DjAlbatros

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First of all, it is very clear to me that there are numerous threads about this subject already (1 , 2 , 3 , 4, 5, ...) but I didn't find them very bundled or clear. And there are some additional questions for my specific setup so here we go...

Currently, I have the following setup:

- A7RIII

- Sony FE 70-300mm

I am using this setup for wildlife and birds because at the time of buying this combo I didn't want to spend more on a zoom lens. Having played with this telelens for over one year it is time for something different, better and longer. As there are only a few native options, there are numerous third-party options:

NATIVE:

- FE 400 mm F2.8 GM OSS: way out of my league and financially not feasible. And I don't want to be stuck at fixed zoom.

- G Master FE 100-400mm: seems to be the best native compact zoom for a "decent" price.

- A-mount 70–400 mm F4–5.6 G SSM II with Sony adapter: anyone has experience with this one how it compares to the 100-400 and what is the best adapter to use to get most functionality?

THIRD-PARTY:

- TAMRON 150-600mm G2 A-mount seems to be the best option for A7RII

- SIGMA 150-600mm S or C

What I like about these third-party lenses is the extra reach which comes in really handy for me (wildlife living in trees, birds flying over or sitting in trees quite far away). It can be a challenging environment where I mostly shoot in. Dark (the sun doesn't always get through the jungle canopy) and fast-moving objects, portability is also a plus...

So I would be willing to sacrifice some functionality in the favor of reach...BUT...not completely.

I have never used adapters on my Sony body so I really don't know how it feels using them with third-party lenses. I have seen many videos already related to my search for a good tele.

As a photographer, I use certain functions on my A7RIII a lot and maybe those are important for my lens choice so that's why I want to share them:

- I use crop mode a lot and have it assigned to C1 (APSC toggle) for that extra reach when needed.

- I also use AF/MF toggle a lot and have it assigned to C2 for quick changing so I can get my object tack sharp adjusting manually where needed.

- When focusing manually I use the focus magnifier all the time for 2 reasons. First as binoculars to identify my object. Second as a magnifier to get the focus spot on.

- My settings for wildlife are usually HI+ / AF-C / Flexible spot S / Aperture mode with min SS set to 1/125 or 1/250 to avoid blurry birds / metering mode MULTI.

So the questions are:

Are these settings available on an adapter and third party lens?

Can I still crop a 150-600 with adapter to a 225-900mm?

Can I still toggle AF / MF?

Will the magnifier still work properly? Currently, the stabilization of this combo is quite good so the magnifier works really well.

Will the third-party stabilization (if there is any) work well with the Sony IBIS?

I am aware there will be focus modes and areas unavailable with certain adapters and I do realize that "works well" is subjective but since I explained my current setup maybe there are people out there that have (had) both and can really compare with the same reference as me.

Oh and what about the rumors for a new Sony native telephoto? I'm guessing it will empty my bank account :) Maybe Sigma or Tamron will release a well-priced version soon??...

I would like to conclude with a gallery of images I found in other threads as a good reference for other people who are seeking the same answers and comparisons.

Tamron 150-600 (with different Sony bodies)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/71187330@N08/sets/72157670450229086/with/27771342080/
https://explorecams.com/photos/pair/ilce-7rm2=150-600mm-f5-6-3-ssm
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60941589
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60806074

Sigma 150-600 (with different Sony bodies)
https://explorecams.com/photos/pair/ilce-7rm2=sigma-150-600mm-f-5-6-3-dg-os-hsm-c
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4221276
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4279494
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60704889

And at last for the people who want to see my work with this setup, it is displayed here

Thanks in advance!
 
Last edited:
My budget is lower than yours and I've been enjoying using the sigma 100-400 with the MC-11 on a7rii.

AF and sharpness is acceptable, and I find it more versatile than a 150-600mm lens.

