Along with the new company’s flagship full-frame Sony A9 camera, Sony also announced the Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens. It is a compact telephoto zoom ‘G Master’ lens using a double linear motor and ‘Direct Drive SSM’ drive system for fast and quiet AF. This new lens costs $2,499 and will be available for pre-order at B&H/ Adorama/ Amazon on Friday.
Uncompromised G Master Design and Performance
A super telephoto zoom that meets the intense build requirements of Sony’s acclaimed G Master series lens lineup, the new FE 100-400mm GM model produces outstanding corner-to-corner sharpness throughout the lens’ zoom and focus ranges and beautiful rendered ‘bokeh’ or background defocus, ensuring the finest details are brought out in every subject and scene.
The complex design features 22 lens elements configured in 16 different groups, including one Super ED (Extra-low Dispersion) and two ED glass elements, all of which are working together to minimize chromatic aberration and ensure the ultimate resolution is captured. The lens also has Sony’s original Nano AR coating, which is particularly useful for shooting sports scenes or wildlife, as it reduces unwanted reflections.
Precise, Quick AF Performance
In order to keep up with fast-moving action, the new FE 100-400mm GM super telephoto zoom lens features a combination of double linear motor and a Direct Drive SSM actuator, which also ensures precise, quiet operation.
The double motor system allows rapid focus lens drive acceleration to capture the sudden motion that is common with sports and wildlife photography, while high precision positioning control and a newly optimized AF algorithm ensure the subject is quickly found and focused on. This ensures that the maximum AF performance of a camera like the new α9 is realized.
Lightweight Design, Extensive Customizability
In order to satisfy the extensive demands of customers craving lighter, smaller and more portable super telephoto lenses, the new FE 100-400mm GM weighs in at a mere 49.3 ounces (1,395 grams), making it among the lightest in its class and an ideal fit for Sony’s wide range of compactly designed cameras.
Functionally, the lens has a zoom torque adjustment ring – a first for Sony α – allowing the user to adjust the level of torque in the ring to zoom faster or slower depending on their shooting style. There is also a focus hold button that can also be assigned to variety of functions including focus mode selection, AF area selection or the popular Eye AF lock feature.
The telephoto zoom lens is dust and moisture resistant as well1, and has fluorine coating on the front lens that makes it easier to remove dust or grease. There is also a removable tripod mount.
Professional Operation and Reliability
The new FE 100-400mm GM Super Telephoto Zoom lens features built-in optical image stabilization, ensuring that sharp images can be captured during handheld shooting. It also offers a minimum focusing range of just 3.22 feet (0.98 meters), which maximizes its versatility in the field, and a 9 bladed circular aperture design that produces soft, beautiful bokeh.
The FE 100-400mm GM is compatible with both the 1.4x (model SEL14TC) and 2.0x (model SEL20TC) teleconverters, allowing photographers and videographers to shoot at up to 800mm on full-frame cameras and approx.1200mm (35mm full-frame equivalent) on APS-C cameras.
Detailed Specifications:
| Principal specifications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Lens type | Zoom lens | |
| Max Format size | 35mm FF | |
| Focal length | 100–400 mm | |
| Image stabilization | Yes | |
| Lens mount | Sony FE | |
| Aperture | ||
| Maximum aperture | F4.5–5.6 | |
| Minimum aperture | F32–40 | |
| Aperture ring | No | |
| Number of diaphragm blades | 9 | |
| Optics | ||
| Elements | 22 | |
| Groups | 16 | |
| Special elements / coatings | Two ED, one super ED element. Fluorine-coated front element. | |
| Focus | ||
| Minimum focus | 0.98 m (38.58″) | |
| Maximum magnification | 0.35× | |
| Autofocus | Yes | |
| Motor type | Linear Motor | |
| Full time manual | Yes | |
| Focus method | Internal | |
| Distance scale | No | |
| DoF scale | No | |
| Focus distance limiter | Yes | |
| Physical | ||
| Weight | 1395 g (3.08 lb) | |
| Diameter | 94 mm (3.7″) | |
| Length | 205 mm (8.07″) | |
| Materials | Magnesium alloy | |
| Sealing | Yes | |
| Colour | White | |
| Zoom method | Rotary (extending) | |
| Power zoom | No | |
| Zoom lock | Yes | |
| Filter thread | 77.0 mm | |
| Hood supplied | Yes | |
| Hood product code | ALC-SH151 | |
| Tripod collar | Yes | |
See also Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens Sample Images
Read More: Sony lens Rumors