Wildlife Photography: A Real Life Review of the Sony 200-600mm
Hey there, I'm Curtis, a wildlife photographer from the beautiful landscapes of Ontario, Canada. Over the past 3 years, I've had the Sony 200-600mm lens as my constant companion on countless photography adventures. I'm here to share a real life review of this lens with you. While I aim to keep this review as straight forward as possible, a bit of tech talk is inevitable to truly unpack what this lens is capable of. But don't worry, I will do my best to break it down in a way that's easy to grasp. So, let’s dive in and explore everything the Sony 200-600 has to offer!
The first time I unboxed the Sony 200-600mm in July 2021, I was immediately struck by its sheer size compared to my Sigma 100-400 E mount. Not only was it a significant jump in focal length, but in weight as well. At 2115g (4.65lb), it's an important consideration before setting out on a longer hike, as it can start to seriously weigh you down.
Front glass element, with a filter thread of 95mm (Those are going to be some expensive filters!)
As a mostly beginner wildlife photographer at the time, my first thought about this very expensive and solidly built lens was, “Did I need it? Definitely not”. Regardless, this lens was now in my hands and I was excited to see what 600mm could do.
On my first outing, I took it to a small retention pond in hopes of finding plenty of animals to photograph. My first subject was a small leopard frog. I was blown away by the sharpness and the colours this lens produced.
Sony A7ii + Sony 200-600mm | 600mm | 1/1250 sec | f/7.1 | ISO 400
Despite the Sony 200-600 not being designed with macro capabilities in mind, as evidenced by its minimum focusing distance of 2.4 meters and a 0.2x magnification, I was still able to capture a shot of a vibrant dragonfly, showcasing the lens's versatility beyond its primary focus.
Sony A7ii + Sony 200-600mm | 600mm | 1/1600 sec | f/6.3 | ISO 1600
A standout feature is its internal zoom, meaning the lens’s body does not extend when zooming. This design is especially beneficial for tripod use, as it ensures the lens's weight remains constant, maintaining balance throughout the zoom range.
The lens comes equipped with a tripod foot that can rotate a full 360 degrees and be locked at any position, with markers at each 90-degree interval to ensure it's set at a level position. The foot is easily detachable with a simple button press and can be securely locked in place by tightening a knob. However, it's worth noting that the included foot is not Arca-Swiss compatible, meaning it requires a mounting bracket to attach to most tripods directly. For those who prefer a seamless tripod connection, there's the option to swap out the original foot with a third-party Arca-Swiss compatible tripod foot, offering greater flexibility and convenience.
After exploring the lens's capabilities with smaller subjects, my next focus was on a longtime favourite: the Great Blue Heron. With the Sony’s zoom ring, I found making precise adjustments effortlessly smooth, allowing me to quickly span from 200mm to 600mm. This feature is key for adapting to dynamic environments and capturing the heron’s movements. It was a chance to truly see how the lens performed across its entire zoom range in a real-world scenario.
Sony A7ii + Sony 200-600mm | 257mm | 1/1000 sec | f/6.3 | ISO 800
In the first image, captured at 257mm, I aimed to showcase the environment surrounding the heron. Looking back, I wish I had a better grasp on framing—the reflection could have added so much more to the scene. For the second shot, anticipating some action, I zoomed in to 600mm. While the expected action didn't unfold, this closer perspective allowed me to fill more of the frame with the heron as it leaned forward, posed for a catch. Despite the quiet moment, the detailed close-up highlights the lens's ability to adapt quickly.
Sony A7ii + Sony 200-600mm | 600mm | 1/1000 sec | f/6.3 | ISO 200
The lens's autofocus is both quick and silent, seamlessly keeping pace with the ever-changing scenes of the natural world. Yet, as I venture deeper into the forest and along a shadowy river at dusk, the dimming light presents a challenge. In these moments, the autofocus may struggle, sometimes racking back and forth slowly as it searches for a focus point. A helpful strategy in such situations is to manually pre-focus on the intended subject before switching back to autofocus. This little adjustment often gives the lens the nudge it needs to lock onto the subject swiftly. Despite these occasional autofocus hiccups in low light, the combination of the Sony 200-600mm lens with my older A7ii still yields impressive results, producing high-quality images even under less-than-ideal lighting conditions.
Sony A7ii + Sony 200-600mm | 600mm | 1/640 sec | f/6.3 | ISO 2000
Sony A7ii + Sony 200-600mm | 600mm | 1/250 sec | f/6.3 | ISO 6400
With the lens's maximum aperture at f/6.3 when fully zoomed, finding ways to maximize light becomes crucial in low-light conditions. One approach is to lower the shutter speed, assuming your subject remains relatively motionless. Even as a beginner at the time, capturing these photos was made significantly easier by the lens’s built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS).
