Combining a super telephoto length, bright aperture, and lightweight design, the FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS Lens from Sony is designed for their E-mount cameras and is ideal for sports, news, wildlife, and nature photographers. The f/4 aperture and eleven-blade circular diaphragm provide great depth of field control for isolating subjects, as well as maximizing performance for low-light shooting situations. Three fluorite elements and one XA (extreme aspherical) element reduce chromatic aberration and color bleeding, while two ED (extra-low dispersion) elements and a Nano AR lens coating further increase performance and image quality by reducing flare, ghosting, and spherical aberations while shooting in harsh conditions. The front element is further protected by a fluorine coating that helps prevent dirt and fingerprints from sticking, while making it easier to wipe clean if they do become attached to the lens surface.
Weighing in at just 6.71 pounds, this lens is incredibly portable for glass of its size. The weight of the lens is also redistributed to the back to make it less front heavy, making tracking subjects and panning easier whether you're shooting handheld or on a monopod. Complementing that is Sony's XD (Extreme Dynamic) Linear Motor autofocus system, which is driven by two motors to quickly and quietly track subjects across the frame, even while shooting at high speeds. Furthermore, Optical SteadyShot can combine with in-body stabilization to provide 5-axis stabilization.
Video shooters will also be pleased to find Power Focus functionality, which provides smooth, even focus while shooting movies. The magnesium alloy body of this lens is also dust- and moisture-resistant for protection while shooting in adverse conditions. A fixed tripod collar employs bearings to ensure smooth rotation, with a switch to engage or disengage click stops. When engaged, users can switch between horizontal and vertical orientations in 90° increments as required. The click stops can be disengaged when smooth, low-resistance operations are required.
General Features
Light 600mm f/4 Super Telephoto Lens
Weighing in at 6.71 pounds, the light weight and balance of the FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens is achieved through an optical design that includes a large XA (extreme aspherical) element, three fluorite elements, and two ED glass elements, as well as the use of durable magnesium alloy components. The improved design of this well-balanced lens reduces the number of elements deployed at the front of the barrel, resulting in faster, more precise panning, whether shooting handheld or on a monopod.
XD (Extreme Dynamic) Linear Motors for Fast, Precise Autofocus
To make full use of the rapidly evolving performance speed of modern and future camera bodies, the lens' focus group is driven by two XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors that achieve higher thrust and efficiency than conventional types of AF drive motors. The XD Linear Motors deliver improved levels of fast, precise, and quiet autofocus operation, and also contribute to reliable and tenacious AF tracking that sports and wildlife photographers will appreciate. Additionally, an algorithm developed specifically for the XD motors improves their response, minimizing lag and instability that can occur when driving a large aperture focus lens group, resulting in quiet, low-vibration operation.
Superlative G Master Quality
All lenses bearing the G Master brand are designed to high standards, ensuring that outstanding contrast at high spatial frequencies is maintained right out to the image edges. The optical design includes a large aperture XA (extreme aspherical) element and three fluorite elements that help to minimize axial chromatic aberration that can be a problem in large-aperture lenses, as well as lateral chromatic aberration that can reduce resolution towards the image periphery. Color bleeding is effectively suppressed, allowing clear reproduction of the finest subject details, while Sony's original Nano AR coating suppresses any unwanted reflections, glare, or ghosting.
Three Fluorite Elements and Two ED Glass Elements Reduce Flare and Ghosting
Based on an optical design that conforms to stringent G Master standards, the FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS includes three fluorite elements and one ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass element that help to reduce chromatic aberration, a common problem in telephoto lenses. Extremely high resolution is maintained right out to the image edges. Spherical aberration is optimized to create a strong balance between high resolution and soft, beautiful bokeh through careful control at both the design and manufacturing stages. Each lens is individually tested and adjusted to achieve these characteristics.
Wide f/4 Maximum Aperture
The wide f/4 maximum aperture maintains exposure and depth of field, while also allowing maximum light for shooting in almost any condition. When changing your aperture to defocus the background, the areas out of the focal plane appear blurred. This 'bokeh' effect of the blurred background can be enhanced with the circular aperture blades used in this lens.
11-Blade Circular Aperture
Complementing the wide f/4 aperture is the 11-blade circular aperture that results in soft-edged bokeh that is a hallmark of the Sony G Master series. While conventional aperture blades have flat sides that create unappealing, polygonal-shaped defocused points of light, this lens overcomes this problem through a design that keeps the aperture almost perfectly circular from its wide-open setting to when it is closed by 2 stops. Smoother, more natural defocusing can be obtained as a result. In addition to careful control of spherical aberration at the design stage, this lens is tested and adjusted during manufacturing to achieve the high-quality bokeh.
Nano AR Coating
Sony's original Nano AR Coating is applied to interior lens surfaces to effectively suppress reflections that can lead to flare and ghosting, significantly enhancing image clarity and contrast. This precisely defined regular nano-structure allows accurate light transmission, contributing to high-quality images, even more so than with lenses that use coatings with an irregular nano-structure.
Optical SteadyShot Image Stabilization Reduces Blur
High-performance Optical SteadyShot image stabilization is built right into the lens for sharp, blur-free images with a wide range of subjects and handheld shooting. An updated 'Mode 3' algorithm is optimized for the smooth, stable framing of moving subjects. Control features have also been refined to effectively support professional requirements. 5-axis image stabilization becomes available when used with Alpha-series cameras that feature built-in image stabilization.
4x Customizable Multi-Function Focus Hold Buttons and Function Ring
The FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS features focus hold buttons in four locations on the lens barrel for easy access in virtually any shooting situation. Once you've adjusted focus to where you want it, pressing one of the focus hold buttons on the lens barrel will keep the lens locked to that focusing distance. The focus hold buttons can also be customized via an in-camera body menu, allowing them to be assigned to a different function selected by the user, such as Eye AF.
Dust- and Moisture-Resistant for Robust Reliability
Sony's lens sealing maximizes resistance to dust and moisture, providing the reliability needed for outdoor use and in challenging environmental conditions as demanded by professional photographers.