I have the 70-350mm lens, and I love it. Lightweight and good glass. But I admit I'm tempted to save up for this one. I've been using the Sigma 150-600mm lens, and it's heavy, too, but get goods shots much of the time. When twisted to its utmost length, it's also cumbersome. I do like that the zoom is internal on this lens. Several other features also make it attractive.
Hey Theo, this lens is incredible and if you already have the beast Sigma 150-600mm then this lens will not feel that big and heavy when compared. It is way easier to use than the Sigma!! It is really big and heavy though make no mistake!
I appreciate how you show how far away your subjects were in comparison with the results. I have an A6600 and hoping to make this my next lens. It's gonna take me 2 paychecks to get there, though!
Thanks for the comments and It's a lot of money for sure, but you really do get a lot of lens!! I think the price on this lens is totally justified, which is hard to say for lenses these days Joey ;) All the best, Jay
Great review Jay. When I borrowed the 200-600 I also borrowed the a6600 so I got to try out some crazy 900mm shots (and a long distance portrait or two). Good stuff!
Thank you very much for this great help. I have been considering this combination for some time and your video certainly satisfied my curiosity. All of your work is sincerely appreciated!!
Im thinking of this one for my a6400. I have the 70-350 now wich i like but the 600mm range is something that i think will help me alot in bird photography!
@@vanschependom No decision yet. I'm forcing myself to get better with the 70-200 and crop mode on the A7R4. I feel I'm getting good reach with crop mode and 61Mpx files. Going with 100-400 might produce similar results but without the need to use crop mode for the extra reach.
I own both and prefer the 100-400 GM in most cases over the 200-600 G. In my own tests, the GM is sharper in all comparable focal lengths, is faster, and has closer MFD. It is also is a LOT easier to carry for a day. The 100-400GM with the 1.4 TC seems as sharp as the 200-600G.
Yes, I agree the GM lens is a bit sharper overall and smaller/ lighter to carry around! I appreciate the comments and thank you for sharing your preferred set-up ;)
I went with the 100-400 and 1.4 teleconverter over this just for the portability and minimum focusing distance. I can fit it in a sling bag with my body (not attached).
I love the sharpness of the FE200-600 with both my A7 III and A6100. HOWEVER, there is a major flaw with the lens. It will NOT reach infinity focus when it is cold! I shoot a lot of wildlife photography and astrophotography in cold central Alberta, Canada. When the temperature is below 0C the lens will simply NOT reach infinity focus. I have been chasing Sony support since mid-February and have not had any response. Kinda poor for a $2500 lens!!
Had the lens since mid October, loving it. Rarely leaves the @6400, which i picked up just for the lens. Kept the @6000 for SEL18105G lens, which it rarely leave.
Watching this awesome review of this gorgeous lens and couldn't wish more that if Sony was bringing out an apsc camera but with more bulk and more control on it as saved the same weight....
Thanks, Im using a A6400 with 75-350 lens for birdwatching now, but looking for a lens upgrade. So need a pro tip to decide between 100-400 GM or 600mm. Right now the crop help me a lot; but some day I will switch to a full frame also.
If you already have the 70-350mm I would not get the 100-400 GM myself, and would opt for the larger 200-600mm. However, you can use the teleconverters on the 100-400mm GM which is nice also, but I would still go for the 200-600mm knowing it is going to be a burden to carry, but that extra reach is really something special for wildlife if you can deal with the size and weight. Perhaps rent the lens for a weekend first to see if it's worth it? I also wonder ,and this contributes to my suggestion, that it's time for a new 100-400mm GM 2 lens to come out since it's one of Sony's older lenses and the 70-200mm GM has been updated already... I hope that helps, Jay
Thx for thé video I join the club of sony 200-600. Bought it today ! With siriu st-124 + siriu st10 + siriu va5 + easycover Oak + Lens protection 95 Sigma. M'y wallet is empty now ahah. Have a nice day !!
I’m really considering buying this lens for my a6400. I need the long reach for birds as well as when I go to Formula 1 races. Anyone use this combo? Any concerns about the a6400 not having IBIS?
Hi Paul and yeah at times it did when I was too close to the kids for example, but honestly that would have happened in full frame mode as well. If you want a full body shot, you will need to be pretty far away from your subject.
Are you unhappy with the results you are getting now? As far as image quality goes, a newer high resolution full frame camera would yield you more detail and color for sure. Going to the A6600 would give you camera stabilization which would help a lot for hand holding and the Autofocus is better, but the image quality is very similar to the A6300...
@@Jason_Hermann thanks, probably wont be upgrading soon. I'm happy with it but I don't have much to compare it to. I was considering an A7 mark3 or newer but i heard unless its the a7r I'll lose definition when using cropped mode? Either way i do like to keep it light so the apsc bodies are nice to work with.
@@ianunwin The lens isn't fixed length since it's a 200-600. Even though it zooms internally, the zoom ring is still moving lots of heavy glass and mechanisms inside. Basically the lens it still extending but it is internal. So gravity can still drag elements downward if you're aiming straight up or down
i bought this lens for the a7R4 but havent been able to use it much due to the rain. Its a big lens and very heavy. I can add the peak design strap to the lens easily by swapping it out with with the strap i got.
Yes, I agree, and a tension ring would certainly solve that problem. They do make lens socks that will also solve the issue, but it might not look the greatest and make it harder to zoom when desired...
This was actually first time I saw someone have lens creep on 200-600mm. I know 4 people that owns 200-600 and none of them have lens creep. Also never seen anyone mention it n forums etc.
Confused by EFFECTIVE RANGE terminology. This is a full frame lens 200 - 600mm so on a crop censor camera the actual range is 300- 900mm? So it's like automatically you get extra 'reach'? Am I understanding this correctly?
Basically yes. What effectively means in this case is referring to the actual final resulting image when compared to a full frame camera. So, on a full frame camera the effective range is 200-600mm, but on the smaller sensor camera's that "effective" range is different. The smaller sensor uses the center area of the lens, so the view is cropped. That cropped view effectively looks like what 300-900mm would look like on a full frame sensor camera. You can set the full frame cameras into crop factor mode and achieve the same result at the cost of resolution as well. It's called APS-C crop factor mode on the full frame cameras or Super 35mm when referring to video footage.
