Sony A1 Video Capture Guide - The Complete Online Course: photoworkshopsandtours.com/index.php/product/sony-a1-video-capture-guide-the-definitive-online-course/
Mark, Congratulations for being recognized by Sony and getting sponsorship. You are a flagship representative and I appreciate all you share to improve the hobby. Thank you!
Happy to see that SONY is finally supporting your fantastic work with their gear. Here since the beginning of your journey and enjoying every step of the way. R
My bird of choice is the hummingbird, and while I do utilize a gimbal on occasion, my preference is to hand hold this fantastic lens. RARELY do I get tired and I often sit for hours watching and waiting for my birds to show up. My best decision was to go from a Fuji X-T3 and their 100-400 to the SONY A7Riv with the 200-600 and the 1.4x extender. I have to agree that it is the best lens for the money!
Nice summary Mark. Congrats on finally getting sponsored by Sony! You deserve it! I loved that lens too. I did sell it because I switched to the big primes, but the 200-600 was great.
Daniel, just curious; what are your favorite focus modes? I have always used Mark’s suggestion of shooting mostly Zone and Expand flexible spot and flex spot (small) .
@@plumshoejeff, since the A7rIV was my first Sony, I too followed Marks videos on the set up. I do the same settings as he suggested and the same as you are using. A real game changer as I never shot hand held before with my Nikon D4s. I really like how it locks on the subject and stays with it.
I've made similar comments before, but while your videography and photography are excellent it's your enthusiasm and passionate narration I like the most. Sony is wise in choosing you as someone to collaborate with. You are right in your assessment of this great lens. Excellent work Mark. All the best in your future endeavors including Marriage!
Another amazing video Mark, been a follower almost from when you started. I am so glad that you are still a down to Earth person. I have the same lens and I totally agree with you. Thanks.
Excellent film Mark, incredible video and stills you've captured here with this lens , thanks for sharing it with us. As always all the best from the UK.
Awesome video Mark. I love my 200-600 lens on my A9 for wildlife photography. I learned so much from your set up video you did for the A9. Any chance you could do a video on your settings for shooting video? I have tried to shoot some videos while shooting wildlife and just can’t get the quality I would like.
Hello Mark, I have the Sony a1, the 200-600 and Sony 600mm f4. They are both really sharp lenses, focus is amazing. Thanks for sharing, love all of your videos…amazing stuff!
Mark - Amazing video as usual. 200-600 was the main reason I shifted from Canon to Sony two years back and it has never disappointed me. Internal zoom, super quick auto focus and great price. Probably, this lens is primary reason wildlife shooters are getting into Sony system.
Thanks for this video Mark. I really love your Osprey footage. I was wondering what camera settings you use when filming video? Do you always shoot at 120fps?
Thank you Mark! When do you use modes 1, 2, 3 or do you leave it on/off and the the focus meter too, do you leave it on infinite or 10m-infinite for BIF? I hope you added it on your review…but otherwise, thank you! Maybe on your next video?🙂
Hi Mark, thanks for bringing this great lens to our attention. Yes, this is an awesome lens. This lens was the reason why I skipped Canon for birding. It is high-res and easy to carry. It is great on the A1, because the AF here works up to F/22 {On the A7R4 it stops at F/13}. A TC1.4 can be used on the A7R4. TC2 makes AF hunting on the A7R4. Avoid filters for this lens. If you need one use only the absolute best filters tested with your equipment before the shoot. A ZEISS cleaning bag pinned to a fence at 30 yards distance, 600mm, with and without filter will tell, if the filter is good. The OSS is good enough handhold down to 1/200, if you need it. Mark, as always I would like to see you in action with my own eyes. It is so clear that you love what your are doing.
For that range of price 200-600 is a must buy lens. Great lens for an incredible price. I have also Canon 100-500 that is, for my opinion, sharper and with a better AF, but it’s 100 mm shorter and it costs 2 times more than 200-600.
Again Great Footage!! Some people think Prime Lenses are the only way to Go. But a Nice Balenced Zoom Lens is really hard to Beat. I love Zoom lenses they give you so much Versatilaty.
i agree, it is a great lens. thanks for the video! you are so lucky to get so close to these birds! here in germany this is almost impossible. maybe i come and visit you one fine day 😊
dude your stuff is awesome, the lens is good too, but you are being modest. i like your channel. i have this lens and yes its the best decision for wildlife, thanks .
Mark, you are the unequaled champion of Osprey Photography. (In fact, when I type “Osprey Photography” I have to suppress “auto suggest” because it defaults to your website!) I am hesitant to write this suggestion because of your awesome skill, but have you considered rotating your tripod foot to the top when hand-holding your long lenses? I find it helpful to gett the foot out of the way and also using the rotated foot on top to function like a sight on the barrel of a rifle (not that I’d ever shoot a bird or other critter) to help aid locating your subject. Just an idea.
Could not agree more i have the 200-600 paired with my A9 and absolutely love it only thing that holds it back is me 🤦♂️ Fantastic bit of kit highly recommend it 👍
Nice video..👌 Actually I have Sony a7r4 camera with 200-600mm lens. I have facing blurry and sharp image issues. I am planning to buy Sony a74. Did you try a74 with 200-600 lens? Will get sharp images more than a7riv with 200-600 lens?? What is your opinion? I am still worry..because If I buy a74, will the same a7r4 issue coming or not??
