Bummer about that lens size and weight. It's definitely a head-scratcher spec for me, and I wonder how it'll do in terms of sales.
I have even less interest in it now than I did initially. I haven't seen anyone ever saying "you know what I want? a slow zoom that's bigger AND heavier than the 200-600!"
Unless the pricing is extremely attractive, I can't imagine a use case or reason to carry a massive 400-800 f8 around.
In order for it to have good IQ and compete with the 600PF/800PF - it's going to need to be expensive. $4000 USD+. If that's the case, it'll be large, heavy, and expensive (relatively).
If it doesn't have IQ that competes with the light-weight primes, it'll aim to compete against the 180-600, 200-600, 200-800. It appears to be larger and heavier than all of those, and slower than most. I think the only appeal would be if it comes in cheaper than all of those lenses - which I don't think will be the case.
Because it is so big and heavy - that limits it a lot as a travel companion. You're looking at something in the category of 800PF/400 f2.8 / 600 f4 size. So you wouldn't be pairing this zoom with any of those lenses. it'd have to be your main lens, with a 100-400 or 70-200 complimenting it.
jhapeman wrote: ChrisMak wrote:
The coming 400-800 is internal zoom and bigger and heavier than the 200-600G. So not aimed at wildlife shooters that like small, portable and still high IQ.
On the other hand, being an upscaled 200-600G, it may offer better IQ than it would have had if the weight and sized would have been brought down by making it a f9 lens at the long end.
Why would you say that? I would say its 100% targeted a sports and wildlife shooters that want small, portable and high IQ, but want more than 600mm of reach, because the only other option available is going to be huge, heavy and expensive prime with a teleconverter.
2.5KG and "small and portable" do not belong in the same sentence IMO. especially if it's longer than the 200-600.
Depending on price - going with a 300GM + 2x and cropping would be a much more sensible option for those types of shooters.
and if you NEED a zoom, you'll still probably be choosing a 100-400 or 200-600 instead.
Jan 31, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Previous versions of nmerc_photos's message #16743290 « Sony 400-800 f/6.3-8 G It's here!! »