@@Jason_Hermann Thank you so much for explanation. I bought a Sony FE 85mm with my A6400 so I have more reach than the 85mm spec. Probably somewhere over 120mm.
Great Review! I am looking forward to buy a tele lens for my a6300. Whould you recommend the 70-200 FE f4 or the new 70-350 Apsc Lens? How do they compare in terms of image quality and sharpness?
I would go with the 70-350mm for sure. excellent optical quality and way more reach. The aperture is a bit slower, but I would take that hit for the smaller size, less weight, lower cost, and huge reach advantage...
Thanks for the detailed review, Jason. I'm considering buying this lens for surfing (videos and stills) shooting with the Sony A7C. Any recommendations or suggestion regarding the combination of the two specially considering the AF and stabilization?
This lens is awesome, but it is huge and heavy which is the only downside really. Optics are awesome, stabilization is great as well. If you want to hand hold, I would consider the FE 100-400mm lens instead though, because that should be enough range for surfing I would think and way easier to hand hold for periods of time. Otherwise be sure to get a monopod or something to help hold the weight of this beast would be my suggestion :)
that footage in the street was very helpful, thx, i was wondering how comparable crop af was to a9 af, using this lens, looks like i'll probably have to stick with the 1.4x tc for what i shoot... it's $550(tc) vs. $1200(a6600) tho, so for just $650 more i could have gotten a whole 'nother camera, instead of the tc, which is only usable on a couple of sony lenses :-/
Great video! Thank you for sharing the info ... Do you have any idea which setup would produce better results at shooting the moon: 1) The 200-600 lens with a 1.4x on the A7RIII in crop mode 2) Or, the 200-600 lens with a 1.4x on the A6600? Thx
The A6600 would have a slight edge in resolution ~ 18mp vs 24mp, so the A6600 has an advantage for the most detail being captured in this particular scenario...
@@Jason_Hermann Thank you for the info. I just realized that the A6600 setup would also provide more reach 1200mm vs. 860mm ... thanks for the help and video
The rolling shutter was obvious handheld at 600mm but I guess that's to be expected. I'd like to use an a6600 to take video of wildlife but it seems like that will be hard without a tripod. Thanks for the video. Maybe I need to give up on a mirrorless for video and buy a 4K camcorder. :(
Yeah, you would definitely a fluid head style tripod (amzn.to/32mLRnu) for a lens like this in my opinion. Those style tripods range dramatically in price of course... It's just to big and heavy to hold and move smoothly any amount of distance. WIth the right tools it can certainly be used though ;)
If I can afford extra $500 and using a6600, would you recommend buying the FE 100-400 GM lens, to gain 4.5f, less weight and GM quality? Is it worth it?
I myself can't see giving up 200mm, as I was considering the SEL70350G, though I shoot wildlife and mostly birds. So glad I didn't after using. FE200600G is a bit of weight, and min. focus to consider, definitely something to consider, more than the stop of light. Also having the SEL18105G, & SEL55210, didn't need the 100mm range. Using @6400, so have a wide mm range covered. Depends what shooting, especially birds, and your lighting environment. I'm in Thailand, so lighting isn't that much of an issue for myself. Quite the opposite when using anything lower than F4, and use a CPL and actually have to jack up the aperture to not over expose. Issues most people wish they had. FE200600G very sharp wide open.
If they gave the FE200600G the 'GM' designation, it certainly wouldn't tarnish the GM image.....LOL Though may P'off a lot of the previous buyers of the 100-400GM. Also making it hard to justify the $2000 USD price point. It really is that good of a value. IMHO
I have both lenses, and the bottom line is the 100-400 is a better lens, there is a point where the extra reach can be an advantage but most times the 100-400 with a little cropping will yield better images, if the light is good and you need to shoot long distances the 200-600 can be a better choice but I mean really long way off
jay im thinking of buying this lens to use with a6600 is it an apsc or full frame and if it is full frame what does that mean to me useing it on my 6600 apsc. tnanx ric
I used the Sony A6600 for this review and it really worked awesome in my opinion. Yes, it is a full frame lens but that just means it's larger to accommodate a full frame sensor camera. The effective focal range on the crop factor A6600 is 300-900mm. So that is what you can expect when using that lens on the A6600.
Hi. Thanks for the great review on the FE 200-600. I have the Sony a7RII. My question is about how this lens performs on the a7RII. Other than less MPs compared to the a7RIV, does it perform the same in sharpness, contrast, focus speed, color rendering, etc.? Also, please comment on any other notable differences in performance and general picture quality when compared with the two mentioned cameras. THANKS! Tim Smith, Wilmington, NC
Hi Tim, Unfortunately the Sony A7R II does not have the same super advanced AF System as the A7R IV or even the A7R III. SO although the Image quality will still be amazing, the Autofocus will not perform near as good on moving subjects. All other aspects of the lens would be the same though to answer your question.
Hi Jay I’m reading conflicting things regarding this lens and the Sony a6500 that I hope you can answer for me. Question is do I need to use the 1.4 teleconverter as stated on the Sony website, you don’t mention using a teleconverter for the a6600, which has added to the confusion 🤔 If I do need to use one how does it affect the camera and photo quality for early morning wildlife photography and DoF? And would you still recommend it? Thanks
Hi, no you do not need to use a teleconverter with this lens unless you want more reach. A teleconverter is an add-on for certain lenses, and it magnifies the zoom by whatever X factor. Not required though...
I would like to ask you a question, at 13:34, what is the model and brand of the photography backpack on the ground? I want to buy a camera bag as big as your backpack.
