My Final Review of the Sony FE 200-600 G Lens. Is it any good?
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- Опубликовано: 12 июл 2024
- After buying the Sony 200-600 lens over 18 months ago I decided I was well over due to let you know my final thoughts on this lens. Would I recommend it? What I like and what I don't like. By the way this is not a review of the edge to edge sharpness at various focal lengths this is just a wildlife photographers perspective on what the lens is like to use and does it produce the results I want. After using lens from Nikon Canon and Sony over the years how does this one stack up?
The list below contains the equipment I use for Wildlife Photography and video production. I have provided an affiliate link for each bit of gear. If you buy using this link I get a small commission which helps towards producing this channel. Thank You👍
VISUAL
Sony A7r111 amzn.to/3LTMBqf
Sony A6400 amzn.to/3Bk2zVP
DJI Osmo Action 3 amzn.to/41mLC7P
Sony 200-600 G OSS Lens amzn.to/4343Yf9
Sony 90mm F2.8 Macro amzn.to/42pIEkb
Viltrox AF 24mm 1.8 FE amzn.to/3HXBIT6
SOUND
Rode Videomicro amzn.to/3pxOod5
DJI Microphones (Lav Mic Set) amzn.to/3VWlu2z
Tascam DR-05X Sound Recorder amzn.to/41u1VQe
SUPPORT
Vanguard Veo3Go 204CB (Travel) amzn.to/3LYPUMO
Vanguard VEO 2 PRO 233CO amzn.to/3MiD910
Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 263AB 100 amzn.to/3nRRrw9
Artcise Heavy Duty Bowl Tripod amzn.to/3nSc63e
Manfrotto Manfrotto MVH500AH fluid head amzn.to/42qlLx7
Vanguard Veo2s AM234TBP5OT Monopod amzn.to/3pvjAtw
CLOTHING/HIDES
JACK PYKE LLCS 3D Gloves amzn.to/3nLw8MX
Harrington Marley 3D Ghillie Mask amzn.to/42rT5n8
JACK PYKE Rannock Jacket amzn.to/3LTyL79
BAGS
VANGUARD ALTA SKY 51D Pro Backpack amzn.to/3NXau2H
Vanguard VEO Range T37M Backpack amzn.to/42qoF4Z
As always you can contact me in by using any of the methods below.
My Email: scotttilley6@gmail.com
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Good review Scott. Have you tried using the DMF focusing mode? It autofocuses with the half-press or back button, but then allows you to fine tune the focus using the manual focus ring. I find it really useful for scenarios like you described where there's a bird in undergrowth or amongst reeds. It's a great function, but Sony have given it an unhelpful name - Direct Manual Focus - which most people wouldn't assume means semi-autofocus.
Hi Scott, no I hadn't figured that one out 😂 Will pin you as it may help someone else out mate👍 All the best mate!
Hi Scott, Thanks for making this video! It helped familiarize myself with this lens before buying it! You are very clear and to the point in describing this lens! Thanks!
Thanks for watching I'm glad you found it useful. I rate this lensd very highly and it would take a lot for me to exchange it for something else! Perhaps a version two with a locking zoom ring🤔👍
There is also a function called AF assist, which actually lets you manually override the autofocus with this lens. A very useful feature for wildlife, especially if the autofocus does hit some branches and not the subject@@scotttilleyphotography
Great review Scott. Very helpful as I'm considering upgrading! Many thanks 👍
Glad it was helpful! All the best 👍👍
Nice review Scott. I certainly know that’s the lens I would be aiming for if/when I get the A1 eventually. Thanks for sharing your thoughts 👍🙏
Thanks Adrian, maybe by the time your A1 comes around they will have produced a Mk2 version with a zoom lock etc. Then it would be perfect! Thanks for watching mate👍
Great review Scott. I like how you’ve made the lens buttons programmable for manual focus.
Thanks Ramon, that's what works best for me and with it being fully customizable it's easy to set it up for your preferences 👍
Nice review. I switched from Fuji to Sony for this lens. Will be ordering this lens soon!
Good choice! I'm sure you won't be disappointed👍
I moved from Canon to Sony based on your original review of this lens and the A6400 body, a move I have never regretted! I can cart this lens around all day out in the field, yes I am tired at the end of the day but not exhausted as I used to be with the 1DX + 500 f4! I also agree with your "minimum focus" comment it would be nice to have a shorter distance but I've gotten used to it now and at the price it is hard to fault.
