Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM
FE GM OSS Full-Frame E-Mount
Sample Images Intro Format Compatibility
Specifications Performance Recommendations
Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS (covers full-frame and APS-C, 40.5mm drop-in filters, 102.3 oz./6.4 pounds/2,895g, 8.8'/2.7m close focus, $11,998). bigger.
I'd get mine at at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H.
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally-approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Sony does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, non-USA, store demo or used lens. Get yours only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
October 2018 Sony Sony Lenses Canon Nikon Zeiss All Reviews
Why Fixed Lenses Take Better Pictures
Nikon 400mm f/2.8E FL VR FX (2014-)
Sample Images
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Compatibility Specs Performance
All shot as Standard JPGs; no RAW or FINE JPGs were used or needed.
Red Biplane against Blue Sky with Smoke Trail, Miramar Air Show, 28 September 2018. Sony A9, Sony 400/2.8 on Wimberley WH-200, f/2.8 at 1/4,000 at ISO 100. bigger or full-resolution.
This guy was about a mile away! This Sony A9, Sony 400/2.8 and Wimberley WH-200 system is so sharp there's no problem cropping as needed at this distance.
Shockwave Jet Truck, Miramar Air Show, 28 September 2018. Sony A9, Sony 400/2.8 on Wimberley WH-200, f/2.8 at 1/4,000 at ISO 100. bigger or wider.
This was a long way away and cropped. You couldn't shoot this on an iPhone because 1.) you'd be so close that you'd get sucked into the jet engine, and 2.) a closer point of view would have made the front of the truck huge and the flame tiny. By getting further away we change the relative rendering so that the truck's grille shrinks and the flames grow huge in the background.
How loud is this thing? I'm writing this two days later on Sunday from nine miles away, and I just heard it during today's show!
Blue Angels' Fat Albert, Miramar Air Show, 28 September 2018. Sony A9, Sony 400/2.8 on Wimberley WH-200, f/2.8 at 1/4,000 at ISO 100. bigger or full-resolution.
Red, White and Blue Smoke behind Jets, Miramar Air Show, 28 September 2018. Sony A9, Sony 400/2.8 on Wimberley WH-200, f/2.8 at 1/2,500 at ISO 100. bigger or full-resolution.
The light was horrible most of this hazy day, and I was almost always shooting into the sun. I flipped this image so they were pointing up; in reality they were flying down.
Marines dangling under a helicopter, Miramar Air Show, 28 September 2018. Sony A9, Sony 400/2.8 on Wimberley WH-200, f/2.8 at 1/2,500 at ISO 100. bigger.
With a 400mm lens I had to wait until these Marines were about a mile away until I could fit them all in one frame. They were about a thousand feet off the ground.
The Blue Angels, Miramar Air Show, 28 September 2018. Sony A9, Sony 400/2.8 on Wimberley WH-200, f/2.8 at 1/2,500 at ISO 100. bigger or full-resolution.
Standard shot, made trivially easy with the Wimberley WH-200 to hold my A9 and 400/2.8.
Flag and Paratroopers, Miramar Air Show, 28 September 2018. Sony A9, Sony 400/2.8 on Wimberley WH-200, f/2.8 at 1/4,000 at ISO 100. bigger.
USMC V-22 Osprey, Miramar Air Show, 28 September 2018. Sony A9, Sony 400/2.8 on Wimberley WH-200, f/2.8 at 1/4,000 at ISO 100. bigger or full-resolution.
Flying Lamborghini, Miramar Air Show, 28 September 2018. Sony A9, Sony 400/2.8 on Wimberley WH-200, f/2.8 at 1/1,600 at ISO 100. bigger or full-resolution.
US Marines F-35B, Miramar Air Show, 28 September 2018. Sony A9, Sony 400/2.8 on Wimberley WH-200, f/2.8 at 1/1,600 at ISO 100. bigger or full-resolution.
The Blue Angels, Miramar Air Show, 28 September 2018. Sony A9, Sony 400/2.8 on Wimberley WH-200, f/2.8 at 1/4,000 at ISO 100. bigger or full-resolution.
Introduction
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Compatibility Specs Performance
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This Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM was the world's lightest 400mm f/2.8 for a few weeks until Canon announced the EF 400/2.8 L IS III, which is just a hair lighter. This Sony lens is also the world's most expensive 400/2.8.
It weighs only 3/4 what Nikon's newest 400/2.8 weighs, and for these huge lenses, this is a huge advantage for those of us who actually own and shoot them.
New
Completely electronic auto and manual focus; no mechanical connection to the focus ring. Sony claims the focus system responds linearly to the focus ring position in real-time so it should be a big upgrade over other fully electronic focus systems.
World's lightest 400mm f/2.8 at 2,895g (102.2 oz.). Nikon's 400mm f/2.8E FL VR FX weighs 3,800g (134 oz.) and Canon's 400mm f/2.8 IS II L weighs 3,850g (135.5 oz.) — but the new Canon 400/2.8 IS L III weighs a little less than this Sony.
