Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS

The new Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS super telephoto lens is the lightest in its class and offers exceptional image quality, fast AF and an innovative optical design. The Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS lens is the first super telephoto lens with a large f/2.8 aperture in the E-mount line-up. It is the ideal choice for professional sports or nature photographers. The lens is a perfect complement to Sony's comprehensive range of E-mount cameras, including the A9, A7R III and more. The FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS lens weighs only 2,897 grams, making it the most portable and user-friendly lens in its class. The remarkably lightweight of the lens is achieved through an innovative optical design that includes three fluorite elements and a reduced number of front elements. In addition, sustainable components of magnesium alloy have been used.

In addition, repeated research and evaluation by professional photographers around the world have led to a lens design that is not front-heavy. This ensures that fast and precise panning is available; whether you are photographing from the hand or with a monopod. To take full advantage of the rapidly evolving recordings and focus speeds of the latest Sony cameras, the FE 400 mm F2.8 GM OSS lens features two fast XD (extremely dynamic) linear motors. The dual motor system accelerates the lens drive for focusing so that sudden movements can be recorded 5 times faster. The motors are supported by specially developed motion algorithms to minimize delay and instability and to control the noise level. This results in exceptionally fast, accurate and quiet autofocus performance. In this way, the lens can easily capture dynamic, fast-moving athletes or wild animals.

Features of the Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS

• The world's lightest 400 mm F2.8 Prime with ideal balance
• Accurate and fast AF performance
• G-master image quality and bokeh
• Durability, reliability and control
• A9 system software update to support FE 400 mm F2.8 GM OSS

G-master image quality and bokeh

As a member of the G-Master series lenses from the Sony top class, the new super telephoto lens with large aperture offers incredible picture quality, extreme detail and excellent contrast and resolution, even in the corners of the picture. The unique optical design contains three fluorite elements that help to reduce chromatic aberration and suppress any form of color bleeding. The lens also has the original Nano AR coating from Sony to suppress unwanted reflections.

Thanks to an 11-blade circular aperture, the lens contains, in addition to an impressive resolution, an extremely natural and soft bokeh. To achieve maximum image quality and ‘Bokeh’ each lens is individually tested and adjusted in the production phase.

The new FE 400 mm F2.8 GM OSS is compatible with Sony's 1.4x and 2.0x E-mount telephoto converters. They produce excellent image performance at longer focal lengths while maintaining fast and precise AF performance.

Sustainability, reliability and control

The new FE 400 mm F2.8 GM OSS is built with a durable magnesium alloy and a strong, lightweight carbon fiber cover. This makes the lens resistant to harsh conditions, for example at sporting events or when photographing animals in the wild. The lens also contains a fluorine coating on the proposal element to prevent dirt and fingerprints.

The lens has a large amount of hard controls: a ‘Full-time DMF’ switch to enable immediate manual focus. Four adjustable focus hold buttons, spread over the cylinder, easy for the Eye AF function, for example. And a focus ring with Linear Response MF for fine, responsive manual focus.

In addition, the lens includes built-in optical stabilization for dynamic sports action and three different mode settings. This includes a brand new mode 3 setting with an advanced algorithm that allows for easy framing when tracking moving objects. The new model also features a function ring with selectable 'Preset' and 'Function' settings, which further enhances the personalisability, a first for every Sony lens.

The FE 400 mm F2.8 GM OSS also features a drop-in filter lock that ø 40.5 mm ND and other filter types, as well as the optional VF-DCPL1 drop-in circular polarization filter. The VF-DCPL1 filter can be rotated to achieve the desired polarization while it is being installed in the lens.

A9 System software update to support FE 400 mm F2.8 GM OSS

The latest software update (version 3.00) for α 9 (ILCE-9) supports the new FE 400 mm F2.8 GM OSS (SEL400F28GM) lens to optimize optical image stabilization performance. This update also allows continuous shooting with autofocus, even when the aperture is set larger than F11. In addition, the update offers an additional option to enter the serial number of the camera on the Exif data: a function strongly demanded by professional sports photographers and photojournalists. Finally, several other updates of the A9 camera have been implemented with the new firmware, including improved autofocus speed in low light, improved continuous AF performance when tracking a moving subject and reduced shutter lag when shooting with flash.

In the Box

• Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS
• Lens case