Two new Sony Lenses! The $13,000 600mm f/4 G Master and 200-600 f/5.6-6.3 G Series.

Two new Sony Lenses! The $13,000 600mm f/4 G Master and 200-600 f/5.6-6.3 G Series.

Today Sony announced two new lenses and while they are not my cup of tea, it is what many sports pros have been waiting for and now they are drooling. I did not go to test this lens out as some others have but from what I have seen, if you shoot Sony and are a Sports pro, this 600mm f/4 G Master will be your money maker. This lens comes in at $13k US but no worries, for those who want something with reach and less cost, the new G series 200-600 f/5.6-6.3 may be the ticket. Sony continues to pump out the lenses and yes, they are still steamrolling the competition.  You can pre order these new lenses at B&H Photo HERE. 

Press release below:

PRESS RELEASE FROM SONY BELOW:

Sony’s Longest Reaching Prime Lens is World’s Lightest in its Class, Featuring High-performance Autofocus, High Resolution and Beautiful Bokeh

SAN DIEGO — June 11, 2019 — Sony Electronics Inc. today announced another impressive addition to its flagship full-frame G Master™ series lens lineup: the new FE 600mm F4 GM OSS super-telephoto prime lens (model SEL600F40GM).

As Sony’s longest reaching prime lens, the new 600mm includes many of the company’s most advanced optical and mechanical technologies, producing exceptional image quality with extraordinary focusing speed and precision. The FE 600mm F4 GM OSS is also the lightest lens in its class , weighing in at approx. 6.71 lbs., and features an extremely balanced design to ensure the best possible shooting experience. Along with the acclaimed FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS lens, the new 600mm lens gives professional sports, wildlife and news photographers more options for capturing subjects at a great distances with extreme accuracy and detail.

“With two new lenses announced today, our growing E-mount lens lineup now includes 33 full-frame models and 51 lenses in total,” said Neal Manowitz, deputy president for Imaging and Professional Solutions Americas at Sony Electronics. “The tenth model from our flagship G Master series, the new 600mm F4 raises the bar for speed, mobility and control in a super-telephoto prime lens. Combining the extensive 600mm reach with features like 20 fps shooting and AF/AE calculations at 60 times per second on the α9 or extremely high resolution, high-speed performance on the α7R III allow professional photographers to create images that were simply not possible to capture before.”

Fast, Precise and Quiet Autofocus

To take best advantage of the highly evolved autofocus systems of Sony’s latest full-frame E-mount cameras, the new FE 600mm F4 GM OSS lens features two extreme dynamic (XD) linear motors that drive the lens’ focus group to provide fast, precise AF and reliable subject tracking. These motors are supported by specially developed motion algorithms to minimize lag and instability, as well as to control noise levels, resulting in exceptionally quick, accurate and quiet autofocus performance, allowing the lens to capture dynamic, fast moving athletes or wildlife with ease.

Superb G Master Image Quality and Bokeh

As a member of Sony’s flagship G Master series lenses, this new large aperture super-telephoto prime lens features an incredible level of image quality and detail, with outstanding contrast and resolution maintained all the way to the corners of the image. The unique optical design includes a large extreme aspherical (XA) element that effectively suppress all common telephoto lens aberrations, in addition to three fluorite elements that help to minimize chromatic aberration and suppress any amount of color bleeding. Sony’s latest bokeh simulation technologies and XA element are also utilized to control spherical aberration and help achieve exquisite bokeh.

The lens features an 11-blade circular aperture mechanism that contributes to the high quality of bokeh in images, and it has been coated with Sony’s original Nano AR coating to suppress any unwanted reflections, glare or ghosting in images.

The new FE 600mm F4 GM OSS is compatible with Sony’s 1.4x and 2.0x E-mount tele-converters, producing outstanding imaging performance at extended focal lengths  while maintaining fast, precise AF performance.

Lightweight, Balanced Design

The new super-telephoto prime lens provides a level of portability and maneuverability that has never been achieved before in a lens of its class. Based on technology from the acclaimed FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS lens, the lightweight design of the new 600mm lens is achieved through the usage of three fluorite elements, with a reduced number of elements deployed at the front of the barrel. Magnesium alloy is also used throughout the lens to help minimize weight and bulk.

Also inherited from FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS, the new 600mm lens features a lens design that is not front-heavy, reducing moment of inertia that resists rotation and ensuring quicker, more precise panning when shooting handheld or on a monopod.

Durability, Reliability and Control

To withstand the harsh conditions of sporting events and wildlife photography, Sony’s new FE 600mm F4 GM OSS is built with a durable magnesium alloy and a strong, lightweight carbon fiber hood. The lens is dust and moisture resistant , and its front element is coated with fluorine to resist dirt and fingerprints.

FE 600mm F4 GM OSS features an ample number of hard controls on the lens, including customizable focus-hold buttons in four different locations on the lens barrel, which can be programmed for control of features, if desired. There is also a Full-Time DMF switch to immediately engage manual focus at any point, and a focus ring that features Linear Response MF for fine, responsive manual focus.

Additionally, the new lens includes built-in optical stabilization for dynamic action and three different ‘Mode’ settings, including a Mode 3  setting with an advanced algorithm that ensures easier framing when following moving subjects. It also features a function ring with selectable ‘Preset’ and ‘Function’ settings, and a drop-in filter slot that accepts ø 40.5mm ND and other filter types, as well as the optional VF-DCPL1 Drop-in Circular Polarizing Filter. The VF-DCPL1 filter can be rotated to achieve the desired polarization while installed in the lens.

Pricing and Availability

The FE 600mm F4 GM OSS will ship in August 2019 for approximately $13,000 US and $16,900 CA. It will be sold at a variety of Sony’s authorized dealers throughout North America.


