The Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS (Amazon, B&H) is primarily a photography lens, though it will be used for video.
In this article let’s take a comprehensive look at the important features and specifications of the Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS and see how good it will perform specifically for video, cinematography and filmmaking.
The aim of this article is to provide you with enough information and perspective so you can decide for yourself whether this lens is right for your film or video.
Important: This article is a comprehensive overview of the lens with available information; and an analysis based on our experience shooting for almost two decades. It is not a hands-on review. If and when we get hold of the lens we’ll be sure to publish a detailed review. If this is not your cup of tea you can stop reading.
Here is an official product feature by Sony:
Click to what you want quickly:
- TLDR;
- Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS vs
- Features:
- Control:
- Basics:
- What about teleconverters?
- Alternatives to the Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS
TLDR;
What you need to know for video work about the Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS (Amazon, B&H):
- The Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS is a great telephoto lens.
- This could be the most preferred lens for nature documentaries, wildlife filmmaking, sports coverage.
- The f/2.8 aperture is enough for low light work.
- It’s a hefty lens but still light for its lens class and construction.
- 11 circular blade aperture with for smoother, better bokeh.
- 4 Customizable buttons on the lens body.
- The lens does have image stabilization with Optical Steady Shot. With cameras that have IBIS you can expect even better Image stabilization.
- Linear Manual Focus or fly by wire focus system.
- It has an assignable function ring on the lens body.
- Sony claims that their motors work together with Eye AF to provide precise and quick autofocus for video. This also supports contrast AF and Phase Detection AF.
- It exhibits breathing.
Can be great for the following types of filmmaking:
- Wildlife filmmaking
- Sports Filmmaking
- Documentary filmmaking
- Astronomy Filmmaking
Features
Coverage
The Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS is a full frame lens. It is designed to completely cover a sensor the size of 36mm x 24mm.
If you are considering this lens for an APS-C sensor or other cinema camera, check out this article:
Focal Length
The focal length is 400mm. This is considered super telephoto on a full frame 35mm sensor.
This focal range is very useful for telephoto work, sports filmmaking, astronomy filmmaking and wildlife filmmaking.
Aperture
The maximum aperture is f/2.8 and the minimum aperture is f/22.
The lens is missing an aperture ring. It could create a problem for many wildlife filmmakers who may need to change exposure on the go.
Having f/2.8 is enough for low light. Especially when you pair this with Sony and their sensor’s ISO capacity.
The Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS (Amazon, B&H) has 11 circular diaphragm blades. One expects a smooth bokeh, considering the number of blades, but it’s not always a given.
To know more about bokeh:
Resolution
From Sony’s official MTF charts:
The Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS (Amazon, B&H) is sharp in the center and stays rocksteady throughout. Great performance that’s expected of a top-quality 400mm f/2.8.
If you really want this lens at its sharpest you’re better off stopping down to f/4 or f/5.6 for best results.
If you are curious and want to read the MTF chart for yourself. Here’s a guide on how to read them easily.
Close Focus
The closest focusing distance has three modes and can be controlled by a close focus switch on the lens. The three modes are
- 2.7 m/8.86 ft (at “2.7 m–7m” position)
- 7 m/22.9ft (at “7 m–infinity” position)
- 2.7m/8.86 ft (at Full position)
This promotes versatility of the lens which can do close ups, macros and as well as telephoto shots.
Image Stabilization
The Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS (Amazon, B&H) lens does have Optical Steady Shot image stabilization. Using it with a camera that has IBIS (like the Sony Alpha 1 or the a7S III) you get even better stabilization.
It has three modes to choose from. It looks like it is majorly for photography.
Optical image stabilisation is built in, making it easier to capture sharp images when shooting handheld. In addition to the Mode 2 setting that is provided for panning shots, the SEL400F28GM features a new Mode 3 setting with an advanced algorithm that ensures easier framing when following moving subjects. Mode 3 provides optimum stabilisation for tracking and shooting dynamic, unpredictable sports action. 5-axis image stabilisation becomes available when the SEL400F28GM is used with an ? body that features in-body image stabilisation.
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Control
Manual focus system
The Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS has an infinite turn ring for its focus ring and can turn infinitely one way or the other. Fortunately it has fly by wire focus as its default focusing system.
What is the meaning of focus by wire and fly by wire?
Focus by wire: Let’s say you turn the focus ring to change focus from point A to B. You’d expect the focus to shift accordingly. When you stop point B will be in focus. Now bring the focus point back to A and try again, but at a different speed. Slower or faster, doesn’t matter. Now, even if you precisely rotate to the exact same degree, the focus will not be on point B! The speed of rotation determines which point it is focused on. That’s just completely useless for follow focus work. If an actor or person moves at a different speed, evens lightly, you’ll never get the same focus. Avoid focus by wire lenses like the plague (for video work).
