SONY FE 200-600MM F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Sony’s latest super-tele zoom for its E-mount mirrorless cameras goes large on reach and even larger in performance and finesse

Like Canon and Nikon, Sony has long produced a pro-spec 100-400mm zoom (though in Nikon’s case, it’s actually 80-400mm). However, the difference is that Sony’s FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master OSS was designed exclusively for mirrorless cameras. The company’s recent 200-600mm zoom boosts the maximum reach by 50 per cent, with just a one-third f/stop reduction at the long end. Compatible with full-frame bodies, it also gives a mighty 300-900mm ‘effective’ zoom range on Sony’s APS-C format cameras.

Unusually for a super-tele zoom, the zoom mechanism is fully internal, so although it’s already physically quite long, it doesn’t extend any further outwards at longer zoom settings. The control layout is virtually identical to the pricier FE 100-400mm lens but the 200-600mm adds a few refinements. The autofocus range limiter can lock out the long as well as the short section of the full range and the

OSS (Optical Steady Shot) stabiliser gains a third switchable ‘exposure only’ option, similar to that of the Canon and Nikon lenses on test here.

There’s no shortage of quality in the glass, which includes five ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements and one aspherical element. Nano AR coating does an excellent job of minimising ghosting and flare, and there’s a keep-clean fluorine coating on the front element. Build quality is reassuringly solid and features an extensive set of weather seals.

Autofocus is based on a DDSSM (Direct Drive Super Sonic Motor) system, which is super-fast and nearsilent. Three customisable focus-hold buttons fall neatly under the thumb position. The Sony delivers superb sharpness even when shooting wide-open, throughout the entire zoom range. There is only minimal colour fringing, whereas pincushion distortion is generally unnoticeable, however, automatic incamera corrections are available to address both of these aberrations.

Looks can be deceiving

THE SONY LOOKS BIGGER THAN MOST SUPERTELE ZOOMS, BUT THE ZOOM MECHANISM IS INTERNAL AND WITH NO EXTENDING INNER BARREL, THE LENGTH REMAINS FIXED