Thanks Peter, if I could change one thing on the lens for me it would be a zoom lock at 600mm, I suspect it wouldn't put the price up by much either!😉👍
Scott, nice thorough real-world look at the 200-600. I have the 600mm F4 and my wife has the 200-600. The 600mm F4 GM is the best of the best, but packing, carrying, and price are considerations. Also, I like getting out and using my gear. $13k versus $2k impacts my enjoyment and use. Losing or breaking a $2k lens would hurt, but $13K would be devastating. I do have insurance, but still! Finally, the 200-600 is much more practical as it can zoom to fit the situation as the wildlife moves around. The short commings I notice is the 600mm at f4 has a nice out of focus back ground and it performs better in low light. Even with those two major short commings, I will grab the 200-600 if my wife isn't using it 80% of the time.
Thanks. I've used the 600 F4 and as you say it is the best of the best. For me there's no better lens for a hide shoot where you are going to be all day and I don't think anyone would argue with that. Like you, i think I would be possibly spend more time ensuring I didn't knock my lens rather than looking out for the wildlife if I had the 600 F4😂 I would love F4 at times but even this is somewhat negated these days with the ISO performance and noise reduction software being so good. For the price there's not a lot that can touch the 200-600, I certainly won't be switching it any time soon!👍👍
I’ve had the 600 f4 for the past 6 months and ended up selling it eventually, I’ve gotten some good images with it but it’s becoming harder to justify the cost of it as time goes on.
200-600 is still a great lens and I’m more than happy using it.
I have this lens and largely agree with your review. I just wish it was a larger aperture, but know that would make it bigger and heavier, as well as more expensive. For the price point and size, it really can’t be bettered - an excellent wildlife lens! I have never had the zoom slip, but keep my tripod foot on the underside, so that rests on a beanbag and not the lens itself
Hi Jonathan, thanks for your comment. I agree that resting the lens on the tripod collar would potentially remove the issue of the zoom slipping. I guess I have this issue because if I know I am not going to be using the lens on a tripod I usually invert the collar and use it as a carry handle. I find it much easier to raise the lens to take a shot than having to flip the lens and camera over. This leaves me with the collar at the top if I drop down to quickly rest the lens on a bean bag (if that makes sense!)👍👍
Great Video Scott, didn't realise it was an internal Zoom, must be so much better for balance Mate 👍🏽👍🏽
Thanks Lee, yes internal zoom so no change in balance at all👍
Great review video Scott. Strange isn’t it that nothing is ever perfect for us 😂
At least it gives us something to blame our photography failures on Keith!😂 Thanks for watching mate👍
Well explained, thx
Glad it helped! Thanks for watching🙏👍
I have to set up on the a9 Mark II it is awesome
I am still using mine and it would certainly take a lot for me to switch for something else! A great lens👍
Great review Scott, but the young bird of prey, maybe a common buzzards, calling in background, was too funny to ear 😅
Buzzards, my favorite bird of prey but one that continually causes me problems 😂
I've currently got an A7C2 that i pair with this lens and it's a really nice combo. I did think of picking up the x1.4 teleconveter for a bit more reach, but I've realised that i can pick up a used A6300/A6400 body for similar money. I'm now torn between doing that or picking up a used A7Riii and using a heavier crop.
Both will work fine. I would go with the a6400 if you want a smaller lighter setup but if you want better performance in low light or for widefield astro images I would go with the A7riii. It really does depend on what you are going to use it for most.👌👍
I think this lens is the best wildlife lens on the market for the price , I’m a lady in her 70s and can walk about with it all day + hand hold , I moved to Sony just to get this lens I still have Canon gear but this lens on my Sony a1 is my favourite set up
Hi Kathleen, I know the quality of your images from facebook, and I have to agree this is a fantastic lens. I think the only way I would swap is if they did a version two with a zoom lock at 600mm. I noticed from my last video I seem to have developed a nervous tick when shooting birds in flight from a beanbag and can't stop myself checking that the zoom hasn't wound itself in😂 I would imagine the 200-600 on the A1 is an awesome setup!👍
Wonderful review but terrible youtube compression. Try upscaling to 4K when exporting so the video would retain more quality after youtube compression. Already have the lens and really love it.
Thanks, I suspect there may have been an issue with the upload from my software for this video. Thanks for the heads up👍🙏
@@scotttilleyphotography Wish you all the best! I would suggest exporting locally targeting like 100Mbps 4K then exporting it to youtube, even if shot in 1080p. You'll be surprised how good it'll look!
