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Archive 2021Sony 200-600 G vs Sony 135 GM sharpness test. What to expect?
p.1 #1Sony 200-600 G vs Sony 135 GM sharpness test. What to expect?
Hi. In the process of acquiring my own copy of the 200-600 G f5.6-6.3, last summer I’ve been testing this lens against the Sony 135 f1,8 GM, the sharpest lens I know of. Mainly to discover what can we expect for this awesome long zoom regarding sharpness and contrast. Nowadays, with the brand new A1 release and initial tests on the net, some reviewer like Mark Galer is employing these two lenses to assess the A1's tracking abilties.
The results are quite interesting as I came to the conclusion that in the central part of the frame there is very little to be desired for the G lens. Obviously in the corners of the zoom is where the main differences arosed. I checked only 600 mm FL. I think I had to go to 200% magnification for really perceive the differences in the center of the frame. The left zone of the G lens is the worse as it is easily perceived in the crops. The right zone is optimum and competitive with the GM nevertheless. In general terms, the contrast is also a bit superior on the GM. As no zoom is perfect, the decentering is playing some role in the tests, being the prime lens in a superior situation at every aperture, especially in the corners.
Procedure: Both samples were shot with an A7 R3 body focused on center, tripod mounted and remotely triggered. The zoom was shot wide open at f6.3 and the GM was shot at f5.6 (I discovered this when it was too late). Both at ISO 100, lens profile applied and no noise reduction nor any sharpening applied in LR. I’ve tried to maintain the same framing for both. The G lens was my own copy and I’ve also performed the same test to another copy of the 2-6, with similar results albeit a little worse in the center at 600 mm and also worse in the right zone but with a better left zone that the G lens which I post the results here. I’ve employed FastStone viewer program, a incredibly good software for these comparison purposes.
https://i.imgur.com/xbjQt7M.jpg
This is the complete framing for both lenses.
Here I post both lenses’ crops, side by side at 100% magnification. I cropped 10 different control parts, ie central zone (4), left zone (3) and lastly right zone (3):
https://i.imgur.com/GFehOLn.jpg
Dead center. Left 200-600 G, Right 135 GM
https://i.imgur.com/ngdNzKU.jpg
Center extreme bottom
https://i.imgur.com/FCPebXx.jpg
Center up
https://i.imgur.com/8NJumGt.jpg
Center extreme up
https://i.imgur.com/inteBPv.jpg
Left central border
https://i.imgur.com/0LKMkXp.jpg
Left lower corner
https://i.imgur.com/tGrCDDI.jpg
Left upper corner
https://i.imgur.com/veYyyCK.jpg
Right central border
https://i.imgur.com/f42eDlW.jpg
Right lower corner
https://i.imgur.com/IQOAur9.jpg
Right upper corner
All in all a remarkable result for the Sony 200-600 f5.6-6.3 G lens. If someone is interested in dowloading the two full resolution shots, please PM and I will send a Google Drive link.
The results are quite interesting as I came to the conclusion that in the central part of the frame there is very little to be desired for the G lens. Obviously in the corners of the zoom is where the main differences arosed. I checked only 600 mm FL. I think I had to go to 200% magnification for really perceive the differences in the center of the frame. The left zone of the G lens is the worse as it is easily perceived in the crops. The right zone is optimum and competitive with the GM nevertheless. In general terms, the contrast is also a bit superior on the GM. As no zoom is perfect, the decentering is playing some role in the tests, being the prime lens in a superior situation at every aperture, especially in the corners.
Procedure: Both samples were shot with an A7 R3 body focused on center, tripod mounted and remotely triggered. The zoom was shot wide open at f6.3 and the GM was shot at f5.6 (I discovered this when it was too late). Both at ISO 100, lens profile applied and no noise reduction nor any sharpening applied in LR. I’ve tried to maintain the same framing for both. The G lens was my own copy and I’ve also performed the same test to another copy of the 2-6, with similar results albeit a little worse in the center at 600 mm and also worse in the right zone but with a better left zone that the G lens which I post the results here. I’ve employed FastStone viewer program, a incredibly good software for these comparison purposes.
https://i.imgur.com/xbjQt7M.jpg
This is the complete framing for both lenses.