Hi Mark wow some really awesome video handheld footage quit impressed well done. I can see why you like the lens and for wildlife the 600 part is a must but my question is for a African safari from a vehicle and sometimes the 200 part is just to much. So what would your thoughts be about the Sigma 60-600 on the Nikon Z9… thx be interesting to here
I have the 200-600 lens and a Sony A9ll. I’m new to photography and I have got some very good results. When I show them to my friends and family they are all just shocked that I took the pictures. The equipment is doing most of the work as I’ve only been shooting for a year or so and am just starting to have a little experience. I know that’s an expensive combination but once set up it makes shooting fairly easy.
السلام عليكم .نشكرك على كل هذه المجهودات التي تقوم بها .فعلا انها صور جميلة وفي غاية التركيز .اتمنى ان يكون لذي عدسة في هذا الحجم مستقبلا .وشكرا لك مرة اخرى
Hi Mark - I've been following you for some time. I've always trusted that you were being honest about your gear reviews and was eager to hear your assessment of the A1 vs Z9. Now that you are accepting money from Sony, how can I trust your review? I understand your need to earn a living, just sharing my honest reaction to this.
That was my first thought as well.... It is great that Sony is sponsoring Mark (and very well deserved), but it might be the end of honest unbiased review of gear from other manufacturers. A (small) price to pay for awesome content.
definitely my favourite lens for nature video. It may not be quite as sharp as the 16000 600mm f/4 but for 2000 it is pretty amazing. It is hard to find internal zoom long telephoto lenses ( the last one I owned was the Sigma 120-300 which was also fantastic but so much heavier than this).
I agree on internal zooms, i wish my 100-400 had the internal design. I do see Sony went with the 70-200 now using internal zooming. I'd much rather have a slightly larger lens than deal with creep, dust and long throws.
The 200-600 is only the best because Sony is missing something better at this price point. It is light weight and nicely priced but has a lot of drawbacks. The 6.3 F stop make capturing stills of birds in motion hard in medium light not even low light. The sharpness is not that good in my mind as well. Larger birds at noon on a sunny day would work great, and that’s about it. Smaller subject in the early morning or shaded places will result in very high iso and lost details. The zoom throw is quick but sometimes moves and changes without you noticing. The 100-400gm is a better lens even though because of the missing lenses at 500mm and 600 for affordable price this lens is a necessity 🤭🥲.
@@sfiron The 100-400 and 200-600 are probably the most compared lenses ever. I always see people asking which one should I get. I own them both and would say both but which one you get first depends on what you like to shoot. For birds almost always the 200-600 will be a better fit but for a walk around lens where you may also be doing some almost macro photography or just need something like the 100-400 can be nice. I got the 100-400 first and later bought the 200-600 after shooting right alongside a friend that had one and his images were almost always sharper than mine (birding). I agree the 100-400 maybe just slightly sharper, it definitely has a bit more contrast but I don't see it as far superior in the least. I also own the 1.4TC and have used that on the 100-400 and the results are definitely worse than using the 200-600 if you need the extra focal length. Maybe I got a better copy thatn some people but as long as I have good light, good technique, perfect focus and a fast enough shutter speed the results from my 200-600 are excellent. I also own the 135GM and the 50GM, those are incredibly sharp lenses in another class from the zooms.
@@robwasnj I agree with most of what you said. TC are never a good idea. Never found a good use for it. I used the 135gm as well in my latest trip to Costa Rica. Very good lens. We desperately need a light weight 500mm gm with 5.6 f-stop and mid range price
Thank you for what are always excellent, informative videos. I too have the 200-600 on my Sony A7IV, love the combo, now I just need to work on getting beautiful images.
There is only one point i would disagree, its no longer a secret weapon given many of us purchased it following ur recommendation. BTW went out with the lens today on a trail, the keepers and what i got with this and A9 is just unbelievable for someone switching from DSLR and heavy primes. Ur A9 set up also helped. Thanks for everything Mark !!!
I was just photographing my backyard birds in a surprise snow squall with my 200-600 lens. If Sony is reading I moved to their gear in part because of your channels and I'm loving it. One thing I WISH they would improve are their lens feet though, I noticed you switched your foot out as well for a Kirk or something similar (I have the Kirk). Nice seeing the inlet in your videos, last time I was there it was all about fishing, caught 3 huge reds we had to throw back since they were over the slot limit but then hooked up with a snook and some sheepshead underneath the bridge. I feel like FL is my 2nd home to NJ where I live and love seeing your adventures down there.
I agree on the need for Sony to upgrade the feet on these lenses. The Leofoto replacements work great. I've had one for the 200-600 and just ordered the version for the 70-200GM2.
I bought the 200-600 two years ago to use on my a6300. It did not balance well and the camera was not up to the abilities of the lens. I rented an a7RIV and an a9. I bought an a9M2 and the 200-600 on the a9M2 is a match made in heaven for sports and wildlife. As always Mark, a very nice video.
Impeccable timing of your post on this lens. Matt & I have been reviewing this lens for his setup w/a9II. This video cemented our decision to purchase for our upcoming WA workshop date. Tough being a Nikon guy & buying this stellar lens for my son 🤦♂️What is manufacturer of the replacement arca foot-Thx for this timely post.
@@MarkSmithphotography PMG must have changed their foot, the new one I see doesn't have the silver knob with the black in the center unless the photos just hide it on their product page. The one in the video looks exactly like the Kirk. I'm sure they're all pretty similar, I see PMG offers the QD or SS2 port option. I am curious if yours has a little bit of wobble, mine does, I carry it all the time by the foot with a QD and Peak Designs strap. I think it was tighter when it was new but I worry about the collar on the lens possibly failing after enough use. I know several people have had the feet crack.
