Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS Review

The Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS is a versatile telephoto zoom lens designed for Sony’s full-frame mirrorless cameras. It occupies a critical space in the G Master lineup, offering professional-grade optics, fast autofocus, and excellent image stabilization in a relatively portable package. With its extended zoom range and high-quality construction, the lens is ideal for wildlife, sports, and action photography. In this review, we’ll evaluate the lens’s features, build quality, and performance, and determine whether it meets the high standards of Sony’s G Master series.

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Features / Specifications

The Sony FE 100-400mm is packed with advanced features to meet the demands of professional photographers and enthusiasts alike.

Focal Length: 100-400mm, extendable to 560mm or 800mm with 1.4x and 2x teleconverters.
Maximum Aperture: f/4.5 at 100mm, narrowing to f/5.6 at 400mm.
Lens Construction: 22 elements in 16 groups, including two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements and one Super ED element to minimize chromatic aberration.
Coating: Sony Nano AR coating for reduced reflections and flare.
Aperture Blades: 9-blade circular diaphragm for smooth, creamy bokeh.
Autofocus Motor: Dual Direct Drive SSM (Super Sonic wave Motor) for fast and precise focusing.
Stabilization: Optical SteadyShot (OSS) with two stabilization modes.
Minimum Focus Distance: 0.98m (3.22 feet).
Magnification Ratio: 0.35x at 400mm.
Filter Size: 77mm.
Size and Weight: 205mm (8.07 inches) in length and 1,395g (3.07 lbs).
Weather Sealing: Fully weather-sealed against dust and moisture.
Additional Features:
- Customizable focus hold buttons.
- Zoom torque adjustment ring for personalized control.
- Compatibility with Sony teleconverters for extended reach.

Build Quality

The Sony FE 100-400mm exemplifies the high standards of the G Master series with robust build quality and thoughtful design.

Materials: A mix of metal and premium polycarbonate ensures durability while keeping the lens relatively lightweight for its class.
Weather Sealing: Comprehensive sealing protects against dust and moisture, making it suitable for outdoor use in challenging environments.
Zoom and Focus Rings: Both rings operate smoothly, with the zoom ring offering adjustable torque for customized resistance.
Switches and Buttons: The lens features multiple switches, including a focus limiter, OSS mode selector, and AF/MF switch, as well as three focus hold buttons for added convenience.
Tripod Collar: The removable and rotatable tripod collar allows easy switching between portrait and landscape orientation.

Size, Weight, and Dimensions

The Sony FE 100-400mm strikes a good balance between portability and performance.

Weight: 1,395g (3.07 lbs), making it lighter than many competing lenses in its class.
Dimensions: 205mm (8.07 inches) in length and 93.9mm (3.7 inches) in diameter.
Portability: While not a lightweight lens, its relatively compact form makes it manageable for handheld use, especially when paired with Sony’s lighter mirrorless camera bodies.

Image Quality

The Sony FE 100-400mm delivers exceptional optical performance, living up to the G Master name.

Sharpness

Center Sharpness: Outstanding sharpness in the center across the zoom range, even wide open at f/4.5 and f/5.6.
Edge Sharpness: Edge performance is very good, with only minor softness at 400mm and wide open. Stopping down slightly improves corner sharpness.

Color and Contrast

Color Accuracy: Colors are rendered naturally, with excellent saturation and tonal gradation.
Contrast: The lens provides high contrast across all focal lengths, even in challenging backlit conditions.

Flare and Ghosting

Nano AR Coating: Effectively reduces flare and ghosting, even when shooting directly into strong light sources.
Lens Hood: The included hood enhances protection against unwanted light and improves image contrast.

Bokeh

Quality: The 9-blade circular aperture produces smooth, pleasing bokeh, especially at 400mm.
Compression: Telephoto compression enhances background blur, isolating subjects effectively.

Optical Aberrations

Chromatic Aberration: Minimal chromatic aberration, thanks to the inclusion of ED and Super ED elements.
Distortion: Virtually no distortion is noticeable across the zoom range.
Vignetting: Slight vignetting is present at wide apertures but can be corrected in-camera or in post-processing.

Autofocus

The dual Direct Drive SSM motors deliver excellent autofocus performance:

Speed: Autofocus is fast and reliable, even when tracking fast-moving subjects.
Accuracy: The lens locks onto subjects with precision, maintaining focus even in challenging conditions.
Tracking: Works seamlessly with Sony’s Real-Time Tracking and Eye AF, ensuring sharp results.
Noise: Quiet autofocus operation makes it suitable for wildlife and video work.

Performance in Photography and Videography

Photography

Wildlife and Sports: The lens excels in capturing fast-moving subjects with its fast autofocus, excellent stabilization, and long reach.
Close-Up Photography: With a 0.35x magnification ratio and a minimum focus distance of 0.98m, the lens is capable of impressive close-ups.
Low Light: While the f/4.5-5.6 aperture limits light-gathering capabilities, pairing the lens with a modern Sony camera with excellent high ISO performance mitigates this limitation.

Videography

Stabilization: OSS is highly effective for handheld video, especially when combined with in-body stabilization (IBIS).
Autofocus: Smooth, silent, and accurate autofocus makes this lens suitable for wildlife and sports videography.
Zoom Control: The zoom torque adjustment ring allows precise control, which is helpful for video applications.

Use Cases

The Sony FE 100-400mm is a versatile lens that caters to a wide range of professional and enthusiast needs:

Wildlife Photography: Perfect for photographing animals and birds at a distance.
Sports Photography: Ideal for capturing fast-paced action from the sidelines.
Travel Photography: Compact enough for travel, especially for safaris or outdoor adventures.
Event Coverage: Useful for capturing candid moments or detailed shots at large events.
Videography: Suitable for nature documentaries or sports videos requiring long-reach focal lengths.

Price

The Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS is priced at a premium, reflecting its G Master quality and features:

Retail Price: Approximately $2,498 USD.
Value: While expensive, the lens offers excellent performance and versatility, making it a worthwhile investment for serious photographers.

The Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS is a standout telephoto zoom lens that combines excellent optical performance, fast autofocus, and effective stabilization in a portable package. It’s an invaluable tool for wildlife, sports, and action photographers who need a versatile and reliable lens. Despite its relatively high price and modest maximum aperture, the lens’s performance and build quality justify the investment.

Conclusion

Rating

Our overall rating: 9.0/10