Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS vs Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS

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FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS compared with FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
SonyFE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSSSonyFE 600mm F4 GM OSS
Overview
ReleasedJuly 2019July 2019
Optics
Lens typeZoomPrime
Focal length200–600 mm600 mm
Maximum aperturef/5.6–6.3f/4
Minimum aperturef/32–36f/22
Optical construction24 elements in 17 groupsTwenty-four elements in eighteen groups, including one filter
Special elementsFive ED glass elements and one aspherical elementThree fluorite elements and a large XA extreme aspherical element
CoatingsNano AR coating and fluorine coating on the front elementSony Nano AR coating and front fluorine coating; flocked internal barrel
DiaphragmEleven rounded bladesEleven rounded blades
Angle of view12°30′–4°10′ full frame; 8°–2°40′ APS-C4°10′ full frame; 2°40′ APS-C
Mount and compatibility
MountsSony ESony E
Image circleFull frameFull frame
Image circle detailFull-frame coverage; 300–900 mm equivalent field of view on APS-CFull-frame coverage; 900 mm equivalent field of view on APS-C
Teleconverter supportSEL14TC 1.4× and SEL20TC 2× supported; maker specifies up to 840 mm F9 or 1200 mm F13, with body-dependent autofocus compatibilityCompatible with Sony SEL14TC 1.4× and SEL20TC 2×; 840 mm F5.6 or 1200 mm F8 respectively
Focus and stabilisation
AutofocusYesYes
Minimum focus distance2.4 m4.5 m
Maximum magnification0.2×0.14×
Optical stabilisationYesYes
Autofocus detailDirect Drive SSM motor and internal focusing. Autofocus functions are limited on specified older NEX and Alpha bodies; consult the maker compatibility listTwo XD linear motors; some AF functions limited on NEX, Alpha3000/3500/5000/5100 and original Alpha7/7R/7S per Sony support qualification
Focus distance detailMinimum focus 2.4 m; Linear Response MF4.5 m minimum focus distance; linear-response manual focus and full-time DMF including AF-C
Magnification detail–0.14× maximum magnification
Stabilisation detailOptical 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 3Optical SteadyShot with normal, panning mode2 and dynamic-framing mode3; Alpha9/7RIII/7III mode3 requires compatible current firmware. Compatible body combines for five-axis correction. No maker stop rating in read pages
Video features–Quiet low-vibration autofocus; function ring can provide power focus with adjustable speed
Design
Dust and moisture resistantYesYes
Filter diameter95 mm40.5 mm
Maximum diameter111.5 mm163.6 mm
Length318 mm449 mm
Weight2,115 g (better)3,040 g
ControlsAF/MF switch, three-range focus limiter (full, 2.4–10 m, 10 m–infinity), OSS on/off and mode switches, three customisable focus-hold buttonsManual-focus ring, preset/function ring and focus-memory button, four customisable focus-hold buttons, AF/MF and full-time DMF switches, full/4.5–15m/15m–infinity focus limiter and stabilisation controls
Zoom designInternal zoom and focusing; 318 mm length remains constant during zooming–
Filter detail95 mm front filter thread40.5 mm drop-in filter; no front filter thread. Supplied normal filter forms part of optical design and must be installed unless replaced by supported filter; optional VF-DCPL1 polariser
Weather resistanceDust- and moisture-resistant design; not guaranteed completely dust- or moisture-proofDust and moisture resistant design with magnesium-alloy exterior, internal barrel and tripod mount; not guaranteed to prevent all ingress
Dimensions detail–163.6 mm maximum diameter × 449 mm length
Weight detailApproximately 2115 g excluding the separate tripod mount; separate hood and caps excludedApproximately 3040 g, including fixed non-detachable tripod mount; separate hood and caps excluded
Tripod mountSupplied removable tripod mountFixed rotating tripod mount, explicitly non-detachable; switchable90° click stops and ball-bearing rotation
Lens hoodALC-SH157 round bayonet hoodALC-SH158 round slip-on carbon-fibre hood with flocked interior, supplied
In the boxALC-SH157 hood, front cap, ALC-R1EM rear cap, soft case, tripod mount and lens strapALC-SH158 hood, front cover, ALC-R1EM rear cap, hard case, lens strap and case strap; normal drop-in filter initially installed
Release detailSony 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 BlogSony Japan announcement12June2019 specifies shipments from lateJuly, made to order with order-dependent later delivery; Sony USA11June specifies August regional shipping. MainJuly earliest maker-confirmed month, exact first sale day unconfirmed.

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