Sony 600mm f4 GM OSS

600mm f4 Sony lens

Combining a super-telephoto length, a bright aperture and a lightweight design, SONY 's 600mm f/4 GM FE OS 600 lens is designed for your E-mount cameras and is ideal for sports, news, wildlife and nature photographers. The f/4 aperture and eleven-blade circular diaphragm provide great depth-of-field control to isolate subjects, as well as maximize performance in low-light shooting situations. Three fluorite elements and one XA (extreme aspherical) element reduce chromatic aberration and color bleeding, while two ED (extra low dispersion) elements and a Nano AR lens coating further increase image performance and quality by reducing flare, shadows, and spherical apertures. Shooting in harsh conditions. The front element is protected by a fluorine coating that helps prevent dirt and fingerprints from sticking, while making it easier to clean if they stick to the lens surface.

Weighing in at just 6.71 pounds, this lens is incredibly portable for glass of its size. The weight of the lens is also redistributed to the back to make it less heavy at the front, making it easy to track subjects and pan whether you're shooting on a handheld or monopod. As a complement, there is SONY's XD (Dynamic End) linear motor autofocus system, which is powered by two motors to track subjects quickly and quietly through the frame, even when shooting at high speeds. In addition, Optical SteadyShot can be combined with in-body stabilization to provide 5-axis stabilization.

Video shooters will also be happy to find the Power Focus functionality, which provides uniform and uniform focus when shooting movies. The magnesium alloy body of this lens is also dust and moisture resistant for protection when shooting in adverse conditions. A fixed tripod collar employs bearings to ensure smooth rotation, with a switch to turn the click stops on or off. When busy, users can switch between horizontal and vertical orientations in 90° increments as needed. Click stops can be disabled when smooth, low-resistance operations are required.

General characteristics

• Super Telephoto Lens 600mm f4

Weighing in at 6.71 pounds, the light weight and balance of the GM OSS FE 600mm f/4 lens is achieved through an optical design that includes a large XA (extreme aspherical) element, three fluorite elements, and two ED glass elements, also like the use of durable magnesium alloy components. The improved design of this well-balanced lens reduces the number of elements deployed on the front of the barrel, resulting in faster and more accurate panorama, whether shooting on a handheld or monopod.

• XD (extreme dynamic) linear motors for fast and accurate autofocus

To take full advantage of the rapidly evolving performance speed of modern and future camera bodies, the lens focus group is powered by two XD (extreme dynamic) linear motors that achieve greater thrust and efficiency than conventional types of AF drive motors. XD linear motors offer enhanced levels of fast, accurate and quiet autofocus, and also contribute to reliable and tenacious AF tracking that sports and wildlife photographers will appreciate. In addition, an algorithm developed specifically for XD motors improves their response, minimizing the lag and instability that can occur when handling a group of wide-aperture focus lenses, resulting in quiet, low-vibration operation.

• Superlative G Master Quality

All lenses bearing the G Master brand are designed to high standards, ensuring that exceptional contrast is maintained at high spatial frequencies down to the edges of the image. The optical design includes an XA (extreme aspherical) wide aperture element and three fluorite elements that help minimize the axial chromatic aberration that can be a problem in large aperture lenses, as well as lateral chromatic aberration that can reduce resolution towards the periphery of the image. Color bleeding is effectively suppressed, allowing for a clear reproduction of the subject's best details, while SONY 's original Nano AR coating suppresses any unwanted reflections, glare, or ghosting.

• Three fluorite elements and two ED glass elements reduce flare and ghosting

Based on an optical design that meets the strict standards of G Master, the OS 600mm f/4 GM OSS includes three fluorite elements and an ED (extra low dispersion) glass element that help reduce chromatic aberration, a common problem in telephoto lenses. An extremely high resolution is maintained up to the edges of the image. Spherical aberration is optimized to create a strong balance between high resolution and smooth, beautiful bokeh through careful control at the design and manufacturing stages. Each lens is individually tested and adjusted to achieve these characteristics.

• Maximum aperture f/4 wide

The maximum aperture of f/4 wide maintains exposure and depth of field, while allowing maximum light to photograph in almost any condition. When you change the aperture to blur the background, areas outside the focal plane appear blurred. This blurred background 'bokeh' effect can be enhanced with the circular aperture blades used in this lens.

• Circular opening of 11 sheets

Complementing the wide f/4 aperture is the 11-blade circular aperture that results in a soft-edged bokeh that is a hallmark of the SONY G Master series. While conventional aperture blades have flat sides that create out-of-focus and out-of-focus light spots in a polygonal shape, this lens overcomes this problem through a design that keeps the aperture almost perfectly circular from its open configuration until it is closed for 2 stops. As a result, a smoother and more natural blur can be obtained. In addition to the careful control of spherical aberration at the design stage, this lens is tested and adjusted during manufacturing to achieve high-quality bokeh.

• Nano AR Coating

Sony's original Nano AR Coating is applied to the surfaces of the interior lenses to effectively suppress reflections that can cause flashes and shadows, significantly improving the clarity and contrast of the image. This regular, precisely defined nanostructure allows for precise light transmission, contributing to high-quality images, even more so than with lenses that use coatings with an irregular nanostructure.