Thanks for the review! This is a great specialized lens for wealthy enthusiasts or pros shooting various events and animals. However, there are much less expensive options. I always appreciate reviewers providing alternatives to the viewer listing these less expensive options. In the case of zoom lenses why not shoot the same image from the same zoom magnification of a less expensive lens, then compare the quality of the images? When purchasing a camera or a lens, the price needs to be comparable to the obtained image quality. If a camera or a lens is twice as expensive as a competitor's camera or lens (not considering other features) the image ultimately should be twice as good. But instead, frequently when head to head comparisons of lenses or cameras are made I see very little difference in the final obtained image quality. Is it REALLY worth paying a thousand dollars more for a lens or a camera if the camera gives you, perhaps, a 2-5% improvement? I understand, however, that for some people even a tiny difference in quality may be worth the price...but just be aware of how little extra benefit you are getting for a dramatic increase in cost, taxes, cost of extended warranties, etc.
I think I can answer that. If meaning difference brand combo or Sony + adapted lens, then depending what you are shooting, the Sony brand, and using native lenses, the AF speed and tracking accuracy is well worth the expense vs the frustration of missing the shots. I've accidentally forgot to switch my lens bodies back to my usual kit set ups (@6000/SEL18105G & @6400 & FE200600G), as I simply switch bodies instead of using caps, and on @6000, the FE200600G doesn't perform as well, as @6400 AF is a few steps ahead of the @6000, and if that is anything like using a non-native lens, then it's extremely frustrating, especially BIF. OK if shooting still, but not moving subjects. AND..........I'm far from wealthy, and just a hobbyist. And yes, it's an expensive hobby.....LOL
Hi Paul and sorry for the delayed reply. You raise great points but as you said lenses are very expensive and I can only have 1 or two of these beasts at a time for review. I don't own that much stuff believe it or not. With that being said, yes the way more expensive lenses often only yield a small difference in quality to the untrained eye. This is why you need to know what you are looking at. The Sigma 150-600mm for example is far cheaper compared to this lens, but it's much harder to use in the real world. Also, it does not have stabilization and as mentioned by LA smyth, the Autofocus performance of non Sony native lenses is horrible with moving subjects when comparing. This lens I was able to shoot handheld at 600mm with relatively slow shutter speeds. That is amazing technology and worth a lot of extra money in my opinion. Not necessarily for everybody though ;) I really appreciate the feedback and have a great day, Jay
Thanks to you all for the comments. I agree photography can be an expensive hobby. Just in case you havent tried them ive had good luck with sigma primes.
Hey Jason, thank you for the content shared! I have. a few questions. Would you consider a Canon EOS M50 with this lens? Is there any adaptor that would make it possible to use the 200-600 zoom lens in combo with the EOS M50? Or shall I just say goodbye to my first body Canon EOS M50 and upgrade to a Sony A6600? Thank you
No, this lens is made for Sony E-Mount cameras only and will not work on the Canon with an adapter... I'm that familiar with Canons current lens line for mirrorless, but the Sony A6600 w/ the 200-600mm lens is great option for sure!
I upgraded my A6000 to the A7iii because autofocus was to slow on the A6000. I can't get as nice photos with it dough.. Is it me, or should I sell and buy the A6600 instead? I bought it for birds but 600mm is not enough I feel. Do more people have this problem?
Most birds are really small and you need to get very close for a good shot, even with a 600mm lens. You can switch the A7iii to crop factor mode, but then your resolution will be much lower so it's not really worth doing that when you can just crop in on the image in Adobe Lightroom for example. You can try using one of the teleconverters Sony offers? Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter: bhpho.to/3uvUSXf
@@Jason_Hermann A7iii in crop factor is only a 10 MP photo. That is not very nice. I looked into the teleconverter, but that means that de lens at 600mm wil only shoot from F11.. I live in the Netherlands where sun is rare. 🤣 So I will always have not enough light then. That is why I am think about selling this body and buying the A6600 instead..
Wow, I did not realize the 1.4x would make it f/11. Thats is crazy, I thought it was just one stop of light loss... In that case a higher resolution crop factor camera would be a solid way to go! Do you think an effective 900mm will be enough reach?
@@Jason_Hermann I am not sure if it I F11. It is F9 or F11 at 600mm I have to check that at the seller. 900mm is never enough haha. But at least if I have to crop a bit it will not be as much as cropping it from full frame all the way down.
Hi Jay, Did you find it an issue at all when trying to get enough depth of field when shooting at 600mm F6.3 and have to go higher Fstops giving higher ISO's?
Hi Peter, Not really as you can see in the sample photos. However it really depends how close you are to your subject in relation to the background as well.
@@Jason_Hermann Thanks Jay, i recently purchased this lens and e.g. found that at F6.3, 600mm and 30 metres the DOF is less than 1 meter for my camera and will have to wait and see if this gives me an issue for closer up shots
I got Sony A6300 and having difficulties with autofocus settings… simply doesnt focus fast enough to catch bird flying. Even a slow grey heron. Also sharpness is not as expected. I take all pics at f8 and ISO as low as possible and take pictures around 1/800. Any ideas of what could it be?
Hi Jay. Great video and review. I just got this lens but just a quick question. At 4:10 you are talking about that the lens is too heavy to support it from the camera but at 7:15 you are holding the camera only with one hand so all the weight from the lens is supported by the camera? I have caught myself doing that a couple of times as well and also lifting the camera out of my bag with grabbing the camera only, but is that okay to do for a short lift or should you avoid not to do it at all? I’m not used to these heavy lenses so I have a learning curve here how to hold it and lift it 😅 Thanks!
Hi Chris and Excellent question! It's good practice to hold by the lens when using something this heavy in my opinion. You can clearly hold it by the camera and it will support it, but just using common sense, it feels too heavy I would say in the long term. Clearly we would not mount the camera to a tripod when using this lens, we would mount the lens to the tripod for better con tool and weight distribution, but also to not over stress the lens mount on the camera. I would just recommend using caution is all ;)
@@Jason_Hermann thanks Jay. So what I can understand is that it is okay to hold the kamera, with the lens pointing down for example while looking at the LCD or just holding it like you did, but handle it with care when walking/shooting and use common sense? I’ll try to lift the camera while supporting the lens and body and then just be cautious in generel 👍😉
Well, that depends on what camera it is attached to, but overall I would it's very similar sharpness, color, and clarity when compared to the RX10 III lens. However, the sensor on the RX10 is only 1" in size, so the overall image quality produced with this lens in combination with a larger sensor camera like the A6600 or a full frame camera like the A7 III for example will be better in the noise department and depth of field capabilities. The noise has nothing to do with the lens though, that is the sensor and ISO handling abilities. The larger sensor camera produce cleaner results higher ISO values....