Hi Mark I'm a new subscriber and love the videos I have watched so far. I was just wondering what your recommendation would be in terms of camera body to pair with this lens if you cannot afford the Sony A1, my primary use of the pair would be bird and wildlife photography, thanks
I have this lens with the A74. Photo Designs Big Foot Grip is the best foot for this lens. Arcs Swiss with grip & detachable strap ring! Had too many issues with Nikon 200-500. LOVE the internal zoom!! Thanks for all the great work. Looking forward to your A74 set up guide!
Great video, funny how on a Sony sponsored video, he's removed the tripod foot for a 3rd party one which so many people do, please take note Sony and just make them arca Swiss from now on
I agree the 200-600 is a great lens for wildlife photography, although I don’t know how you hold it still enough for video? My attempts at hand held video with this lens have all looked shaky (due to its weight and long focal length), and I now always use the 70-200 GM2 for hand held video, including using crop mode if I need more reach which of course has no effect on 4K video quality
For people that is on the Nikon system and have a moderate budget a good combination is, from my perspective, a. 300mm pf and a. 500mm f5.6 pf. Pretty fast to focus, good apertures. (a stop from the pro 300mm f2.8 and the. 500mm f4) and "moderate" price. One can get the 300mm pf used often, and the. 500mm hits the used market from time to time. Even New the prices are moderate. Great video , I agree with the throw, I was. less than happy when Canon introduced the new 70-200mm, pretty good lens but the trow is pretty long, When one needs to change framing in a pinch is a pain.
I agree for stills. I keep my left elbow against my chest, and the tripod collar foot in my left palm. I start with the zoom around 400mm, then can zoom in to 600mm with a finger tip.
I am using this lens now for 2 years on A7R4 , a9ii and now A1 and must admit this is the lens best bang for the buck!One negative is that the lens is front heavy
@@KenToney both work fine for me!The a7R4 is excellent for macro and landscape work. The a9II scores very good in high iso and is much faster than the r4
Watching for 3rd time, love your descriptive dialogue. Sony is missing the boat by making you an artisan! I’ve tried the 600 f4 but too heavy for me to hold long periods of time. I’m getting my wife one too (she has 100-400). Thanks for all your videos Mark, my wife and I hope to do a workshop with you soon!!
Great video, Mark! I’m curious to know if you use Steady Shot position 3 for shooting birds? I’ve struggled to get sharp images of birds in-flight (A7 IV body) and have been trying to identify my mistake(s). You and Mark Galer are tremendous resources. Sony should send you both buckets of money!!
Hey Mark! I just got an a9 body, with a battery grip, 2 extra OEM batteries, and 2 SD cards for a steal from a friend ($2k with shipping and handling)! But I'm stuck on the lenses since this is a body-only purchase! I'm stuck between the 100-400mm and the 200-600mm. I take a lot of wildlife photography as well, and while I'm used to the Nikon system (I have a D850 with a 200-500mm / 70-200mm), I like how small, compact, and silent the a9 can be with the 100-400 (based on your videos and online testimonies from other Sony users), and the sheer versatility it offers with macro and portrait photography. But as someone who shoots predominately with the 200-500mm, I also see how the extra reach for the 200-600mm can be more than helpful, especially for the a9 since the sensor isn't as big as the D850's or the A1 (and some A7's). What would you recommend to someone who's just recently switched over to Sony Mark? You're my only hope!....
Congrats! That’s a tough one. 100 to 400 is definitely too short for a lot of stuff. 200 and 600 is a great lens. It most of your subjects are further away I would get the 200 to 600.
@@MarkSmithphotography Exactly. I figured since I'm not really used to the Sony system, the 100-400 would be a great all-rounder since it can do a little of everything. But at the same time since I'm used to shooting with the 200-500 anyways, I'd probably feel more at home so to speak. Is the weight of the 200-600 with the a9 (with a grip) as heavy as the D850? or is it noticeably lighter? One of the reasons I went with the a9 was due to its size and weight, and I figured that the 100-400 would be an awesome addition.
Another great video Mark and I share your enthusiasm about the lens , for the price it has to be one of if not the best on the market . Have you and plans to do a video on your video settings / menu choices and techniques etc as your footage is inspirational and I am only just beginning to experiment with video and struggling somewhat ?
I agree, it's a cracker of a lens. I had one of the other lenses that telescope in and out. Once you use this lens with the brilliantly designed zoom throw you can never go back to the other lenses.
Hi Mark yes you get great results with the 200-600 but if money was no object can you really say this Sony is better than the Nikon 400 2.8 with a built in 1.4 with the option to add a 2x converter…
Hi Mark, have you put the 1.4x or 2x converter on this lens? I’d like to see some clips and maybe comparisons with and without it. I’m a new subscriber and really enjoy your videos and hope to capture the elements of nature as you have.
Great video. I've been considering purchasing this as another lens to go along with my a7siii. I think I may just do that later this year as a result of some of the things you showed in this video. That throw is great and it's good to know the stabilization is similar to the other Sony lenses.
The 200-600mm is a great versatile lens ! How many people like me though take 90% of there wildlife shots at the 600mm range ! That is when a 600mm f4 is in a league of its own ! But there is no doubt for price and range it is difficult to beat the Sony 200-600mm f5.6 - 6.3 ! Awesome lens ! Great work Mark. I presume you use stabilization for hand held video ? 👍🤔
I shoot an A9 and 200-600 and while today I wouldn't argue its the best combo as there is so much competition, but because the A9 and this lens has been out for a number of years now, and used ones can be found, I would argue its the best bang for your buck combo as you can find both for a total of $3200-3500 if you shop around, nothing else comes close for that money
Mark I have the A1 and 200-600 and really love it. I do find the image stabilisation isn't as good as I might expect. Perhaps its me do you have arms made of steel and super human strength? I would like to confirm my set up is working properly when photographing a still subject. How low can you go on shutter speed @600mm before motion blur becomes apparent?
