Full-Frame Sony FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread

[Tim Mayo]

Cheers for that, I'll have a look for one

Leofoto Lens foot SF-04 for Sony FE 400-800mm f6.3-8 G OSS

Lens foot SF-04 for Sony FE 400-800mm f6.3-8 G OSS - Replaces the original lens foot. Provides a direct connection to tripod heads with Arca-Swiss coupling, multiple screw threa...

www.leofoto.net

 

[VeryFatbloke]

As I mentioned in the "what have you bought or sold" thread, I bought the Sony 400-800, f6.3-f8 which arrived on Thursday. Yesterday I had the chance to use it at RSPB Rainham Marshes.

Here are some of the photos that I took, all have had Lightroom's AI applied and the first and sixth have also been cropped.

As always cc is most welcome.

I've just spotted that I had the 1.4 converter attached for two of the photos so I have deleted them.

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS
• 800.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/500 sec
• ISO 400

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS
• 800.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/500 sec
• ISO 250

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS
• 800.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/500 sec
• ISO 125

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS
• 800.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/500 sec
• ISO 160

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS
• 800.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/500 sec
• ISO 800

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS
• 800.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/500 sec
• ISO 1600

 

[FrostLoom]

I took some bird shots with mine this weekend, and I’m loving how crisp the details come out even at 800mm. To show them off, I uploaded a batch to https://www.nixplay.com/ and set up a playlist for the family—they’re always asking to see my latest. It’s actually cool seeing those long-distance shots rotating on the frame in the living room.

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

A few recent Kingfisher shots and a Chiffchaff, in not too great a light. Even at these higher ISO's the lens has allowed me to keep a lot of detail. It's definitely sharper than the 200 600.

• ILCE-1
• FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS
• 800.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/1000 sec
• ISO 10000

• ILCE-1
• FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS
• 800.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/1000 sec
• ISO 10000

• ILCE-1
• FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS
• 800.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/1000 sec
• ISO 8000

• ILCE-1
• FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS
• 800.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/1000 sec
• ISO 6400

• ILCE-1
• FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS
• 750.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/500 sec
• ISO 5000

• ILCE-1
• FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS
• 800.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/500 sec
• ISO 2500

 

[RogerSmith]

I keep coming back to this thread for inspiration because honestly, I'm struggling with this lens. I was a long time shooter of the 200-600 and I find them very different. Three things;

• For one, while I took few shots from 200-400mm (on the 2-6), I still used the wider aperture to find subjects and then zoom in. I find that with a starting viewpoint of 400mm, this shoots (mentally for me behind the camera) more like a prime lens, albeit with that zoom range to punch in to 800.
• Second; the techie folks can quibble, but DOF feels more shallow at 800mm / f8 than the DOF at 600mm /f6.3. That's great for subject isolation when you have good subject to background distance, but...I'm finding some oddities if I / the camera isn't precise with the AF.
• Third; higher ISOs are troubling me more than I thought. Yes, AI noise reduction in Lightroom is amazing, but at higher ISOs or noise reduction reliance, there is an artificiality to the finished image I'm not keen on.

I think its an adjustment, I'm going to shoot some more before I do something goofy and swap back to the 200-600. (or wait on that 100-400 f/4 that is rumored!) Honestly every YouTube expert was happy with this lens, and many reviews provided very honest observations about the considerations above. One of the few photographers I follow that wasn't super pleased was Denise Ippolito, but she is still trying it out. She creates amazing images with the 200-600.

In short, I feel like the 400-800 needs a lot of light, both for max performance from its AF (see Gordon Lang's review) and to control ISOs. I used to feel very confident travelling to places with the 2-6 where I might encounter a mixed bag of lighting. I only think I would pack the 4-8 to someplace with good light and a clear forecast.

• ILCE-1
• FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS
• 800.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/1250 sec
• ISO 1250

 

[Clide]

I keep coming back to this thread for inspiration because honestly, I'm struggling with this lens. I was a long time shooter of the 200-600 and I find them very different. Three things;

• For one, while I took few shots from 200-400mm (on the 2-6), I still used the wider aperture to find subjects and then zoom in. I find that with a starting viewpoint of 400mm, this shoots (mentally for me behind the camera) more like a prime lens, albeit with that zoom range to punch in to 800.
• Second; the techie folks can quibble, but DOF feels more shallow at 800mm / f8 than the DOF at 600mm /f6.3. That's great for subject isolation when you have good subject to background distance, but...I'm finding some oddities if I / the camera isn't precise with the AF.
• Third; higher ISOs are troubling me more than I thought. Yes, AI noise reduction in Lightroom is amazing, but at higher ISOs or noise reduction reliance, there is an artificiality to the finished image I'm not keen on.

I think its an adjustment, I'm going to shoot some more before I do something goofy and swap back to the 200-600. (or wait on that 100-400 f/4 that is rumored!) Honestly every YouTube expert was happy with this lens, and many reviews provided very honest observations about the considerations above. One of the few photographers I follow that wasn't super pleased was Denise Ippolito, but she is still trying it out. She creates amazing images with the 200-600.

In short, I feel like the 400-800 needs a lot of light, both for max performance from its AF (see Gordon Lang's review) and to control ISOs. I used to feel very confident travelling to places with the 2-6 where I might encounter a mixed bag of lighting. I only think I would pack the 4-8 to someplace with good light and a clear forecast.
View attachment 79893

Roger, as I am pretty sure you already know, at the end of the day it's the equipment that works best in the individual's hands. For what and where I photograph, I like the extra reach of the 400-800 mm. I still have my 200-600mm and occasionally bring it out when walking in my community, I think it is a very good lens.

 

[RogerSmith]

Roger, as I am pretty sure you already know, at the end of the day it's the equipment that works best in the individual's hands. For what and where I photograph, I like the extra reach of the 400-800 mm. I still have my 200-600mm and occasionally bring it out when walking in my community, I think it is a very good lens.

Agreed! And I also have to factor in user error, particularly around my not dealing with the increased lens shake and heat haze factors of 800mm