p.11 #1 · Sony FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS Images Thread
G-FOTO.de wrote:
But I also noticed that OSS mode 1 stabilizes far better with sitting objects than OSS mode 2. Which is logical because mode 2 is made for panning. Therefore I recommenend to use mode 1 for static objetcs.
I take this opportunity to remark again how inconvenient to have such functions be only adjustable by lens buttons or switches.
I have different memory banks for static and fast action shooting and cannot set OS mode or the focus limiter dynamically.
Hope users who have Sony's ear also find this important enough to mention.
p.11 #2 · Sony FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS Images Thread
arbitrage wrote:
My biggest head scratcher when viewing those 600/1.4 vs 400-800 comparison shots is the DOF difference. Something has to be way different with the focal plane to be rendering that bark so sharp in the 400-800 shots and so OOF on the 600/1.4 shots.
840 f/9 vs 800 f/8 shouldn't be that different and there should be a little more DOF in the 840 shot, not the other way round.
It is odd. But the new 600 is still going the beat the 400-800 for nine out of ten people. It's a GM prime, not a G, which surprised me. Although I suppose price could be an issue after adding the 1.4TC to the 600.
p.11 #4 · Sony FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS Images Thread
dcmiller wrote:
It is odd. But the new 600 is still going the beat the 400-800 for nine out of ten people. It's a GM prime, not a G, which surprised me. Although I suppose price could be an issue after adding the 1.4TC to the 600.
I don't know about that... my 400-800 is wicked sharp... even with a 1.4x or 2x on it. I'll test the 600 with the teleconverters today to see how well it performs. I'm really curious to try the 300 + 2x against the lens... I might end up selling the 300 (shutters a little) if there isn't much difference. I live at the 600-800+ range so the 300/400 isn't used much.
Sample of the 400-800 f.8.0 click on the link to see the full res image. The 600+1.4x needs to produce the same or better for me to remotely consider selling off the 800.
p.11 #5 · Sony FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS Images Thread
Damn! I'm liking the results with the TCs on this lens! Handholding at 840mm and 1200mm, I think the OSS is fine. I took about 50 test shots and everyone was solid in spite of me waving the lens around.
p.11 #7 · Sony FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS Images Thread
Distance to both subjects was 8 meters. OSS on and mode 2 for both lenses.
Bird model is 5.5 inches tall, similar sized to Towhee or Catbird.
Sticker measures 3.5 inches wide.
p.11 #8 · Sony FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS Images Thread
G-FOTO.de wrote:
But I also noticed that OSS mode 1 stabilizes far better with sitting objects than OSS mode 2. Which is logical because mode 2 is made for panning. Therefore I recommenend to use mode 1 for static objetcs.
umut_h_toprak wrote:
I take this opportunity to remark again how inconvenient to have such functions be only adjustable by lens buttons or switches.
I have different memory banks for static and fast action shooting and cannot set OS mode or the focus limiter dynamically.
Hope users who have Sony's ear also find this important enough to mention.
Pity, but yeah I'm not going to play the game of switching OSS modes for static vs moving birds, its just going to stay on 2 at all times for my own sanity. I already bought the rolanpro cover without the window to the external buttons, because I almost never adjust those anyway. AF always on, DMF always off, OSS always on and mode 2. Safety always OFF.
p.11 #9 · Sony FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS Images Thread
Here's a video I haven't seen posted yet. Just a normal dude shooting a bunch of (what appear to me to be) exotic birds. Often high ISO examples, and they look really good.
p.11 #10 · Sony FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS Images Thread
Did some quick indoor tests.
100% center crops of 8.5x11 laser printed ISO_12233 test chart from Cornell University.
F4.5, 6.3, 8, 9, 11 and 13 used same manual flash power
1/200, ISO100, 10s timer with A1II electronic shutter
My 400 F4.5 with 1.4x TC is very very slightly better than a bare 600 F6.3. Confirms what Dustin Abbott observed in his tests. I did notice AF speed differences with the TC especially indoors. Didn't post corner crops, they vary more but can if people want to see. Some corners my 400 is better others 600 is better. Also noticed stabilization wasn't as good on the primes compared to zooms.
p.11 #11 · Sony FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS Images Thread
The-Digital-Picture.com—a source I consider entirely credible—has just published the results of image quality tests for the Sony 600mm f/6.3 and Sony 400mm f/4.5 lenses.
p.11 #12 · Sony FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS Images Thread
billsnature wrote:
Sorry the screen shots don't show it. Yes the 400-800 was at f8. You should be jealous, I do have a great copy of that lens. I have never shot anything with that lens that wasn't f8 or f6.3 on the wide side
I have corrected the titles below images they were backwards sorry.