Technically yes, but depending on the size of the gym and the lighting would be a huge factor. This lens is not good in lower light due to the slower max aperture. Usually am f/2.8 lens or faster is required for indoor sports. Also, the 200-600mm range is huge for most indoor sports, unless of course the facility is huge. I'm thinking of a high school gym vs a college sports complex for example. Personally I would rather have a 70-200mm f/2.8 or something similar to that for indoor sports, depending of course on how close you are to the action. I hope that helps Harry, Jay
No, adapting a APS-C E-Mount Lens to a full frame E-mount camera would cause what you are thinking of. This set-up is using a full frame e-mount lens on an APS-C camera body.
No, it just uses more of the center area of the lens which is what causes the crop factor. The resolution will be whatever the camera is if using a crop factor camera with a full frame lens.
I know it’s been a while since you’ve posted this video but I think your lens might be a bit of if it’s creeping... i’ve had the 200-600 and it’s never done that tbh
@@Jason_Hermann I think it may be one of those things kinda like how the 70-200 had some bad copies when it came to back focusing... its definitely plausible considering sony’s past
Can the focus hold buttons be programmed? If so, would each button respond the same, as if there were only a single button? (In vid of your son on bike, the shutter sound effects didn’t sound like those on an A6600 - sounded more like a dslr.)
The lens options comparison was amazing! Answered everything I was curious about.
Awesome to hear and thank you for the comments!
I have the 70-350mm lens, and I love it. Lightweight and good glass. But I admit I'm tempted to save up for this one. I've been using the Sigma 150-600mm lens, and it's heavy, too, but get goods shots much of the time. When twisted to its utmost length, it's also cumbersome. I do like that the zoom is internal on this lens. Several other features also make it attractive.
Hey Theo, this lens is incredible and if you already have the beast Sigma 150-600mm then this lens will not feel that big and heavy when compared. It is way easier to use than the Sigma!! It is really big and heavy though make no mistake!
I appreciate how you show how far away your subjects were in comparison with the results. I have an A6600 and hoping to make this my next lens. It's gonna take me 2 paychecks to get there, though!
Thanks for the comments and It's a lot of money for sure, but you really do get a lot of lens!! I think the price on this lens is totally justified, which is hard to say for lenses these days Joey ;) All the best, Jay
She is getting so big!! Beautiful kiddos...
:) Thank you!!
Great review Jay. When I borrowed the 200-600 I also borrowed the a6600 so I got to try out some crazy 900mm shots (and a long distance portrait or two). Good stuff!
Amazing combo
Thank you very much for this great help. I have been considering this combination for some time and your video certainly satisfied my curiosity. All of your work is sincerely appreciated!!
The 200-600 hardly comes off my A9
Im thinking of this one for my a6400. I have the 70-350 now wich i like but the 600mm range is something that i think will help me alot in bird photography!
Yes, 600mm would certainly help get you closer to those birds!
Exactly my combo for birdwatching, but sometimes the grain gets to high, perhaps more range will help. Im also considering 600 mm
I'll be buying this lens, based on your excellent review. Thanks.
I'm sure you will enjoy this beast Phillip :)
So difficult to decide on 200-600 or 100-400. Thank you for your take on this lens. Chart is excellent and will assist tremendously in my decision.
Which one did you get?
@@vanschependom No decision yet. I'm forcing myself to get better with the 70-200 and crop mode on the A7R4. I feel I'm getting good reach with crop mode and 61Mpx files. Going with 100-400 might produce similar results but without the need to use crop mode for the extra reach.
@@vanschependom After a recent hike, the 200mm would of been so much better. Just ordered the 100-400. Portability was key to deciding.
100-400 has an awesome close up ability which can be a consideration.
I own both and prefer the 100-400 GM in most cases over the 200-600 G. In my own tests, the GM is sharper in all comparable focal lengths, is faster, and has closer MFD. It is also is a LOT easier to carry for a day. The 100-400GM with the 1.4 TC seems as sharp as the 200-600G.
Yes, I agree the GM lens is a bit sharper overall and smaller/ lighter to carry around! I appreciate the comments and thank you for sharing your preferred set-up ;)
Hey, thank YOU for replying to my comment! Peace
SOLD! To the dude who buys way too much gear. Thanks for the review Jay! This is going to be perfect for my travels 🙌
Awesome news and I'm sure you are going to love that beast of a lens Dylan ;)
Excellent Jay
Thanks Kevin! ;)
I went with the 100-400 and 1.4 teleconverter over this just for the portability and minimum focusing distance. I can fit it in a sling bag with my body (not attached).
Nice!! sounds like a great set-up for you ;)
Yes that is a third lighter and you can do close up shots too
Is there a drop in the quality?
@@shadostorm8375 Yes.
I sold my 100-400 for this lens and what a big difference.
I bought the 200-600 now it never leaves the lens
@@MestreMur I think the IQ at 840mm is very good.
and you think the picture quality is as good as the 100-400?..Thanks
@@CamillaI what do you primarily shoot with this lens?
I love the sharpness of the FE200-600 with both my A7 III and A6100. HOWEVER, there is a major flaw with the lens. It will NOT reach infinity focus when it is cold! I shoot a lot of wildlife photography and astrophotography in cold central Alberta, Canada. When the temperature is below 0C the lens will simply NOT reach infinity focus. I have been chasing Sony support since mid-February and have not had any response. Kinda poor for a $2500 lens!!
Hi, did you end up getting a response from sony regarding the infinity focus issue?
I'm also interested if the issue was fixed
A little unintuitive, the solution is to take off the lens hood in these conditions. I hope this helps!
Had the lens since mid October, loving it. Rarely leaves the @6400, which i picked up just for the lens. Kept the @6000 for SEL18105G lens, which it rarely leave.
