ChrisMak wrote:
Count me in for one.
The dual AF motors with DMF switch have sealed the deal for me.
Plus of course the fact that the rumored mediocre sharpness at 800mm was apparently bogus.
One review even mentions a distinct "3D" look and colors look vintage Sony style.
Yeah, the DMF switch is a huge plus for anyone using A1 or older cameras that don't have the option to do it via the camera for lenses without the switch.
So the question that this lens prompts in my mind is:
Is there any chance that Sony might now produce improved versions of the 600 f/4 or the x1.4 TC (or both)?
I have always had the 600/4 as an ultimate goal. Two stops at 600mm is still a big difference, and I assume that the prime’s AF and IQ at 600mm will still be (far?) superior, but decent 800mm at f/8 with AF that is, seemingly, faster than the 600 + x1.4 TC, at a fraction of the price and over ½ kg lighter, is impressive. (And tempting, given that I am often far too far away from the birds.) I can’t help but wonder if Sony have just cannibalised sales of the 4/600 ….
If it is as sharp as some say, that will be one sweet travel lens. My only problem is weening off f/4. I swore I would never do it, but with the new AI software it is very tempting.
arbitrage wrote:
Have a watch of Jan's review. He did a lot of shooting with the 1.4TC on the 400-800 and pretty impressive BIF work like small KFs IF.
I used 200-600mm + X1.4 on a7r5 several times and not impressed by the sharpness for small birds. Could be my error though, but I got good shots without the extender.
tonychen wrote:
I used 200-600mm + X1.4 on a7r5 several times and not impressed by the sharpness for small birds. Could be my error though, but I got good shots without the extender.
That was my experience with the 200-600 + x1.4TC on the A9 and, briefly, the A1. As I said in another thread,mi have not used it once since buying the 2.8/300 about a year ago. Time to sell it (if only I could find the box!).
Andrew CD wrote:
So the question that this lens prompts in my mind is:
Is there any chance that Sony might now produce improved versions of the 600 f/4 or the x1.4 TC (or both)?
I have always had the 600/4 as an ultimate goal. Two stops at 600mm is still a big difference, and I assume that the prime’s AF and IQ at 600mm will still be (far?) superior, but decent 800mm at f/8 with AF that is, seemingly, faster than the 600 + x1.4 TC, at a fraction of the price and over ½ kg lighter, is impressive. (And tempting, given that I am often far too far away from the birds.) I can’t help but wonder if Sony have just cannibalised sales of the 4/600 …. ...Show more →
A 400-800 will never be a substitute for a true 600 f4. I doubt the 400-800 will have any impact on sales of the big primes. They're in completely different leagues.
I do think a new 600TC will be coming out in the next few years. Sounds like a 400TC will be first, followed by the 600TC.
I also think with whatever new tech they have, the next version 600 will handle TC's noticeably better than the current model.
Sounds more tempting than I thought it would be at first.
Looks like the main decision I will need to make is do I want to trade f6.3 for f8 to gain the ability to zoom, compared to the Nikon 800mm PF. If I add a 1.4 TC to the mix the Sony would be at 1,120mm at f11, and the Nikon would be at 1,120mm at f9. Currently, if I put the TC 1.4x on my 200-600mm I get 840mm at f9 and if I put the TC 2x on my 200-600mm I get 1,200mm at f13. Decisions 🤔
tonychen wrote:
I used 200-600mm + X1.4 on a7r5 several times and not impressed by the sharpness for small birds. Could be my error though, but I got good shots without the extender.
My copy of the 2-6 needed to be stopped down 1/3-2/3 stops to get sharp. So when I did use the 1.4TC I would go to f/10 or f/11. Not ideal.
I found it fine on the 24MP A9/A9II but not great when I used it on the A7RIV. Of course the A7RIV had known issues with the 2-6 on top of that.
I sold the 2-6 around the same time I got the A1 so never did much shooting on the A1 with it to see if it was an AF issue on the 7R camera or a high MP issue.
arbitrage wrote:
Yeah, the DMF switch is a huge plus for anyone using A1 or older cameras that don't have the option to do it via the camera for lenses without the switch.
You may also have noticed in one of the reviews that at 588mm (where it is still f7.1) the Sony 400-800 has a bit more reach than the Sony 200-600 fully zoomed in, so again the reviewers notice that the 200-600 is around 565-570mm at the long end.
That means that it is f6.3 for the 200-600 against f7.1 for the new lens, with a bit of additional reach for the new lens.
I had the 200-600G permanently at f7.1 because it was a bit soft at f6.3 wide open.
The 400-800 appears crisper and sharper wide open, so the 200-600 loses all advantage except for a bit of weight and size, and obviously the lower price. The 400-800 has the huge advantage of 200mm extra reach.
In Steve Perry I trust. I'll place the order, shoot with it and decide where to go from there.
I'm not overly excited about F/8 but it shouldn't be that big of an impact for my shooting style/subjects
. What a fun time to be a photographer! 600 F/4, Sigma 300-600 F/4, 300 F/2.8 + Teleconverters, 200-600 F/6.3, and now the 400-800 F6.3-F8. There's lots of options for us to be able to shoot 600mm plus.
