Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
p.1 #1Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
Just checking with my fellow octogenarians out there about when to drop the 600mm from the line up. It has been by far my favorite of all lenses, even when shooting Canon or Nikon. It's harder and harder to handhold lately and the 300 2/8 has been excellent in its place. I could still tripod it but then there's more gear to handle and you lose the freedom and flexibility. So. Anyone still hanging on to it
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?Aug 17, 2026 at 07:46 AM
p.1 #2Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
I considered selling mine for lack of use for about six months or so. Just like everybody else, I’m not getting any younger—or stronger. But I took it out once last month, looked at the excellent results, and decided to keep it, at least for a while longer. Then I took it out one more time after that, and yes, it’s a keeper.
Both times, I used it with a 1.4X TC for quite a bit because I needed the extra reach. The 300mm lens certainly has its place, of course, but not when you really need that reach.
FYI, even back in the early days of owning this lens, I was already using it either on a tripod with a gimbal head or, when I wanted to be more mobile, on a monopod. My monopod also has a gimbal head, and I use a harness support system to help manage the weight.
A few images from the outing. So far, so good.
Crop from the above image
Both times, I used it with a 1.4X TC for quite a bit because I needed the extra reach. The 300mm lens certainly has its place, of course, but not when you really need that reach.
FYI, even back in the early days of owning this lens, I was already using it either on a tripod with a gimbal head or, when I wanted to be more mobile, on a monopod. My monopod also has a gimbal head, and I use a harness support system to help manage the weight.
A few images from the outing. So far, so good.
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ILCE-7RM6 FE 600mm F4 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter lens 840mm f/5.6 1/2000s 2000 ISO 0.0 EV
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Crop from the above image
ILCE-7RM6 FE 600mm F4 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter lens 840mm f/5.6 1/2000s 2000 ISO 0.0 EV
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ILCE-7RM6 FE 600mm F4 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter lens 840mm f/5.6 1/2000s 2500 ISO 0.0 EV
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ILCE-7RM6 FE 600mm F4 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter lens 840mm f/5.6 1/2000s 1000 ISO 0.0 EV
Aug 17, 2026 at 08:02 AM
p.1 #3Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
I hadn't used the 600 GM much at all after I bought the 300 GM. And I have a way to get to 800mm with my 400-800mm, albeit at f8. The 600 GM somewhat lost its appeal to me so I sold it few months ago. No regrets, since it stayed in the bag pretty much since the 300 GM's arrival. But you can't beat the light and bokeh at 600 f4.
Aug 17, 2026 at 08:16 AM
p.1 #4Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
I have both as well and find myself really only using the 600gm with the TC. It's an expensive "specialty" lens, but as others have noted, it is so good at what it does even with TCs. I must have an outstanding 2x because I get great IQ at f9. I briefly had the 4-8, but the weight was so close to the 600gm that I ended up selling it at a deep discount to a friend that doesn't have the 600gm. He is enjoying the 4-8 more than his 2-6 with 1.4. For now, my 600 is a "keep".
Now, if the new 1-4 with 2x tc was significantly stronger than the 2-6 with 1.4, I would consider dropping the prime, but it sounds like the 1-4 is best used naked and adding a tc get's it on par IQ wise with the 2-6 albeit with faster and more accurate focus.
Now, if the new 1-4 with 2x tc was significantly stronger than the 2-6 with 1.4, I would consider dropping the prime, but it sounds like the 1-4 is best used naked and adding a tc get's it on par IQ wise with the 2-6 albeit with faster and more accurate focus.
Aug 17, 2026 at 08:21 AM
p.1 #5Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
It does things the 300 —actually any other lens— can’t. Especially with the 1.4x added. You already own it, which is the biggest hurdle to using it. If you sell it, you’ll likely not buy it back. My point is I would only let it go if you’re 100% certain you’re never going to use it again.
OTOH, there is a certain freedom in lightening the load; and perhaps it is time to change your photographic subject focus to things better suited to lighter, smaller gear?
One more option is to consider is sort of a hybrid of the above two: the 400-800 as a lighter weight replacement, albeit slower and somewhat less capable, but at the same time a more flexible optic that might actually open a few new photographic doors. If you’re able, buy it and try it before letting the 600 go. This is the long lens I chose for the very reason of handhold-ability and portability, and I’m only a septuagenarian…
OTOH, there is a certain freedom in lightening the load; and perhaps it is time to change your photographic subject focus to things better suited to lighter, smaller gear?