Me too never leaves the camera
amazing illustration at the end. thank u so much
Thank you! Cheers!
WOW thank u So much. Your information helped me decide to get this lens
Watching this awesome review of this gorgeous lens and couldn't wish more that if Sony was bringing out an apsc camera but with more bulk and more control on it as saved the same weight....
Fingers crossed!
70-350 does it for me.
@Cool Tech Gadgets screw off with your spammy affiliate links
I just got this lens. Great review! Thanks for class.
Thanks, Im using a A6400 with 75-350 lens for birdwatching now, but looking for a lens upgrade. So need a pro tip to decide between 100-400 GM or 600mm. Right now the crop help me a lot; but some day I will switch to a full frame also.
If you already have the 70-350mm I would not get the 100-400 GM myself, and would opt for the larger 200-600mm. However, you can use the teleconverters on the 100-400mm GM which is nice also, but I would still go for the 200-600mm knowing it is going to be a burden to carry, but that extra reach is really something special for wildlife if you can deal with the size and weight. Perhaps rent the lens for a weekend first to see if it's worth it? I also wonder ,and this contributes to my suggestion, that it's time for a new 100-400mm GM 2 lens to come out since it's one of Sony's older lenses and the 70-200mm GM has been updated already... I hope that helps, Jay
Thank you, I will give it a try and see if the size is an issue, for now the grain is ; )
is the top over the toppppp
I have the 70-300 and I'm wanting more. Especially for the Reno Air Races.
I've got a mate named Reno but he can't fly.
Excellent review, most helpful ,thank you.
Thx for thé video
I join the club of sony 200-600. Bought it today ! With siriu st-124 + siriu st10 + siriu va5 + easycover Oak + Lens protection 95 Sigma.
M'y wallet is empty now ahah.
Have a nice day !!
Great info. Thank You.
Plz review 200-600mm +a6400
Big gun on a tiny camera body, on a PSC body it give a longer range. For $2000, I am dreaming for now.
I’m really considering buying this lens for my a6400. I need the long reach for birds as well as when I go to Formula 1 races. Anyone use this combo? Any concerns about the a6400 not having IBIS?
The lens has amazing optical stabilization built in, so I think you will be fine assuming shutter speeds are above 1/400sec.
Sir very very nice lens very sharp lens
Great info. Thanks!
Thanks for the review!
Background just melted when u shot the leave.
Like butter ;)
quality vs price is amazing
I agree and thanks for the comments ;)
@@Jason_Hermann im italian not speak amrican ..thx
my future setup!!
New drinking game, every time he says nice you drink.
lol
I must get this combo
Yep, awesome combo well worth it
So pleased to have found your channel, I've subscribed etc, thanks
Im tossing up between this and the 70-350. Mainly into wildlife!
I use a Sony a6400
I would rather be carry the 70-350mm for sure ;) The 200-600 is a beast!! If you need 600mm then yeah, I would go with the 200-600mm for sure...
I’ve 70-350 mm and it’s works great for sports videos and pics .: just ordered 200-600mm .. hopefully it will worth it ..
Hope you enjoy it!
Considering the crop factor on the A6600 making the reach greater. Did this make setting up a photo more difficult?
Hi Paul and yeah at times it did when I was too close to the kids for example, but honestly that would have happened in full frame mode as well. If you want a full body shot, you will need to be pretty far away from your subject.
adorable kids, nice photos!
Good video thanks
Im currently using a6300 body, would it be worth upgrading the body to a newer one? I just do bird photography.
Are you unhappy with the results you are getting now? As far as image quality goes, a newer high resolution full frame camera would yield you more detail and color for sure. Going to the A6600 would give you camera stabilization which would help a lot for hand holding and the Autofocus is better, but the image quality is very similar to the A6300...
@@Jason_Hermann thanks, probably wont be upgrading soon. I'm happy with it but I don't have much to compare it to. I was considering an A7 mark3 or newer but i heard unless its the a7r I'll lose definition when using cropped mode? Either way i do like to keep it light so the apsc bodies are nice to work with.
Super video! I applauded for $5.00 👏👏
Wow, thank you :)
Hi Jay, while 200-600 paired with 1.4x, is auto-focus working still?
Hello and Yes, it is compatible and AF will still work ;)
Nice review.
Great review. I dislike the lens creep though. That would be problematic when aiming upward photographing birds in flight.
how do you get lens creep on the 200-600 when the lens is a fixed length and zooms internally ???
@@ianunwin The lens isn't fixed length since it's a 200-600. Even though it zooms internally, the zoom ring is still moving lots of heavy glass and mechanisms inside. Basically the lens it still extending but it is internal. So gravity can still drag elements downward if you're aiming straight up or down
Solid review
Thanks for a great review Jason. Were the ergonomics of the big lens and the tiny camera alright? I am thinking of getting this combo, thanks
i bought this lens for the a7R4 but havent been able to use it much due to the rain. Its a big lens and very heavy. I can add the peak design strap to the lens easily by swapping it out with with the strap i got.
Yes its a third heavier than the 100-400mm
My go to combo with the A9II for wildlife hits the sweet spot replacing the 100-400mm for me
The lens creep bothers me. My Canon 100-400 has the ability to adjust the friction thus avoiding creep issues. Thx for the video.
Yes, I agree, and a tension ring would certainly solve that problem. They do make lens socks that will also solve the issue, but it might not look the greatest and make it harder to zoom when desired...
This was actually first time I saw someone have lens creep on 200-600mm. I know 4 people that owns 200-600 and none of them have lens creep. Also never seen anyone mention it n forums etc.
Confused by EFFECTIVE RANGE terminology. This is a full frame lens 200 - 600mm so on a crop censor camera the actual range is 300- 900mm? So it's like automatically you get extra 'reach'? Am I understanding this correctly?
