Sony extends its full-frame E-mount lineup with a new, budget-friendly super-telephoto zoom designed to meet the needs of hobbyists and developing photographers seeking long reach without the bulk or high cost.
Sony has added a cheaper super-telephoto option to its full-frame E-mount line-up with the FE 100-400mm F5.6-8 OSS, a lens aimed at photographers who want long reach without the bulk and cost of professional-grade glass. Videomaker said the lens is priced at $850 and is due to ship in September, putting it well below Sony’s existing high-end 100-400mm G Master optic. Digital Camera World reported a similar launch price of $849 and described the model as a compact, accessible choice for hobbyists and developing photographers.
The new zoom measures 78.2mm across and 164.5mm long when retracted, though it extends as it zooms. At 654g, it is notably light for a lens that reaches 400mm, and it includes a focus hold button, focus mode and range switches, plus a zoom lock. Sony has built in 15 elements in 10 groups, including two extra-low dispersion elements and two aspherical elements, with the company saying the design is intended to suppress chromatic aberration and other optical flaws. Digital Camera World added that the lens also uses advanced multi-coating.
Autofocus is driven by a linear motor, which Sony says is quick, accurate and quiet. The lens also features Optical SteadyShot stabilisation, a physical on-off switch on the barrel and support for coordinated stabilisation on compatible bodies. According to Videomaker, it can keep up with the α9 III’s 120 frames per second burst shooting with autofocus and auto-exposure tracking. Minimum focus distance is 1.13 metres at 100mm and 0.86 metres at 400mm, while maximum magnification reaches 0.41x.
The trade-off is aperture. The lens opens at f/5.6 at the short end and slows to f/8 by 400mm, which makes it less flexible in low light and less attractive for zooming during video recording. Even so, that specification helps Sony keep the lens small and affordable. Digital Camera World noted that the lens accepts Sony teleconverters, extending the reach to 800mm, or an equivalent 1200mm on an APS-C body. In a market where long lenses often become expensive and heavy very quickly, this model is designed to offer a more practical route into wildlife, travel and daylight sports photography.
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