@@MarkSmithphotography I shot the Canon 7Dii at 400mm vs Sony A1 at 400mm in crop mode to match the canon and expected the stabilisation to be better than Canon as the Sony has OIS and IBIS but it wasn't, it might be worse. In video mode at 600mm I get very shaky and virtually unusable video at 600mm unless I use active steady shot, do you use that inconjunction with mode 2 OIS? Several people have reported concerns with stabilisation with 200-600 one guy upgraded his A92 to A1 and found the stabilisation to be much worse. Do you find the A92 to be better than A1 for stabilisation?
I love my 200-600 Sony also! But it would be cool if Sony did that magic update they did on the new 70-200 GM II in weight reduction, focus speed etc. again already a great lens. But the update they did with great success on that other lens, has me day dreaming 😄
A very convincing video. I'll take a half-dozen of everything...just as soon as my bank account lets me. I don't shoot Sony but I agree with you about the short zoom throw of that lens.
A9 + 200-600 user here, still learning the ropes as I recently switched to Sony. Mark, can you give a short rundown on how and when you use the different OSS modes on the lens when shooting birds in flight? I prefer mode 1 for stationary birds and mode 3 for BIF. Your technique is obviously stellar, considering you do all your work handheld and with such incredible tracking accuracy.
Hi Mark. I love my A1 with 200-600mm. I never used it for video, only for photography. I assume you shoot in a high frames per second and then slow down in post? What’s your favorite video editing program?
I really like the 200-600 lens on my A7RIV. What kind of foot do you have on it? I’m trying to decide on a replacement. FYI, I also really like the 100-400 ;)
Hi Mark! Really amazing videos and helpful instructions.I have some doubt about camera and lens image stabilizers. Is it necessary for action shoots? I mean over 1/2000 is it make sense to be applied due to high shoot speed or not? Also, what is the recommendation for still shoots around 1/125? Camera stabilizer + lens stabilizer or only one of them ? My gear is Sony A7R4 and G 200/600 . Thank you in advance! Best regards from Brazil 🇧🇷 Leonardo Martins 🇧🇷
Mark, thanks for all of your inspiring videos. I'm very interested in the Sony 200-600 & I'm planning on picking up the A7IV. Would this be a good match?
For the mark 2 I'd want it to have a better magnification. Perhaps start at 150. They can even have a barrel contracting mechanism at the back to store it. Once restored to working size, it can be used.
Hi Mark. I love your videos and excellent info when using Sony. Please tell me the (hand holding) bracket shoe you have on your Sony 200-600 lens. I find the one with Sony too small for my hand and I would like to be able to handle the lens better. Please advise? Ia
Can you shoot video with the 600mm F4 as easily?! I don't want to choose between the 600 and 200-600, leaning towards the 600 but also want to take video.
Sony A1 Video Capture Guide - The Complete Online Course: photoworkshopsandtours.com/index.php/product/sony-a1-video-capture-guide-the-definitive-online-course/
Thanks for being a great photography ambassador and educator. Your willingness to share has made many, if not most, of us better photographers.
Its the lens that moved me over to Sony and I don't regret it. Versatile, compact, sharp, great AF
Mark, Congratulations for being recognized by Sony and getting sponsorship. You are a flagship representative and I appreciate all you share to improve the hobby. Thank you!
Happy to see that SONY is finally supporting your fantastic work with their gear. Here since the beginning of your journey and enjoying every step of the way. R
Very inspired video, my friend. This is really amazing, your camera is great too.
My bird of choice is the hummingbird, and while I do utilize a gimbal on occasion, my preference is to hand hold this fantastic lens. RARELY do I get tired and I often sit for hours watching and waiting for my birds to show up. My best decision was to go from a Fuji X-T3 and their 100-400 to the SONY A7Riv with the 200-600 and the 1.4x extender. I have to agree that it is the best lens for the money!
Beautiful filming again. I will love that you make a video about your setting and other tips about video filming some time.
Thanks Mark. I love my Sony 200-600mm for my A1, A7SIII, A7RIV. I never leave home without it. Cheers
Nice summary Mark. Congrats on finally getting sponsored by Sony! You deserve it! I loved that lens too. I did sell it because I switched to the big primes, but the 200-600 was great.
So glad you shared this video. I shoot the Sony 200-600 G on my Sony A7rIV and have been getting shots, especially BIF, never before possible!
Daniel, just curious; what are your favorite focus modes? I have always used Mark’s suggestion of shooting mostly Zone and Expand flexible spot and flex spot (small) .
@@plumshoejeff, since the A7rIV was my first Sony, I too followed Marks videos on the set up. I do the same settings as he suggested and the same as you are using. A real game changer as I never shot hand held before with my Nikon D4s. I really like how it locks on the subject
and stays with it.
I've made similar comments before, but while your videography and photography are excellent it's your enthusiasm and passionate narration I like the most. Sony is wise in choosing you as someone to collaborate with. You are right in your assessment of this great lens. Excellent work Mark. All the best in your future endeavors including Marriage!
Thank you!