Basically yes. What effectively means in this case is referring to the actual final resulting image when compared to a full frame camera. So, on a full frame camera the effective range is 200-600mm, but on the smaller sensor camera's that "effective" range is different. The smaller sensor uses the center area of the lens, so the view is cropped. That cropped view effectively looks like what 300-900mm would look like on a full frame sensor camera. You can set the full frame cameras into crop factor mode and achieve the same result at the cost of resolution as well. It's called APS-C crop factor mode on the full frame cameras or Super 35mm when referring to video footage.
@@Jason_Hermann Thank you so much for explanation. I bought a Sony FE 85mm with my A6400 so I have more reach than the 85mm spec. Probably somewhere over 120mm.
@@blackpanda7612 Yes correct... 85mm x 1.5 (crop factor) = 127.5mm effective on the A6400 ;)
Great Review! I am looking forward to buy a tele lens for my a6300. Whould you recommend the 70-200 FE f4 or the new 70-350 Apsc Lens? How do they compare in terms of image quality and sharpness?
I would go with the 70-350mm for sure. excellent optical quality and way more reach. The aperture is a bit slower, but I would take that hit for the smaller size, less weight, lower cost, and huge reach advantage...
Thanks for the detailed review, Jason. I'm considering buying this lens for surfing (videos and stills) shooting with the Sony A7C. Any recommendations or suggestion regarding the combination of the two specially considering the AF and stabilization?
This lens is awesome, but it is huge and heavy which is the only downside really. Optics are awesome, stabilization is great as well. If you want to hand hold, I would consider the FE 100-400mm lens instead though, because that should be enough range for surfing I would think and way easier to hand hold for periods of time. Otherwise be sure to get a monopod or something to help hold the weight of this beast would be my suggestion :)
that footage in the street was very helpful, thx, i was wondering how comparable crop af was to a9 af, using this lens, looks like i'll probably have to stick with the 1.4x tc for what i shoot... it's $550(tc) vs. $1200(a6600) tho, so for just $650 more i could have gotten a whole 'nother camera, instead of the tc, which is only usable on a couple of sony lenses :-/
I mean, an a6600 won't replace all the features your a9 has
+ teleconverte 2x as 1800mmm top
Great video! Thank you for sharing the info ... Do you have any idea which setup would produce better results at shooting the moon: 1) The 200-600 lens with a 1.4x on the A7RIII in crop mode 2) Or, the 200-600 lens with a 1.4x on the A6600? Thx
The A6600 would have a slight edge in resolution ~ 18mp vs 24mp, so the A6600 has an advantage for the most detail being captured in this particular scenario...
@@Jason_Hermann Thank you for the info. I just realized that the A6600 setup would also provide more reach 1200mm vs. 860mm ... thanks for the help and video
Keep in mind the A7rIII in crop mode would be the same effective focal range as a6600... so 18mp vs 24mp at 1200mm...
The rolling shutter was obvious handheld at 600mm but I guess that's to be expected. I'd like to use an a6600 to take video of wildlife but it seems like that will be hard without a tripod. Thanks for the video. Maybe I need to give up on a mirrorless for video and buy a 4K camcorder. :(
Yeah, you would definitely a fluid head style tripod (amzn.to/32mLRnu) for a lens like this in my opinion. Those style tripods range dramatically in price of course... It's just to big and heavy to hold and move smoothly any amount of distance. WIth the right tools it can certainly be used though ;)
Great review ...
Thanks you and glad you enjoyed it :)
If I can afford extra $500 and using a6600, would you recommend buying the FE 100-400 GM lens, to gain 4.5f, less weight and GM quality? Is it worth it?
I myself can't see giving up 200mm, as I was considering the SEL70350G, though I shoot wildlife and mostly birds. So glad I didn't after using. FE200600G is a bit of weight, and min. focus to consider, definitely something to consider, more than the stop of light. Also having the SEL18105G, & SEL55210, didn't need the 100mm range. Using @6400, so have a wide mm range covered. Depends what shooting, especially birds, and your lighting environment. I'm in Thailand, so lighting isn't that much of an issue for myself. Quite the opposite when using anything lower than F4, and use a CPL and actually have to jack up the aperture to not over expose. Issues most people wish they had. FE200600G very sharp wide open.
If they gave the FE200600G the 'GM' designation, it certainly wouldn't tarnish the GM image.....LOL Though may P'off a lot of the previous buyers of the 100-400GM. Also making it hard to justify the $2000 USD price point. It really is that good of a value. IMHO
I have both lenses, and the bottom line is the 100-400 is a better lens, there is a point where the extra reach can be an advantage but most times the 100-400 with a little cropping will yield better images, if the light is good and you need to shoot long distances the 200-600 can be a better choice but I mean really long way off
No, to be honest I recommend the 200-600 nearly as sharp if you can manage the weight. It never leaves my lens these days
@@longrider9551 - Bingo!
jay im thinking of buying this lens to use with a6600 is it an apsc or full frame and if it is full frame what does that mean to me useing it on my 6600 apsc. tnanx ric
I used the Sony A6600 for this review and it really worked awesome in my opinion. Yes, it is a full frame lens but that just means it's larger to accommodate a full frame sensor camera. The effective focal range on the crop factor A6600 is 300-900mm. So that is what you can expect when using that lens on the A6600.
@@Jason_Hermann thanks Jay just want say I really like all your videos. They have really helped me that ric
Hi. Thanks for the great review on the FE 200-600. I have the Sony a7RII. My question is about how this lens performs on the a7RII. Other than less MPs compared to the a7RIV, does it perform the same in sharpness, contrast, focus speed, color rendering, etc.? Also, please comment on any other notable differences in performance and general picture quality when compared with the two mentioned cameras. THANKS! Tim Smith, Wilmington, NC
Hi Tim, Unfortunately the Sony A7R II does not have the same super advanced AF System as the A7R IV or even the A7R III. SO although the Image quality will still be amazing, the Autofocus will not perform near as good on moving subjects. All other aspects of the lens would be the same though to answer your question.
Hi would this work well on the a6300?
Yes!