One more option is to consider is sort of a hybrid of the above two: the 400-800 as a lighter weight replacement, albeit slower and somewhat less capable, but at the same time a more flexible optic that might actually open a few new photographic doors. If you’re able, buy it and try it before letting the 600 go. This is the long lens I chose for the very reason of handhold-ability and portability, and I’m only a septuagenarian…
Aug 17, 2026 at 08:58 AM
p.1 #6Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
I'm 84 and use my 600/4 more than 90% of the time.
When I die, I'm taking it with me.
When I die, I'm taking it with me.
Aug 17, 2026 at 03:21 PM
p.1 #7Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
Thanks Joshua, it's not the lens it's me. Great shots by the way, still haven't gotten a barn owl.
Aug 17, 2026 at 03:37 PM
p.1 #8Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
dclark wrote:
I'm 84 and use my 600/4 more than 90% of the time.
When I die, I'm taking it with me.
I wonder what the penalties are for robbing a grave?? About the only way I could ever own one!
Al
I'm 84 and use my 600/4 more than 90% of the time.
When I die, I'm taking it with me.
I wonder what the penalties are for robbing a grave?? About the only way I could ever own one!
Al
Aug 17, 2026 at 04:25 PM
p.1 #9Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
If it's not enjoyable to use anymore, I'd add a 2x TC to your 300 and ditch the 600 to free up $$. Maybe rent a 400-800. You could try some of the nice new auto deploy monopods with feet before ditching it.
Aug 17, 2026 at 06:52 PM
p.1 #10Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
I miss my 600f4 but I don't miss carrying it or the sore shoulder! Rocking the 300 and 2x TC on it, but when I look back at my 600f4 pics I can tell the extra oompf goes into them is not there. The 300 and 2x TC is great don't get me wrong but doesn't have the same effect unless I'm really close to the bird. But its so much more enjoyable being out in nature with the 300 vs the 600, its a tough choice for sure. Waiting for new hopefully lighter 600f4 (with no TC attached, Nikon can keep that) or rumored 600 6.3 but wondering if that 600 6.3 would beat out the 300/2x combo.
Aug 17, 2026 at 09:39 PM
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p.1 #11Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
The 600/4 is the only wildlife lens I currently have, and I have used quite a few.
Somehow I don't perceive it as being heavy, but I have been doing some excersises at home to keep in shape for 30 yrs by now, so that may affect my perception.
I do feel it is very big though, with a huge lens hood.
But it is also a lens without limitations, it does everything well, and I have no plans to return to compromises and limitations.
I would sell it for a 600mm f5GM (preferably with built-in 1.4TC) lens though (if only to get the size down), as I could part with the f4 but don't want to end up at f6.3 or such at 600mm.
Since a 600mm f5GM will never be made, I will simply keep the 600GM until I stop shooting wildlife.
Somehow I don't perceive it as being heavy, but I have been doing some excersises at home to keep in shape for 30 yrs by now, so that may affect my perception.
I do feel it is very big though, with a huge lens hood.
But it is also a lens without limitations, it does everything well, and I have no plans to return to compromises and limitations.
I would sell it for a 600mm f5GM (preferably with built-in 1.4TC) lens though (if only to get the size down), as I could part with the f4 but don't want to end up at f6.3 or such at 600mm.
Since a 600mm f5GM will never be made, I will simply keep the 600GM until I stop shooting wildlife.
Aug 18, 2026 at 12:22 PM
p.1 #12Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
I'm no octogenerican, only a sexigenerican. However, I feel there is a fallacy about handholding all the time. In the 20th century of course we used tripods and then I went to mostly handheld, but started using a tripod again after an arm injury. After recuperating I use a tripod part of the time, but really think about what would be better. If your main interest in the flying BIFs then the options may be limited, but I'm doing better with the combination of on and off tripod lately. I find accurate framing with the 600/4+1.4x difficult and in low light shutters favor the stability of course.
EBH
EBH
Aug 18, 2026 at 01:55 PM
p.1 #13Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
I've owned 600 f4s from Canon, Nikon, or Sony pretty much my entire shooting history.
I recently sold my 600GM in favor of the 300GM + 2x. In terms of optical quality, it is indistinguishable to me. I don't notice any difference in AF either.
The biggest thing I miss is the 840mm f5.6 option, which the 300GM doesn't have a native answer for.
Tried the 400-800 and was not impressed. May try the 100-400 f4.5 + 2x which most say outperforms the 400-800. But still do miss the true 840mm f5.6 from time to time.
