Sony FE 100-400 Image Thread - Wildlife

[Tim Mayo]

This thread is dedicated to wildlife images taken with the Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens (SEL100400GM).

Specs:

• Format: 35 mm full frame
• Focal length (mm): 100–400
• 35 mm equivalent focal length (aps-c): 150-600
• Lens groups / elements: 16–22
• Angle of view (35 mm): 24ﾟ-6ﾟ10'
• Angle of view (aps-c): 16°-4°10'2
• Maximum aperture: (f)4.5-5.6
• Minimum aperture: (f)32-40
• Aperture blades: 9
• Circular aperture: yes
• Minimum focus distance: 0.98m / 3.22 ft
• Maximum magnification ratio: 0.35x
• Filter diameter (mm): 77
• Image stabilization (Steadyshot): Optical Steadyshot
• Teleconverter compatibility: 1.4x (SEL14TC) + 2x (SEL20TC)
• Dimensions (diameter x length): 93.9 x 205 mm(3-3/4 x 8-1/8 in.)
• Weight: 1395g (Without tripod mount; 49.3 oz. (Without tripod mount）
• Hood (model): ALC-SH151
• Lens front cap: ALC-F77S
• Lens rear cap: ALC-R1EM

Helpful Resources:

• Latest firmware: v02 (download)
• 200-600 vs 100-400 Review and Comparison: https://www.alphashooters.com/compare/sony-fe-200-600-vs-fe-100-400-gm/

 

[najascutellatus]

Took this one right before sunset in Moss Landing, California with my A7RIII and 100-400 GM. I just loved reflections of the calm water and orange glow from the backlit sun. I think the Snowy Egrets claw up in the air really made this shot.

 

[Tim Mayo]

Took this one right before sunset in Moss Landing, California with my A7RIII and 100-400 GM. I just loved reflections of the calm water and orange glow from the backlit sun. I think the Snowy Egrets claw up in the air really made this shot.

That's a cracking shot! Easy to see why you like it so much. Well done!

 

[Vorkell]

I followed a beaver from the local big pond, and he seemed to be too hungry to care, though he did keep an eye on me while I balanced on some rocks to get the shot!

Shot at 400mm (1/400sec, f5.6, ISO-800)

 

[najascutellatus]

Another one from my 100-400. This time in Kenai Fjords NP near Seward, Alaska. I just love that you can see the horned puffin skipping across the water. I took thousands of photos and only got this one good one...

 

[ljfry]

This was a lucky action shot I got down in Ocean County, NJ. The Ospreys were surprisingly docile, but then a battle unfolded right above me! My favourite thing about this photo is that the Osprey doesn't know about the competition...yet.

 

[DaphneW]

I love to do close-ups with this lens - like butterflies:

And the back garden grey squirrel doing its jumps to get to the peanuts:

Fab lens, best investment ever!

 

[Margaret C]

Fun squirrel pic! I've been debating 100-400 vs 200-600 (common debate!). I'm leaning toward the 100-400 for weight and focal length.

 

[Joe]

Fun squirrel pic! I've been debating 100-400 vs 200-600 (common debate!). I'm leaning toward the 100-400 for weight and focal length.

I debated the 2 for a while and went with the FE100400GM and so glad I did. It's so much more portable and it's razor sharp. Even with the A7III I have been amazed at how much I can crop. I photograph mostly mammals so for small song birds I can image the extra reach is definitely helpful. I also love the minumum focus distance on the FE100400GM and surprised at how much I have benefited from it so far!

 

[Atmfrank]

I think it's a great choice. Decided on the 100-400 after reading Timothy's review of both lenses and because of the desire to be very mobile for bird shooting. I went back to the osprey nests from earlier this year and found one of the parents still using it as a launchpad for feeding activities. With A7R3 1.4TC 560mm f/8

 

[Margaret C]

Thanks, Joe. I enjoy doing bird pics, but have an off-brand 150-600 I can use for distance (as long as nothing moves much). And my wrists aren't getting any younger (!), so the lesser weight will be welcome. I imagine I'll end up with the 100-400 in the near future.

 

[Clix Pix]

The 100-400mm is terrific as a walk-around lens and I have been able to capture images that otherwise I wouldn't have ever seen. This Green Heron was standing on the rocks at the foot of our small lake one afternoon....

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 560.0 mm
• ƒ/14
• 1/250 sec
• ISO 800

 

[jhousteniii]

The Two Step

 

[Sue Mitchell]

Osprey from a trip to Tennessee last month. A9m2 + 100-400 @560 (1.4 tc), 1/2500, f10, iso1250.