Greatings again from South Africa.... Great job Mark... Keep up the great work . Take care, and be safe Bud ...😁
Congrats Mark on the Sony sponsorship. Well deserved.
Another amazing video Mark, been a follower almost from when you started. I am so glad that you are still a down to Earth person. I have the same lens and I totally agree with you. Thanks.
That throw is indeed an amazing feature.
Excellent film Mark, incredible video and stills you've captured here with this lens , thanks for sharing it with us. As always all the best from the UK.
Awesome video Mark. I love my 200-600 lens on my A9 for wildlife photography. I learned so much from your set up video you did for the A9. Any chance you could do a video on your settings for shooting video? I have tried to shoot some videos while shooting wildlife and just can’t get the quality I would like.
For me, this lens with the A1 is nothing short of amazing!
HI Mark. Congrats on your Sony sponsorship. I'd like to know more about the settings on the a1 for video. Thanks so much!
me2
Fantastic Mark. I love your shares. Thank you!
Hello Mark, I have the Sony a1, the 200-600 and Sony 600mm f4. They are both really sharp lenses, focus is amazing. Thanks for sharing, love all of your videos…amazing stuff!
Mark - Amazing video as usual. 200-600 was the main reason I shifted from Canon to Sony two years back and it has never disappointed me. Internal zoom, super quick auto focus and great price. Probably, this lens is primary reason wildlife shooters are getting into Sony system.
Wooo first comment. Great topic for a video ! And again your story telling is magic
Excellent Video Mark, and Amazing Lens! Thank You.
i owned this lens more than 6 months now im really love it!
Thanks for this video Mark. I really love your Osprey footage. I was wondering what camera settings you use when filming video? Do you always shoot at 120fps?
Great video Mark. I like those features. Never tried it but it seems to be a cools setup.
Thank you Mark! When do you use modes 1, 2, 3 or do you leave it on/off and the the focus meter too, do you leave it on infinite or 10m-infinite for BIF? I hope you added it on your review…but otherwise, thank you! Maybe on your next video?🙂
HA - I have that same t-shirt. Love Bob - he did amazing work. TY for your content.
Hi Mark, thanks for bringing this great lens to our attention.
Yes, this is an awesome lens. This lens was the reason why I skipped Canon for birding. It is high-res and easy to carry. It is great on the A1, because the AF here works up to F/22 {On the A7R4 it stops at F/13}. A TC1.4 can be used on the A7R4. TC2 makes AF hunting on the A7R4.
Avoid filters for this lens. If you need one use only the absolute best filters tested with your equipment before the shoot. A ZEISS cleaning bag pinned to a fence at 30 yards distance, 600mm, with and without filter will tell, if the filter is good.
The OSS is good enough handhold down to 1/200, if you need it.
Mark, as always I would like to see you in action with my own eyes. It is so clear that you love what your are doing.
For that range of price 200-600 is a must buy lens. Great lens for an incredible price. I have also Canon 100-500 that is, for my opinion, sharper and with a better AF, but it’s 100 mm shorter and it costs 2 times more than 200-600.
Good footage Mark! Thank you for always sharing with us!💖👍😎JP
Mark I bought that lens when you 1st recommended it thank you.
Again Great Footage!! Some people think Prime Lenses are the only way to Go. But a Nice Balenced Zoom Lens is really hard to Beat. I love Zoom lenses they give you so much Versatilaty.
i agree, it is a great lens. thanks for the video! you are so lucky to get so close to these birds! here in germany this is almost impossible. maybe i come and visit you one fine day 😊
love the lens combo with the A1, wish they would update the lens like they did with the other GM2 lenses.
Completely agree Mark -- my 200-600 doesn't come off my A1. 👍
dude your stuff is awesome, the lens is good too, but you are being modest. i like your channel. i have this lens and yes its the best decision for wildlife, thanks .
Mark, you are the unequaled champion of Osprey Photography. (In fact, when I type “Osprey Photography” I have to suppress “auto suggest” because it defaults to your website!) I am hesitant to write this suggestion because of your awesome skill, but have you considered rotating your tripod foot to the top when hand-holding your long lenses? I find it helpful to gett the foot out of the way and also using the rotated foot on top to function like a sight on the barrel of a rifle (not that I’d ever shoot a bird or other critter) to help aid locating your subject. Just an idea.
Great suggestion. I like the tripod foot on the bottom because I use it and anchor it into the heel of my hand and I feel it helps me handhold better.
Could not agree more i have the 200-600 paired with my A9 and absolutely love it only thing that holds it back is me 🤦♂️
Fantastic bit of kit highly recommend it 👍
hi Mark, I am also a huge fan of this baby!! It's a killer lens!!
Loved this information! Would LOVE a video on your settings for shooting movies!
Nice video..👌
Actually I have Sony a7r4 camera with 200-600mm lens. I have facing blurry and sharp image issues. I am planning to buy Sony a74. Did you try a74 with 200-600 lens? Will get sharp images more than a7riv with 200-600 lens?? What is your opinion? I am still worry..because If I buy a74, will the same a7r4 issue coming or not??
Been using the a74 with this lens for a while with no issues
Hi Mark wow some really awesome video handheld footage quit impressed well done. I can see why you like the lens and for wildlife the 600 part is a must but my question is for a African safari from a vehicle and sometimes the 200 part is just to much. So what would your thoughts be about the Sigma 60-600 on the Nikon Z9… thx be interesting to here
I have the 200-600 lens and a Sony A9ll. I’m new to photography and I have got some very good results. When I show them to my friends and family they are all just shocked that I took the pictures. The equipment is doing most of the work as I’ve only been shooting for a year or so and am just starting to have a little experience. I know that’s an expensive combination but once set up it makes shooting fairly easy.
