Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens SEL200600G Review

The latest FE 200-600mm F/5.6-6.3 G OSS is Sony’s furthest-reaching telephoto lens. It is currently one of the most spectacular and versatile lenses in the market. Offering a tele-zoom range from 200mm telephoto to 600mm super-telephoto, the new Sony 200-600mm lens is also compatible with Sony’s 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters, extending its reach to 840mm at f/9 or 1200mm at f/13.

When we look at key features, the 200-600mm has pretty much everything a photographer could need. You get built-in optical stabilization with three different mode settings and an internal zoom mechanism. There is a 11-blade circular aperture mechanism and the lens comes equipped with Sony’s DDSSM (Direct Drive SSM)focusing system.

Among other notable elements are the three focus-hold buttons that can be customized, a Focus-Range Limiter, dust and moisture resistance, fluorine coating on the front element, and a Nano AR coating to suppress any unwanted reflections, glare, or ghosting. The FE 200-600mm is compatible with the APS-C cameras, providing a 300-900mm equivalent focal length range. Optically, the Sony FE 200-600mm F/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens feature five ED (Extra-low dispersion) glass elements and an aspherical element, arranged in a new optical design that minimizes chromatic aberration. The removable rotating tripod mount permits quick switching from horizontal to vertical shooting orientations.

The Sony FE 200-600mm F/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens is currently priced at US$2000. This is a relatively lower price than standard Sony lenses which makes this one very attractive to photographers who are budget-conscious.

The size of the lens can seem daunting, however it is expected for a professional camera lens. The Sony FE 200-600mm F/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens is very large and heavy. Lenses designed for full-frame DSLR cameras would be even bigger, if you wanted a rough comparison. The design is compact, sleek, and doesn’t feel bulky or unbalanced when paired with a small camer a like the Sony A9. Even without a battery grip fitted, professional photographers will find they can maneuver the lens easily.

While you get only a 3x zoom range, there are a lot of focal lengths covered in this range. The narrow angles of the view included are ideal for sports and wildlife photographers. This range also matches perfectly with the popular 70-200mm lenses. At the wide end of the focal length range, this lens is also an amazing choice for portraits. When subject distances tend to be dictated by this range, you can be assured of stunning perspectives. The zoom range also works for shooting outdoors or in kids photography. The focal range also has a practical application for landscape photography. Long focal lengths are essential in creating pictures of colorful skies.

If you are a photojournalist or have restricted access to your subject, this focal length is a blessing. Airshow photography is another field this lens could help with, where the light is bright, and the background not so distracting. The most likely consumers for the Sony FE 200-600mm lens would be wildlife photographers. They can’t get close to their subjects due to physical barriers or general risks. Wildlife is also subjective to fleeing due to human presence. For photographers who stay at a distance, or in a car, or opposite a creek, this lens would definitely do the job. The 200mm end can work when wildlife photographers do not want tightly framed images. That would guarantee you getting a shot of the environment as well as the animal.

Sony cameras have IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization), but many of their lenses, including this one, also feature OSS (Optical SteadyShot). These two stabilization systems are complementary. With this combination, you are guaranteed clear imagery. The Sony FE 200-600mm has optical image stabilization which can save the day in low light conditions. This increases the versatility of the lens and significantly improves the image quality.

The lens is very sharp from full frame corner to full frame corner at the widest apertures over the full range of focal lengths. The 200mm focal length results are slightly softer than the rest, but only slightly. The sharpness of this lens wide-open is very crucial as the softening effects due to diffraction show up only at one or two narrower apertures.

The Sony FE 200-600mm F/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens is not really inexpensive or cheap. But when compared to other lens and the wide range of features it offers, the price tag seems worth it. It is compatible with all Sony E-mount cameras. You get a limited 1-year warranty. The popularity of the lens with its reasonable price tag has meant it remained out of stock for a while. Sony has been committed to restocking the model and claims you can buy it anytime now.