Still pondering the 400-800

[RogerSmith]

I have to admit, I'm still pondering the 400-800. I have owned the 2-6 for years and done well with it. I also have a 400 2.8. I focus on birds by default (not a lot of mammals around me) but I tend to build a kit that can travel. If I went to Yellowstone (plan to next spring) I'm pretty sure I would prefer the 2-6. Looking at past images I saw a good number of images in the 300-400 range. Plus...I would probably bring the 400 prime and couldn't imagine also lugging a bit zoom. But...around town in San Diego CA I of course would always love a bit more reach. Any thoughts from folks with both or have made the switch? @Tim Mayo I think you might be in the processes of gathering those thoughts to update the blog post. Appreciate any earlier conclusions. Cheers.

 

[THXGEEK]

I have both end use them equally. The 2-6 is for hiking and the 4-8 is for short hikes (really short - I'm OFOOS: Old Fat Out Of Shape) and then only when I have a monopod or tripod that I can deploy.

My admittedly amateur eye cannot differentiate any substantial difference in sharpness between the two.

 

[AlphaWorld]

I traded in the 200-600 while waiting for the 400-800. In hindsight, there are a few times when it would be nicer to have the 200-600, but for most of the time that I am using the 400-800, I am very happy to have it over 200-600.

The advantages of the 400-800:

• The extra length (duh!)
• The more powerful focus motors
• Getting 800mm without a TC.

I have not yet tried it with the 2x, but I expect it to handle the 2x better than the 200-600 does.

Yes, it is heavier than the 200-600, but I am coping with it handheld better than I expected to!

I think Sony has been very clever making so many of their long zooms fixed length - it means that the zoom ring is much lighter (not pushing a heavy barrel out), so it is easy to move with one finger. Trying to think how many if their zooms are fixed length. I know of:

• 50-150 f/2
• 70-200 f/2.8 II
• 200-600
• 400-800

Are there others?

 

[RogerSmith]

thank you both, all this is great food for thought