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amazon Sony FE 70-300 f4.5-5.6 G OSS reviews
The Sony FE 70-300mm f / 4.5-5.6 G OSS became the first E (or FE)-mounted lens to extend to 300mm in focal length. Not stopping there, with a combination of four aspherical lenses, two extra-low-dispersion ED lenses and Sony’s Nano AR coating is sure to produce good-quality images, reducing aberrations and distortion, among other things. Also, the Sony FE 70-300mm f /4.5-5.6G OSS is designed to match perfectly, or shall I say works like an angel, with high-resolution cameras, particularly the A7R and A7R II.
Another fun point of this lens is focusing very close to 90cm and offering magnification at a not bad 0.31x-macro option. On top of that, quite importantly, in a telephoto lens signage especially two of them, this feature presents shake resistance, and the OSS signage placed on the lens clearly indicates that feature was given here on the 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6.
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Optical Performance
The lens sports a complex optical design comprised of 16 elements in 13 groups. Included in this list are four aspherical elements and two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements, giving fine control to chromatic aberrations and distortions, which aids in producing sharp and clear images across the range of zoom.
Sharpness and Resolution
The lens maintains excellent sharpness from the center of the frame to across the focal ranges. At the wide end (70mm), this lens achieves corner-to-corner sharpness, even wide open at f/4.5. Slight softness begins to creep in as the focal length increases, particularly at the extreme tele lens setting (300mm) and wide open aperture (f/5.6). Stopping down to f/8 shows a remarkable increase in sharpness throughout the frame.
Chromatic Aberration and Distortion
With the help of the extra-low-dispersion glass elements, chromatic aberrations are well controlled, with only little color fringing apparent on the high-contrast edges. Any marginal chromatic aberration available would be easily corrected in post-processing.
The lens does show slight barrel distortion when wide, which morphs into practically unnoticeable pincushion distortion as you zoom in. Such distortions are weak and can be corrected in-camera or in post-processing without compromising the image significantly.
Bokeh and Background Blur
The Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS lens may not be the fastest in the world, but offers usable background blur (bokeh), especially at longer focal lengths and close working distances. Combining this with a 9-blade circular aperture makes for smoother, nicely rounded out-of-focus highlights-any quality that enhances bokeh appeal. This quality comes in handy while photographing a subject in portraiture or wildlife situations, where subject isolation is the goal.
Auto-Focus Performance
Focusing in the Sony FE 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS lens deploys a linear motor for fast, quiet, and accurate focusing, making it a perfect fit for stills or video filming. AF functions quickly and accurately in low-light circumstances, locking on the subject soon after.
The lens further benefits from Sony’s Direct Drive Super Sonic Wave Motor (DDSSM) technology for smooth and precise focus control, which is especially handy when shooting videos to reduce focus breathing and ensure smooth focus transitions. The focus hold button can be customized via the camera menu to perform various functions of your choosing, such as engaging eye AF-a feature especially useful in portraiture.
Optical SteadyShot (OSS) Image Stabilization
Among the most unique features of the Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS lens is the built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS) image stabilization. This technology compensates for camera shaking and allows photographers to shoot handheld at slower shutter speeds without worrying about the image becoming blurry. The OSS system is of particular use to any photographer shooting at longer focal lengths, because it can be very difficult to keep the camera steady, and even minor movements translate into quite noticeable blur.
The real beauty of the OSS comes in how sharp you can get away with shooting images at shutter speeds as slow as 1/60th of a second at 300mm, where previously, because of the risk of blur, you would have to have a much faster shutter speed. It increases the flexibility of the lens and provides a perfect setup for low-light situations and for greater creative control.
The Usability and Handling
It is a design enabling ease of functioning for the user, such as the Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS, since the zoom and focus rings are well-placed and may be operated even with gloves on. Indeed, it has a perfect balance even across the zoom range, although it extends during zooming, yet it’s a very smooth operation.