Sony A7ii + Sony 200-600mm | 600mm | 1/200 sec | f/6.3 | ISO 2000
The Sony 200-600mm lens is equipped with four intuitive switches for on-the-fly adjustments to its behaviour, enhancing its versatility. At the top, the AF on/off switch quickly toggles focus modes, bypassing menu navigation. Below, the focus limiter switch optimizes focus range with three settings: 'Full' for the complete range, '10m to 2.4m' for close subjects while ignoring background distractions and '10m to infinity' to avoid foreground focusing. Which is ideal for shooting through obstacles. Next, the Optical SteadyShot (OSS) on/off switch. I typically leave this on 99% of the time, as it activates stabilization, crucial for reducing shake during handheld shooting. Lastly, the OSS modes: Mode 1 for general shake, Mode 2 for panning (such as birds in flight), and Mode 3 for enhanced viewfinder stability. These modes allow for tailored stabilization, ensuring sharp images across various shooting scenarios.
Close-up of the Sony 200-600mm lens's essential switches, easily accessible for quick operational changes.
Lastly, the lens features a programmable button positioned where your thumb naturally rests. This button is replicated on all four sides of the lens, ensuring easy access regardless of the lens's orientation. I've configured mine to serve as an additional autofocus button, though I find myself using it infrequently. However, its real value lies in its customization options, allowing it to perform a variety of camera functions to suit different shooting preferences.
Close-up of the programable button located where the thumb rests.
Okay, so we’ve covered a lot of information, and you’ve seen all the switches and features this lens has. Now, you might be wondering about its weather sealing—how does it hold up? I’ve got the answer. Living in Ontario, Canada, I’ve exposed this lens to pretty much everything: dust, humidity, a ton of rain, and snow. So, how did it do? The buttons still work perfectly (though the paint has started to wear off). The fact that it zooms internally and is fully sealed gives me extra confidence. Plus, there’s a rubber gasket at the lens mount that keeps both the lens and camera safe from water damage. The main point here is clear: the lens can handle the rough weather, but make sure your camera can too.
Disclaimer: There is always a risk when taking your gear out into the elements, so take precautions to ensure the longevity of your gear.
Here’s a freeze frame from one of my videos, fully caked in snow! - Link to the video
Before we conclude, it's worth mentioning that as a Sony E mount lens, the 200-600mm is compatible with any Sony E mount camera, including those in the APS-C lineup. Though my primary experience has been with full-frame bodies, I briefly paired this lens with my Sony a6000, an older model that's since been discontinued. On a crop sensor, this lens effectively becomes a 300-900mm (full-frame equivalent), offering even greater reach. I utilized this setup to capture an up-close shot of a Great Blue Heron gathering nesting material. In hindsight, increasing the f-stop or dialling back the zoom slightly to lessen compression and expand the field of view would have been beneficial, as part of the heron's neck ended up out of focus.
Sony A6000 + Sony 200-600mm | 600mm (900mm Equivalent) | 1/640 sec | f/6.3 | ISO 1600
As we wrap up this review, let's circle back to some final reflections on the Sony 200-600mm lens.
The lens hood has been a bit of a sticking point, literally. After three years, it's become a challenge to attach or detach, frequently getting stuck even after a good clean. It seems like a wear-and-tear issue. Additionally, the lens's weight can be a drawback, particularly for extended hikes. Carrying it around all day can leave me quite sore, but the payoff makes it worth the effort. After all, no pain, no gain, right?
Sharpness is where this lens really shines, especially at 600mm. The f/6.3 aperture does test my creativity in low light, but I've found my ways around it, proving the lens's adaptability. It's been a reliable tool for capturing crisp, high-quality images even when the lighting isn't ideal.
Durability-wise, I've skipped the UV filter, and the lens has held up remarkably well. A few minor scratches have shown up, but they haven't impacted the image quality. The metal body is tough, enduring the occasional knock without fuss. Though, I've learned a lens cover might save some cosmetic wear and tear.
Reflecting on my experience, I highly recommend this lens for its significant upgrade in reach and image quality. However, since acquiring this lens, more affordable alternatives have emerged on the market. It's important to remember that teleconverters only work with official Sony gear, which was one of my reasons for choosing the Sony. Keep an eye out for a review of the Sony 200-600 paired with a 1.4x teleconverter to find out if that decision was the right one. (In the meantime, I already have a video on the 1.4x TC here).
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SPEC LIST
Sony E-mount
Focal Length 200-600mm
35mm Full Frame (APS-C 300-900mm equivalent)
Maximum Aperture: f/5.6-6.3
Minimum Aperture: f/32-36
Minimum Focus Distance: 2.4 meters (7.88 ft)
Maximum Magnification Ratio: 0.2x
Optical Stabilization: Optical SteadyShot (OSS)
Filter Diameter: 95mm
Zoom System: Manual, internal zoom
Tripod foot (NOT Arca Swiss Compatible)
Weight: 2115g (4.65lb)
Length With Lens Hood: 40cm (1’ 3 3/4”)
Length Without Lens hood: 31.75cm (1’ 1/2”)
Below, you’ll find a collection of some of my favourite images captured with this lens, each one a testament to its versatility and performance. If you're looking for more hands-on insights, don’t hesitate to check out my YouTube channel, where I share my photography adventures often equipped with the Sony A7IV and the Sony 200-600mm.
