Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS Interchangeable Lens for Sony Alpha Cameras

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I came from the Canon side of the fence. I switched entirely to SONY from 7D and this lens is right up there with Canon L lenses. Image quality is pristine with a6000. Its "only" 200mm and "only" F4 but its significantly smaller and lighter than Canon 100-400 and cheaper than 200mm F2.8, its perfect travel lens. Two a6000 bodies, E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS and this lens fit in a small carry-on personal bag along with a laptop and all accessories. I used to haul 7D with 100-400 and another lens in a backpack. Now I can carry two a6000 with lenses attached over my shoulder and it seems less bulky. The lens quality is very high with one silly exception: the sliders are too easy to slide. If you have the lens dangling from you shoulder its enough to move the sliders randomly. It gets slightly annoying after a while and seems like a glaring design omission. I had to get into a habit of checking the sliders pretty much every time I raise the camera up or discover that AF was toggled to MF and/or IS was turned off. Thats where one star gets deducted. The zoom and focus rings are silky smooth. Image stabilization works well, no problems with shooting flying birds or airplanes at 200mm. Unlike my old Canon 100-400L, this lens zoom is fully internal, the lens doesnt expand when zoomed and there is no lens creep, yay! I am not a pixel peeper. Im just a hobbyist who wants to strike a balance between cost, portability and image quality while hiking for hours. As far as I am concerned this lens produces stunning images with my a6000 that are better than what my 7D with 100-400L could do, sans the extra 200mm, but also sans the bulk. Combined with the fast a6000 focus this lens is a blast to use. The attached images are unedited, just exported from Lightroom with default settings.

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0:23 0:00 This video is not intended for all audiences. What date were you born? January February March April May June July August September October November December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902 1901 1900 Submit Adobe Flash Player is required to watch this video. Install Flash Player I love Sony products and waited almost a year to get this lens. I ignored the negative reviews about the poor build quality. Today I recieved it for a birthday present and heres what it looks like out of the box (hopefully the video uploaded). The box had no sign of damage and it was in the original packaging. The manual focus doesnt even work. So there were plenty of negative reviews but nobody offered an alternative. We have another lens on the way but Im obviously spooked now, especially considering the cost. Is there another choice out there?

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Had a very difficult time in choosing between the Sony 70-200 GM F2.8 and the Sony 70-200 F4. Once I held both of these lenses (which is impossible to do when all you have is a spec sheet or a video review) I realized that there is NO WAY I could have the GM lens hang around my neck. Its just too heavy. I would not be able to use the GM lens on a tripod, as in travel and high-school events do not allow a tripod. The 70-200F4 is so much lighter, and so much less painful around my neck or to hand-carry that it became the obvious choice. Note that I am not comparing the quality of the image, I am comparing the ability for me to use it. If a lens is so heavy that I dread the thought of using it, it will never be used.

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I wasnt sure about getting an F4 version of this lens but i took a chance based on many other reviews read here and on other sites. I recently took this lens to a local music show where the lighting was so so at best. I used this lens at F4 at many different focal lengths and was very happy with the results. Even hand help at 1/90 shutter and pulled out some good shots. Very sharp indeed, glad i bought this lens. If you have any doubts let me tell you just buy it. F4 is the new 2.8. Lightweight and easy to handle and hold steady. Glad i added this lens to the collection, it will be used as much as possible. I attached some photos of the show, most at either 1/90 or 1/125 F4. Love it.

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Very solid, high-performance lens, very sharp, great stabilizer. Slightly heavier than Id hoped considering its for a mirrorless, but learning to live with that. Seems almost identically sharp to my Canon 70-200 f4, and slightly smaller. Good included tripod mount, though sometimes a little awkward clamping it back on the barrel--nothing serious and will probably get easier once I understand where the resistance is coming from. Very happy with this lens--this and the 24-70, used interchangeably on a full frame (A7) and an A6000, gives me 24-300mm in two lenses that are both pro quality (even the 28-70 is fine if you dont need the extra width). Add a 10-18mm (already had that one--or spend another thou on the great new 16-35mm) and also a fixed, fast 28/f2 (or a 35, or the spectacular 55), and you have a full setup in a fairly compact package. The future is here, and it dont need no stinkin mirrors...although...I do also keep a Canon setup (6D and 70D), mainly for bird and wildlife images (400mm), macro (100/2.8 IS--made easy with fully articulating 70D LCD), and 16-35 f/4 for landscapes, to supplement the 10-18 and at times to use with adapter on the Sony FF. But Ill be selling several of my Canon lenses, including the 70-200, 300, and 35, as wonderful as they are, because the Sonys cover all that while keeping weight down and allowing for legacy-lens use, like the great Pentax 50/f1.4 I just found the other day for $4.99 at Goodwill...wait...is this too much? Sorry. I do that sometimes. My wifes eyes have been known to glaze over. She tells me, "You dont have to say everything you think." Probably true. But I hope this helped.

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If this lens isnt currently in your bag, DO NOT hesitate. This is a crystal clear powerhouse that makes the A7Rii that much better.

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I dont want to be overly negative. The lens works fine, but Ive really got to ding them for using such weak plastic to join the two halves together. Snapped in two like a graham cracker when it swing into my foot from the strap. Yes, I obviously need to be more careful, but for $1,500 I really need either a little durability or a better warranty. See my sad pics for a reminder to either be more careful, find a more durable brand, or buy an extended warranty. Edit: Sonys repair shop has now informed me that the lens is more expensive to repair than replace:(

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I didnt care too much for this lens. not saying its bad, im just saying for the price point i expected a little more. if i were to go back i probably would have just got the 90mm G macro lens or else any of the zeiss lens for sony FF. especially for a 42mp camera, this isnt that sharp. once you get past 100mm or lower than f/8 it isnt all that great. there really isnt much good telephoto lenses for sony (unless you got alot of money to burn) if you are into photography from great distances id probably stick to canon or nikon. these same lenses are like half the price. but since i dont care too much about long range shots of animals, the wide angle and 55mm lens shots are amazing enough for me. until i look at more pics from the 90mm G macro.

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I ended up returning it, as the switch to Sony full frame was going to cost me upwards of $4,000....:( Its a very beautiful lens however and has THREE "Focus hold" buttons, all of which can be customized...For various purposes.. Its LONG!! Longer than say a 70-200 F/2.8 from Canon.... Doesnt balance well on the A7III, even with a battery grip...And its not that heavy, but most of the weight seems to be out towards the front.... Comes with an aluminum hood (not plastic!) and a tripod collar/foot... Best part is, it makes you APPEAR as if you know what you are doing... Seems very well built, although not as tank-like as a Canon F/2.8 but probably the equivalent of their F/4 70-200... The optics are quite amazing, esp on the A7III and rates near the top of DXOMarks lens rating tables, esp for sharpness... IF you can afford it, Id maybe get this and the Tamron 28-75 2.8 and forget the kit lens... Also, this did not fit in my large-ish Ape Case bag, neither vertically, nor laying down..Its just that long! IF someone gave me $4000, Id buy this in an instant, but Id wait to see if the A7IV will have a "real" grip..

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Shocked to only have the lens for THREE MONTHS and it FELL APART! I see another reviewer posted a video showing this same issue. Mine looks EXACTLY like the video. WHAT is going on with AMAZON and SONY selling this expensive lens that FALLS APART! Lost over 1,000 photos taken.

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