السلام عليكم .نشكرك على كل هذه المجهودات التي تقوم بها .فعلا انها صور جميلة وفي غاية التركيز .اتمنى ان يكون لذي عدسة في هذا الحجم مستقبلا .وشكرا لك مرة اخرى
Hi Mark - I've been following you for some time. I've always trusted that you were being honest about your gear reviews and was eager to hear your assessment of the A1 vs Z9. Now that you are accepting money from Sony, how can I trust your review? I understand your need to earn a living, just sharing my honest reaction to this.
That was my first thought as well.... It is great that Sony is sponsoring Mark (and very well deserved), but it might be the end of honest unbiased review of gear from other manufacturers. A (small) price to pay for awesome content.
Can’t agree more Mark, it’s a great lens for sure
Love my 200-600mm paired with my A7riiia.
definitely my favourite lens for nature video. It may not be quite as sharp as the 16000 600mm f/4 but for 2000 it is pretty amazing. It is hard to find internal zoom long telephoto lenses ( the last one I owned was the Sigma 120-300 which was also fantastic but so much heavier than this).
I agree on internal zooms, i wish my 100-400 had the internal design. I do see Sony went with the 70-200 now using internal zooming. I'd much rather have a slightly larger lens than deal with creep, dust and long throws.
The 200-600 is only the best because Sony is missing something better at this price point. It is light weight and nicely priced but has a lot of drawbacks. The 6.3 F stop make capturing stills of birds in motion hard in medium light not even low light. The sharpness is not that good in my mind as well. Larger birds at noon on a sunny day would work great, and that’s about it. Smaller subject in the early morning or shaded places will result in very high iso and lost details. The zoom throw is quick but sometimes moves and changes without you noticing. The 100-400gm is a better lens even though because of the missing lenses at 500mm and 600 for affordable price this lens is a necessity 🤭🥲.
@@sfiron The 100-400 and 200-600 are probably the most compared lenses ever. I always see people asking which one should I get. I own them both and would say both but which one you get first depends on what you like to shoot. For birds almost always the 200-600 will be a better fit but for a walk around lens where you may also be doing some almost macro photography or just need something like the 100-400 can be nice. I got the 100-400 first and later bought the 200-600 after shooting right alongside a friend that had one and his images were almost always sharper than mine (birding). I agree the 100-400 maybe just slightly sharper, it definitely has a bit more contrast but I don't see it as far superior in the least. I also own the 1.4TC and have used that on the 100-400 and the results are definitely worse than using the 200-600 if you need the extra focal length. Maybe I got a better copy thatn some people but as long as I have good light, good technique, perfect focus and a fast enough shutter speed the results from my 200-600 are excellent. I also own the 135GM and the 50GM, those are incredibly sharp lenses in another class from the zooms.
@@robwasnj I agree with most of what you said. TC are never a good idea. Never found a good use for it. I used the 135gm as well in my latest trip to Costa Rica. Very good lens. We desperately need a light weight 500mm gm with 5.6 f-stop and mid range price
Thank you for what are always excellent, informative videos. I too have the 200-600 on my Sony A7IV, love the combo, now I just need to work on getting beautiful images.
There is only one point i would disagree, its no longer a secret weapon given many of us purchased it following ur recommendation.
BTW went out with the lens today on a trail, the keepers and what i got with this and A9 is just unbelievable for someone switching from DSLR and heavy primes. Ur A9 set up also helped. Thanks for everything Mark !!!
I was just photographing my backyard birds in a surprise snow squall with my 200-600 lens. If Sony is reading I moved to their gear in part because of your channels and I'm loving it. One thing I WISH they would improve are their lens feet though, I noticed you switched your foot out as well for a Kirk or something similar (I have the Kirk). Nice seeing the inlet in your videos, last time I was there it was all about fishing, caught 3 huge reds we had to throw back since they were over the slot limit but then hooked up with a snook and some sheepshead underneath the bridge. I feel like FL is my 2nd home to NJ where I live and love seeing your adventures down there.
I agree on the need for Sony to upgrade the feet on these lenses. The Leofoto replacements work great. I've had one for the 200-600 and just ordered the version for the 70-200GM2.
I bought the 200-600 two years ago to use on my a6300. It did not balance well and the camera was not up to the abilities of the lens. I rented an a7RIV and an a9. I bought an a9M2 and the 200-600 on the a9M2 is a match made in heaven for sports and wildlife. As always Mark, a very nice video.
Impeccable timing of your post on this lens. Matt & I have been reviewing this lens for his setup w/a9II. This video cemented our decision to purchase for our upcoming WA workshop date. Tough being a Nikon guy & buying this stellar lens for my son 🤦♂️What is manufacturer of the replacement arca foot-Thx for this timely post.
The guys at pro media gear make the foot. Congratulations and enjoy!
@@MarkSmithphotography PMG must have changed their foot, the new one I see doesn't have the silver knob with the black in the center unless the photos just hide it on their product page. The one in the video looks exactly like the Kirk. I'm sure they're all pretty similar, I see PMG offers the QD or SS2 port option. I am curious if yours has a little bit of wobble, mine does, I carry it all the time by the foot with a QD and Peak Designs strap. I think it was tighter when it was new but I worry about the collar on the lens possibly failing after enough use. I know several people have had the feet crack.