My recommendation would be to get the excellent 100-400 and make use of the resolution to confidently crop images, rather than lug around the 600mm lens, but of course, it's down to preference, if you have a 70-200 the 100-400 might feel a little redundant. Of course there are times when a 400mm will not be enough, or a 600mm will be too cumbersome to take out walking/hiking etc, so it's a personal compromise.

Teleconverters may be an option?
 
Last edited:
Fortunately the answer is much shorter than your question/statement.

G Master FE 100-400mm

:-D

For extra reach add the x1.4TC

Sorted.

Yes, I have this exact combination.
 
Does the A7RIII AF-C works fast enough with the combination FE100-400 + TC1,4x & TC2.0x ?

Thx in advance!
 
First of all, it is very clear to me that there are numerous threads about this subject already (1 , 2 , 3 , 4, 5, ...) but I didn't find them very bundled or clear. And there are some additional questions for my specific setup so here we go...

Currently, I have the following setup:

- A7RIII

- Sony FE 70-300mm

I am using this setup for wildlife and birds because at the time of buying this combo I didn't want to spend more on a zoom lens. Having played with this telelens for over one year it is time for something different, better and longer. As there are only a few native options, there are numerous third-party options:

NATIVE:

- FE 400 mm F2.8 GM OSS: way out of my league and financially not feasible. And I don't want to be stuck at fixed zoom.

- G Master FE 100-400mm: seems to be the best native compact zoom for a "decent" price.
I would not exactly say that the price is "decent" for the Sony 100-400mm GM, but its your best lens to have. I have it with the 1.4X tele. Very fast with great IQ. Before getting the Sony, I had the Canon 100-400mm which I used with a Metabones IV adapter. This combo works great in C-AF but I was uncertain of its performance for BIF, so I opted for the Sony. I really should have waited to test the Canon some more, but its now water under the bridge.
- A-mount 70–400 mm F4–5.6 G SSM II with Sony adapter: anyone has experience with this one how it compares to the 100-400 and what is the best adapter to use to get most functionality?

THIRD-PARTY:

- TAMRON 150-600mm G2 A-mount seems to be the best option for A7RII

- SIGMA 150-600mm S or C

What I like about these third-party lenses is the extra reach which comes in really handy for me (wildlife living in trees, birds flying over or sitting in trees quite far away). It can be a challenging environment where I mostly shoot in. Dark (the sun doesn't always get through the jungle canopy) and fast-moving objects, portability is also a plus...

So I would be willing to sacrifice some functionality in the favor of reach...BUT...not completely.

I have never used adapters on my Sony body so I really don't know how it feels using them with third-party lenses. I have seen many videos already related to my search for a good tele.
I have heard that this combo works good also, but again, I would only trust it if I was only shooting perched birds.
As a photographer, I use certain functions on my A7RIII a lot and maybe those are important for my lens choice so that's why I want to share them:

- I use crop mode a lot and have it assigned to C1 (APSC toggle) for that extra reach when needed.

- I also use AF/MF toggle a lot and have it assigned to C2 for quick changing so I can get my object tack sharp adjusting manually where needed.

- When focusing manually I use the focus magnifier all the time for 2 reasons. First as binoculars to identify my object. Second as a magnifier to get the focus spot on.

- My settings for wildlife are usually HI+ / AF-C / Flexible spot S / Aperture mode with min SS set to 1/125 or 1/250 to avoid blurry birds / metering mode MULTI.

So the questions are:

Are these settings available on an adapter and third party lens?

Can I still crop a 150-600 with adapter to a 225-900mm?

Can I still toggle AF / MF?

Will the magnifier still work properly? Currently, the stabilization of this combo is quite good so the magnifier works really well.

Will the third-party stabilization (if there is any) work well with the Sony IBIS?

I am aware there will be focus modes and areas unavailable with certain adapters and I do realize that "works well" is subjective but since I explained my current setup maybe there are people out there that have (had) both and can really compare with the same reference as me.