Here I post both lenses’ crops, side by side at 100% magnification. I cropped 10 different control parts, ie central zone (4), left zone (3) and lastly right zone (3):
https://i.imgur.com/GFehOLn.jpg
Dead center. Left 200-600 G, Right 135 GM
https://i.imgur.com/ngdNzKU.jpg
Center extreme bottom
https://i.imgur.com/FCPebXx.jpg
Center up
https://i.imgur.com/8NJumGt.jpg
Center extreme up
https://i.imgur.com/inteBPv.jpg
Left central border
https://i.imgur.com/0LKMkXp.jpg
Left lower corner
https://i.imgur.com/tGrCDDI.jpg
Left upper corner
https://i.imgur.com/veYyyCK.jpg
Right central border
https://i.imgur.com/f42eDlW.jpg
Right lower corner
https://i.imgur.com/IQOAur9.jpg
Right upper corner
All in all a remarkable result for the Sony 200-600 f5.6-6.3 G lens. If someone is interested in dowloading the two full resolution shots, please PM and I will send a Google Drive link.
Feb 19, 2021 at 11:38 AM
p.1 #2Sony 200-600 G vs Sony 135 GM sharpness test. What to expect?
I agree that 200-600 looks much closer than I would have expected.
Thanks for sharing this
Thanks for sharing this
Feb 19, 2021 at 11:55 AM
p.1 #3Sony 200-600 G vs Sony 135 GM sharpness test. What to expect?
billsnature wrote:
I agree that 200-600 looks much closer than I would have expected.
Thanks for sharing this
Thanks for commenting. I was also very pleasantly surprised mainly because the 135 is so darn exceptional, no matter what you look for.
I agree that 200-600 looks much closer than I would have expected.
Thanks for sharing this
Thanks for commenting. I was also very pleasantly surprised mainly because the 135 is so darn exceptional, no matter what you look for.
Feb 19, 2021 at 12:19 PM
p.1 #4Sony 200-600 G vs Sony 135 GM sharpness test. What to expect?
It is really remarkable how good Sony made that 200-600 for the price.
Mar 12, 2021 at 08:22 PM
p.1 #5Sony 200-600 G vs Sony 135 GM sharpness test. What to expect?
JeyB, Thanks for your efforts in showing how good the 200-600mm is !!!
Mar 13, 2021 at 01:02 PM
p.1 #6Sony 200-600 G vs Sony 135 GM sharpness test. What to expect?
roadapple wrote:
JeyB, Thanks for your efforts in showing how good the 200-600mm is !!!
Thanks also to you for commenting. It is a very good lens, indeed. The internal zooming makes it unique and very manageable too.
JeyB, Thanks for your efforts in showing how good the 200-600mm is !!!
Thanks also to you for commenting. It is a very good lens, indeed. The internal zooming makes it unique and very manageable too.
Mar 13, 2021 at 07:33 PM
p.1 #7Sony 200-600 G vs Sony 135 GM sharpness test. What to expect?
It may be that an A7rIV would be more revealing under certain conditions. Another test might be between the 400 and 600 GM primes especially with tele-extenders. Also, to state the obvious, often there’s not enough light to shoot at F5.6/6.3 without compromises in shutter speed and ISO settings which would degrade sharpness, Finally, Pro sport shooters rely on the fastest F stops to isolate their athletes from busy BGs.
Mar 14, 2021 at 10:08 AM
p.1 #8Sony 200-600 G vs Sony 135 GM sharpness test. What to expect?
SoundHound wrote:
It may be that an A7rIV would be more revealing under certain conditions. Another test might be between the 400 and 600 GM primes especially with tele-extenders. Also, to state the obvious, often there’s not enough light to shoot at F5.6/6.3 without compromises in shutter speed and ISO settings which would degrade sharpness, Finally, Pro sport shooters rely on the fastest F stops to isolate their athletes from busy BGs.
You are completely right. The 2-6 G is a compromise, cost-effective lens, no doubt. But a very decent one, I think.
Not everybody can invest $12.000 in a single cost-no-object lens.
It may be that an A7rIV would be more revealing under certain conditions. Another test might be between the 400 and 600 GM primes especially with tele-extenders. Also, to state the obvious, often there’s not enough light to shoot at F5.6/6.3 without compromises in shutter speed and ISO settings which would degrade sharpness, Finally, Pro sport shooters rely on the fastest F stops to isolate their athletes from busy BGs.
You are completely right. The 2-6 G is a compromise, cost-effective lens, no doubt. But a very decent one, I think.
Not everybody can invest $12.000 in a single cost-no-object lens.
