Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens

Comments about Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens:

This is a terrific lense. I am a bird enthusiast who spends lots of time with a camera in my hands. The clarity of the pictures that I have taken with this lense is amazing.

Comments about Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens:

First let me say, I love the lens. I understood that it was a heavy lens when I ordered it but I wasn't ready for how heavy. I don't want to hang the camera from a strap for fear of the lens pulling loose from the camera body. I know that that is unlikely but it is heavy. The photos are crisp and clear as expected but I need to close the appature a bit because the DOF is much more shallow than I expected wide open and I get images that are a bit fuzy at times when I am not careful. If I am thinking about what I am doing the shots are great.

Comments about Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens:

Close up, Nature, Wildlife, etc

Comments about Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens:

During the last 2 years I have been more and more interested in birds, as my country has more than 1800 specimens already in catalogs.
At first I was using a 70-300mm G SSM lens (also wonderful), but now I have the necessity to get closer and that is why I choose the 70-400mm.
Another point is that my Sony 2x teleconverter works (manually) with it keeping the sharpness.

Comments about Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens:

Great match with my Sony A55 camera body. Initial photos look very good. Looking forward to wildlife photography in the near future. Fast and quiet autofocus.

Comments about Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens:

Prior to owning this lens the largest reach I had was 200mm (300mm on APS-C body) and I often felt that whenever the opportunities for good fast action or wildlife photos presented themselves 200mm just was not enough.
400mm (600 on APS-C) is a world of difference in comparison to 200mm from reach standpoint.
Took the time to carefully read the reviews of this lens and the comparable lenses and decided to go for it.
Despite the weight and size I have used it successfully so far handheld in most situations. What can I say: wow!!!!!!
Extremely fast focus and tack sharp images. Some reviews stated that this is the best zoom lens you can have at this focal range. I didn't own others at this range but looked at many images and this lens really shines.
No product is perfect:
1. My primary concern: I wish it had a lock button, without it you can't really walk around with lens down. I don't want to worry about lens creep down the road.
2. Secondary by far: bokeh is ok but not spectacular
Yes, its large and heavy but it's manageable. As it is with any heavy lens, don't even bother with neck straps; get a Black Rapid or a similar product
If you seek the extra reach beyond the 200mm look no further, this is an outstanding buy.

Comments about Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens:

Extremely sharp. Extended zoom range (70-400). Fast for its range. Veeerrrry heavy!

Comments about Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens:

Took this to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and got a lot of Great Shots and Views. It's big and and fast. I didn't have any issues with the size or wieght. Fast focus, not the smoothest of zoom but it's a large scale. I really like it.

Comments about Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens:

I use the lens mainly for wildlife, but also for candid people shots. One thing which particularly stuck me is the degree of isolation from background I can get when comparing with my previous lenses at the same stop. Admittedly it is in a rather different league.

Standard internal focussing system, avoiding external rotating components. The barrel extends a surprisingly long way at full zoom, and fairly quickly makes a tripod essential.

Coming from a background of budget priced lenses, the 70400G is stunning in its engineering quality. Body is metal with some plastic parts, assembled to very tight tolerances. Focussing is eerily quiet SSM based, and fairly fast - I did not observe any of the accuracy problems I have seen mentioned elsewhere. Its so quiet that at first I didn't realize that it was focussing until i looked in the viewfinder.

Its early days yet, but given plenty of light, the performance in terms of the quality of image I end up with is worth every penny I spent on this item.

The color keeps the lens cool in bright sunlight.

The only negative comment i would make is the power usage - admittedly the battery on my A33 is tiny, so i was not expecting much, but the 70400 seems to get through them at a scary speed.

Comments about Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens:

This absolutely deserves the 'G'. I was scared dropping so much cash on a lens, but I have no regrets. The color is amazing, the sharpness is amazing. I own minolta and sony lens and this is my favorite by far. Yea it's a beast a little heavy but come on! it's 400mm! Also AF not the fastest of the bunch, but I don't shoot action shots, so I'm a bad judge. Get this lens you wont regret it and you will be happy you did.