Oh and what about the rumors for a new Sony native telephoto? I'm guessing it will empty my bank account :) Maybe Sigma or Tamron will release a well-priced version soon??...

I would like to conclude with a gallery of images I found in other threads as a good reference for other people who are seeking the same answers and comparisons.

Tamron 150-600 (with different Sony bodies)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/71187330@N08/sets/72157670450229086/with/27771342080/
https://explorecams.com/photos/pair/ilce-7rm2=150-600mm-f5-6-3-ssm
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60941589
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60806074

Sigma 150-600 (with different Sony bodies)
https://explorecams.com/photos/pair/ilce-7rm2=sigma-150-600mm-f-5-6-3-dg-os-hsm-c
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4221276
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4279494
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60704889

And at last for the people who want to see my work with this setup, it is displayed here

Thanks in advance!
 
Does the A7RIII AF-C works fast enough with the combination FE100-400 + TC1,4x & TC2.0x ?
Perfect with the 1.4X although you are now at F8. No difference with with speed ,tele on or off . I personally would not use a 2X. Maybe the odd times just for reach, so it could be useful.
Thx in advance!
 
Does the A7RIII AF-C works fast enough with the combination FE100-400 + TC1,4x & TC2.0x ?
Perfect with the 1.4X although you are now at F8. No difference with with speed ,tele on or off . I personally would not use a 2X. Maybe the odd times just for reach, so it could be useful.
Thx in advance!
+1

Pretty much exactly how I would have replied.

In fact my 100400GM usually goes everywhere with the 1.4x TC already attached.

No detectable difference in AF performance but you are at the limit of the AF-C system at F8.

Whatever you do, do not try the A9! The A7Riii is good but never feels fast enough once you have tried the A9! ;-)
 
As good as the A9 is if the OP is after reach then the extral pixels from the ‘R’ will be better anyway.
 
- A-mount 70–400 mm F4–5.6 G SSM II with Sony adapter: anyone has experience with this one how it compares to the 100-400 and what is the best adapter to use to get most functionality?
Had the A Mount 70-400 (Mk. I, but optically the same as the II). Good, but unexciting.

Then I got the Canon EF 100-400 L II. Optically much better. AF mostly works o.k. (MB IV T & MC-11), but it can search and not find focus when changing focus from close up to far away (& vice versa) subject. The latest MB IV firmware from a few days ago has improved the searching behaviour, but can't really say by how much yet (not used in the field).

For now I'm keeping the Canon, at least until I can dedicate more time to wildlife and really think that the lens is the limiting factor to good shots.

The Sony GM will certainly AF faster and weighs noticeably less.

 
First of all, it is very clear to me that there are numerous threads about this subject already (1 , 2 , 3 , 4, 5, ...) but I didn't find them very bundled or clear. And there are some additional questions for my specific setup so here we go...

Currently, I have the following setup:

- A7RIII

- Sony FE 70-300mm

I am using this setup for wildlife and birds because at the time of buying this combo I didn't want to spend more on a zoom lens. Having played with this telelens for over one year it is time for something different, better and longer. As there are only a few native options, there are numerous third-party options:

NATIVE:

- FE 400 mm F2.8 GM OSS: way out of my league and financially not feasible. And I don't want to be stuck at fixed zoom.

- G Master FE 100-400mm: seems to be the best native compact zoom for a "decent" price.

- A-mount 70–400 mm F4–5.6 G SSM II with Sony adapter: anyone has experience with this one how it compares to the 100-400 and what is the best adapter to use to get most functionality?

THIRD-PARTY:

- TAMRON 150-600mm G2 A-mount seems to be the best option for A7RII

- SIGMA 150-600mm S or C

What I like about these third-party lenses is the extra reach which comes in really handy for me (wildlife living in trees, birds flying over or sitting in trees quite far away). It can be a challenging environment where I mostly shoot in. Dark (the sun doesn't always get through the jungle canopy) and fast-moving objects, portability is also a plus...

