Is the OSS working on my FE 200-600?

So I have been using my brand new FE 200-600 lens for over a week and I love it, but I honestly do not know if the OSS is working. I have been shooting with a Sigma 120-400mm OSS lens for several years and it is easy to tell when the OSS engages. When half depress the shutter button on that lens, the OS kicks in and you can visibly see the image become more stable and you can hear the OSS drive working. On this Sony FE 200-600mm lens, I see and hear nothing. Even switching the OSS on the lens to off produces no visible difference. However, My A6500 has IBS, and there is no way to turn it off when this lens is attached, so it may be working even though the lens OSS is turned off.

I am just wanting to hear from other owners of this lens. How do you know if the OSS is working? Can you hear it kick in? Is it on all the time, or does it only engage when you half press the shutter button?

jungleexplorer said:

So I have been using my brand new FE 200-600 lens for over a week and I love it, but I honestly do not know if the OSS is working. I have been shooting with a Sigma 120-400mm OSS lens for several years and it is easy to tell when the OSS engages. When half depress the shutter button on that lens, the OS kicks in and you can visibly see the image become more stable and you can hear the OSS drive working. On this Sony FE 200-600mm lens, I see and hear nothing. Even switching the OSS on the lens to off produces no visible difference. However, My A6500 has IBS, and there is no way to turn it off when this lens is attached, so it may be working even though the lens OSS is turned off.

I am just wanting to hear from other owners of this lens. How do you know if the OSS is working? Can you hear it kick in? Is it on all the time, or does it only engage when you half press the shutter button?

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The Optical Steady Shot switch on the lens disables both the OSS and the IBIS together. IBIS handles translation and roll and the lens handles yaw and pitch by itself. Translation motion blur only shows at close focus.

Sony may use voice-coil drives for the OSS in this lens. The IBIS system in the camera also uses those. They are more energy efficient than piezo-linear motors, but they have to be powered even when not actively stabilizing. There is no difference in sound with the OSS on or off, engaged or not engaged.

I definitely notice a difference in the live-view when half-pressing the shutter with OSS on--especially in magnified view. Sony's OSS may be less effective than the system in other lenses.

I have an older Sony camera where there was an option to disable stabilization prior to shutter release, because stabilizing the live-view cut into the amount of stabilization available during the exposure.

I recently picked up a Canon EF 300mm F4 IS USM, and that thing makes so much noise.

jungleexplorer said:

So I have been using my brand new FE 200-600 lens for over a week and I love it, but I honestly do not know if the OSS is working. I have been shooting with a Sigma 120-400mm OSS lens for several years and it is easy to tell when the OSS engages. When half depress the shutter button on that lens, the OS kicks in and you can visibly see the image become more stable and you can hear the OSS drive working. On this Sony FE 200-600mm lens, I see and hear nothing. Even switching the OSS on the lens to off produces no visible difference. However, My A6500 has IBS, and there is no way to turn it off when this lens is attached, so it may be working even though the lens OSS is turned off.

I am just wanting to hear from other owners of this lens. How do you know if the OSS is working? Can you hear it kick in? Is it on all the time, or does it only engage when you half press the shutter button?

Click to expand...

It's incredibly obvious to me when it kicks in if you're in Mode 1. If you're in Mode 3 it's not as apparent because the OSS seems to be permanently on in that mode.

I see no difference in mode 1. I can tell no difference if it Off or On for that matter. It's all the same. Even on a heavy duty tripod, I still get shake at 600mm, no matter what mode I am in.

jungleexplorer said:

When half depress the shutter button on that lens, the OS kicks in and you can visibly see the image become more stable

Click to expand...

This is also the default behavior for the 200-600mm, it does exactly so when mounted on my a6300 (which has no IBIS mind you).

jungleexplorer said:

I see no difference in mode 1. I can tell no difference if it Off or On for that matter. It's all the same. Even on a heavy duty tripod, I still get shake at 600mm, no matter what mode I am in.

Click to expand...

Try the shutter speed test then- take shots with slowing shutter speeds with and without OSS.

I can get down to around 1/30 handheld with OSS, and around 1/300 without it.

One thing I forgot to mention in the OP is that I have the Sony 18-135mm SEL18135 lens, and there is a clear and noticeable stabilization that occurs when I half press the shutter button. I have shaky hands so, when shooting handheld, even with that light lens, It is pretty clear when the OSS engages. I am wondering if the OSS on the FE200-600mm is constant? I wonder this because, on the SEL18135, I can go into settings and disable IBIS, but SEL200600G I cannot, this option is greyed out. Maybe I don't see a difference when I half press the shutter button is because it is always on. But that would not explain why I notice no difference when I switch the OSS button on the lens to OFF.

Nevermind everyone. It seems to be working now. I think something was messed with the settings of my camera. It started messing in other areas as well, so I did a factory reset and all seems to be working properly now. Thanks for the help.