Hi Jay I’m reading conflicting things regarding this lens and the Sony a6500 that I hope you can answer for me. Question is do I need to use the 1.4 teleconverter as stated on the Sony website, you don’t mention using a teleconverter for the a6600, which has added to the confusion 🤔
If I do need to use one how does it affect the camera and photo quality for early morning wildlife photography and DoF? And would you still recommend it? Thanks
Hi, no you do not need to use a teleconverter with this lens unless you want more reach. A teleconverter is an add-on for certain lenses, and it magnifies the zoom by whatever X factor. Not required though...
Would this super telephoto lens fit my Sony A7rIV?
Yes, this is a full frame E-mount lens, so it can be used on any of the Sony E-Mount cameras including you awesome Sony A7R IV ;)
Great video! Is this also suitable for the A6000? Or is the sensor not that great
Yeah, it will work well on the A6000 also ;)
@@Jason_Hermann cheers!
Perfecto de argentina
Thank you :)
I would like to ask you a question, at 13:34, what is the model and brand of the photography backpack on the ground? I want to buy a camera bag as big as your backpack.
13m47s，sorry。😅
They don't make that bag anymore, but I have this one now which is better and the same size: th-cam.com/video/SyQsxh8BuLc/w-d-xo.html
Love this, do you use teleconverter?
You can, but I have not. I only borrowed this lens for a few weeks to review. I really do want one for myself though ;)
Nice 👍
Thanks ✌
I have Sony ZV- E10. Is this lens compatible?
Yes
Thanks for the review! This is a great specialized lens for wealthy enthusiasts or pros shooting various events and animals. However, there are much less expensive options. I always appreciate reviewers providing alternatives to the viewer listing these less expensive options. In the case of zoom lenses why not shoot the same image from the same zoom magnification of a less expensive lens, then compare the quality of the images? When purchasing a camera or a lens, the price needs to be comparable to the obtained image quality. If a camera or a lens is twice as expensive as a competitor's camera or lens (not considering other features) the image ultimately should be twice as good. But instead, frequently when head to head comparisons of lenses or cameras are made I see very little difference in the final obtained image quality. Is it REALLY worth paying a thousand dollars more for a lens or a camera if the camera gives you, perhaps, a 2-5% improvement? I understand, however, that for some people even a tiny difference in quality may be worth the price...but just be aware of how little extra benefit you are getting for a dramatic increase in cost, taxes, cost of extended warranties, etc.
I think I can answer that. If meaning difference brand combo or Sony + adapted lens, then depending what you are shooting, the Sony brand, and using native lenses, the AF speed and tracking accuracy is well worth the expense vs the frustration of missing the shots. I've accidentally forgot to switch my lens bodies back to my usual kit set ups (@6000/SEL18105G & @6400 & FE200600G), as I simply switch bodies instead of using caps, and on @6000, the FE200600G doesn't perform as well, as @6400 AF is a few steps ahead of the @6000, and if that is anything like using a non-native lens, then it's extremely frustrating, especially BIF. OK if shooting still, but not moving subjects. AND..........I'm far from wealthy, and just a hobbyist. And yes, it's an expensive hobby.....LOL
@@lasmyth9656 I appreciate your response. Thanks, and thanks for the review! Paul
Hi Paul and sorry for the delayed reply. You raise great points but as you said lenses are very expensive and I can only have 1 or two of these beasts at a time for review. I don't own that much stuff believe it or not. With that being said, yes the way more expensive lenses often only yield a small difference in quality to the untrained eye. This is why you need to know what you are looking at. The Sigma 150-600mm for example is far cheaper compared to this lens, but it's much harder to use in the real world. Also, it does not have stabilization and as mentioned by LA smyth, the Autofocus performance of non Sony native lenses is horrible with moving subjects when comparing. This lens I was able to shoot handheld at 600mm with relatively slow shutter speeds. That is amazing technology and worth a lot of extra money in my opinion. Not necessarily for everybody though ;) I really appreciate the feedback and have a great day, Jay
Thanks to you all for the comments. I agree photography can be an expensive hobby. Just in case you havent tried them ive had good luck with sigma primes.
im use nikon P1000 incredible 3000 mm zoom but not ave a continuous focusssssss!!!!! for video !! WTF
with the Sony 200-600mm did you try to put a strap on the lens in order to be free you from the heaviness of the lens?
No I did not try the strap, but in hindsight I should have... Sorry about that Marilyn.
@@Jason_Hermann No worries.
i have the sony a6100 and was wanting to get into wildlife photography and was wondering if u think that combo would work and if so how well?
Sure it work, and I would think very well since it has the same auto focus abilities as the camera I used to test this lens ;)
Hey Jason, thank you for the content shared! I have. a few questions. Would you consider a Canon EOS M50 with this lens? Is there any adaptor that would make it possible to use the 200-600 zoom lens in combo with the EOS M50? Or shall I just say goodbye to my first body Canon EOS M50 and upgrade to a Sony A6600? Thank you
No, this lens is made for Sony E-Mount cameras only and will not work on the Canon with an adapter... I'm that familiar with Canons current lens line for mirrorless, but the Sony A6600 w/ the 200-600mm lens is great option for sure!
@@Jason_Hermann Thanks so much!
I upgraded my A6000 to the A7iii because autofocus was to slow on the A6000. I can't get as nice photos with it dough.. Is it me, or should I sell and buy the A6600 instead? I bought it for birds but 600mm is not enough I feel. Do more people have this problem?
Most birds are really small and you need to get very close for a good shot, even with a 600mm lens. You can switch the A7iii to crop factor mode, but then your resolution will be much lower so it's not really worth doing that when you can just crop in on the image in Adobe Lightroom for example. You can try using one of the teleconverters Sony offers? Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter: bhpho.to/3uvUSXf
@@Jason_Hermann A7iii in crop factor is only a 10 MP photo. That is not very nice. I looked into the teleconverter, but that means that de lens at 600mm wil only shoot from F11.. I live in the Netherlands where sun is rare. 🤣 So I will always have not enough light then. That is why I am think about selling this body and buying the A6600 instead..
Wow, I did not realize the 1.4x would make it f/11. Thats is crazy, I thought it was just one stop of light loss... In that case a higher resolution crop factor camera would be a solid way to go! Do you think an effective 900mm will be enough reach?