So I would be willing to sacrifice some functionality in the favor of reach...BUT...not completely.

I have never used adapters on my Sony body so I really don't know how it feels using them with third-party lenses. I have seen many videos already related to my search for a good tele.

As a photographer, I use certain functions on my A7RIII a lot and maybe those are important for my lens choice so that's why I want to share them:

- I use crop mode a lot and have it assigned to C1 (APSC toggle) for that extra reach when needed.

- I also use AF/MF toggle a lot and have it assigned to C2 for quick changing so I can get my object tack sharp adjusting manually where needed.

- When focusing manually I use the focus magnifier all the time for 2 reasons. First as binoculars to identify my object. Second as a magnifier to get the focus spot on.

- My settings for wildlife are usually HI+ / AF-C / Flexible spot S / Aperture mode with min SS set to 1/125 or 1/250 to avoid blurry birds / metering mode MULTI.

So the questions are:

Are these settings available on an adapter and third party lens?

Can I still crop a 150-600 with adapter to a 225-900mm?

Can I still toggle AF / MF?

Will the magnifier still work properly? Currently, the stabilization of this combo is quite good so the magnifier works really well.

Will the third-party stabilization (if there is any) work well with the Sony IBIS?

I am aware there will be focus modes and areas unavailable with certain adapters and I do realize that "works well" is subjective but since I explained my current setup maybe there are people out there that have (had) both and can really compare with the same reference as me.

Oh and what about the rumors for a new Sony native telephoto? I'm guessing it will empty my bank account :) Maybe Sigma or Tamron will release a well-priced version soon??...

I would like to conclude with a gallery of images I found in other threads as a good reference for other people who are seeking the same answers and comparisons.

Tamron 150-600 (with different Sony bodies)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/71187330@N08/sets/72157670450229086/with/27771342080/
https://explorecams.com/photos/pair/ilce-7rm2=150-600mm-f5-6-3-ssm
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60941589
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60806074

Sigma 150-600 (with different Sony bodies)
https://explorecams.com/photos/pair/ilce-7rm2=sigma-150-600mm-f-5-6-3-dg-os-hsm-c
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4221276
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4279494
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60704889

And at last for the people who want to see my work with this setup, it is displayed here

Thanks in advance!
Bottom line, image quality trumps reach. The Sony FE 100-400mm, with or without the FE 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverter has much superior IQ to the Tamron or Sigma 150-600mm. I have several Canon-shooter friends that tried the 150-600mm options and all ended up with the Canon EF 100-400mm or an EF 400, 500 or 600mm f/4. The cropped image, at the shorter focal length will be cleaner than the same image with the 150-600. I've seen this three to five times.

Best regards, Dave
 
Does the A7RIII AF-C works fast enough with the combination FE100-400 + TC1,4x & TC2.0x ?

Thx in advance!
It's excellent with mammals, like deer and coyote, decent with slow birds, like eagles and large owls, but it can't keep up fast birds, like most ducks. In low light, it slows down a bunch. The a9 fixes those issues of both speed and low light.
 
As good as the A9 is if the OP is after reach then the extral pixels from the ‘R’ will be better anyway.
NOT!

I own an a9, two a7RIIIs and a 6400. The a7RIIIs are the slowest of the group, with either my FE 100-400mm or my FE 400/2.8. I shoot thousands of bird and wildlife pictures per month and I dearly wanted my a7RIIIs to keep up with my a9, but no cigar.

I own them all and I'd shout it out, if the a7RIII could keep up with the a9. IT CAN'T. For most shooters, it's great, but for wildlife and birds, you need to chose your weapon carefully.
 
My budget is lower than yours and I've been enjoying using the sigma 100-400 with the MC-11 on a7rii.

AF and sharpness is acceptable, and I find it more versatile than a 150-600mm lens.

