Has anyone tried using the old 100-400 gm 4.5-5.6 with the new A7R VI? If so, I'd like to hear your experience.
The new 100-400 4.5 is too big for me to handle. I'd hoped they'd upgrade the prior 100-400 variable aperture GM with faster focus, a little sharper, a little better IS and keep the same size & weight.
I tried using the old 100-400 with my A7R V for handheld birding and found it softer and slower to focus than I'd like - at least for the price. I know the A7R V isn't recommended for birding (I use it for landscape & family photos) but thought I'd give it a try. (I used to have a 200-600 G, and got some nice bird photos when using a tripod, but couldn't handhold it steady enough).
I wound up purchasing an OM1-II which works well with OM 50-200 2.8. But I prefer the Sony colors, dynamic range and of course the resolution.
I'm considering upgrading my A7R V to the new VI if it would work with the older 100-400, But I'd have to sell my OM gear to pay for the combo. If the newer body doesn't compensate for the weaknesses of the 100-400 4.5-5.6, it'd be a waste of time & $$.
I recently just got the A7rvi and rented both the 100-400 4.5 and the older 100-4004.5-5.6 to do a little comparison. To me, i didn't notice that big of a difference at all. The AF seemed pretty similar, sharpness and clarity were also similar, even with the 1.4 tele.
All this to say, I mistaking used it in JPEG the whole two days i had it so im not sure if that had anything to do with the similar results.