Weight taken off the front compared to other 400mm f/2.8 lenses. This decreases its rotational inertia making it easier to swing around while shooting sports. Instead of several large front elements as with other 400/2.8s, there is but one large front element and several more smaller elements deep inside and further back.
Dedicated DMF switch finally gives us instant manual focus override in any autofocus mode, which is relatively rare with Sony lenses.
11 blade diaphragm.
Function ring (ahead of focus ring) programmable to "Preset" (quickly return to a preselected focus distance) or "Function," which allows you to select what this ring does in your camera's menus. (The world's first Canon 300mm f/2.8 L had a focus preset function ring back in 1987).
Smooth electronic focus if you set the function ring mode to "Function" and then select Power Focus in your camera's menus. Now the lens will focus at a speed that varies by how far you turn the function ring.
Function ring also settable in some cameras to allow you to select full-frame or APS-C cropping. In other words, instant digital zoom. Bravo!
New third stabilization mode designed to make it easier to track moving sports subjects.
Defeatable 90º tripod collar clicks. (collar not removable).
Good
World's lightest 400mm f/2.8.
New autofocus system highly optimized to mirrorless cameras which will outrun anything else you might try to adapt to your Sony.
Super sharp, as are all 400mm f/2.8 lenses.
Optical Image Stabilizer.
Autofocuses over the entire frame on an A9.
Four Focus Lock buttons programmable in-camera to do other things.
Bad
World's most expensive 400mm f/2.8 at $11,998. Nikon's 400mm f/2.8E FL VR FX is $11,197 and Canon's 400mm f/2.8 IS II L is $9,999.
Unchanged
Same close-focus distance as the Canon and Nikon 400/2.8s. Canon and this lens focus to 8.8'/2.7m, while the Nikon focuses to 8.5'/2.6m.
Format
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Compatibility Specs Performance
This is a full frame lens and I'm reviewing it as such.
It also works great on APS-C cameras, on which you may make the usual inferences.
Compatibility
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Compatibility Specs Performance
This works on all Sony E-mount cameras, full-frame and APS-C crop-sensor. This includes all the variations of NEX, A9-, A7-, A6xxx and A5xxx series cameras.
As always you may need to update your camera's firmware to work with this new lens.
It will not work on any Sony A-mount DSLR or any Minolta MAXXUM 35mm SLR of any kind. Those use the old A mount which was actually the Minolta MAXXUM mount from 1987.
Specifications
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Compatibility Specs Performance
Name
Sony calls this the Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS.
FE: Full-frame coverage, E-mount.
GM: "G Master;" one of Sony's "Good" lenses for E-mount cameras.
OSS: Optical Steady Shot Image Stabilization.
It's Sony model number SEL400F28GM.
Optics
Sony 400 f/2.8 GM internal construction. Fluorite and ED elements.
22 elements in 16 groups with one flat 40.5mm drop-filter at the rear (not included in the element counts).
Three Fluorite elements.
One ED extra-low dispersion element to help reduce secondary axial chromatic aberration.
Multi and Nano coated.
Front fluorine coating to resist dirt and smudges.
Maximum Aperture
f/2.8.
Diaphragm
11 rounded blades.
Stops down to f/22.
Aperture Ring
No.
Focal Length
400mm.
When used on APS-C, it sees the same angle of view as a 600mm lens sees when used on a full-frame or 35mm camera.
See also Crop Factor.
Angle of View
6.2º diagonal on full-frame.
4.2º diagonal on APS-C.
Autofocus
Focus is internal. Nothing moves externally as focused.
Sony says it uses an XD Linear Motor.
Focus is entirely electronic; both auto and manual focus work with a genuinely silent internal motor.
Four focus-lock buttons, programmable in-camera to do other things.
Focus Scale
No.
Infinity Focus Stop
No.
Depth of Field Scale
No.
Infrared Focus Index
No.
Close Focus
8.8 feet (2.7 meters).
Maximum Reproduction Ratio
1:1.9 (0.52×).
Filters
Drop-in holder for 40.5mm filters.
Optional VF-DCPL1 drop-in polarizing filter.
Hood
Included ALC-SH155 hood. bigger.
Carbon fiber ALC-SH155 hood included.
Size
6.25" maximum diameter × 14.25" extension from flange.
158.1 mm maximum diameter × 359 mm extension from flange.
Weight
102.3 oz. / 6.4 pounds / 2,895g.
Announced
10:27 AM NYC time, 27 June 2018.
Promised for
September 2018.
Shiping Since
End of September 2018.
Included
Lens (SEL400F28GM).
40.5mm clear filter and drop-in holder.
Front and ALC-R1EM rear caps.
ALC-SH155 hood.
Lens strap.
Hard case with bulletproof internal padding. Drop it out of a helicopter and the lens probably won't be damaged.
Case strap.
Sony's Model Number
SEL400F28GM.