My recommendation would be to get the excellent 100-400 and make use of the resolution to confidently crop images, rather than lug around the 600mm lens, but of course, it's down to preference, if you have a 70-200 the 100-400 might feel a little redundant. Of course there are times when a 400mm will not be enough, or a 600mm will be too cumbersome to take out walking/hiking etc, so it's a personal compromise.

Teleconverters may be an option?
TC is an option but first I want to use it without to see if 600mm in cropped mode is sufficient for me.

Do you have a sample gallery with your Sigma 100-400?
 
Does the A7RIII AF-C works fast enough with the combination FE100-400 + TC1,4x & TC2.0x ?
Perfect with the 1.4X although you are now at F8. No difference with with speed ,tele on or off . I personally would not use a 2X. Maybe the odd times just for reach, so it could be useful.
Thx in advance!

Agreed, the x1,4 already gives you 840mm in cropped mode so from what I have seen the x2,0 gives too much degradation and hard to stabilize at such distances...
 
First of all, it is very clear to me that there are numerous threads about this subject already (1 , 2 , 3 , 4, 5, ...) but I didn't find them very bundled or clear. And there are some additional questions for my specific setup so here we go...

Currently, I have the following setup:

- A7RIII

- Sony FE 70-300mm

I am using this setup for wildlife and birds because at the time of buying this combo I didn't want to spend more on a zoom lens. Having played with this telelens for over one year it is time for something different, better and longer. As there are only a few native options, there are numerous third-party options:

NATIVE:

- FE 400 mm F2.8 GM OSS: way out of my league and financially not feasible. And I don't want to be stuck at fixed zoom.

- G Master FE 100-400mm: seems to be the best native compact zoom for a "decent" price.

- A-mount 70–400 mm F4–5.6 G SSM II with Sony adapter: anyone has experience with this one how it compares to the 100-400 and what is the best adapter to use to get most functionality?

THIRD-PARTY:

- TAMRON 150-600mm G2 A-mount seems to be the best option for A7RII

- SIGMA 150-600mm S or C

What I like about these third-party lenses is the extra reach which comes in really handy for me (wildlife living in trees, birds flying over or sitting in trees quite far away). It can be a challenging environment where I mostly shoot in. Dark (the sun doesn't always get through the jungle canopy) and fast-moving objects, portability is also a plus...

So I would be willing to sacrifice some functionality in the favor of reach...BUT...not completely.

I have never used adapters on my Sony body so I really don't know how it feels using them with third-party lenses. I have seen many videos already related to my search for a good tele.

As a photographer, I use certain functions on my A7RIII a lot and maybe those are important for my lens choice so that's why I want to share them:

- I use crop mode a lot and have it assigned to C1 (APSC toggle) for that extra reach when needed.

- I also use AF/MF toggle a lot and have it assigned to C2 for quick changing so I can get my object tack sharp adjusting manually where needed.

- When focusing manually I use the focus magnifier all the time for 2 reasons. First as binoculars to identify my object. Second as a magnifier to get the focus spot on.

- My settings for wildlife are usually HI+ / AF-C / Flexible spot S / Aperture mode with min SS set to 1/125 or 1/250 to avoid blurry birds / metering mode MULTI.

So the questions are:

Are these settings available on an adapter and third party lens?

Can I still crop a 150-600 with adapter to a 225-900mm?

Can I still toggle AF / MF?

Will the magnifier still work properly? Currently, the stabilization of this combo is quite good so the magnifier works really well.

Will the third-party stabilization (if there is any) work well with the Sony IBIS?

I am aware there will be focus modes and areas unavailable with certain adapters and I do realize that "works well" is subjective but since I explained my current setup maybe there are people out there that have (had) both and can really compare with the same reference as me.

Oh and what about the rumors for a new Sony native telephoto? I'm guessing it will empty my bank account :) Maybe Sigma or Tamron will release a well-priced version soon??...