 

[Clix Pix]

Had an unexpected visitor to our little lake today: a juvenile cormorant! I had a fun time shooting him with the 100-400mm and 1.4x TC:

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 560.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/250 sec
• ISO 100

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 560.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/250 sec
• ISO 500

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 560.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/250 sec
• ISO 500

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 560.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/250 sec
• ISO 160

 

[Atmfrank]

Today's evening walk featured two nice hawks close by. The beauty of the 100-400 is portability. @400mm f/5.6 1/2000, ISO2000

 

[Clix Pix]

Another of the cormorant that I shot this morning:

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 560.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/250 sec
• ISO 640

 

[Ralph]

I have just come from the 200/600mm thread and seen what was in there and I was very impressed.
Then see this one and I am just as impressed by what this lens and you people are putting out with it.
It has now added food for thought.
I am mainly a bird photographer and my camera once I get going full is the Sony a7ii.
So do any of you think or have an idea which would be best for me in these 2 lens.

 

[Atmfrank]

As always, the lens itself doesn't guarantee superior images, but what you do with it. My rationale for the 100-400 is portability and the extra aperture. I live in a very dry climate and often have to hike distances to find good shot opportunities. The smaller size and weight is preferable, but I also encounter many situations where the extra focal length is beneficial. I have the TC1.4 as an option to get 560mm for situations when the distance is an issue. The drawback is slightly lesser IQ with the TC1.4 when compared to the 200-600. Below a Blue Heron in the evening light during today's hike. A9, 1/1600, f/5.6 400mm, ISO800

 

[Atmfrank]

Another of the cormorant that I shot this morning:

View attachment 1027

The details and contrast are impressive. And I see you used the TC1.4 for the other shots. This one as well?

 

[shalu]

A7RIV + 100-400mm GM

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/3200 sec
• ISO 500

 

[Clix Pix]

The details and contrast are impressive. And I see you used the TC1.4 for the other shots. This one as well?

Yes, ever since I put the 1.4x TC on the 100-400mm I have left it on there. In fact, I actually went out and got a second 1.4x TC to put on my 200-600mm, too, so that I wouldn't need to waste time swapping a TC between lenses! Sometimes I look out the window here and see a photo op swimming past my deck and there is not a lot of time to be fiddling with grabbing the gear and swapping around the TC.....easier to just have a TC on each from the get-go. Most of the time I use my 200-600mm on the tripod and the 100-400mm for walking around the area, but sometimes I need to shoot from the deck with the 100-400mm if the angle is awkward and I can't really use the tripod and 200-600mm. With this cormorant shot, that was the case, as the submerged log is visible from my deck but only from the corner of the deck, so no room to set up my tripod. Instead, I pressed the 100-400mm into service and leaned around the railing as best I could to get the shot.......

 

[Clix Pix]

The cormorant was back today, once again standing on the submerged log, but I had the time and opportunity to get my act together and go down to the boardwalk with my 100-400mm (and 1.4x TC still on it) to get some closer shots.....

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 560.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/250 sec
• ISO 125

While I was looking through the EVF about to take another shot I saw something moving in the background, so took a better look, then waited a couple of minutes until the turtle had chosen his spot and climbed up on the log, too.....

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 333.0 mm
• ƒ/13
• 1/250 sec
• ISO 320

 

[Clix Pix]

I had a surprise today -- there are actually TWO cormorants on the lake! One is definitely more mature than the other, is older but not yet fully adult. I was in the midst of photographing the one I saw in the lake when the other one suddenly appeared in view..... I spent the next little while happily shooting the two of them and was particularly delighted when they decided that the submerged log was big enough for both of them and companionably stood there together!

I actually had been shooting photos OF the 100-400mm rather than using it, which is why I'd had it on the tripod in the first place, and once the action started with both cormorants I didn't take time to run into the house and grab the Bazooka. Actually, once the two birds parked themselves on the submerged log, I couldn't use the tripod anyway, not enough space on the deck for it and for me to angle around to get the shot, which was off to my far right, so hand-held the 100-400mm.

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 560.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/250 sec
• ISO 1600

 

[Raymond Barlow]

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/500 sec
• ISO 640

• ILCE-9
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/3200 sec
• ISO 2000

• ILCE-9
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/3200 sec
• ISO 1250

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/5000 sec
• ISO 4000

 

[Annerosemary]

• ILCE-7M3
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/10
• 1/250 sec
• ISO 250

I
I am so impressed with the performance of the 100 - 400 in close up.

 

[Doug Herr]

Red Fox, Denali National Park Alaska

• ILCE-7RM2
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/320 sec
• ISO 400

 

[Doug Herr]

Western Bluebird, Sierra County California

• ILCE-7RM2
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/250 sec
• ISO 400

 

[Doug Herr]

Golden-crowned Sparrow, Sacramento County California

• ILCE-7RM3
• Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS (SEL100400GM)
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/160 sec
• ISO 800

 

[Doug Herr]

Curve-billed Thrasher, Cochise County Arizona USA

• ILCE-7RM3
• Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS (SEL100400GM)
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/400 sec
• ISO 400