p.2 #3 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
The Bluebird was processed using DXO Pure Raw. The White Throated Sparrow was processed using Adobe Camera Raw. No sharpening was done beyond whatever the default is in PR and ARC, just resize and JPEG conversion.
p.2 #5 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
I got out to Fish Haul Beach here on Hilton Head Island at the worst possible time with bright, midday sunshine. Despite these harsh conditions, I'm pleased with the results on this lens. You definitely have to be careful with DOF on close subjects, even at f8. These images were shot at ISO 1000. shutter speeds of 1/4000 up to 1/6400, and all at f8. The immature eagle is a heavy crop. ACR used along with other adjustments in Photoshop and denoising with Topaz. I definitely will need practice with this lens to get the best results at 800mm, but it is clearly capable of great images. At 800mm, finding BIF in the viewfinder can be a bit of a challenge! I also need to practice steadier handholding. In retrospect, I should have used my monopod. Weight-wise, it is usable for me for extended periods, but again at 800mm I think a monopod would be better for me. I also want to test it between 400-800, since there are a lot of options in that focal length.
p.2 #7 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
My first 2 images and crops using this new lens... The peregrine falcons didn't disappoint this morning. I am still working on take off, in-flight and mating images. These were edited quickly using LR Cloud. More images will also be posted in the N&W thread in the Sony forum.
A few notes, the lens operates flawlessly. It is plenty sharp and the AF is excellent. As noted above, the OEM lens hood is on the heavy side. I ended up using a generic lens hood made for the GM 300mm f/2.8 lens. Mine came from Jon @buffalowolf. Shorter and lighter, for sure and the fit is excellent. The lens, including the hood in shooting position, a camera body all fit inside my TT Glass Limo.
p.2 #10 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
Took a short walk at a local park this morning, these are heavily cropped. Boy, if I don't watch out the shutter speed, the ISO can get higher than I like but that's expected with F8.
ILCE-1FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens800mmf/8.01/2500s1600 ISO-0.3 EV
ILCE-1FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens800mmf/8.01/1250s640 ISO-0.3 EV
ILCE-1FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens800mmf/8.01/2500s2000 ISO+0.7 EV
ILCE-1FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens800mmf/8.01/1000s400 ISO0.0 EV
p.2 #12 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
Warning: Image heavy
Took the new lens to an airshow this past weekend. I've been using the 300mm/TC's almost exclusively. So the weight took a little getting used to again. Or maybe I'm just getting old 😀
So far, I'm impressed with the sharpness. I think it's sharper than my 200-600 @ 600mm and sharper than my 100-400mm @ 400mm. 800mm is also excellent! Panning at 800mm is going to take some practice though
At this particular venue, the lens may have been slightly too long. For single planes passing, 400mm was actually too tight sometimes. And forget about the Blue Angels flying in formation. So I had to also bring my 100-400mm on a second body. Of course this is location specific
Weather was mixed. With Saturday being very overcast. But Sunday was sunny
I tried to include some 800mm shots. I know Douglas will be interested 😉
ILCE-1M2FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens800mmf/8.01/4000s800 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-1M2FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens800mmf/10.01/160s50 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-1M2FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens800mmf/11.01/160s50 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-1M2FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens800mmf/13.01/200s100 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-1M2FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens439mmf/6.31/4000s640 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-1M2FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens495mmf/11.01/160s50 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-1M2FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens800mmf/8.01/4000s500 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-1M2FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens800mmf/8.01/4000s640 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-1M2FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens450mmf/6.31/3200s640 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-1M2FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens553mmf/7.11/160s50 ISO0.0 EV
p.2 #13 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
robert614 wrote:
Warning: Image heavy
Took the new lens to an airshow this past weekend. I've been using the 300mm/TC's almost exclusively. So the weight took a little getting used to again. Or maybe I'm just getting old 😀
So far, I'm impressed with the sharpness. I think it's sharper than my 200-600 @ 600mm and sharper than my 100-400mm @ 400mm. 800mm is also excellent! Panning at 800mm is going to take some practice though
At this particular venue, the lens may have been slightly too long. For single planes passing, 400mm was actually too tight sometimes. And forget about the Blue Angels flying in formation. So I had to also bring my 100-400mm on a second body. Of course this is location specific
Weather was mixed. With Saturday being very overcast. But Sunday was sunny
I tried to include some 800mm shots. I know Douglas will be interested 😉...Show more →
Most excellent set, Robert! Nice panning work on the props. I didn’t recall seeing snow-capped mountains at the show in Sacramento last year when I went but that show was in July. It was too hot to have the show during the day so it was held in later afternoon and evening, beautiful light. That was the main reason I went all the way to California for an airshow. It had a tremendous lineup too. I will try the 400-800 at the Sun N Fun show in Florida next week, I will bring the 300 GM+2x TC too for the evening part of the show and do some birding too. I have not seen the F16 Demo in the 50th anniversary paint scheme so I am looking forward to that. Last year at Sun N Fun I got very few sharp shots during the day time part of show, just horrible heat shimmering, even in early April.
