sony 400 spec

It has been released and is a whole kilo lighter than other 400 f2.8's.
https://www.dpreview.com/news/611870529 ... for-12-000

They also put up a First Impressions piece:
https://www.dpreview.com/articles/18707 ... 2-8-gm-oss

About 2lb less and better balanced with most of the weight centered over the collar rather than towards the front element compared to the competition is actually a pretty big deal.

Some interesting reports on Youtube as well..... definitely an interesting development - 20 FPS with iFocus .... a major wakeup call for Canikon.

E.J. Peiker wrote:They also put up a First Impressions piece:
https://www.dpreview.com/articles/18707 ... 2-8-gm-oss

About 2lb less and better balanced with most of the weight centered over the collar rather than towards the front element compared to the competition is actually a pretty big deal.

Impressive -- 2 lb lighter is huge. I wonder if Sony sacrificed optics or build to get the weight down...hard to believe Canon or Nikon couldn't have done the same.

I'm not sure what I'm more impressed with, the lens or the number of people posting hands-on reviews. Sony sure knows how to market.

Gary Irwin wrote: Impressive -- 2kg lighter is huge. I wonder if Sony sacrificed optics or build to get the weight down...hard to believe Canon or Nikon couldn't have done the same.

On this page, under “The Worlds lightest...” they give their explanation. The fact that they reduced the number of elements up front makes sense. Smaller diameter elements farther back in barrel=less weight, plus the use of magnesium.

https://www.sony.com/electronics/camera-lenses/sel400f28gm?cpint=SG_CATEGORY_SEC-TOUT-OTHER-SEL400F28GM-EN_GL-2018-05-M01-LARGEAPERTURESUPER-TOUT01-LARGEAPERTURESUPER

And more here, also under “The worlds lightest..”:

https://www.sony.com/electronics/camera-lenses/sel400f28gm/specifications

Joe

SantaFeJoe wrote:

Gary Irwin wrote: Impressive -- 2kg lighter is huge. I wonder if Sony sacrificed optics or build to get the weight down...hard to believe Canon or Nikon couldn't have done the same.

On this page, under “Worlds lightest...” they give their explanation. The fact that they reduced the number of elements up front makes sense. Smaller diameter elements farther back in barrel=less weight, plus the use of magnesium.

https://www.sony.com/electronics/camera-lenses/sel400f28gm?cpint=SG_CATEGORY_SEC-TOUT-OTHER-SEL400F28GM-EN_GL-2018-05-M01-LARGEAPERTURESUPER-TOUT01-LARGEAPERTURESUPER

Joe

Joe, I believe all super teles for FF from the big 3 are made with mag barrels.  Weight savings come from flourite lenses and more narrow body (filter size is 40.5 compared to A mount 43mm).  I wouldn't be surprised if the linear motor as opposed to ring and the OSS are lighter also.  Since the lens and body can share stabilization duties, the lens gyro wouldn't have to be as robust.

Mike in O wrote:
Joe, I believe all super teles for FF from the big 3 are made with mag barrels.  Weight savings come from flourite lenses and more narrow body (filter size is 40.5 compared to A mount 43mm).  I wouldn't be surprised if the linear motor as opposed to ring and the OSS are lighter also.  Since the lens and body can share stabilization duties, the lens gyro wouldn't have to be as robust.

Here are two comparison charts of the way the elements are placed in the barrel and their diameters. First is Nikon:

Nikon 400 f2.8

Then Sony under “lens configuration” on this page:

Sony400 f2.8

Notice the diameters of the largest lens elements. If you can view them in split-screen, the difference is obvious. Large diameter glass is heavy. The placement farther back in the barrel also helps with the balance of the lens, which should make handling better.

Joe

Hmmm....Sony's design looks almost radical, but I guess the proof will be in the pudding, err images, so-to-speak.

would be even cooler with built-in 1.4x and 2x.
In the quality E.J. reported of the 1.4x in Nikons 180-400

then Sony would have a great 4/560 and 5.6/800 in one lens. And all for then maybe slightly above 3kg.
That would be something Canon and Nikon don't have.

And I noticed that the Sony lens is lighter than my Nikon 500mm f4 E VR and is about the same weight as the Nikon 300mm f2.8 ED VR II.

photoman4343 wrote:And I noticed that the Sony lens is lighter than my Nikon 500mm f4 E VR and is about the same weight as the Nikon 300mm f2.8 ED VR II.

To me that's what's really interesting. Who knows, in another camera generation or two I might actually have to start looking at Sony. 

Some hands on test videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... VIogwOPBfU (This guy is a Nikon shooter and often negative on Sony)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkh00IOqhkg (These two are generally pro-Sony)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaZzNI5tz0I (He's generally unbiased and honest)

Hopefully, they bring out a 500mmf4 before too long, or even the rumoured 200-600.

Scott Fairbairn wrote:Hopefully, they bring out a 500mmf4 before too long, or even the rumoured 200-600.

Sony has had the 500mm f4 G SSM since 2013, but it doesn't get great reviews. It's not a G master lens though.

Gary Irwin wrote:

Scott Fairbairn wrote:Hopefully, they bring out a 500mmf4 before too long, or even the rumoured 200-600.

Sony has had the 500mm f4 G SSM since 2013, but it doesn't get great reviews. It's not a G master lens though.

An FE 500 f/4 would be a clean sheet design and the patent ahs already been issued.  The A-mount lens has nothing to do with it at all.

if this lens works as well (or better) with the 1.4 and 2x converters than the 100-400 (which is outstanding), coupled with the A9, it will be a a perfect old fart's wildlife combo!  Oh wait, that's me.

Love the A9 and A73 with the available Sony lenses.  This one will complete the conversion from Canon.

Mike

New review:

https://www.dpreview.com/videos/0035702226/dpreview-tv-the-sony-400mm-f2-8-is-a-pretty-sweet-lens

Joe

Sports photographers review on YouTube:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rmo85mOQG ... ntinue=193

Joe

The teardown:

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2019/0 ... mm-f2-8-g/

Joe