U are a greatar photographer, i like your art, my wishes for u, dear mark Smith, my name is Sanjay Sharma nd im from india,
Hi Mark I'm a new subscriber and love the videos I have watched so far. I was just wondering what your recommendation would be in terms of camera body to pair with this lens if you cannot afford the Sony A1, my primary use of the pair would be bird and wildlife photography, thanks
I have this lens with the A74. Photo Designs Big Foot Grip is the best foot for this lens. Arcs Swiss with grip & detachable strap ring! Had too many issues with Nikon 200-500. LOVE the internal zoom!! Thanks for all the great work. Looking forward to your A74 set up guide!
This lens is on my bucket list.
Great video, funny how on a Sony sponsored video, he's removed the tripod foot for a 3rd party one which so many people do, please take note Sony and just make them arca Swiss from now on
It doesn’t come with an Arca Swiss?
@@erichramone7812 unfortunately it does not.
I agree the 200-600 is a great lens for wildlife photography, although I don’t know how you hold it still enough for video? My attempts at hand held video with this lens have all looked shaky (due to its weight and long focal length), and I now always use the 70-200 GM2 for hand held video, including using crop mode if I need more reach which of course has no effect on 4K video quality
Practice, practice, practice your techniques. Cheers
One cheat? Film at 4k120p. You still need to keep steady, but, it becomes MUCH more forgiving when slowed down to 1/5 speed.
For people that is on the Nikon system and have a moderate budget a good combination is, from my perspective, a. 300mm pf and a. 500mm f5.6 pf. Pretty fast to focus, good apertures. (a stop from the pro 300mm f2.8 and the. 500mm f4) and "moderate" price. One can get the 300mm pf used often, and the. 500mm hits the used market from time to time. Even New the prices are moderate. Great video , I agree with the throw, I was. less than happy when Canon introduced the new 70-200mm, pretty good lens but the trow is pretty long, When one needs to change framing in a pinch is a pain.
Good very good shandhar
I agree for stills. I keep my left elbow against my chest, and the tripod collar foot in my left palm. I start with the zoom around 400mm, then can zoom in to 600mm with a finger tip.
I am using this lens now for 2 years on A7R4 , a9ii and now A1 and must admit this is the lens best bang for the buck!One negative is that the lens is front heavy
It is, once I got the grip for my A1 it fixed that problem. Of course now it’s a little heavier.
Ditto
Marleen, do you prefer the a9ii or a7r4?
@@KenToney both work fine for me!The a7R4 is excellent for macro and landscape work. The a9II scores very good in high iso and is much faster than the r4
@@marleenvandam6931 ok, I have A1 and wife shoots a7r3, we’re trying to get best upgrade without spending $6500 again
This is an awesome lens. Curious what tracking you use for BIF photos?
Watching for 3rd time, love your descriptive dialogue. Sony is missing the boat by making you an artisan! I’ve tried the 600 f4 but too heavy for me to hold long periods of time. I’m getting my wife one too (she has 100-400). Thanks for all your videos Mark, my wife and I hope to do a workshop with you soon!!
Plz comes with a7iv review!!
Great video, Mark! I’m curious to know if you use Steady Shot position 3 for shooting birds? I’ve struggled to get sharp images of birds in-flight (A7 IV body) and have been trying to identify my mistake(s).
You and Mark Galer are tremendous resources. Sony should send you both buckets of money!!
Turn it off completely on the lens
Hey Mark! I just got an a9 body, with a battery grip, 2 extra OEM batteries, and 2 SD cards for a steal from a friend ($2k with shipping and handling)! But I'm stuck on the lenses since this is a body-only purchase!
I'm stuck between the 100-400mm and the 200-600mm. I take a lot of wildlife photography as well, and while I'm used to the Nikon system (I have a D850 with a 200-500mm / 70-200mm), I like how small, compact, and silent the a9 can be with the 100-400 (based on your videos and online testimonies from other Sony users), and the sheer versatility it offers with macro and portrait photography.
But as someone who shoots predominately with the 200-500mm, I also see how the extra reach for the 200-600mm can be more than helpful, especially for the a9 since the sensor isn't as big as the D850's or the A1 (and some A7's).
What would you recommend to someone who's just recently switched over to Sony Mark? You're my only hope!....
Congrats! That’s a tough one. 100 to 400 is definitely too short for a lot of stuff. 200 and 600 is a great lens. It most of your subjects are further away I would get the 200 to 600.
@@MarkSmithphotography Exactly. I figured since I'm not really used to the Sony system, the 100-400 would be a great all-rounder since it can do a little of everything. But at the same time since I'm used to shooting with the 200-500 anyways, I'd probably feel more at home so to speak.
Is the weight of the 200-600 with the a9 (with a grip) as heavy as the D850? or is it noticeably lighter?
One of the reasons I went with the a9 was due to its size and weight, and I figured that the 100-400 would be an awesome addition.
@@mjohnsimon1337 It’s definitely lighter
Another great video Mark and I share your enthusiasm about the lens , for the price it has to be one of if not the best on the market . Have you and plans to do a video on your video settings / menu choices and techniques etc as your footage is inspirational and I am only just beginning to experiment with video and struggling somewhat ?
Yes I do!
Thanks for sharing. Really great stuff.
I agree, it's a cracker of a lens. I had one of the other lenses that telescope in and out. Once you use this lens with the brilliantly designed zoom throw you can never go back to the other lenses.