I'd like to hear your thoughts on the teleconverters.
Hi, I can't give you information for teleconverters for this lens as I haven't used them. However my experience with Canon telephoto lenses was a very useful addition at 1.4 but I was never happy with a 2x converter as the drawbacks always seemed to out way the benefits. To be honest I have always found that 600mm with a 40+ megapixel sensor was more than enough reach with the Sony setup I have.👍
I got this lens along with my A7 m4. I ended up selling it and getting the Sigma 150-600mm sports lens, at great cost to me. I tested the minimum focus distance at 600mm on the Sony after many frustrating outings and discovered it was around 17 yards or 15 meters. I like to photograph small birds, such as warblers. especially when they are migrating north in May and south in Aug/Sept. These are tiny birds so getting close is key. For other applications, such as sports or larger wildlife, it is a great lens. But, for warblers, it sucked. The Sigma, with a much shorter minimum focusing distance is ideal.
Hi, thanks for watching the review. I must admit to being a bit puzzled by your lens having a minimum focos distance of 15 metres? Sony rates it at 2.4 metres and have just tested mine which lines up with this. I suspect there must have been an issue with your copy of the lens. The only way I can get anywhere near a minimum focus like yours is to flip the focus limiter switch to 10 metres to infinity. I haven't used the Sigma 150-600 sport but understand it's a good lens but you certainly know your carrying it! All the best!👍
I primarily have wide angle primes, though i would like to get a telephoto to shoot all the birds in the yard. I get a wide variety of birds daily. What type of shot will i get if the bird is 50yds away, at 200mm? Also if the bird is 50 yards away, at 600mm? Considering both the sigma 60-600mm, and Sony 200-600mm. Thanks.
Hi, fifty yards is a fair distance away for small garden birds. If I am shooting in the garden I try to be around 20 yards away with the 600mm. I will still be doing some cropping at that but with the A7r3 I can get away with it. Best idea is to set up some sort of hide/blind and encourage the birds to feed in front of it. 👍
What camera are you using please .
I have just got this lens and looking forward to playing with it but I'm using the Sony a5100 so will I struggle to get sharp pics as it's an older camera
Hello Brendon, no you shouldn't struggle at all. You may have less focus points etc but it should still be a great combination.👍
@@scotttilleyphotography appreciate the reply. I was looking to trading camera in for an upgrade
I would see how you get on with that combination first but a camera upgrade might get small increases in performance but wouldn't really affect image quality 👍
@@scotttilleyphotography amazing thank you. Recommend any standard settings to start with? F stop? Iso?
Appreciate the Help
Hello Brendon, for static animals I usually default to around 1/500 sec F7.1 is really sharp for my copy of the lens although I will drop to F6.3. I leave ISO on auto as the noise reduction software I use does agreat job on images as high as 12800 ISO. For birds in flight I default to 1/2000 sec but will go lower for slow flying birds and higher for faster ones. Again auto ISO.👍
If you are using the Sony 200-600 g oss lens, there is a switch on the lens to toggle between af/mf… there is no need to use one of the buttons on the lens. I use my button to toggle my focus mode
Hi William, this really is what works for you. For me when I'm hand holding the lens then the lens buttons are under my thumb so I can easily toggle between. Using the switch on the lens means I have to physically look to make sure I'm not switching OSS off instead etc. As I say there is no right or wrong answer. Some people have a problem inadvertently catching the lens buttons so don't like my method.👍👍
I think having a less busy background would help with the video compression, it gets very blocky with all the leaves and such
I think this was a problem with one upload as I had to use youtubes own uploader rather than my own software🙏👍
I find this lens fantastic. I love the internal zoom with its less than 1/4 turn from 200 to 600. The ability to change to the manual focus ring with the press of a pre defined button. but why is the lens in such a bright colour? Because this lens is aimed toward the wildlife market, why can't Sony make a version in camo?
Really is a great performer. I suspect that the white/grey has become the universal symbol of quality for lens makers. To be fair I put the camo neoprene on mine more as an extra layer of protection rather than its camo qualities👍
@@scotttilleyphotography It is to do with white not soaking up so much heat, in the sun. Compared to black
This lens is not lightweight. It may be lighter than its counterparts, but it doesn’t make it a lightweight lens.
Thanks for you comment. As you say the term "lightweight" is relative and I think you answered your own question with regard to the lenses counterparts👍