Yes. There's certainly room to improve 2x performance, especially AF speed, but I think the 1.4x is not too far off for an external TC so taking it 'inside' is where any noticable gains are going to be other than improving AF motors and focusing algorithms.
nmerc_photos wrote:
the next version 600 will handle TC's noticeably better than the current model.
You may also have noticed in one of the reviews that at 588mm (where it is still f7.1) the Sony 400-800 has a bit more reach than the Sony 200-600 fully zoomed in, so again the reviewers notice that the 200-600 is around 565-570mm at the long end.
That means that it is f6.3 for the 200-600 against f7.1 for the new lens, with a bit of additional reach for the new lens.
Yeah, that is a good point about aperture at ca 600mm
ChrisMak wrote:
You may also have noticed in one of the reviews that at 588mm (where it is still f7.1) the Sony 400-800 has a bit more reach than the Sony 200-600 fully zoomed in, so again the reviewers notice that the 200-600 is around 565-570mm at the long end.
That means that it is f6.3 for the 200-600 against f7.1 for the new lens, with a bit of additional reach for the new lens.
I had the 200-600G permanently at f7.1 because it was a bit soft at f6.3 wide open.
The 400-800 appears crisper and sharper wide open, so the 200-600 loses all advantage except for a bit of weight and size, and obviously the lower price. The 400-800 has the huge advantage of 200mm extra reach....Show more →
Yes, I'm in a similar boat, I keep my 200-600mm at 7.1 or 8.0 if enough light also, so the F8 doesn't bother me at all. The extra weight is a thing also, but the one surprising thing that is bugging me is pretty trivial, yet real:
What are we going to carry this beast in? My ThinkTank 150 Holster case barely zips shut with my A7RV and 200-600mm attached in it and this 800mm is an inch or so longer and slightly fatter with the big front element! Dang it! And you can forget about leaving the 1.4x attached and trying to close it too... sheesh! 1st world problems, I know I know, heh heh.
Steve Perry did a review and noted the lens with hood reversed and body attached fits in the Gura Gear 30L
Erictator wrote:
Yes, I'm in a similar boat, I keep my 200-600mm at 7.1 or 8.0 if enough light also, so the F8 doesn't bother me at all. The extra weight is a thing also, but the one surprising thing that is bugging me is pretty trivial, yet real:
What are we going to carry this beast in? My ThinkTank 150 Holster case barely zips shut with my A7RV and 200-600mm attached in it and this 800mm is an inch or so longer and slightly fatter with the big front element! Dang it! And you can forget about leaving the 1.4x attached and trying to close it too... sheesh! 1st world problems, I know I know, heh heh.
Erictator wrote:
Yes, I'm in a similar boat, I keep my 200-600mm at 7.1 or 8.0 if enough light also, so the F8 doesn't bother me at all. The extra weight is a thing also, but the one surprising thing that is bugging me is pretty trivial, yet real:
What are we going to carry this beast in? My ThinkTank 150 Holster case barely zips shut with my A7RV and 200-600mm attached in it and this 800mm is an inch or so longer and slightly fatter with the big front element! Dang it! And you can forget about leaving the 1.4x attached and trying to close it too... sheesh! 1st world problems, I know I know, heh heh.
Count me as someone else also intrigued by only losing 1/3 of a stop at 600mm equivalent compared to the 2-6, and also as someone worried about the bag situation
It took me months to find theright bag to comfortably carry the 2-6 mounted, so if the 2-8 won't fit in that then I dread the next search. I already have far more bags than I know what to do with
Note that froknowsphoto claims f7.1 starts at 485mm, f8 starts at 600mm, meaning that 599 is still f7.1, if it's even possible to get that number.
I hope someone can test and verify this soon.
octo wrote:
Note that froknowsphoto claims f7.1 starts at 485mm, f8 starts at 600mm, meaning that 599 is still f7.1, if it's even possible to get that number.
I hope someone can test and verify this soon.
Of the three reviews I've watched so far, two have concurred the f/8 boundary is about 590mm (one says 590mm, the other says 588mm IIRC).
Said's it noticeably shaper at 600mm even compared to 200-600 @ 600 and f/8
Also, AF is much faster using two linear AF motors, vs the old and slow single ssw (USM) motor of the 200-600.
The 400-800 sounds good on many levels but being f/8 even at 600mm is pretty much a dealbreaker for me. I really don't want to go slower than the 200-600G. 400-800 will excel at times of the day I don't want to shoot. 400 f/2.8 and 600 f/4 are way out of the question with their $18-20K price tags in Australia
Honestly, a 300-600 f/5.6 GM + built-in 1.4x would be my perfect zoom and would pay $5-6K
I'll place the order, shoot with it and decide where to go from there. 
My ThinkTank 150 Holster case barely zips shut with my A7RV and 200-600mm attached in it and this 800mm is an inch or so longer and slightly fatter with the big front element! Dang it! 
And you can forget about leaving the 1.4x attached and trying to close it too... sheesh! 1st world problems, I know I know, heh heh. 