Agreed
Hi Mark yes you get great results with the 200-600 but if money was no object can you really say this Sony is better than the Nikon 400 2.8 with a built in 1.4 with the option to add a 2x converter…
Hi Mark, have you put the 1.4x or 2x converter on this lens? I’d like to see some clips and maybe comparisons with and without it. I’m a new subscriber and really enjoy your videos and hope to capture the elements of nature as you have.
Paid promo or not thank you for youre videos. I switched from z6ii to a7riv + 200-600 and im happier then before
I finally got this lens last week.
Great video. I've been considering purchasing this as another lens to go along with my a7siii. I think I may just do that later this year as a result of some of the things you showed in this video. That throw is great and it's good to know the stabilization is similar to the other Sony lenses.
No arguments here. Bought it back in Oct 2019, and paired with @6400. Makes me look good
The 200-600mm is a great versatile lens ! How many people like me though take 90% of there wildlife shots at the 600mm range ! That is when a 600mm f4 is in a league of its own ! But there is no doubt for price and range it is difficult to beat the Sony 200-600mm f5.6 - 6.3 ! Awesome lens ! Great work Mark. I presume you use stabilization for hand held video ? 👍🤔
Agreed! For video I use mode 2
I shoot an A9 and 200-600 and while today I wouldn't argue its the best combo as there is so much competition, but because the A9 and this lens has been out for a number of years now, and used ones can be found, I would argue its the best bang for your buck combo as you can find both for a total of $3200-3500 if you shop around, nothing else comes close for that money
Em1-III plus 300 f4 pro with 1.4 TC... best bang for the buck... 740 reach for about $2900 all in. About half the weight and length of this beast!
@@pesto12601 I have never shot that my friend so I will take your word
The 200-600 only weighs 4.65 lbs so I can't see weight being an issue
@@bassangler73 300 pro weights 2.7lbs... much much lighter.
You inspire me to shoot some video Mark. Thanks
It’s a ton of fun!
We love this lens too!!
Amazing lens... Need your review on a7iv 🔥✅
Mark I have the A1 and 200-600 and really love it. I do find the image stabilisation isn't as good as I might expect. Perhaps its me do you have arms made of steel and super human strength? I would like to confirm my set up is working properly when photographing a still subject. How low can you go on shutter speed @600mm before motion blur becomes apparent?
Your question depends on far too many variables to answer correctly. I wouldn’t go below 1/1000 for stills and that’s in good light.
@@MarkSmithphotography I shot the Canon 7Dii at 400mm vs Sony A1 at 400mm in crop mode to match the canon and expected the stabilisation to be better than Canon as the Sony has OIS and IBIS but it wasn't, it might be worse. In video mode at 600mm I get very shaky and virtually unusable video at 600mm unless I use active steady shot, do you use that inconjunction with mode 2 OIS? Several people have reported concerns with stabilisation with 200-600 one guy upgraded his A92 to A1 and found the stabilisation to be much worse. Do you find the A92 to be better than A1 for stabilisation?
I love my 200-600 Sony also! But it would be cool if Sony did that magic update they did on the new 70-200 GM II in weight reduction, focus speed etc. again already a great lens. But the update they did with great success on that other lens, has me day dreaming 😄
I shoot a bit everything,landscape,wildlife,sports and close up,that’s why I’ve stayed with versatility of the 100-400 GM.
A very convincing video. I'll take a half-dozen of everything...just as soon as my bank account lets me. I don't shoot Sony but I agree with you about the short zoom throw of that lens.
Thanks Mark. I am enjoying my 200-600mm on my A1
A9 + 200-600 user here, still learning the ropes as I recently switched to Sony. Mark, can you give a short rundown on how and when you use the different OSS modes on the lens when shooting birds in flight? I prefer mode 1 for stationary birds and mode 3 for BIF. Your technique is obviously stellar, considering you do all your work handheld and with such incredible tracking accuracy.
I turn it off for stills mode 2 for video.
@@MarkSmithphotographyI see. I guess that's at 1/2000 and above?
@@henrikw377 1/1600
hey Mark - great video. I have this lens on my A7R4, and it's simply an amazing gear. God Bless. - nagi
Hi Mark. I love my A1 with 200-600mm. I never used it for video, only for photography. I assume you shoot in a high frames per second and then slow down in post? What’s your favorite video editing program?
I really like the 200-600 lens on my A7RIV. What kind of foot do you have on it? I’m trying to decide on a replacement. FYI, I also really like the 100-400 ;)
I use pro media gear for the foot and my tripod as well
Hi Mark! Really amazing videos and helpful instructions.I have some doubt about camera and lens image stabilizers. Is it necessary for action shoots? I mean over 1/2000 is it make sense to be applied due to high shoot speed or not? Also, what is the recommendation for still shoots around 1/125? Camera stabilizer + lens stabilizer or only one of them ? My gear is Sony A7R4 and G 200/600 . Thank you in advance! Best regards from Brazil 🇧🇷 Leonardo Martins 🇧🇷
Mark, thanks for all of your inspiring videos. I'm very interested in the Sony 200-600 & I'm planning on picking up the A7IV. Would this be a good match?
For the mark 2 I'd want it to have a better magnification. Perhaps start at 150.
They can even have a barrel contracting mechanism at the back to store it. Once restored to working size, it can be used.
Hi Mark. I love your videos and excellent info when using Sony. Please tell me the (hand holding) bracket shoe you have on your Sony 200-600 lens. I find the one with Sony too small for my hand and I would like to be able to handle the lens better. Please advise? Ia
Can you shoot video with the 600mm F4 as easily?! I don't want to choose between the 600 and 200-600, leaning towards the 600 but also want to take video.
Yep
I love Sony