I think if you mainly shoot at 600 f4, the swap to the 300GM + 2x is pretty much only positive. If you often shoot at 840mm f5.6 or 1200mm f8, there's still merit to the big boy.
I recently sold my 600GM in favor of the 300GM + 2x. In terms of optical quality, it is indistinguishable to me. I don't notice any difference in AF either.
The biggest thing I miss is the 840mm f5.6 option, which the 300GM doesn't have a native answer for.
Tried the 400-800 and was not impressed. May try the 100-400 f4.5 + 2x which most say outperforms the 400-800. But still do miss the true 840mm f5.6 from time to time.
I think if you mainly shoot at 600 f4, the swap to the 300GM + 2x is pretty much only positive. If you often shoot at 840mm f5.6 or 1200mm f8, there's still merit to the big boy.
Aug 20, 2026 at 10:18 AM
p.1 #14Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
Recently I have not used the 600 as much. The usual 300GM with converters but also using an OM 150-400 with the built in 1.25x. But I will NEVER give up my 600GM.
Aug 20, 2026 at 11:09 AM
p.1 #15Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
nmerc_photos wrote:
I've owned 600 f4s from Canon, Nikon, or Sony pretty much my entire shooting history.
I recently sold my 600GM in favor of the 300GM + 2x. In terms of optical quality, it is indistinguishable to me. I don't notice any difference in AF either.
The biggest thing I miss is the 840mm f5.6 option, which the 300GM doesn't have a native answer for.
Tried the 400-800 and was not impressed. May try the 100-400 f4.5 + 2x which most say outperforms the 400-800. But still do miss the true 840mm f5.6 from time to time.
I think if you mainly shoot at 600...Show more →
I have not seen reports that the 100-400 with 2X out performs the 400-800 at 800mm. Can you point me to any references for that? I would be excited if it were true.
I've owned 600 f4s from Canon, Nikon, or Sony pretty much my entire shooting history.
I recently sold my 600GM in favor of the 300GM + 2x. In terms of optical quality, it is indistinguishable to me. I don't notice any difference in AF either.
The biggest thing I miss is the 840mm f5.6 option, which the 300GM doesn't have a native answer for.
Tried the 400-800 and was not impressed. May try the 100-400 f4.5 + 2x which most say outperforms the 400-800. But still do miss the true 840mm f5.6 from time to time.
I think if you mainly shoot at 600...Show more →
I have not seen reports that the 100-400 with 2X out performs the 400-800 at 800mm. Can you point me to any references for that? I would be excited if it were true.
Aug 20, 2026 at 03:08 PM
RoamingScott
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p.1 #16Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
nmerc_photos wrote:
I've owned 600 f4s from Canon, Nikon, or Sony pretty much my entire shooting history.
I recently sold my 600GM in favor of the 300GM + 2x. In terms of optical quality, it is indistinguishable to me. I don't notice any difference in AF either.
The biggest thing I miss is the 840mm f5.6 option, which the 300GM doesn't have a native answer for.
Tried the 400-800 and was not impressed. May try the 100-400 f4.5 + 2x which most say outperforms the 400-800. But still do miss the true 840mm f5.6 from time to time.
I think if you mainly shoot at 600...Show more →
From all I've read and seen, this is the answer, full stop.
I've owned 600 f4s from Canon, Nikon, or Sony pretty much my entire shooting history.
I recently sold my 600GM in favor of the 300GM + 2x. In terms of optical quality, it is indistinguishable to me. I don't notice any difference in AF either.
The biggest thing I miss is the 840mm f5.6 option, which the 300GM doesn't have a native answer for.
Tried the 400-800 and was not impressed. May try the 100-400 f4.5 + 2x which most say outperforms the 400-800. But still do miss the true 840mm f5.6 from time to time.
I think if you mainly shoot at 600...Show more →
From all I've read and seen, this is the answer, full stop.
Aug 20, 2026 at 03:10 PM
p.1 #17Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
I can last a while handholding but it wears me out eventually. I'm never giving up on it's quality. With a sturdy CF tripod and the FlexShooter gimbal ball head, or on a monopod with a small gimbal type head, I can get most of what I want to get done.
Aug 20, 2026 at 05:49 PM
p.1 #18Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
RoamingScott wrote:
I recently sold my 600GM in favor of the 300GM + 2x. In terms of optical quality, it is indistinguishable to me. I don't notice any difference in AF either.
The biggest thing I miss is the 840mm f5.6 option, which the 300GM doesn't have a native answer for.
Tried the 400-800 and was not impressed. May try the 100-400 f4.5 + 2x which most say outperforms the 400-800. But still do miss the true 840mm f5.6 from time to time.
