dcstep
Senior Member
It's Friday and I received my FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS on Tuesday, so it seems early to write a review, but I'm so happy that I can't resist.
I've been shooting super telephoto lenses since 2008, starting with an EF 400/f5.5, then quickly moving up to the EF 500/f4 I, moving to the EF 500/f4 II when it became available. I continued to use my EF on my Sony a9/a7RIII bodies, until the FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS became available and then I added the FE 600/f4 this week.
I'm primarily a bird and wildlife shooter and probably take 3000 to 10000 super-telephoto shots per week. I've got 3800 shots on my 600/f4 in around 5-hours of shooting. 99.9% of my shots have been handheld, since 2010.
First, as a hand holder, I greatly appreciate the big Sony's light weight, easy balance and lightening quick AF. (I've only used it on my a9 so far). It's only .3-lbs heavier than the 400/f2.8. I worked a Swainson's hawk for 45-minutes on Wednesday. Yes, I had a huge burn going on in my arms, shoulders and hands, but it was manageable. I had to shake and rub it out after that session, but I got it done. I would have had to go down to my 100-400mm for a reasonably lighter load. The new 200-600mm is an option for those that can't handle a big lens, but this 600/f4 sets a new standard for manageability for such a long, fast lens.
On the a9, the AF is close to astounding. There's a focus limiter, but I'm keeping the lens on "Full" almost all of the time, since there seems to be almost no lag when going from a subject at 15' to one at 100'. It literally snaps into focus from one to another. I've really only used the bare lens so far, but I expect that the 1.4x teleconverter will only add micro-seconds of lag, if any, and the 2.0x will be barely noticeable. Compared to the 400/f2.8 with the 1.4x teleconverter, I think that I notice an improvement in AF acquisition speed, but I can't validate that. I do know that I'm often getting series shots, from 60 to 136-bursts, with every frame in sharp focus for slow flying birds. (Egrets, vultures, herons).
I'll do some test and comparison shots in the future, but, for now, here are some field shots:
That's around and 80% crop of the bushtit. Look at that bokeh and sharpness by going to the Gallery and viewing it 100% on full-page.
Another 80% crop. Look at the fish's eyes.
Only a small crop here. Look at the eye and fur at 100%.
Toward the end of a series of 60-shots, with the bird having gone from bright, full sun to deep shadow (explaining the high SS). EVERY shot in this series had focus this good.
Anyone want a 400/f2.8 for $11,500? ;-)
Later, I'll add some shots with teleconverters and compare detail on a static subject. For now, I'm absolutely convinced that this lens is the best bird lens that you can buy from any maker. I love it and I'm keeping it.
--
Dave
I've been shooting super telephoto lenses since 2008, starting with an EF 400/f5.5, then quickly moving up to the EF 500/f4 I, moving to the EF 500/f4 II when it became available. I continued to use my EF on my Sony a9/a7RIII bodies, until the FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS became available and then I added the FE 600/f4 this week.
I'm primarily a bird and wildlife shooter and probably take 3000 to 10000 super-telephoto shots per week. I've got 3800 shots on my 600/f4 in around 5-hours of shooting. 99.9% of my shots have been handheld, since 2010.
First, as a hand holder, I greatly appreciate the big Sony's light weight, easy balance and lightening quick AF. (I've only used it on my a9 so far). It's only .3-lbs heavier than the 400/f2.8. I worked a Swainson's hawk for 45-minutes on Wednesday. Yes, I had a huge burn going on in my arms, shoulders and hands, but it was manageable. I had to shake and rub it out after that session, but I got it done. I would have had to go down to my 100-400mm for a reasonably lighter load. The new 200-600mm is an option for those that can't handle a big lens, but this 600/f4 sets a new standard for manageability for such a long, fast lens.
On the a9, the AF is close to astounding. There's a focus limiter, but I'm keeping the lens on "Full" almost all of the time, since there seems to be almost no lag when going from a subject at 15' to one at 100'. It literally snaps into focus from one to another. I've really only used the bare lens so far, but I expect that the 1.4x teleconverter will only add micro-seconds of lag, if any, and the 2.0x will be barely noticeable. Compared to the 400/f2.8 with the 1.4x teleconverter, I think that I notice an improvement in AF acquisition speed, but I can't validate that. I do know that I'm often getting series shots, from 60 to 136-bursts, with every frame in sharp focus for slow flying birds. (Egrets, vultures, herons).
I'll do some test and comparison shots in the future, but, for now, here are some field shots:
That's around and 80% crop of the bushtit. Look at that bokeh and sharpness by going to the Gallery and viewing it 100% on full-page.
Another 80% crop. Look at the fish's eyes.
Only a small crop here. Look at the eye and fur at 100%.
Toward the end of a series of 60-shots, with the bird having gone from bright, full sun to deep shadow (explaining the high SS). EVERY shot in this series had focus this good.
Anyone want a 400/f2.8 for $11,500? ;-)
Later, I'll add some shots with teleconverters and compare detail on a static subject. For now, I'm absolutely convinced that this lens is the best bird lens that you can buy from any maker. I love it and I'm keeping it.
--
Dave