@@Jason_Hermann I am not sure if it I F11. It is F9 or F11 at 600mm I have to check that at the seller. 900mm is never enough haha. But at least if I have to crop a bit it will not be as much as cropping it from full frame all the way down.
Hi Jay, Did you find it an issue at all when trying to get enough depth of field when shooting at 600mm F6.3 and have to go higher Fstops giving higher ISO's?
Hi Peter, Not really as you can see in the sample photos. However it really depends how close you are to your subject in relation to the background as well.
@@Jason_Hermann Thanks Jay, i recently purchased this lens and e.g. found that at F6.3, 600mm and 30 metres the DOF is less than 1 meter for my camera and will have to wait and see if this gives me an issue for closer up shots
If you using a6600 as an aps-c the 600 is an 900
Yes, correct ;)
I got Sony A6300 and having difficulties with autofocus settings… simply doesnt focus fast enough to catch bird flying. Even a slow grey heron. Also sharpness is not as expected. I take all pics at f8 and ISO as low as possible and take pictures around 1/800. Any ideas of what could it be?
I noticed that you always hold the camera and the bottom of the lens. Is the mount not strong enough if you just hold the camera?
It is technically, but the lens is really heavy and it just felt better holding both.
@@Jason_Hermann Thanks!
The 6600 has a motorized winder?? Why would they add that?
Hi Jay. Great video and review. I just got this lens but just a quick question. At 4:10 you are talking about that the lens is too heavy to support it from the camera but at 7:15 you are holding the camera only with one hand so all the weight from the lens is supported by the camera? I have caught myself doing that a couple of times as well and also lifting the camera out of my bag with grabbing the camera only, but is that okay to do for a short lift or should you avoid not to do it at all? I’m not used to these heavy lenses so I have a learning curve here how to hold it and lift it 😅 Thanks!
Hi Chris and Excellent question! It's good practice to hold by the lens when using something this heavy in my opinion. You can clearly hold it by the camera and it will support it, but just using common sense, it feels too heavy I would say in the long term. Clearly we would not mount the camera to a tripod when using this lens, we would mount the lens to the tripod for better con tool and weight distribution, but also to not over stress the lens mount on the camera. I would just recommend using caution is all ;)
@@Jason_Hermann thanks Jay. So what I can understand is that it is okay to hold the kamera, with the lens pointing down for example while looking at the LCD or just holding it like you did, but handle it with care when walking/shooting and use common sense?
I’ll try to lift the camera while supporting the lens and body and then just be cautious in generel 👍😉
Yes, that is what I recommend Chris ;)
Is the quality of the image much better than the RX10 III ?
Well, that depends on what camera it is attached to, but overall I would it's very similar sharpness, color, and clarity when compared to the RX10 III lens. However, the sensor on the RX10 is only 1" in size, so the overall image quality produced with this lens in combination with a larger sensor camera like the A6600 or a full frame camera like the A7 III for example will be better in the noise department and depth of field capabilities. The noise has nothing to do with the lens though, that is the sensor and ISO handling abilities. The larger sensor camera produce cleaner results higher ISO values....
I have the 70-350 but I don’t know if it works with the 1.4”
No it does not work with that lens according to documentation...
What to do for take photo in aps c through sony 200-600 lens
Nice
Will the lense work with the a6400 ?
Yes
Will it be worth buying for sony 6300 modal?
Can you use this for indoor sports like basketball abs volleyball?
Technically yes, but depending on the size of the gym and the lighting would be a huge factor. This lens is not good in lower light due to the slower max aperture. Usually am f/2.8 lens or faster is required for indoor sports. Also, the 200-600mm range is huge for most indoor sports, unless of course the facility is huge. I'm thinking of a high school gym vs a college sports complex for example. Personally I would rather have a 70-200mm f/2.8 or something similar to that for indoor sports, depending of course on how close you are to the action. I hope that helps Harry, Jay
@@Jason_Hermann Thank you for the reply. I do appreciate it. I have a Tamron 100-300 would that suffice?
oooooh those last two lenses are sooo expensive
A lot of bang for your buck though
Doesn't the full frame lense affect image quality? Like reduces your effective pixels from.24 to 12 because of adapting to full frame?
No, adapting a APS-C E-Mount Lens to a full frame E-mount camera would cause what you are thinking of. This set-up is using a full frame e-mount lens on an APS-C camera body.
@@Jason_Hermann so it doesn't affect image quality?
No, it just uses more of the center area of the lens which is what causes the crop factor. The resolution will be whatever the camera is if using a crop factor camera with a full frame lens.
Would this lens fit on my Sony a6000?
Yes it sure would ;)
are the moonshots 600mm or 900mm?
The lens was at 600mm, but due to the 1.5x crop factor of the A6600 camera that works out to an "effective" 900mm....
@@Jason_Hermann Thx!!
did someone say... BOTTLE NECK. Only kidding, looks like a phenomenal lense but I think I'd use the 70-200mm F/4 G
I know it’s been a while since you’ve posted this video but I think your lens might be a bit of if it’s creeping... i’ve had the 200-600 and it’s never done that tbh
Good to know!! Mine was brand new out of box when I received it just so you know ;)
@@Jason_Hermann I think it may be one of those things kinda like how the 70-200 had some bad copies when it came to back focusing... its definitely plausible considering sony’s past
Does it fit sony A6400( is it an e-mount)
Yes, same as the A6600 which I tested this lens on.
@@Jason_Hermann thank you 😊 am still new to this. Your videos help a lot 🙏🏽
Does this Lens work with Sony a6000
Yes it will work.
@@Jason_Hermann thank you so much I am planning to buy Sony a6000 so want to clear that In future I can use Sony 200-600mm lens with Sony a6000.
Can the focus hold buttons be programmed? If so, would each button respond the same, as if there were only a single button? (In vid of your son on bike, the shutter sound effects didn’t sound like those on an A6600 - sounded more like a dslr.)
Focus hold is programmable, and yes, all 3 will only do the same thing. 3 buttons simply for convenience, not for 3 different program choice.