I would like to conclude with a gallery of images I found in other threads as a good reference for other people who are seeking the same answers and comparisons.

Tamron 150-600 (with different Sony bodies)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/71187330@N08/sets/72157670450229086/with/27771342080/
https://explorecams.com/photos/pair/ilce-7rm2=150-600mm-f5-6-3-ssm
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60941589
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60806074

Sigma 150-600 (with different Sony bodies)
https://explorecams.com/photos/pair/ilce-7rm2=sigma-150-600mm-f-5-6-3-dg-os-hsm-c
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4221276
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4279494
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60704889

And at last for the people who want to see my work with this setup, it is displayed here

Thanks in advance!
Bottom line, image quality trumps reach. The Sony FE 100-400mm, with or without the FE 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverter has much superior IQ to the Tamron or Sigma 150-600mm. I have several Canon-shooter friends that tried the 150-600mm options and all ended up with the Canon EF 100-400mm or an EF 400, 500 or 600mm f/4. The cropped image, at the shorter focal length will be cleaner than the same image with the 150-600. I've seen this three to five times.

Best regards, Dave
Thanks Dave, great advice. Do you have an image sample gallery that I can take a look at? Maybe some BIF or other wildlife? I am really curious with and without the x1.4 TC...

Oh and I have never used an A9 so I don't what fast means :) :)
 
- G Master FE 100-400mm: seems to be the best native compact zoom for a "decent" price.

- A-mount 70–400 mm F4–5.6 G SSM II with Sony adapter: anyone has experience with this one how it compares to the 100-400 and what is the best adapter to use to get most functionality?
I've shot/owned (still have the GM 100-400) the above lenses and while A mount 70-400SSM2 is quite ok for daytime use (tracking is just fine for airshows etc.) in terms of AF the GM is way better: faster, more reliable, better low light performance etc. And the GM is optically better, the way it maintains sharpness all the way to 400 mm is truly class-leading. When used in combination with the 1.4X TC the AF is still good and optical quality loss is quite small (there never is zero optical loss despite some people claiming this).
 
Agreed, the x1,4 already gives you 840mm in cropped mode so from what I have seen the x2,0 gives too much degradation and hard to stabilize at such distances...
Who says the Sony FE 2.0x teleconverter "gives too much degradation?



cb64c0ac48ce476996d7120c234c2feb.jpg

Are you talking about some other 2.0x teleconverter?



BTW, cropping doesn't turn a 560mm lens into a 840mm lens. Putting a 2.0x teleconverter on a 400mm lens turn it into a 800mm lens.

--
Dave
 
You will not get anything like the AF performance of the GM100-400 with third party lenses. The reason for this is the dual linear stepper motors in the GM100-400. Other manufacturers use different types of focusing motors -eg Canon use USM etc that are not designed specifically for the Sony FE lenses.
 
Thanks Dave, great advice. Do you have an image sample gallery that I can take a look at? Maybe some BIF or other wildlife? I am really curious with and without the x1.4 TC...

Oh and I have never used an A9 so I don't what fast means :) :)
Of course.Seeing is believing.

Here's a Flickr album that shows me using Canon lenses with a Metabones adapter and then later, with an all-Sony rig. I'm pleased with all the pictures, but you can't see how much easier the all-Sony rig is to use, thanks to quick, accurate AF acquisition and better tracking. The "keeper rate" is much higher with an all-Sony rig. The kestrel in flight shots, near the end of the album, would have been impossible with the hybrid rig.

Check the EXIF. I use a variety of Canon and Sony lenses. There are quite a few with the FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS and I end with the FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS, with FE 2.0x teleconverter. Converters are on and off, depending on subjects. (With all-Sony, on the a9, there's almost no difference in performance with teleconverters, but the a7RIII is noticeably slowed by converters and low light).

Still, it gives you some idea of what's possible. Here it is:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dcstep/albums/72157688731458306
 

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