Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS vs Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| SonyFE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS | SonyFE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | July 2017 | July 2019 |
| Optics | ||
| Lens type | Zoom | Zoom |
| Focal length | 100–400 mm | 200–600 mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/4.5–5.6 | f/5.6–6.3 |
| Minimum aperture | f/32–40 | f/32–36 |
| Optical construction | Twenty-two elements in sixteen groups | 24 elements in 17 groups |
| Special elements | Two ED elements and one Super ED element | Five ED glass elements and one aspherical element |
| Coatings | Sony Nano AR coating and front fluorine coating | Nano AR coating and fluorine coating on the front element |
| Diaphragm | Nine rounded blades | Eleven rounded blades |
| Angle of view | 24°–6°10′ full frame; 16°–4°10′ APS-C | 12°30′–4°10′ full frame; 8°–2°40′ APS-C |
| Mount and compatibility | ||
| Mounts | Sony E | Sony E |
| Image circle | Full frame | Full frame |
| Image circle detail | Full-frame coverage; 150–600 mm equivalent field of view on APS-C | Full-frame coverage; 300–900 mm equivalent field of view on APS-C |
| Teleconverter support | Compatible with Sony SEL14TC 1.4× and SEL20TC 2×; maximum aperture becomes F6.3–8 or F9–11 respectively | SEL14TC 1.4× and SEL20TC 2× supported; maker specifies up to 840 mm F9 or 1200 mm F13, with body-dependent autofocus compatibility |
| Focus and stabilisation | ||
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum focus distance | 0.98 m | 2.4 m |
| Maximum magnification | 0.35× | 0.2× |
| Optical stabilisation | Yes | Yes |
| Autofocus detail | Front Direct Drive SSM and rear double linear motor in floating focusing mechanism | Direct Drive SSM motor and internal focusing. Autofocus functions are limited on specified older NEX and Alpha bodies; consult the maker compatibility list |
| Focus distance detail | 0.98 m minimum focus distance | Minimum focus 2.4 m; Linear Response MF |
| Magnification detail | 0.12–0.35× magnification across zoom range, maximum 0.35× | – |
| Stabilisation detail | Optical SteadyShot with normal and mode 2 panning correction; compatible stabilised body can combine for five-axis correction. No maker stop rating in read pages | Optical SteadyShot with Mode 1 general shake, Mode 2 panning and Mode 3 erratic moving subjects; compatible bodies combine lens and body stabilisation. Original Alpha 9 requires the specified firmware for Mode 3 |
| Video features | Quiet autofocus with double linear motor capable of fine focus adjustment | – |
| Design | ||
| Dust and moisture resistant | Yes | Yes |
| Filter diameter | 77 mm | 95 mm |
| Maximum diameter | 93.9 mm | 111.5 mm |
| Length | 205 mm | 318 mm |
| Weight | 1,395 g (better) | 2,115 g |
| Controls | Focus and zoom rings, zoom-torque adjustment ring, AF/MF switch, focus-hold buttons, focus-range limiter and stabilisation controls | AF/MF switch, three-range focus limiter (full, 2.4–10 m, 10 m–infinity), OSS on/off and mode switches, three customisable focus-hold buttons |
| Zoom design | Extending zoom barrel; adjustable ring torque. Internal focusing | Internal zoom and focusing; 318 mm length remains constant during zooming |
| Filter detail | 77 mm front filter thread; supplied hood has opening filter-access window | 95 mm front filter thread |
| Weather resistance | Dust and moisture resistant design with mount rubber ring; not guaranteed to prevent all ingress | Dust- and moisture-resistant design; not guaranteed completely dust- or moisture-proof |
| Dimensions detail | 93.9 mm maximum diameter × 205 mm maker length | – |
| Weight detail | Approximately 1395 g, explicitly excluding separate tripod mount; hood and caps excluded | Approximately 2115 g excluding the separate tripod mount; separate hood and caps excluded |
| Tripod mount | Supplied rotating tripod collar with detachable foot and locking mechanism | Supplied removable tripod mount |
| Lens hood | ALC-SH151 round bayonet hood with lock and filter-access window, supplied | ALC-SH157 round bayonet hood |
| In the box | ALC-SH151 hood, ALC-F77S front cap, ALC-R1EM rear cap, soft carrying case and tripod mount | ALC-SH157 hood, front cap, ALC-R1EM rear cap, soft case, tripod mount and lens strap |
| Release detail | Sony Canada announcement 19 April 2017 specifies July shipping; final Sony Japan notice 14 July confirms 28 July local sale. Main month July, exact first global sale day unconfirmed. | Sony Hong Kong specified mid-July 2019, Japan 26 July and North America August; main date retains earliest regional July month precision. Amateur Photographer’s full field review used an Alpha 7R IV over two weeks without teleconverters; Photography Blog used an Alpha 9. Their edge-sharpness judgments differ. Sony confirms three OSS modes, correcting a two-mode line in Photography Blog |
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