Sony’s New Lenses-600 and 200-600

https://www.dpreview.com/news/4842214179/sony-announces-200-600mm-f5-6-6-3-g-oss-and-600mm-f4-gm-oss-lenses

https://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2019/06/11/hands-on-with-sonys-two-new-lenses-200-600mm-and-600mm

https://www.dpreview.com/samples/0983663478/sony-fe-600mm-f4-gm-oss-sample-gallery?utm_source=self-desktop&utm_medium=marquee&utm_campaign=traffic_source

https://www.dpreview.com/samples/5011616089/sony-fe-200-600mm-f5-6-6-3-g-oss-sample-gallery

https://www.dpreview.com/articles/4146085092/hands-on-with-new-sony-gm-600mm-f4-and-g-200-600mm-f5-6-6-3

Joe

Several videos here:

Videos

Joe 

6.6lb for a 600 f/4 - we've come a long way! My first 600 in 2000 was 13lb.

More from Sony’s site:

600mm

200-600

Joe

4.7lb for the 200-600 - still a pretty hefty lens that will be difficult to travel with in much of the world outside of North America which seems to be more and more standardizing on 7kg (15.5lb) for maximum carry-on weight.

E.J. Peiker wrote:6.6lb for a 600 f/4 - we've come a long way!  My first 600 in 2000 was 13lb.

If I want 600...my old Minolta is still 13lbs.  Obviously, it doesn't get much use anymore.

Mike in O wrote:

E.J. Peiker wrote:6.6lb for a 600 f/4 - we've come a long way!  My first 600 in 2000 was 13lb.

If I want 600...my old Minolta is still 13lbs.  Obviously, it doesn't get much use anymore.

Well, I still have my first EOS EF 600/4L USM which is 6kg (13.2 lb) !!!
I bought it new in 1998.

Folks:

Will these new Sony lenses be compatible with mirror less Sony cameras?  If not, what does this mean
so far as Sony’s view about the future for DSLRs?

Best Regards,

Roman 

Porsche917 wrote:Folks:

Will these new Sony lenses be compatible with mirror less Sony cameras?  If not, what does this mean
so far as Sony’s view about the future for DSLRs?

Best Regards,

Roman 

They are only for the mirrorless cameras that's what E-mount or FE means.  Sony does not make DSLRs in the traditional sense - their DSLR style cameras are called DSLTs and do not have mirrors that flip up - this system uses the A-mount but have pretty much left that system to languish and haven't introduced anything new in some time now.

Porsche917 wrote:Folks:

Will these new Sony lenses be compatible with mirror less Sony cameras?  If not, what does this mean
so far as Sony’s view about the future for DSLRs?

Best Regards,

Roman 

Here’s an interview with the head of Sony’s global interchangeable lens business regarding the concept Sony has for the future and the design of these lenses:


https://www.dpreview.com/interviews/1348083745/sony-interview-600mm-f4-200-600mm-launch

Joe

Good to see that Sony acknowledges the presence of wildlife photographers and specifically targetted the new 600 f/4 for us...
https://www.dpreview.com/interviews/134 ... 0mm-launch

E.J. Peiker wrote:Good to see that Sony acknowledges the presence of wildlife photographers and specifically targetted the new 600 f/4 for us...
https://www.dpreview.com/interviews/134 ... 0mm-launch

I like the subtle comment that is made in the editors note at the bottom of the article regarding “professional service support”.

Joe

SantaFeJoe wrote:

E.J. Peiker wrote:Good to see that Sony acknowledges the presence of wildlife photographers and specifically targetted the new 600 f/4 for us...
https://www.dpreview.com/interviews/134 ... 0mm-launch

I like the subtle comment that is made in the editors note at the bottom of the article regarding “professional service support”.

Joe

As you know, I have stories about that...  It isn't actually the people at Sony Imaging Pro Services that are the problem, it's that Sony Corporate in Japan has decided to outsource the repair part of it to a disreputable third party in the USA and a few other countries.

The next generation of cameras that can use the future proofing of these lenses is going to be something. I will just plod along with my A mount and its decent ergonomics. The RX10IV is already too complicated for me but it has a 600 (equiv.) f4 lens and is easy to carry.

Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS effectively becomes an 280-840mm F8-9 with a 1.4x TC and a 400-1200mm F11-13 using a 2x TC.
Initial test reports say when testing the FE 2X TC in Wide or Zone Focus Areas, Sony a9 was able to achieve Phase Detection AF-C all the way out to an effective aperture of F72!!!