I never thought about using ISO 50 to slow down the shutter, I read it’s fake low ISO that degrades the image quality, not sure if there is truth to that, perhaps it’s still better than shooting at f16, f18, or even f22 (funny how they sound like fight jets), I ordered a NiSi 1-5 stop variable ND filter for that purpose, very expensive for the 105mm version. It’s pretty color neutral. It may arrive on the day I am traveling down, If I don’t get it before my trip, I will try ISO 50. I never tried that because the negative comments on the “artificial” low ISO stuck in my head.
Hope the Gen 6 F-47 and the B-21 will be in the show circuit before I die, lol.
p.2 #14 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
Douglas L wrote:
Most excellent set, Robert! Nice panning work on the props. I didn’t recall seeing snow-capped mountains at the show in Sacramento last year when I went but that show was in July. It was too hot to have the show during the day so it was held in later afternoon and evening, beautiful light. That was the main reason I went all the way to California for an airshow. It had a tremendous lineup too. I will try the 400-800 at the Sun N Fun show in Florida next week, I will bring the 300 GM+2x TC too for the evening part of the show and do some birding too. I have not seen the F16 Demo in the 50th anniversary paint scheme so I am looking forward to that. Last year at Sun N Fun I got very few sharp shots during the day time part of show, just horrible heat shimmering, even in early April.
I never thought about using ISO 50 to slow down the shutter, I read it’s fake low ISO that degrades the image quality, not sure if there is truth to that, perhaps it’s still better than shooting at f16, f18, or even f22 (funny how they sound like fight jets), I ordered a NiSi 1-5 stop variable ND filter for that purpose, very expensive for the 105mm version. It’s pretty color neutral. It may arrive on the day I am traveling down, If I don’t get it before my trip, I will try ISO 50. I never tried that because the negative comments on the “artificial” low ISO stuck in my head.
Hope the Gen 6 F-47 and the B-21 will be in the show circuit before I die, lol.
Yeah, I was also at last year’s show. But by then, the snow is all but gone off the Sierra Nevadas. And it’s hot as heck!
This is the first time I have attended in Spring. The weather was much nicer. And it was good to see everything green still. Rather than all dried out like the Summer shows
As far as ISO 50 goes, I use it all the time. Do you take a slight hit in DR? Sure, but it’s preferable to the softening that comes from diffraction. I don’t hesitate using it. Especially for motorsports. Where shutter speeds slower than 1/100 are commonplace
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the lens and seeing some pics from the show in Florida! Have a great trip Douglas!
p.2 #15 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
Full res images, click the image link. Still testing out the lens, images have very minor edits in LR. One thing I'm going to have to adjust to is the working distance and the very shallow DOF at 800mm. Having fun so far!
p.2 #16 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
From this morning. I didn't bring the 600 GM, but did bring the 300 GM+2xTC. The light was bright enough that I only needed to use the 400-800 to try out.
The focus on this was a bit off. I was too slow to follow the osprey's dive.
ILCE-1FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens800mmf/8.01/3200s400 ISO-0.7 EV
ILCE-1FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens725mmf/8.01/3200s800 ISO-0.7 EV
ILCE-1FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens735mmf/8.01/3200s800 ISO-0.7 EV
ILCE-1FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens790mmf/8.01/3200s800 ISO-0.7 EV
ILCE-1FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens800mmf/8.01/3200s800 ISO-0.7 EV
ILCE-1FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens800mmf/8.01/3200s500 ISO-0.7 EV
ILCE-1FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens800mmf/8.01/4000s640 ISO-0.7 EV
