FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS

Released July 2017

A full-frame E-mount telephoto zoom with Optical SteadyShot, floating focus groups and adjustable zoom-ring torque.

Mount: Sony E
Focal length: 100–400 mm
Max aperture: f/4.5–5.6
Stabilisation: Yes
Weight: 1,395 g

What reviewers say

Both praise fast focusing, construction, background blur and close focusing. Photography Blog finds excellent sharpness and worthwhile performance on Alpha 9. OpticalLimits finds good central detail but less impressive long-end corners and value, with an adequately centred sample. Different test bodies and processing qualify their optical assessments; both note the weight and restricted maximum aperture.

From photographyblog.com, photographyblog.com, photographyblog.com, photographyblog.com and opticallimits.com

Specifications

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Optics

Lens type: Zoom
Focal length: 100–400 mm
Maximum aperture: f/4.5–5.6
Minimum aperture: f/32–40
Optical construction: Twenty-two elements in sixteen groups
Special elements: Two ED elements and one Super ED element
Coatings: Sony Nano AR coating and front fluorine coating
Diaphragm: Nine rounded blades
Angle of view: 24°–6°10′ full frame; 16°–4°10′ APS-C

Mount and compatibility

Mounts: Sony E
Image circle: Full frame
Image circle detail: Full-frame coverage; 150–600 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

Focus and stabilisation

Autofocus: Yes
Minimum focus distance: 0.98 m
Maximum magnification: 0.35×
Optical stabilisation: Yes
Autofocus detail: Front Direct Drive SSM and rear double linear motor in floating focusing mechanism
Focus distance detail: 0.98 m minimum focus distance
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
Video features: Quiet autofocus with double linear motor capable of fine focus adjustment

Design

Dust and moisture resistant: Yes
Filter diameter: 77 mm
Maximum diameter: 93.9 mm
Length: 205 mm
Weight: 1,395 g
Controls: Focus and zoom rings, zoom-torque adjustment ring, AF/MF switch, focus-hold buttons, focus-range limiter and stabilisation controls
Zoom design: Extending zoom barrel; adjustable ring torque. Internal focusing
Filter detail: 77 mm front filter thread; supplied hood has opening filter-access window
Weather resistance: Dust and moisture resistant design with mount rubber ring; not guaranteed to prevent all ingress
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
Tripod mount: Supplied rotating tripod collar with detachable foot and locking mechanism
Lens hood: ALC-SH151 round bayonet hood with lock and filter-access window, supplied
In the box: ALC-SH151 hood, ALC-F77S front cap, ALC-R1EM rear cap, soft carrying case and tripod mount
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.

Pros and cons

Pros

Sony 1.4× and 2× teleconverter support
0.35× maximum magnification
Removable tripod foot

Cons

F5.6 maximum aperture at 400 mm
1395 g excluding tripod mount

Closest rivals

Model	Mount	Focal length	Max aperture	Stabilisation	Weight	Released
SonyFE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS	Sony E	70–300 mm	f/4.5–5.6	Yes	854 g	Apr 2016
SonyFE 100–400mm F4.5 GM OSS	Sony E	100–400 mm	f/4.5	Yes	1,840 g	Jun 2026
SonyFE 100–400mm F5.6–8 OSS	Sony E	100–400 mm	f/5.6–8	Yes	654 g	Aug 2026

Sources

Photo: sony.jp

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