May 12, 2021 at 06:32 PM
p.1 #9Sony 200-600 G vs Sony 135 GM sharpness test. What to expect?
SoundHound wrote:
It may be that an A7rIV would be more revealing under certain conditions. Another test might be between the 400 and 600 GM primes especially with tele-extenders. Also, to state the obvious, often there’s not enough light to shoot at F5.6/6.3 without compromises in shutter speed and ISO settings which would degrade sharpness, Finally, Pro sport shooters rely on the fastest F stops to isolate their athletes from busy BGs.
That certainly would be an interesting test- but in no way effects THIS test.
The object of this test was to compare the sharpness of the 200-600mm vs the 135mm.
Are there differences? Yes, but they seem small- at least in this sample set.
No, he didn't compare it with the 400mm prime, or the 600, or with teleconverters. That was not the object of the test.
I'm not sure how pro sports shooters got involved in this discussion, or background separations, etc. There was no comment that the 200-600 is the best telephoto sony lens- that would depend on useage. He also didn't compare it with hundreds of other lenses.
This was a simple test of sharpness between two specific lenses. Nothing more, nothing less.
gary
It may be that an A7rIV would be more revealing under certain conditions. Another test might be between the 400 and 600 GM primes especially with tele-extenders. Also, to state the obvious, often there’s not enough light to shoot at F5.6/6.3 without compromises in shutter speed and ISO settings which would degrade sharpness, Finally, Pro sport shooters rely on the fastest F stops to isolate their athletes from busy BGs.
That certainly would be an interesting test- but in no way effects THIS test.
The object of this test was to compare the sharpness of the 200-600mm vs the 135mm.
Are there differences? Yes, but they seem small- at least in this sample set.
No, he didn't compare it with the 400mm prime, or the 600, or with teleconverters. That was not the object of the test.
I'm not sure how pro sports shooters got involved in this discussion, or background separations, etc. There was no comment that the 200-600 is the best telephoto sony lens- that would depend on useage. He also didn't compare it with hundreds of other lenses.
This was a simple test of sharpness between two specific lenses. Nothing more, nothing less.
gary
May 13, 2021 at 05:33 AM
p.1 #10Sony 200-600 G vs Sony 135 GM sharpness test. What to expect?
Thanks for your efforts and posting results!
I’ve owned and used the G 200-600 since it first launched. I knew the minute I shot this lens on the A9 it was a dream come true price, AF performance and IQ wise. At least for me.
Troubles started when I first tried on the A7rIV, but by then I already knew what this lens was capable of. In this particular pairing the problem is not the G200-600.
But I do credit the A7rIV and G 200-600 pair for forcing me to learn how to better understand how and when to use Mode 1,2,3 on the lens!
JeyB wrote:
Hi. In the process of acquiring my own copy of the 200-600 G f5.6-6.3, last summer I’ve been testing this lens against the Sony 135 f1,8 GM, the sharpest lens I know of. Mainly to discover what can we expect for this awesome long zoom regarding sharpness and contrast. Nowadays, with the brand new A1 release and initial tests on the net, some reviewer like Mark Galer is employing these two lenses to assess the A1's tracking abilties.
The results are quite interesting as I came to the conclusion that in the central part of the frame there is very little...Show more →
I’ve owned and used the G 200-600 since it first launched. I knew the minute I shot this lens on the A9 it was a dream come true price, AF performance and IQ wise. At least for me.
Troubles started when I first tried on the A7rIV, but by then I already knew what this lens was capable of. In this particular pairing the problem is not the G200-600.
But I do credit the A7rIV and G 200-600 pair for forcing me to learn how to better understand how and when to use Mode 1,2,3 on the lens!
JeyB wrote:
Hi. In the process of acquiring my own copy of the 200-600 G f5.6-6.3, last summer I’ve been testing this lens against the Sony 135 f1,8 GM, the sharpest lens I know of. Mainly to discover what can we expect for this awesome long zoom regarding sharpness and contrast. Nowadays, with the brand new A1 release and initial tests on the net, some reviewer like Mark Galer is employing these two lenses to assess the A1's tracking abilties.
The results are quite interesting as I came to the conclusion that in the central part of the frame there is very little...Show more →
May 13, 2021 at 06:38 AM
p.1 #11Sony 200-600 G vs Sony 135 GM sharpness test. What to expect?
.
Edited on May 13, 2021 at 04:10 PM · View previous versions
Edited on May 13, 2021 at 04:10 PM · View previous versions
May 13, 2021 at 04:07 PM
p.1 #12Sony 200-600 G vs Sony 135 GM sharpness test. What to expect?
