FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS
A full-frame E-mount F2.8 supertelephoto prime with two XD linear motors, Optical SteadyShot and a fixed rotating tripod mount.
- Mount
- Sony E
- Focal length
- 400 mm
- Max aperture
- f/2.8
- Stabilisation
- Yes
- Weight
- 2,895 g
What reviewers say
Both early field assessments on Alpha 9 praise rapid tracking, wide-open detail, background blur and balanced handling. CameraLabs emphasises reduced weight against contemporary DSLR alternatives. TechRadar finds short handheld sessions practical but recommends support for longer shoots. Both note the high price. These launch-event assessments establish field impressions rather than comprehensive retail-sample laboratory results.
From cameralabs.com and techradar.com
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specOptics
- Lens type
- Prime
- Focal length
- 400 mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/2.8
- Minimum aperture
- f/22
- Optical construction
- Twenty-three elements in seventeen groups, including one filter
- Special elements
- Three fluorite elements
- Coatings
- Sony Nano AR coating and front fluorine coating; flocked internal barrel
- Diaphragm
- Eleven rounded blades
- Angle of view
- 6°10′ full frame; 4°10′ APS-C
Mount and compatibility
- Mounts
- Sony E
- Image circle
- Full frame
- Image circle detail
- Full-frame coverage; 600 mm equivalent field of view on APS-C
- Teleconverter support
- Compatible with Sony SEL14TC 1.4× and SEL20TC 2×; 560 mm F4 or 800 mm F5.6 respectively
Focus and stabilisation
- Autofocus
- Yes
- Minimum focus distance
- 2.7 m
- Maximum magnification
- 0.16×
- Optical stabilisation
- Yes
- Autofocus detail
- 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
- 2.7 m minimum focus distance; linear-response manual focus and full-time DMF including AF-C
- Magnification detail
- 0.16× maximum magnification
- Stabilisation detail
- 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 can provide power focus with adjustable speed
Design
- Dust and moisture resistant
- Yes
- Filter diameter
- 40.5 mm
- Maximum diameter
- 158.1 mm
- Length
- 359 mm
- Weight
- 2,895 g
- 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 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 exterior, internal barrel and tripod mount; not guaranteed to prevent all ingress
- Dimensions detail
- 158.1 mm maximum diameter × 359 mm length
- Weight detail
- Approximately 2895 g, including fixed non-detachable tripod mount; separate hood and caps excluded
- Tripod mount
- Fixed rotating tripod mount, explicitly non-detachable; switchable90° click stops and ball-bearing rotation
- Lens hood
- ALC-SH155 round slip-on carbon-fibre hood with flocked interior, supplied
- In the box
- 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 USA final announcement27June2018 specifies September shipping; Japan28June specifies shipments from earlySeptember, made to order. MainSeptember, exact first global sale day unconfirmed.
Pros and cons
Pros
- F2.8 maximum aperture
- Sony 1.4× and 2× teleconverter support
- Switchable tripod-collar click stops
Cons
- 2.7 m minimum focus distance
- Fixed tripod foot
Closest rivals
Model | Mount | Focal length | Max aperture | Stabilisation | Weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony E | 300 mm | f/2.8 | Yes | 1,470 g | Jan 2024 | |
| Sony E | 400 mm | f/4.5 | Yes | 994 g | Sept 2026 | |
| Sony E | 600 mm | f/4 | Yes | 3,040 g | Jul 2019 |
Sources
- sony.jp/ichigan/products/SEL400F28GM/spec.html
- sony.jp/ichigan/products/SEL400F28GM/feature_1.html
- sony.mediaroom.com/2018-06-27-Sony-Introduces-the-Long-Awaited-400mm-F2-8-G-Mas…
- sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/201806/18-0628
- cameralabs.com/sony-fe-400mm-f2-8-gm-oss-review
- techradar.com/reviews/field-test-sony-fe-400mm-f28-gm-oss
Photo: sony.jp
