/6.3, especially at only 4.5 pounds and $2K.
Perhaps many hobbyists shooting birds and wildlife will be enticed to move to Sony just because of this new "affordable" and light super-tele zoom.
Hi Fred,
The weight of the 200-600mm zoom is weight: 2115 g (74.7 oz.)
p.34 #5 · Pre-order: Sony FE 200-600 f5.6-6.3 G OSS ($1,998)
Fred Miranda wrote:
...and going APS-C means more noise and less DR (about a stop compared to full frame). Shooting with a f/5.6 or f/6.3 lens is already challenging with a full frame camera in less than optimal lighting. A crop sensor will make things even worse.
I have to disagree. With the Panasonic g9 and f6.3 100-400(200-800), I rarely have problems with non bif. Even in lowish light, the better ibis in the crop system keeps the iso down.
p.34 #6 · Pre-order: Sony FE 200-600 f5.6-6.3 G OSS ($1,998)
AGeoJO wrote:
I am going to Namibia next year. This lens will be in my bag, that's for sure. I am not quite sure about likelihood of the GM 600mm being in my bag though. We will see how the situation develops on the pre-order day .
According to my friebd that went to Namibia, they were very strict on weight limits. Be sure to check!
p.34 #8 · Pre-order: Sony FE 200-600 f5.6-6.3 G OSS ($1,998)
arbitrage wrote:
Whoops, didn't catch you meant the Siggy 500/4. Yes that is a decent option and 1/2 price. I used it many FW updates ago on A7R3 and A9 and even back then it did okay adapted. it is probably even better now with more adapter and camera FW updates because certainly my adapted 400DOII is much better these days.
The Sigma 500/4 seems to be a great lens, especially for the price. When adapted to the Sony, I've heard that AF is very good with the Sigma MC-11 but the performance can't be compared to the 400/2.8 GM or 135/1.8 GM lenses and their latest XD Linear Motor autofocus system.
I've not tested the 400/2.8 GM but the 135/1.8 GM's AF is shocking fast and accurate.
Sony is designing lenses with equal of better IQ than the competition but they are setting themselves apart on AF technology.
AF performance was the only reason I chose the Sony 135/1.8 GM vs Sigma 135/1.8, even though the latter was already good enough for portraits. For sports and fast action in low light however, not so much...
p.34 #10 · Pre-order: Sony FE 200-600 f5.6-6.3 G OSS ($1,998)
From an interview published today (11 June) by DP Review:
What are the specific differences between the two new lenses that account for the difference between ‘G’ and ‘GM’?
"With G Master lenses we always include the latest, innovative technologies. We never compromise. Always the latest technologies. With the 200-600mm, there are some compromises, for example in the materials, or the body. We didn’t use magnesium-alloy, or the [newer XD linear autofocus] actuator.
"Affordability is also important for the G series, to expand the size of the market. And sometimes it’s practicality. We don’t actually need to use the XD linear actuators with a small focusing group for example [like the one in the 200-600mm]."
"It must support video functions. Convergence from the video side is a very obvious trend, even in the US market. That’s why we use linear action autofocus actuators. Part of it is mechanics, and part of it is optics.
"In zooms we’re always trying to reduce focus breathing for example, and axial shift. All of the characteristics in zooms which [can] make it a challenge to use them for video."
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"The 200-600mm is a more comfortable lens to carry, at a reasonable price. We want many customers to use the 200-600mm. And we made it compatible with our tele-converters. We want to expand that field."
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What does Sony need to do with its optical lineup to become the number one manufacturer in terms of sales?
"I can’t disclose future plans, but there are a lot of opportunities, both on the telephoto side and the wide-angle side. Every segment of the lineup, there are opportunities to expand."
====================
DP Reviewer comments: "Slightly further down the lineup, the 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 is a more mass-market lens. Despite its lower positioning, it's actually likely to be more important to, and more widely used by, enthusiast photographers and DPReview readers. It's not a small lens, but the internal zoom and focus keep it relatively compact when out and about, and in my experience of shooting with it, the versatility - and sharpness - is impressive. This is the kind of lens that Sony has to release, in order to 'expand the size of the market' and hit Canon and Nikon where it hurts - in the high-end enthusiast market segment."
p.34 #12 · Pre-order: Sony FE 200-600 f5.6-6.3 G OSS ($1,998)
kdrk888 wrote:
I am getting the 200-600 but also keeping the 100-400. I will use the 100-400 for a variety of things, landscape, foliage, flowers, close up insects (better MFD than the 200-600)... Now if someone makes an excellent E mount 70-300mm with the same IQ as the 100-400, I may reconsider.
It's interesting looking at the raw files. They're shot with the A9. They look quite nice. I'd be curious to see how they look with the A7R3 in terms of detail.
p.34 #19 · Pre-order: Sony FE 200-600 f5.6-6.3 G OSS ($1,998)
aae991 wrote:
It's interesting looking at the raw files. They're shot with the A9. They look quite nice. I'd be curious to see how they look with the A7R3 in terms of detail.
They look excellent to me and I could care less what they look like with a A7R3.
