One of a kind

The past couple of years has seen Sony make a conscious effort to deliver what so many professionals have been calling for, which is longer and faster telephoto lenses deserving of their fabulous lineup of full-frame mirrorless cameras. The launch of the FE 400mm f2.8 OSS G Master in 2018 and FE 600mm f4 G Master in 2019 has addressed many professionals’ concerns that there haven’t been the right lenses they need to persuade them to switch systems. Combine these important lenses with the mind-blowing capabilities of cameras like the A7R IV and Sony A9 II and it’s no wonder so many pro photographers now swear by Sony’s full-frame system.

Providing lenses of such calibre is all well and good, but unless you win the lottery or you’re a pro who makes a healthy living from photography, it’s unlikely you’ll ever own a lens that has a five-figure price tag. So what is a good option if you’re a Sony A7-series user who wants to buy a long, but sensibly priced, telephoto zoom?

Enter the FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS – an intriguing lens that fulfils the reach required by many aviation, sports and wildlife photographers at a staggering price for less than you’d spend on Sony’s FE 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 OSS G Master (£2,299) or the much shorter FE 70-200mm f2.8 G Master (£2,149). To put it in context, it’s a sixth of the cost of Sony’s FE 400mm f2.8 OSS G Master lens and £10,300 cheaper than Sony’s FE 600mm f4 G Master lens that it was launched alongside last summer.

I’d hoped to make it along to several