Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS
Announced June 11, 2019
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS is a highly specialized, optically superb super-telephoto lens that offers industry-leading autofocus speed and balance for sports and wildlife professionals. Although its performance with the Alpha system is spectacular, the lens remains a massive, expensive investment that is physically demanding to handle.
Weighted from 9 reviewer scores
Pros
- Highly responsive and fast autofocus system
- Lightweight design with balanced center of gravity
- Exceptional optical sharpness and contrast
- Extensive customization and controls
- Bright f/4 aperture for background blur and light gathering
Cons
- Very high price point
- Large and heavy physical footprint
- Limited close-focusing capabilities
- Non-standard tripod foot and fixed strap lugs
- Inconsistent optical image stabilization performance
- Launch price $12,998 (USD)
- Focal length & aperture 600mm f/4
- Mount & coverage Sony E Full-Frame
- Stabilization Optical IS
- Close focus (0.14x)
- Filter thread 40.5mm
- Autofocus motor Linear motor
- Weight & size 3040g (6 lb 11.2 oz) · 163.6 x 449 mm (6.44 x 17.68 in)
What the Reviewers Say
All 9 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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It's the lens that pro sports and wildlife shooters have been waiting for, and it makes the Alpha system, particularly the A9 body, even more appealing to them.
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The Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS Lens is arguably the sharpest 600mm interchangeable camera lens ever produced.
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[T]he combination of the Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS with the A9 and the new firmware is spectacular that when I got home and I started looking at these images I said to myself [...] that if I was shooting a lot more sports like I used to I think this would be my go-to system.
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As long as price is no object, wildlife and sports specialists will love the Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS for its prime optics, bright aperture, and exceptional focus speed.
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This is a serious lens, finished to a high standard and able to be customized to the level befitting its premium billing.
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[...] 600 millimeters is too long for some sports, but we found it worked really well on the subject tracking with the A9 was better than any camera we've ever used, and so basically it's the best 600 millimeter f/4 sports experience that we've ever had.
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This little adventure made it clear: the Sony 600mm f/4 is a very specialised lens, while the 200-600mm is much more versatile.
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The Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS is optically superb, as are all 600mm f/4 lenses, and it's solidly made and highly optimized for Sony's newest mirrorless cameras.
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Sharpness did take the smallest of hits, but I still found the combination of the 1.4 teleconverter with the Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS to be very, very sharp.