Comments about Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens:

Just spent a week in Florida using this lens. It performed perfectly.

I used it at several state parks and wildlife preserves. The focus is fast and nearly silent. Once you get used to the weight, it's a great lens.

Aside from the weight, it is a great lens. I was shooting an alpha 350.

Comments about Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens:

I OWN THIS LENS OVER A YEAR AND I LOVE IT.THE SIZE IS SIMILAR TO THE 70-200MM BUT IT IS A BIT HEAVIER.
THE QUALITY OF THE LENS IS GREAT ,THE IMAGE AT 300MM IS AS GOOD AS MY SONY 300MM PRIME LENS AT ALL APERTURE. THE IMAGE IS EVEN SHARPER AT WIDE OPEN COMPARE TO THE PRIME LENS.
THE IMAGE IS A HAIR DROP AT 400MM WHEN YOU CROP 100%,BUT DO YOU NEED TO CROP THAT MUCH ALL THE TIME ?
THE BOKEH IS GOOD BUT NOT AS GOOD AS THE PRIME LENS 300MM.
THE FOCUS IS FAST AND SHARP IN GENERAL BUT WHEN THE LIGHT IS LOW ,IT HUNTS A BIT WHEN THE ZOOM IS AT 300 TO 400MM DUE TO LACK OF CONTRAST AND BLUR IMAGE .I THINK THIS IS AN USUAL PROBLEM.
I DON'T LIKE THE SILVER COLOR ,I PREFER THE CLASSIC BLACK AND GOLD RING.
THERE IS NOT MUCH DOWN SIDE FOR THIS LENS .

Comments about Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens:

I purchased this lens in preparation for an African safari. I have been practicing a bit and like what I see. I love how clear the photos are and how quickly it focuses. The only problem I see (and was totally prepared for) is the weight. I'm going to purchase a monopod to use with it.

Comments about Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens:

[...] i want use it for wildlife but i only made some test with it at this time . it work fine , it a litle heavy but i think i help to be stable , i try it with the sony 2x tele everything was good the autofocus did not work but it is not supose to .

Comments about Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens:

I use for coverage of sports and photojournalist, the zoom it's amazing.

Comments about Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens:

I have put off buying this lens for about a year and now that I have it - all I can say is FANTASTIC in every way except weight. I enjoy wildlife and bird photography and with a Sony A 850 I don't know how it could be topped in regards to sharp - beautiful colors, fast auto focus, Etc. Sorry I waited so long. Not sure if I will ever take it off the camera.

Comments about Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens:

•How you use the product
I use it for wildlife sports ect

•Things that are great about it
Fast on the focus with a little learning curve and finally i can get crisp images.

•Things that aren't so great about it. none so far
shooting sports though a fence but when is that great lol

Comments about Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens:

I will use this lens mainly to photograph sports with a little nature shooting in between. It is heavy and the f/stops are a little slow for indoor sports today. I expect the high-ISO capability of 2001-2012 cameras to make this lens more useful indoors, soon. It is the ONLY telephoto-zoom that I know of that is sharp wide-open at all focals.

Comments about Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens:

I had originaly purchased the Sony 70-300mm G SSM and was very impressed with it's optical quality and shot some great pictures of a hawk about 100 yards away and wished I could get a bit closer..so I returned the lens to B&H and ordered the 70-400. I was immediately impressed with the build quality upon receiving it. Truly, a pro level lens. I've read complaints about the silver color..but frankly I find it quite appealing. Has a high quality look and feel to it..albeit non traditional [i.e., not black or white]. It's heavy..but to be expected in such a high quality lens. The SSM is totally silent and the tripod mount a big help to shot wildlife and sports. I like the "window" on the lens hood to allow adjustment of a circular Polarizer..which the 70-300 didn't offer. This lens rounds out my lenses having the CZ 16-80 and the Sony 50 F1.4 for use on my Alpha 55.

Comments about Sony SAL-70400G 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Autofocus Lens:

good performance