CameraReview
CompareCamerasLensesAction CamerasGuides
Sony FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS
—
UNSCORED
Sony · 400-800 mm · f/6.3 · Sony E mount

Sony FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS

From $2,698 — 1 offer
KEY FACTS
BrandSony
Announcement dateFeb 2025
Released2025
Production started2025
Production statusIn Production
What We Like
+Exceptional 800mm reach—Sony's longest telephoto zoom with outstanding native focal length capability
+Internal zoom mechanism ensures stable center of gravity and consistent handling throughout the range
+Impressive optical sharpness across the zoom range with excellent performance above 90% at 400mm and near 100% at 800mm
+Fast and precise autofocus with dual linear motors tracking at 120fps on Sony a9III with subject detection capability
+Weather-sealed construction with dust/moisture resistance and fluorine-coated front element for durability
+Well-balanced design with short 90-degree zoom throw and effective Optical SteadyShot stabilization with three modes
Worth Knowing
−Large and heavy at 2475g with 346mm length—requires monopod support for extended handheld shooting
−Variable f/6.3-8 aperture severely limits low-light autofocus speed and indoor sports performance
−Expensive 105mm filters required, and premium pricing at ~$2900 compared to 200-600mm alternative
−Slower autofocus performance in dim lighting conditions; not suited for fast-moving action in poor light

General

Brand
Sony
Announcement date
ⓘ
Refers to the date the manufacturer publicly announced the upcoming release and general specs of this camera.
Feb 2025
Released
ⓘ
Refers to the year this camera was officially made available for sale.
2025
Production started
2025
Production status
ⓘ
Current status of lens manufacturing (e.g., in production, discontinued).
In Production
Read our notes on general
The Sony FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS offers a long range of super-telephoto focal lengths reaching 800mm in a relatively compact, handheld-weight, weather-sealed body with very good image quality. The internally zooming design allows for near-instant zooms, more consistent balance, and improved handling in the field, while dual linear motors track easily with the 120 fps maximum burst speed of the a9III with continuous AF even while zooming. The slow f/6.3-8 aperture struggles in dull light and is not fast enough for indoor sports, making this lens most compelling for dedicated wildlife and distant-subject photography where superior reach justifies its size and cost.

Optics

Lens Construction
27 elements in 19 groups
ED Elements
6
Min focal length
400 mm
Max focal length
800 mm
Focal range
ⓘ
Shortest to longest focal length of the lens (zoom range start - end )
400-800 mm
Zoom lens
ⓘ
Zoom allows you to vary the focal length, change between long shots and close-ups
Yes
Max aperture wide
6.3
Max aperture zoom
8
Blades
ⓘ
Number of diaphragm blades in aperture
11020
Autofocus mode
Yes
Closest focusing distance
ⓘ
Minimum distance for a subject to be in focus.
170 cm01500

Autofocus

AF Type
Internal
Maximum Magnification
0.23x
Focus Limiter
FULL / 10m-NEAR / ∞-8m

Image stabilization

System
Optical SteadyShot (OSS)
Modes
3 (Mode 1: Standard, Mode 2: Panning, Mode 3: Tracking)

Build features

Format Coverage
Full-frame
Zoom Mechanism
Internal zoom
Tripod Collar
Fixed and rotating
Dimensions
119.8mm diameter × 346mm length
Front Element Coating
Fluorine coating
Teleconverter Compatibility
1.4x and 2x (extends to 1120mm and 1600mm)

Physical

Lens mount
ⓘ
The lens mount will tell you what type of lens range you can fit onto the camera body. Often the same camera company will have different lens ranges for different cameras.
Sony E
Front filter size
ⓘ
Diameter of attachable filters.
105 mm
Lens weight
2475 g

Features

Weather sealing
ⓘ
Weather sealing capabilities will give you more confidence when shooting in unfavourable conditions.
Yes