LBJ2 wrote:
Thanks for your efforts and posting results!
I’ve owned and used the G 200-600 since it first launched. I knew the minute I shot this lens on the A9 it was a dream come true price, AF performance and IQ wise. At least for me.
Troubles started when I first tried on the A7rIV, but by then I already knew what this lens was capable of. In this particular pairing the problem is not the G200-600.
But I do credit the A7rIV and G 200-600 pair for forcing me to learn how to better understand how and when to use...Show more →
The results are quite interesting as I came to the conclusion that in the central part of the frame there is very little to be desired for the G lens. Obviously in the corners of the zoom is where the main differences arosed. I checked only 600 mm FL. I think I had to go to 200% magnification for really perceive the differences in the center of the frame. The left zone of the G lens is the worse as it is easily perceived in the crops. The right zone is optimum and competitive with the GM nevertheless. In general terms, the contrast is also a bit superior on the GM. As no zoom is perfect, the decentering is playing some role in the tests, being the prime lens in a superior situation at every aperture, especially in the corners.
Procedure: Both samples were shot with an A7 R3 body focused on center, tripod mounted and remotely triggered. The zoom was shot wide open at f6.3 and the GM was shot at f5.6 (I discovered this when it was too late). Both at ISO 100, lens profile applied and no noise reduction nor any sharpening applied in LR. I’ve tried to maintain the same framing for both. The G lens was my own copy and I’ve also performed the same test to another copy of the 2-6, with similar results albeit a little worse in the center at 600 mm and also worse in the right zone but with a better left zone that the G lens which I post the results here. I’ve employed FastStone viewer program, a incredibly good software for these comparison purposes.
https://i.imgur.com/xbjQt7M.jpg
This is the complete framing for both lenses.
Here I post both lenses’ crops, side by side at 100% magnification. I cropped 10 different control parts, ie central zone (4), left zone (3) and lastly right zone (3):
https://i.imgur.com/GFehOLn.jpg
Dead center. Left 200-600 G, Right 135 GM
https://i.imgur.com/ngdNzKU.jpg
Center extreme bottom
https://i.imgur.com/FCPebXx.jpg
Center up
https://i.imgur.com/8NJumGt.jpg
Center extreme up
https://i.imgur.com/inteBPv.jpg
Left central border
https://i.imgur.com/0LKMkXp.jpg
Left lower corner
https://i.imgur.com/tGrCDDI.jpg
Left upper corner
https://i.imgur.com/veYyyCK.jpg
Right central border
https://i.imgur.com/f42eDlW.jpg
Right lower corner
https://i.imgur.com/IQOAur9.jpg
Right upper corner
All in all a remarkable result for the Sony 200-600 f5.6-6.3 G lens. If someone is interested in dowloading the two full resolution shots, please PM and I will send a Google Drive link.
Thanks for your comments. I don't have an A7 RIV at my disposal, but sure it will put the G zoom in a more delicate positiion than the RIII does. On the other hand I have perceived that when used with the A7 III 's 24 mpx, both lenses, 135 GM and 200-600 G, seem to be almost on par in acuteness in most of the parts of the frame. It is clear that the higher the resolution the most burdens for the lens.
I understand your position with the RIV and 2-6 G combo. It is a pity the low sinergy between them, and as you've said, it forces to better understand the OSS modes' intrincacies. A bigger knowledge usually brings better photographs.
And yes, judging by all the excellent photos uploaded here by members owning the A9 and 200-600 G, I can only think that this is a killer combo. Splendidly sharp, very fast and sticky focus and great manageability.
Regards
Thanks for your efforts and posting results!
I’ve owned and used the G 200-600 since it first launched. I knew the minute I shot this lens on the A9 it was a dream come true price, AF performance and IQ wise. At least for me.
Troubles started when I first tried on the A7rIV, but by then I already knew what this lens was capable of. In this particular pairing the problem is not the G200-600.