Sony a9 performs best when using TC with these lenses, but the other cameras such as a7R III still allow extremely fast Contrast AF-C.

KK Hui wrote:Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS effectively becomes an 280-840mm F8-9 with a 1.4x TC and a 400-1200mm F11-13 using a 2x TC.
Initial test reports say when testing the FE 2X TC in Wide or Zone Focus Areas, Sony a9 was able to achieve Phase Detection AF-C all the way out to an effective aperture of F72!!!

Sony a9 performs best when using TC with these lenses, but the other cameras such as a7R III still allow extremely fast Contrast AF-C.

Testing by Tony Northrup:

Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 Review: FINALLY!

0:11 / 10:29 $13,000 Sony 600mm f/4 GM lens review: MIRRORLESS WILDLIFE!


There is lag...

Anyone think that Nikon and Canon are going to loose a big chunk of their sales of exotic super telephotos to Sony? I was thinking about a new Nikon 600 F4 but man, now I'm really hesitant to to futz with adapters and heavy old tech lenses that aren't "Future Ready". Heck, the mirrorless bodies (Nkon/Canon) aren't even quite there for wildlife photographers either. Checkmate Sony.

Gary Gulash wrote:Anyone think that Nikon and Canon are going to loose a big chunk of their sales of exotic super telephotos to Sony? I was thinking about a new Nikon 600 F4 but man, now I'm really hesitant to to futz with adapters and heavy old tech lenses that aren't "Future Ready". Heck, the mirrorless bodies (Nkon/Canon) aren't even quite there for wildlife photographers either. Checkmate Sony.

I don't know, but I do think if Canikon lose market share to Sony, it won't be due to their exotics but because Sony offers a better overall system. In my own case I'm watching Sony very closely, but until/unless Sony release a high MP AF monster camera (A9II?) that can compete with my D850, their superteles are not relevant to me no matter how light and sharp the are. 

What I find more interesting is the strong interest in smaller/lighter long lenses. Just look at the length of the threads about the new Sony 200-600 VS the new 600/4, or even 400/2.8. In the Nikon camp the chatter about the the 500PF alone eclipses all of the threads on the 400/2.8, 500/4, 600/4 or 800/5.6 added together, if you can even find them. As important as it is for Sony to offer a range of fast superteles to compete with Canikon overall, it appears to me the market for large f4 superteles is shrinking and the interest in smaller/lighter/uber-sharp lenses like Nikon's 500PF is the future for most amateur wildlife photogs which, after all, is where most of the sales are. Right now, the first manufacturer to release a 600PF-type lens will have a smash-hit on their hands, I think. What I do know is that the more I use my 500PF, the more my 600/4 says in the bag...which these days is happening with increasing frequency.

I’d take a 600 f4(at this weight) over a 500 f5.6 any day. The extra stop of light and the extra 100mm is huge to me. Add a 1.4 TC to it and you gain even more focal length at the same f5.6. It is normal for me to always desire more focal length than my 500 f4 for most birds/many mammals and the quiet shutter means a lot as well, along with no need to AF fine tune vs. D850. Price is another story!

Re a9: This price reduction suggests to me that a new model may be coming soon:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1333228-REG/sony_ilce_9_b_alpha_a9_mirrorless_digital.html

Joe

SantaFeJoe wrote:I’d take a 600 f4(at this weight) over a 500 f5.6 any day. The extra stop of light and the extra 100mm is huge to me. Add a 1.4 TC to it and you gain even more focal length at the same f5.6. It is normal for me to always desire more focal length than my 500 f4 for most birds/many mammals and the quiet shutter means a lot as well, along with no need to AF fine tune vs. D850. Price is another story!

Re a9: This price reduction suggests to me that a new model may be coming soon:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1333228-REG/sony_ilce_9_b_alpha_a9_mirrorless_digital.html

Joe

A few months ago I would have confidently said the same thing. But now that I have some time behind the 3.3lb(!) 500PF...which works amazingly well with the TC14EIII yielding 700mm @f8 wide open, I'm not so sure. I'm beginning to dream of a future kit consisting of a 500/5.6PF & 600/5.6PF backed up by a 400/2.8 MkIII for low light conditions all driven by an A9-type body.