I am really wonder if my 600 has a defective OSS system.
That's exactly what I think is the problem with the 400-800 because at 720mm f/8 its perfect but 800mm its like there is motion blur or some weird ghosting effect. If I turn everything off - and don't touch the camera or use a pillow rest then f/8 seems to match f/10. In practice that's not useful though.
100% center crops of 8.5x11 laser printed ISO_12233 test chart from Cornell University.
F4.5, 6.3, 8, 9, 11 and 13 used same manual flash power
1/200, ISO100, 10s timer with A1II electronic shutter
My 400 F4.5 with 1.4x TC is very very slightly better than a bare 600 F6.3. Confirms what Dustin Abbott observed in his tests. I did notice AF speed differences with the TC especially indoors. Didn't post corner crops, they vary more but can if people want to see. Some corners my 400 is better others 600 is better. Also noticed stabilization wasn't as good on the primes compared to zooms. ...Show more →
How did you do this test? How is it possible the bare 600 is softer than 600 + 1.4x and 2x? Definitely seems like there's a lot of bad copies of this lens. There's no way the 200-600 should be sharper than the 600.
Unless it was mis focused, but then how are we seeing so many mis focusing tests? its unlikely everyone is making mistakes. It could very well be a faulty AF system/calibration like with many, many 400-800s out there including mine.
I am getting mine next week mostly and I am braced to return it.
p.11 #14 · Sony FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS Images Thread
I am getting now more and more frustrated with my 600GM and my A1.
Today I shot a redtail in my backyard, sitting quite a while on a stick. Hence a very easy task for an A1.
I took 5 series with a total of 146 pics. I used AFC with Eye AF, 1/800 at ISO3200, OSS ON mode 1.
The Sony Image viewer showed from pic 6 onwards that the green AF square is right on the eye.
Only 8 pics out of this 146 are sharp/usuable. The rest is simply unusable.
I need to do some further testing/investigation but I am on the fence to return my lens.
p.11 #17 · Sony FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS Images Thread
A fun morning out. I didn't see a ton of wildlife to photograph but I was able to capture a few shots. The goat shots are all full resolution, feel free to click on the Flickr link and have a look at the details. These goats were loose just outside of Parker Lake here in southern Arizona. It's likely they will return home in the evening.
The Kestrel flew off quickly right after I snapped a couple of shots, I drove further down the mountain and it was closer to the road, which was great of course, and I was able to capture some nice shots. It flew off after about 30 seconds.
Thoughts about the lens. On the ride home I was thinking about how great this lens is, I know it's the "honeymoon" phase but it's really nice. Not just from a sharpness or performance perspective, from the point of how many people will be able to us it. Think about how many people gave up shooting longer focal lengths because the size and weight of the bigger lenses in this range were no longer manageable. People who sold off their big primes or even find the 200-600 or 400-800 too heavy to shoot. This is a wonderful lens for so many people. No, it's not F/4 or F/5.6 but a little extra noise and maybe not the most "scene crushing" bokeh, but wow, those IMO are minor tradeoffs to be able to shoot at 600mm+ with such a light package for so many people.
The AF is fast, accurate, the lens is sharp enough I don't need to add sharpening in most cases. Shooting with it, the lens reminds me of the 500PF I used to own when shooting Nikon but lighter. As I mentioned in a previous post, I forgot about the lens and just shot. Another thing, access while shooting, it might be some simple, but I was able to have the camera/lens sitting on my leg with the lens pointed up, resting my hand on the lens, and when it was time to shoot, it was right there.
Now... Sony... if you are listening (lol) next logical step is the 800 F/6.3... light, small, and amazing like the 600/6.3. I would buy one the second you release it.
I still need to try the 600 with the TCs and compare it against the 300 with TCs. Maybe this evening or tomorrow.
I do hope those of you who have purchased the lens are having as much fun as I am shooting with it. I still can't believe we can shoot at 600mm with such a small, light lens.
I would buy one the second you release it. 