Price, USA
$11,998, June-October 2018 at Adorama, at Amazon and at B&H.
Performance
Top Sample Images Intro Format
Compatibility Specs Performance
Filters Sharpness Teleconverters
Overall
The Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS is optically superb, as are all 400mm f/2.8 lenses, and it's solidly made and highly optimized for Sony's newest mirrorless cameras.
Autofocus
Auto and manual focus is completely electronic, using Sony's newest XD Linear Motor.
It's fast, but not instantaneous.
Ergonomics
Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM. bigger.
It has an electronic focus ring and the usual switches we expect on a modern 400/2.8.
It has four focus lock buttons, and a ring between the focus lock buttons and the focus ring, which when rotated slightly, can be set to recall a preset focus distance — just like the 1989 Canon 300/2.8.
The tripod collar has a nice rotary friction lock and 90º clicks.
Filters, use with
You use the included drop-in holder to hold 40.5mm filters.
Always use the included clear 40.5mm filter; the optics are optimized expecting that filter to be there. It works without a filter, but the focus will be slightly shifted.
Sony also sells a VF-DCPL1 drop-in polarizing filter:
Sony VF-DCPL1 drop-in polarizing filter. bigger.
Sharpness
It's flawlessly sharp and contrasty from corner-to-corner at every aperture.
The only limitation to picture sharpness will be your skill as a photographer.
Sony's astounding MTF charts at f/2.8 (left) and f/8 (right) at 10 cyc/mm and 30 cyc/mm, radial (solid) and tangential (dotted).
Teleconverters
It should work flawlessly with the FE 1.4x Teleconverter or FE 2x Teleconverter.
User's Guide
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Compatibility Specs Performance
Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM. bigger.
AF- MF
AF: Auto Focus. You have instant manual focus override by turning the focus ring at any time.
MF: Manual Focus only.
FULL TIME DMF
Leave this on; this lets us have instant manual-focus override all the time regardless of how the camera is set.
Full - 7m—2.7m - ∞—7m
This is a focus limiter.
Leave it in FULL.
The ∞-7m position prevents the lens from autofocusing closer than 7 meters (25 feet). Use this setting only if you're having a problem with the lens attempting to focus on irrelevant close items, or if for some reason the lens is "hunting" from near to far looking for distant subjects.
The 7m-2.7m setting keeps the lens from focusing farther away than 25 feet (7m). Yo might consider this when shooting portraits.
PRESET - FUNCTION - OFF
This lets us program the SET button.
PRESET lets us preset a focus distance to which the lens returns anytime we slightly rotate the thin black ring between the focus ring and the focus lock buttons. Use this to mark home plate, a goal, birdfeeder or a common distance at an airshow.
To use the PRESET, set BEEP to ON, focus the lens where you want it, and hold SET until it beeps. Now turn off BEEP, and anytime you move the tin preset focus ring in front of the regular focus ring, the lens focuses to your preset distance.
The FUNCTION position lets you use your camera's menus to program other things for the SET button.
OFF makes it ignore the SET button.
OPTICAL STEADY SHOT Switches
These program the image stabilizer.
ON / OFF
Leave it ON unless you're making exposures longer than a second on any kind of tripod.
With a 400mm lens, no tripod is perfectly solid. Leave the stabilizer ON except for long exposures.
Mode 1 - 2 - 3
Mode 1: Normal.
Mode 2: Panning.
Mode 3: Tracking unpredictable motion.
BEEP
Leave this off, unless setting the PRESET.
Recommendations
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Compatibility Specs Performance
Yes, you need one of these.
While I'm the first guy to show how an iPhone makes the same pictures as a $6,000 camera (see iPhone Xs Max versus Full-Frame Mirrorless, iPhone 6S Plus vs Exotic Full-Frame Mirrorless & DSLR, Point & Shoot vs Canon Full-Frame and $25 Camera vs State-of-the-Art Full Frame DSLR), but when it comes to what a real lens like a 400/2.8 does when you need speed, power and reach, no zoom or iPhone compares.
This is a pro lens for sports and other full-time pros. You know who you are. As all other 400mm f/2.8 lenses, it is optically perfect and focuses fast. Better than most others, it weighs much less so you're more likely to take it out and use it.
What excites me the most about this lens is its light weight. I personally have owned the Nikon 400mm f/2.8 AF-I for decades, which is the heaviest 400mm lens ever made. My old Nikon 400/2.8 is a beast which weighs over twice what this Sony does, and this Sony adds stabilization and a host of other features. I never use my Nikon since it weighs so much I just never want to take it to a job, while this Sony is light enough to want to take it to every job.
If you can afford it, this Sony is also a superb portrait lens, letting you get great headshots from a longer distance which improves facial rendering. 85mm lenses are for full-body portraits, while 300mm and 400mm lenses are for headshots.
I'd get mine at at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H.
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally-approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Sony does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, non-USA, store demo or used lens. Get yours only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.
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