Hey everyone! I’ve been shooting with my Sony a7 III for about a year now, mostly using the 28-70mm kit lens and a 50mm prime. While they’ve been great for general use, I’m starting to feel really limited when it comes to capturing wildlife and some local sports events. I’m looking to invest in a solid telephoto lens that can really take advantage of the a7 III’s autofocus system.

I’ve been doing some research and I’m a bit torn between going for something like the Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 for its portability, or perhaps the Sony 200-600mm if I want that extra reach for birds. I also looked at the Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 because of the faster aperture, but I’m worried I might miss those extra millimeters on the long end. My budget is around $1,200 - $1,600, so I’m trying to find that perfect balance between image sharpness and autofocus speed without breaking the bank on a G-Master if I can avoid it.

Does anyone have experience with these specific lenses on the a7 III body? Specifically, how is the tracking performance for moving subjects, and is it worth sacrificing aperture for more focal length in your experience?