I think if you mainly shoot at 600 f4, the swap to the 300GM + 2x is pretty much only positive. If you often shoot at 840mm f5.6 or 1200mm f8, there's still merit to the big boy.From all I've read and seen, this is the answer, full stop.
From what I've read and seen you write, you seem to have experience with neither lens. No idea why you think you should have the final say.
nmerc_photos wrote
I've owned 600 f4s from Canon, Nikon, or Sony pretty much my entire shooting history.I recently sold my 600GM in favor of the 300GM + 2x. In terms of optical quality, it is indistinguishable to me. I don't notice any difference in AF either.
The biggest thing I miss is the 840mm f5.6 option, which the 300GM doesn't have a native answer for.
Tried the 400-800 and was not impressed. May try the 100-400 f4.5 + 2x which most say outperforms the 400-800. But still do miss the true 840mm f5.6 from time to time.
I think if you mainly shoot at 600 f4, the swap to the 300GM + 2x is pretty much only positive. If you often shoot at 840mm f5.6 or 1200mm f8, there's still merit to the big boy.
From what I've read and seen you write, you seem to have experience with neither lens. No idea why you think you should have the final say.
Aug 21, 2026 at 06:58 AM
p.1 #19Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
nmerc_photos wrote:
I recently sold my 600GM in favor of the 300GM + 2x. In terms of optical quality, it is indistinguishable to me.
Reasonable thing to do when there is no quality gain you can perceive. I can perceive such a difference. I like using the 300GM + 2x for scouting, but when I come across a worthwhile subject under good conditions I tend to be a bit miffed if I don't have the big gun with me.
Maybe you are living in a place like Florida and get away with less cropping. Or you shoot a lower resolution. Or you aren't obsessing about feathers. Or your presentation flattens out the difference. Or you flatten details with AI in post anyway. I would certainly not generally recommend the cash layout, but I would also not wana part from my 600.
I recently sold my 600GM in favor of the 300GM + 2x. In terms of optical quality, it is indistinguishable to me.
Reasonable thing to do when there is no quality gain you can perceive. I can perceive such a difference. I like using the 300GM + 2x for scouting, but when I come across a worthwhile subject under good conditions I tend to be a bit miffed if I don't have the big gun with me.
Maybe you are living in a place like Florida and get away with less cropping. Or you shoot a lower resolution. Or you aren't obsessing about feathers. Or your presentation flattens out the difference. Or you flatten details with AI in post anyway. I would certainly not generally recommend the cash layout, but I would also not wana part from my 600.
Aug 21, 2026 at 07:18 AM
p.1 #20Time to let it go? Sony FE 600mm f/4
Daran wrote:
Reasonable thing to do when there is no quality gain you can perceive. I can perceive such a difference. I like using the 300GM + 2x for scouting, but when I come across a worthwhile subject under good conditions I tend to be a bit miffed if I don't have the big gun with me.
Maybe you are living in a place like Florida and get away with less cropping. Or you shoot a lower resolution. Or you aren't obsessing about feathers. Or your presentation flattens out the difference. Or you flatten details with AI in post anyway. I would certainly...Show more →
Much to my own dismay, I am basically none of the things you suggest.
Live in gloomy Michigan. Crop almost every image by 70%. Don't do any flattening with presentation or AI.
At the 600mm focal length, it's pretty universally accepted that there's little to no qualitative difference between the 600GM and 300GM + 2x. Nobody in the world could accurately and repeatedly tell one lens from the other in blind tests, that we're aware of. It's purely a 1 stop of light difference for ~$4K extra, that also comes with double the weight.
nmerc_photos wrote
I recently sold my 600GM in favor of the 300GM + 2x. In terms of optical quality, it is indistinguishable to me.Maybe you are living in a place like Florida and get away with less cropping. Or you shoot a lower resolution. Or you aren't obsessing about feathers. Or your presentation flattens out the difference. Or you flatten details with AI in post anyway. I would certainly...Show more →
Much to my own dismay, I am basically none of the things you suggest.
Live in gloomy Michigan. Crop almost every image by 70%. Don't do any flattening with presentation or AI.
At the 600mm focal length, it's pretty universally accepted that there's little to no qualitative difference between the 600GM and 300GM + 2x. Nobody in the world could accurately and repeatedly tell one lens from the other in blind tests, that we're aware of. It's purely a 1 stop of light difference for ~$4K extra, that also comes with double the weight.
Aug 21, 2026 at 07:35 AM