Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS vs Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| SonyFE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS | SonyFE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | January 2024 | September 2018 |
| Optics | ||
| Lens type | Prime | Prime |
| Focal length | 300 mm | 400 mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 | f/22 |
| Optical construction | Twenty-one elements in seventeen groups, including one filter | Twenty-three elements in seventeen groups, including one filter |
| Special elements | Three Super ED elements and one ED element | Three fluorite elements |
| Coatings | Sony Nano AR coating II and front fluorine coating | Sony Nano AR coating and front fluorine coating; flocked internal barrel |
| Diaphragm | Eleven rounded blades | Eleven rounded blades |
| Angle of view | 8°10′ full frame; 5°20′ APS-C | 6°10′ full frame; 4°10′ APS-C |
| Mount and compatibility | ||
| Mounts | Sony E | Sony E |
| Image circle | Full frame | Full frame |
| Image circle detail | Full-frame coverage; 450 mm equivalent field of view on APS-C | Full-frame coverage; 600 mm equivalent field of view on APS-C |
| Teleconverter support | Compatible with Sony SEL14TC 1.4× and SEL20TC 2×; 420 mm F4 or 600 mm F5.6 respectively | Compatible with Sony SEL14TC 1.4× and SEL20TC 2×; 560 mm F4 or 800 mm F5.6 respectively |
| Focus and stabilisation | ||
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum focus distance | 2 m | 2.7 m |
| Maximum magnification | 0.16× | 0.16× |
| Optical stabilisation | Yes | Yes |
| Autofocus detail | Two XD linear motors; tracking at apertures through F22 depends on camera and shooting conditions | Two XD linear motors; original Alpha9 can track through F22 with current firmware, maximum20fps throughF11 and10fps atF13 or smaller under Sony specified settings |
| Focus distance detail | 2 m minimum focus distance; linear-response manual focus and full-time DMF including AF-C | 2.7 m minimum focus distance; linear-response manual focus and full-time DMF including AF-C |
| Magnification detail | 0.16× maximum magnification | 0.16× maximum magnification |
| Stabilisation detail | Optical SteadyShot with normal, panning mode2 and dynamic-framing mode3; mode3 requires compatible current camera firmware. Compatible body can combine for five-axis correction. No maker stop rating in read pages | Optical SteadyShot with normal, panning mode2 and dynamic-framing mode3; original Alpha9 mode3 requires current firmware. Compatible body combines for five-axis correction. No maker stop rating in read pages |
| Video features | Quiet low-vibration autofocus; function ring for power focus; noticeable focus breathing reported by The Digital Picture | Quiet low-vibration autofocus; function ring can provide power focus with adjustable speed |
| Design | ||
| Dust and moisture resistant | Yes | Yes |
| Filter diameter | 40.5 mm | 40.5 mm |
| Maximum diameter | 124 mm | 158.1 mm |
| Length | 265 mm | 359 mm |
| Weight | 1,470 g (better) | 2,895 g |
| Controls | Manual-focus ring, function ring, four customisable focus-hold buttons, AF/MF and full-time DMF switches, full/6m–infinity focus limiter and stabilisation controls | Manual-focus ring, preset/function ring and focus-memory button, four customisable focus-hold buttons, AF/MF and full-time DMF switches, full/2.7–7m/7m–infinity focus limiter and stabilisation controls |
| Filter detail | 40.5 mm drop-in filter; no front filter thread. Supplied normal filter is part of optical design and must be installed unless replaced by supported filter; optional VF-DCPL1 polariser | 40.5 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 resistance | Dust and moisture resistant design with magnesium-alloy internal barrel; not guaranteed to prevent all ingress | Dust and moisture resistant design with magnesium-alloy exterior, internal barrel and tripod mount; not guaranteed to prevent all ingress |
| Dimensions detail | 124 mm maximum diameter × 265 mm length | 158.1 mm maximum diameter × 359 mm length |
| Weight detail | Approximately 1470 g excluding separate tripod mount; hood and caps excluded | Approximately 2895 g, including fixed non-detachable tripod mount; separate hood and caps excluded |
| Tripod mount | Supplied rotating aluminium collar with detachable slide-out foot | Fixed rotating tripod mount, explicitly non-detachable; switchable90° click stops and ball-bearing rotation |
| Lens hood | ALC-SH175 round bayonet hood with locking button and flocked interior, supplied | ALC-SH155 round slip-on carbon-fibre hood with flocked interior, supplied |
| In the box | ALC-SH175 hood, front cover, ALC-R1EM rear cap, soft case, tripod mount, lens strap and drop-in filter | ALC-SH155 hood, front cover, ALC-R1EM rear cap, hard case, lens strap and case strap; normal drop-in filter initially installed |
| Release detail | Sony Europe final announcement7November2023 confirms January2024 availability; Japan2February later. MainJanuary, exact first global sale day unconfirmed. Development originally announced17January2023; announced field final full-spec launch. | Sony USA final announcement27June2018 specifies September shipping; Japan28June specifies shipments from earlySeptember, made to order. MainSeptember, exact first global sale day unconfirmed. |
