Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS Review

November 28, 2019 | Mark Goldstein | Rating star Rating star Rating star Rating star Rating star

Conclusion

It might not have the coveted "GM" moniker as part of its name, but in all other regards the new FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS is a must-buy lens for all Sony Alpha shooters who are remotely interested in super-telephoto subjects.

Cheaper than the Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5–5.6 GM OSS and offering a longer reach, to our eyes the new FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS is just as sharp in the centre and at the edges, throughout the focal range. There is more noticeable distortion, though, although nothing that can't be corrected in post-processing.

Sure, it's a little bit slower in terms of the maximum aperture that's available, but the extra reach and extra aperture blades (11 versus 9) mostly make up for this.

This lens is undeniably very large and very heavy, but it somehow pulls off the clever trick of not being too unwieldy when paired with a relatively small Sony body like the Alpha A9 series.

In conjunction with the A9's 20fps silent shooting mode, the fast-focusing, whisper quiet Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS is a cracking lens for those moments that require a more candid approach.

Priced at £1800 / $2000 in the UK and USA respectively, the FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS is one of the few Sony lenses that almost seems like a veritable bargain, even at its full RRP.

Overall, the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS lens is an amazingly versatile super-telephoto zoom lens that we feel is something of a no-brainer for sports, action and wildlife photographers.

5 stars

Ratings (out of 5)
Design 5
Features 4.5
Ease-of-use 4.5
Image quality 4.5
Value for money 5