• Optical SteadyShot image stabilization reduces blur

High-performance Optical SteadyShot image stabilization is built directly into the lens for crisp, blur-free images with a wide range of subjects and handhelds. An updated 'Mode 3' algorithm is optimized for smooth and stable framing of moving subjects. The control functions have also been refined to effectively meet professional requirements. 5-axis image stabilization is available when used with Alpha series cameras that feature built-in image stabilization.

• 4x customizable multifunction focus hold buttons and function ring

The FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS features focus hold buttons in four locations on the lens cylinder for easy access in virtually any shooting situation. Once you've adjusted the focus to where you want it, by pressing one of the focus hold buttons on the lens cylinder, the lens will be locked at that focusing distance. Focus hold buttons can also be customized through a camera body menu, allowing them to be assigned to a different function selected by the user, such as Eye AF.

• Dust and moisture resistant for robust reliability

Sealing Sony lenses maximizes dust and moisture resistance, providing the reliability needed for outdoor use and in harsh environmental conditions as demanded by professional photographers.

• Lightweight lens

A durable magnesium alloy is used not only for the outside of the lens cylinder and tripod holder, but also for the components inside the cylinder. This provides the rugged durability required by demanding professional applications, while minimizing overall weight. The FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS weighs 6.71 pounds.

• 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverter support

Optional high-performance 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters are supported, providing a focal length of up to 1200mm, or an equivalent of up to 1800mm on APS-C bodies. Excellent image performance and fast and accurate AF operations are maintained when using any of these teleconverters, ensuring that the G Master image quality of the lens is not compromised. The maximum aperture with the 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters is f/5.6 and f/8, respectively.

• Instant auto/manual focus selection

Instantly and quickly switch between auto and manual focus via an AF/MF switch on the lens side. This makes focusing faster and easier as you let the camera and lens focus for you, or you can decide to take control and manually focus on the exact point you choose.
Fluorine front element coating
The front lens element features a fluorine coating that helps prevent dirt and fingerprints from sticking, while making it easier to clean if they stick to the lens surface.

• Constant DMF

DMF (Direct Manual Focus) gives you the ability to instantly switch to manual focus in autofocus mode. This is particularly useful when acquiring a subject with AF, as you will then be able to adjust its focus point with the manual focus ring. When the full-time DMF switch is activated, manual focus is immediately activated by simply turning the focus ring, even when shooting in AF-C mode. If af causes focus to shift to a different subject while shooting, the focus ring can be used to quickly return focus to the desired subject. It can also be useful when it is necessary to focus beyond a set focus range limit.

• MF linear response

The focus ring features MF linear response for fine and responsive manual focus control. Manual focus changes linearly in response to the rotation of the focus ring, giving you the immediacy of control needed for fast and accurate manual focusing.
Focus range limiter
The focus range limit switch allows you to select a limited focus range when the fastest possible focus is required. Three configurations are provided: FULL, 49-15'/15-4.5m, and Infinity-49'/15m.

• Filter slot

The FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS includes a filter slot that accepts 40.5mm filters, as well as the optional VF-DCPL1 circular polarization filter. The VF-DCPL1 can be rotated to achieve the desired polarization while installed on the lens.

• High-speed and precision tracking at f/22

High-speed and accurate AF tracking for continuous shooting with the minimum aperture of f/22 (a9 software must be updated to the latest version). This is an important advantage, as it allows you to use the maximum depth of field without limitations when shooting continuously to follow the action and ensure that AF tracking can keep the subject in focus.

• Strong and lightweight carbon fiber sunshade

While conventional lenses use four mounting screws, the FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS uses seven. The number of mounting fixing screws has been increased to ensure maximum rigidity and durability that will withstand professional use.

• Versatile high durability tripod stand

The tripod collar ring employs bearings to ensure smooth rotation and high reliability. It also features a switch that turns click stops on or off which, when activated, allow the user to switch between horizontal and vertical camera orientations with a 90° click as needed. Click stops can be disabled when smooth, low-resistance operation is desired.

• Hard case included

A dedicated trunk-type hard case is supplied to protect the lens from shock and vibration during transport. The box has carrying handles on two sides and a comfortable carrying strap.

• Control ring

The FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS includes a function ring with a switch that allows you to select the Positions of Preset (Preset Focus), Function and Off. When in the default position, the Set button is initially used to memorize the desired focus point, and when moving the function ring in any direction, the focus will be immediately set to the memorized point. This can be an advantage for sports and other rapidly changing situations, as it allows focus to be preset beforehand and recovered instantly to ensure the decisive moment is captured correctly. This feature is available if shooting with AF or MF and can focus outside a set focus limit range. When in the function position, functions can be assigned to function mode via a menu in the camera body. If Power Focus is assigned and the function ring is rotated, the focus shifts smoothly at a speed determined by the amount of rotation of the function ring. This allows for a smooth change of focus for movies. If APS-C/Full-Frame Selection is assigned, the function ring can be rotated to switch between APS-C and full-frame viewing angles.