Fly by wire: The distance of focus shifted is directly proportional to the speed at which the ring is turned. This is how a manual focus ring is supposed to operate for video and cinematography.
This decision to include fly by wire or linear MF by Sony could lead to cinematographers and videographers choosing this lens for their next shoot.
Autofocus system
Sony’s Autofocus is, without a doubt, one of the most revered video autofocus systems in the world. They claim that this lens supports contrast AF and Phase Detection AF. Sony claims that they have made over 5 times the improvement over their previous autofocus systems.
Linear motor design and component layout have been thoroughly revised to achieve significantly higher thrust. Two of these new motors are used in the SEL400F28GM, achieving up to a 5x improvement in moving-subject tracking performance. This means that the full speed performance of advanced camera bodies can be applied to capturing perfect images of the most dynamic sports or wildlife subjects.
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The switch on the side of the body to switch from autofocus to manual focus will be very useful to switch the focus mode. In addition to this, the lens also has one extra switch called the DMF switch. Enabling this switch allows you to change focus by simply moving the manual focus ring even if the lens is in AF mode.
When the FULL-TIME DMF switch is ON, manual focus is immediately engaged by simply rotating the focus ring, even while shooting in the AF-C mode. If AF causes focus to shift to a different subject while shooting, the focus ring can be used to quickly bring focus back to the desired subject. In situations where the user wants to fine tune focus manually after initial AF, the body’s shutter button half-press focus function can be turned off and AF assigned to a different button, making it easy to use the focus ring for final focus after initial AF has been achieved. The ability to instantly switch to manual focus can also be useful when it is necessary to focus beyond a set focus range limit.
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Function/Preset Ring
The Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS has introduced an assignable function ring. This ring has two purposes that can be switched by using the lens switch on the body.
Function Ring: You can assign different functions such as power focus and APS-C to full frame switch. Power focus will help you determine the smoothness at which the manual focus will shift.
For Sareesh Sir:
When the function ring select switch is set to FUNCTION and the function ring is rotated, focus shifts smoothly at a speed determined by the amount of function ring rotation. This allows smooth focus shift for movies.
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Preset Ring: The preset ring allows you to have a previously set focus point memorized by the lens. So when the mode switch is at preset and you turn the preset ring, it recalls to the previously set focus point.
For Sareesh Sir:
The SET button is initially used to memorise the desired focus point. If the mode switch is then set to the PRESET position, moving the function ring in either direction will immediately set focus to the memorised point. This can be a huge advantage for sports and other rapidly changing situations, allowing focus to be preset in advance and instantly recalled to ensure that the decisive moment is properly captured. This function is available whether shooting with AF or MF, and can focus outside a set focus limit range.
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Basics
Filter Thread
The Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS (Amazon, B&H) has a drop in filter thread diameter of 40.5mm.
Build Quality
The majority of the lens exterior is plastic, though the lens doesn’t feel cheap. Sony claims that majority of the lens has been built using magnesium alloy.
The optical design consists of 23 elements in 17 groups, including ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass and three fluorite lens.
Size and Weight
The Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS (Amazon, B&H) has a diameter of 158.1 mm and a length of 359 mm. It weighs around 2.8 kilograms. It is a heavy lens and can be a problem if you don’t have a heavy tripod to set it on.
Weather resistance
Sony claims that all GM lenses are weather resistant. In addition to their usual dust and moisture resistance they have claimed to add an extra seal to this lens.
But again this only holds true if the camera body you will be using is also weather sealed. No camera is truly and officially weather sealed, so the best you can hope for is reliable weather resistance.
This is a G Master series lens and we can expect it to perform as such.
What’s in the box
This is what you get in the box (other than the lens):
- Hood (model): ALC-SH155
- Lens front cap: Supplied
- Lens rear cap: ALC-R1EM
- Hard case
- Lens strap
- Case strap
The hood might be useful for photography, but the shape and design makes it mostly vestigial for video work. Some people like to put it on to protect the front element in case of a fall. The hood takes the impact and shatters, but saves the lens. I’d keep it on unless you have good reason not to.
Sony also gives a hard case making it easier and safer for you to carry this lens around.
What about Teleconverters?
Sony sells two converters for the 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS:
You get an effective focal length of:
| Teleconverter | Effective Focal Length | Loss of light |
|---|---|---|
| With the 1.4x | 560mm | 1 stop |
| With the 2.0x | 800mm | 2 stops |
Sony claims both autofocus and image stabilization work well with the teleconverters.
Alternatives to the Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens
The Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS (Amazon, B&H) is a great super telephoto lens. There are no alternatives as such.
You could consider the Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 (Amazon, B&H) if the 400mm f/2.8 is too expensive or if you don’t need f/2.8.
I hope you found this overview of the Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS (Amazon, B&H) useful. If we have missed out on something, please let us know in the comments below.