But I do credit the A7rIV and G 200-600 pair for forcing me to learn how to better understand how and when to use...Show more →
JeyB wrote
Hi. In the process of acquiring my own copy of the 200-600 G f5.6-6.3, last summer I’ve been testing this lens against the Sony 135 f1,8 GM, the sharpest lens I know of. Mainly to discover what can we expect for this awesome long zoom regarding sharpness and contrast. Nowadays, with the brand new A1 release and initial tests on the net, some reviewer like Mark Galer is employing these two lenses to assess the A1's tracking abilties.The results are quite interesting as I came to the conclusion that in the central part of the frame there is very little to be desired for the G lens. Obviously in the corners of the zoom is where the main differences arosed. I checked only 600 mm FL. I think I had to go to 200% magnification for really perceive the differences in the center of the frame. The left zone of the G lens is the worse as it is easily perceived in the crops. The right zone is optimum and competitive with the GM nevertheless. In general terms, the contrast is also a bit superior on the GM. As no zoom is perfect, the decentering is playing some role in the tests, being the prime lens in a superior situation at every aperture, especially in the corners.
Procedure: Both samples were shot with an A7 R3 body focused on center, tripod mounted and remotely triggered. The zoom was shot wide open at f6.3 and the GM was shot at f5.6 (I discovered this when it was too late). Both at ISO 100, lens profile applied and no noise reduction nor any sharpening applied in LR. I’ve tried to maintain the same framing for both. The G lens was my own copy and I’ve also performed the same test to another copy of the 2-6, with similar results albeit a little worse in the center at 600 mm and also worse in the right zone but with a better left zone that the G lens which I post the results here. I’ve employed FastStone viewer program, a incredibly good software for these comparison purposes.
https://i.imgur.com/xbjQt7M.jpg
This is the complete framing for both lenses.
Here I post both lenses’ crops, side by side at 100% magnification. I cropped 10 different control parts, ie central zone (4), left zone (3) and lastly right zone (3):
https://i.imgur.com/GFehOLn.jpg
Dead center. Left 200-600 G, Right 135 GM
https://i.imgur.com/ngdNzKU.jpg
Center extreme bottom
https://i.imgur.com/FCPebXx.jpg
Center up
https://i.imgur.com/8NJumGt.jpg
Center extreme up
https://i.imgur.com/inteBPv.jpg
Left central border
https://i.imgur.com/0LKMkXp.jpg
Left lower corner
https://i.imgur.com/tGrCDDI.jpg
Left upper corner
https://i.imgur.com/veYyyCK.jpg
Right central border
https://i.imgur.com/f42eDlW.jpg
Right lower corner
https://i.imgur.com/IQOAur9.jpg
Right upper corner
All in all a remarkable result for the Sony 200-600 f5.6-6.3 G lens. If someone is interested in dowloading the two full resolution shots, please PM and I will send a Google Drive link.
Thanks for your comments. I don't have an A7 RIV at my disposal, but sure it will put the G zoom in a more delicate positiion than the RIII does. On the other hand I have perceived that when used with the A7 III 's 24 mpx, both lenses, 135 GM and 200-600 G, seem to be almost on par in acuteness in most of the parts of the frame. It is clear that the higher the resolution the most burdens for the lens.
I understand your position with the RIV and 2-6 G combo. It is a pity the low sinergy between them, and as you've said, it forces to better understand the OSS modes' intrincacies. A bigger knowledge usually brings better photographs.
And yes, judging by all the excellent photos uploaded here by members owning the A9 and 200-600 G, I can only think that this is a killer combo. Splendidly sharp, very fast and sticky focus and great manageability.
Regards
May 13, 2021 at 04:08 PM
p.1 #13Sony 200-600 G vs Sony 135 GM sharpness test. What to expect?
The 135GM is thought to be one of the highest resolving lenses extant but, of course is not a supertele FL. Ergo my suggestion to further compare hi Rez prime super teles with the 200-600. Apologies to those whom I may have offended.
May 14, 2021 at 01:40 AM
p.1 #14Sony 200-600 G vs Sony 135 GM sharpness test. What to expect?
I have both. The 200-600mm G is great value for the money. But, in general, zooms aren't as sharp at all focal lengths or apertures as primes. The 135mm GM is sharp at all apertures and I would say that it's as sharp if not sharper than any lens I've used.
May 18, 2021 at 08:43 PM
p.1 #15Sony 200-600 G vs Sony 135 GM sharpness test. What to expect?
Many don’t care if a 135mm is sharper when their prime concern is having focal lengths from 200mm to 600mm with a twist of the wrist.
May 18, 2021 at 10:15 PM
p.1 #16Sony 200-600 G vs Sony 135 GM sharpness test. What to expect?
The difference between a good lens and a great lens might not be as much as you think.
May 18, 2021 at 10:25 PM