I. Compared to interchangeable 600mm F4 lenses for 35mm full-frame format camera bodies, as of June 2019. Sony survey

II. When the NEX series, ILCE-3000/3500, ILCE-5000/5100, ILCE-7/7R/7S, is attached, the autofocus function is limited.  For details, please visit our support site.

https://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/www/cscs/lens_body/?area=gwt&lang=en&mdl=SEL600F40GM&cat=3

III. Maximum aperture with the 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters is F5.6 and F8, respectively

IV. Not guaranteed to be 100% dust and moisture proof

V. MODE 3 is supported by the latest α9/α7R III/α7 III software version.  Refer to the Sony support site for camera body compatibility information



 

Sony Announces New FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS Super-telephoto Zoom Lens

SAN DIEGO — June 11, 2019 — Sony Electronics Inc. today announced another new lens for their expanding full-frame FE lens lineup, the new FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS super-telephoto zoom lens (model SEL200600G).

Sony’s furthest reaching E-mount zoom, the new G Lens™ series model utilizes many of the company’s most advanced lens design technologies to ensure excellent image quality, high-performance autofocus (AF) and outstanding control. When paired with any of the latest, fastest E-mount camera bodies, it will reliably track and accurately capture all types of moving subjects, including birds, wildlife, athletes in motion and much more.

“We will continue to innovate and expand upon our E-mount lens lineup, which now features 33 full-frame models and 51 lenses in total. The new 200-600mm super-telephoto zoom lens gives Sony’s camera users yet another powerful tool to realize their vision,” said Neal Manowitz, deputy president for Imaging and Professional Solutions Americas at Sony Electronics. “For wildlife or bird photographers, sports photography enthusiasts and many others, it offers a new level of creative freedom, striking the ultimate balance between performance and portability.”

Key Features – New FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS super-telephoto zoom lens

Extended reach with built-in stabilization

  • Versatile tele-zoom range from 200mm telephoto to 600mm super-telephoto
  • Compatible with Sony’s E-mount 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters, extending the reach to a maximum of 840mm at F9 or 1200mm at F13 with outstanding image quality and AF performance
  • Built-in optical stabilization with three different mode settings, enabling images that are sharp and in-focus at extended super-telephoto focal lengths

High resolution and corner-to-corner sharpness throughout the entire zoom range

  • Five extra-low dispersion (ED) glass elements and an aspherical element, arranged in a new optical design that minimizes chromatic aberration
  • 11-blade circular aperture mechanism that ensures beautiful bokeh
  • Coated with Sony’s original Nano AR coating to suppress unwanted reflections, glare or ghosting in images

Fast, precise and quiet autofocus

  • Equipped with Sony’s Direct Drive SSM (DDSSM) focusing system, which has the power and precision needed to drive the lens mechanism for remarkably fast, accurate focusing
  • Advanced focus system for exceptionally quiet operation, avoiding any unwanted noise that can disrupt an unpredictable subject like a resting bird or other forms of wildlife

Internal zoom mechanism for reliable and stable handheld shooting

  • Overall lens length does not change while zooming, maintaining consistent balance and distance between the front of the lens and desired shooting subject
  • A fixed-length structure – internal zoom mechanism – retains high resistance to dust and moisture  in order to deal with difficult outdoor conditions
  • Quick zoom operation with light zoom ring torque

Refined control and reliability for use in the field

  • Focus ring featuring Linear Response MF for fine, responsive manual focus control
  • Three customizable focus-hold buttons, plus a Focus Range Limiter
  • Dust and moisture resistant designii and fluorine coating on the front element to resist dirt and fingerprints

Pricing and Availability

The FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS will ship in August 2019 for approximately $2,000 US and $2,600 CA. It will be sold at a variety of Sony’s authorized dealers throughout North America.

12 Comments

  1. I want this lens (200-600). I need this lens. I pre-ordered this lens the same day the news came out. The “small, light” assignation is relative, however. At 12.5″ long and 4.4″ in diameter there will be room for little else in my camera bag. All those beautiful prime lenses will be relegated to a fanny pack, and I’ll be a zoom person once again (aka Nikon recidivism).

    I shoot a lot of video, professionally, with a Sony A7Riii and 100-400 zoom. I frequently switch to Super-35 to get the reach I need, sacrificing dynamic range and resolution in the process. I look forward to capturing critters in nature too, for which 400 mm is often marginal.

    I’ll keep the primes for landscapes and closesups, and hire a second mule for the zoom lenses. Thanks for the review, Steve. I look forward to a closer take from you.

  2. This seems to be part of their strategy of eventually becoming #1. To get there, and stay there, you need the pros using your product, and there are a lot of pros that use these lenses. Makes perfect sense.

  3. Well the zoom is more super than the title suggests as it is a 200-600, and the other isnt claiming to be a zoom anywhere I can see. Now I am sure if Steve had known his typo was going to cause such stress he would have taken more care in getting the news out….
    Have you had your blood pressure checked 🙂

    • Wow, I screwed this one up! I was actually on a road trip when I received the press release. Arrived home, tired and worn out a few hours later and posted. Could have sworn it was a 200-400! Being a 200-600 is pretty amazing actually. Should do well for them as many love a good long reach telephoto lens.

  4. Competition works! Sony is not playing the game of maximum standards. It’s playing the game of minimum standards – and the bar is very high.

    At the same time, we really don’t really need cameras with big sensors. They do have better performance in low light, but the lenses are quite big. I’d be very happy with something like a 6500 or an E-M1.

    • I would say this new 200-600 lens would actually be best suited for the A6500, just like the Nikon 200-500 is usually paired with the D500.

    • Voightlander’s lenses (yes they’re manual) aren’t the behemoths that most high quality fullframe lenses are.

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