The mount is metal, which adds to general durability, while a rubber gasket provides added weather sealing. Tripod collar not included, but both its weight and the built-in OSS make it capable of comfortable handheld shooting.
With a minimum focusing distance of 0.9 meters (2.96 feet) and a maximum magnification of 0.31x, the lens would also be fairly suitable for closer subjects, although it is not a macro lens. This capability is excellent for getting high details on small subjects like flowers and insects.
Compatibility and Versatility
Sony’s A7 and A9 series cameras along with other E-mount bodies can boast of being compatible with the Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS. It also means that this lens on APS-C cameras delivers an effective focal length range of 105-450mm, which will open the gates to even greater versatility in telephoto applications. Therefore, this lens can be called a good all-rounder, suitable for full-frame and APS-C users of Sony cameras, besides having long reach and delivering good performance across the board.
This is truly a versatile lens that will serve almost every photographic genre, even sports, wildlife, portraits, landscapes, and some close-up work. It is, however, a handy option for travel and outdoor photography where lugging heavy equipment becomes a burden due to its compact size and lightweight design.
Image Quality Considerations
The Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS lens works well in most cases; nevertheless, it is worth noting a few image quality considerations:
Vignetting: There is some vignetting present, especially wide open and at the long end of the zoom range; however, it is relatively minor and can be easily corrected in post or by stopping the lens down a bit.
Flare and Ghosting: The lens resists flare and ghosting relatively well thanks to Sony’s Nano AR coating that reduces reflections and increases contrast; however, any oblique lighting from strong light sources may result in some ghosting artifacts.
Aperture Range: With the variable aperture of f/4.5-5.6, the lens is deficient in applications involving low light or shallow depth of field. This is traded for compact and lightweight construction which is more suited for handheld or long-term use.
Comparison with Other Lenses
When inquiring into the specifics of the Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS, quite obviously, it needs to be compared to other lenses available in the market to establish if it is suitable for any particular need and preference:
Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS
The Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS is another shorter telephoto zoom lens, as its nomenclature indicates. Certainly, there are no complaints about its sharpness and construction, but once again, it is small and compact, with a tripod collar attached. Yet, it has no longer reach than the 70-300mm, making it not the frontrunner for subjects at greater distance. Commonly it is more expensive.
Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS
The Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS represents the pinnacle of telephoto zooms, benefitting from even longer reach and imposing quality. It includes a super-fast autofocus, optimum optics, and hugely superior mechanical robustness. On the other hand, it is many times more expensive than the 70-300mm and heavier, therefore making it less portable and more demanding for long hours in action.
Third Party Lenses
Sigma and Tamron, among other third-party companies, manufacture telephoto zooms for various E-mount cameras, with differenced available in regard to focal range, specifications, and price.
Conclusion
Versatile and functional, the Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS is a telephoto zoom that performs extraordinarily well in diverse photographic fields. Its solid construction and excellent optical design, together with desirable image stabilization, make it a useful tool for any photographer’s bag. It might not equate in horse categories under very specialized use against much of the expensive telephoto light in the market, but it does strike a good balance between performance and a modest price tag.
Advantages:
– Flexible focal range of 70-300mm
– Excellent build quality with weather sealing
– Effective Optical SteadyShot image stabilization
– Fast and accurate autofocus
– With good sharpness and optical performance
– Pleasing bokeh effects and background blur
Disadvantages:
– Some amount of vignetting and chromatic aberration
– Minor softness at the extreme telephoto end
– Variable aperture for low-light performance
Final Verdict
The Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS is an excellent lens for photographers who wish to invest in a top-quality telephoto zoom lens that is versatile enough for almost any shooting situation. Such buying criteria make the lens much more impressive when related to the performance, versatility, and value it offers in amateur and professional environments. It will serve you well, whether you want to capture the intricate details of a landscape, the quick movements at a sporting event, or the quiet moments between subjects in a portrait.