Introduction
The FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS is a telephoto lens for Sony’s vary of Alpha 35mm E-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras.That is the world’s lightest 300mm F2.8 telephoto prime lens presently out there for any digital camera system.300mm is a essential focal size lens for a lot of indoor sports activities for capturing the entire topic, and it is also an necessary lens for Sony with the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games on the close to horizon. It will also be used outside as a secondary lens with the FE 600mm F4.The optical method is comprised of 20 components in 16 teams, together with one ED and three Tremendous ED components to scale back chromatic aberrations.This lens has a minimal focusing distance of 2m / 6.57ft with a most magnification ratio of 0.16x.It incorporates a rounded 11-blade diaphragm which creates a horny blur to out-of-focus areas of the picture and an inner focusing mechanism which suggests the lens barrel would not transfer.The Sony 300mm makes use of two XD Linear Motors for quiet and exact auto-focusing, and full-time DMF handbook focus override can also be potential.Different key options embody built-in 5-axis Optical SteadyShot picture stabilization, the newest Nano AR Coating II to forestall flare and ghosting, a flourine coating and mud and moisture resistance.The Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS lens is on the market in January 2024 priced at £5600 / €6700 within the UK and Europe, respectively.The Sony 300mm was first introduced in October 2023 and it’s designed and made in Japan. It’s totally suitable with Sony’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters.
Ease of Use
Weighing in at 1470g (excluding tripod mount), the magensium alloy bodied Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS is formally the lightest 300mm F2.8 prime lens in the marketplace, for any producer and for each mirrorless and DSLR techniques, though with dimensions of 265mm in size and 124mm in diameter, it’s barely bigger than the Nikon and Canon equivalents.
Consequently, in use it feels effectively matched even to a small physique just like the Sony A1 digital camera, as proven within the photographs beneath, though becoming a vertical battery grip positively helps with the general stability.
Sony have positioned the lens components on the rear to keep away from a top-heavy really feel and enhance stability. They’ve additionally designed it for use for hand-held images, without having for a monopod.
Whereas you should utilize it on a smaller APS-C physique just like the Sony A6000 collection of cameras, it will not stability significantly effectively and the equal focal size may also change to 450mm (though some customers may even see that as a profit).
Construct high quality is superb, one thing of a reduction given the price-tag. The Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS has a sealed mud and moisture resistant design and a rubber ring across the lens mount, all of which makes it well-suited to life each indoors and out, though Sony do state that it it’s not fully moisture and mud proof.
The Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS lens has a steel lens mount. It has a drop-in filter holder on the rear which accepts 40.5mm filters. There isn’t a entrance filter thread.
The Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS has a reasonably large and ridged focus ring into that are set the main focus maintain buttons.
There are 4 separate spherical Focus Maintain buttons, equally spaced aside, which by default maintain the lens locked to the present focusing distance, helpful in the event you’re auto-focusing and don’t desire the lens to attempt to discover focus once more. The preview operate will also be assigned to those buttons by means of the digital camera’s customized settings.
Handbook focusing is feasible by utilizing the AF/MF swap and there is additionally a devoted swap for Sony’s Full Time DMF (Direct Handbook Focus), which lets you interact handbook focus even when the lens is ready to AF mode.
There aren’t any exhausting stops at both finish of the vary, although, making it tougher to set focus at infinity.
In terms of auto-focusing, the Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS zoom is a quiet and really fast performer on the Sony A7R IV that we examined it with, taking round 0.25 seconds to lock onto the topic.
We did not expertise very a lot “searching” in any respect, both in good or unhealthy mild, with the lens precisely focusing just about the entire time, and it is also a really quiet performer that makes it superb for film taking pictures.
It additionally works all the best way all the way down to an aperture of f/22, even for steady taking pictures.
The Focus Vary Limiter swap prevents the lens from searching by means of the complete focusing vary. There are two choices – Full, or Infinity to 6m.
The Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS options optical picture stabilisation, which along with the digital camera’s personal built-in stabilisation imply that we may efficiently hand-hold it as much as round 4 stops slower than with a lens and digital camera physique with no OIS.
The Mode swap toggles between Regular taking pictures (Mode 1), Panning (Mode 2), which mechanically adjusts the lens to account for horizontal motion while taking pictures, and Mode 3 (energetic) which emphasizes framing stability when taking pictures dynamic, unpredictable movement.
There is a detachable tripod collar that may be unlocked and rotated to any place and which accepts each 1/4 (1) and three/8 (1) base screws.
New to this lens and within the Sony FE vary is a knurled operate ring with a rocker kind movement. Energy focus is the default setting, which initiates fixed pace focusing within the specified route, or you should utilize the ring to decide on between full-frame and APS-C mode (450mm) when assigned within the digital camera physique.
The Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS lens is commendably equipped with a comfortable case, an excellent high quality, round steel lens hood (ALC-SH175) with a flocked inside to assist stop undesirable reflections, a silicone rubber entrance edge and a locking mechanism.
Word that this lens is totally suitable with Sony’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters which prolong the lens’s focal size to 420mm f/4 utilizing the 1.4x converter and 600mm f/5.6 utilizing the 2x converter.
