Headline features • 70-400mm focal length range
• Relatively fast f4 aperture (Fastest in this class of lens compared to competitors) at 70mm
• 3 Focus Hold buttons
• Fast SSM Auto Focusing
• G Quality lens coatings
• Focus limit buttons
• Tele-converter compatibility
• Widest coverage in class at 70-400mm (Compared to 100-400mm Canon and 80-400mm Nikon)
Vital Stats• Prod. code:SAL-70400G
• Year: 2009
• Coverage: Full frame
• Production: Current
• Max. aperture: f4-5.6
• D type lens: Yes
• Min. aperture:22-32
• focal range:70 - 400 mm
• Elements/group: 18/12
• Angle of view:34-6
• aperture blades: 9, circular
• Minimum focus distance: 1,5m
• Filter rotate when focusing: No
• Filter rotate when zooming: No
• Max. Magnification: 1:3.7
• Focus design: SSM
• Filter diameter: 77 mm
• Front hood: SH0010 petal shape
• Weight: 1500 g
• Colour: silver
Build Quality
The lens is extremely well built in my opinion, conduction in mainly metal Design
The 70-400m SSM is one of Sony's G series professional quality lenses, and therefore built to the very highest standards. The construction appears to be essentially of metal. The silver colour, which is not to everyone liking, is in my opinion a good move from Sony for two reasons. One the silver is a lot cooler in the direct sunlight than any of the black lens I have owned and secondly it serves as a good differentiator from Nikon and Canon and while it may take some time for Sony uses to warm to the silver colour I do believe that when the quality of these lens shines through the silver will be very much in demand.
The lens is pretty typical in size for its class, and therefore potential upgraders should appreciate that it's significantly larger and heavier than consumer telezooms such as the 70-300mm F4.5-5.6. This therefore may not be the lens you'll want to carry around all day when on a hiking or the sort.
On the camera
This is a sizeable lens but the balance of the lens in my opinion is excellent. The zoom ring is positioned towards the front of the lens allowing the combination of lens and camera body used and balanced at the same time. The focus ring is positioned toward the rear of the lens and when using manual focus generally requires a change in grip. If you are going to be using a tele-converter on the lens I would strongly recommend that you use a monopod or tripod to make your life easier.
Reported aperture vs focal length
70-100mm f4
100-150mm f4.5
150-250mm f5
250-400mm f5.6
Sharpness
I have to say that my first impressions with the lens really blew me away; I have been looking for a lens with some reach in it for quite sometime. I originally started out with a Minolta 75-300mm f4.5-5.6 and enjoyed the lens, especially the colours produced by the lens, however as mentioned I wanted something that was going to get me in a little bit closer. Thus I chose to purchase a Sigma 170-500mm f5.6-6.3 APO DG and although when you consider the price of this lens it performed okay I was disappointed at the 500mm end with poor image quality. So when I snapped away with the 70-400mm I was blown away the sharpness which really surprised me and impressed me. This lens is sharp, really sharp.
360mm F8 ISO400
Image Colour
The colours and contrast produced by this lens are fantastic and extremely pleasing to the eye, although I have not had the opportunity or pleasure to compare this lens to something like the Sony 70-200mm f2.8 SSM G I can say that when compared to my Sigma 170-500mm the contrast and chromatic abrasions is not even comparable with the Sony being light years ahead.
Weight
The weight of this lens is a touchy subject because depending on how you look at it or use the lens depends on your view. The lens is heavy at 1,5kg and this balances the camera well in my opinion but if you don’t have strong arms this lens my prove to be a challenge in the handheld department, you certainly want to make sure that the Supersteady shot is on as it really does get tested here but definitely makes a difference.
With Teleconverter X2
I have included a couple of pics taken with a X2 Tamaron Teleconverter, I was pleasantly surprised at the results and will let you be the judge of the outcome. A couple of things to note with the Teleconverter; you will be shooting in MF, you will loose some light (1 to 2 Stops) and your min aperture will be f11 (Not ideal if you going to handhold this lens.
800mm F11 ISO400
AF SSM
I was more than happy with the SSM Autofocus of the lens especially when you consider that I have not had the opportunity of previously using SSM lens. All I can say here is that the AF is pretty silent and a huge benefit compared to the screw driven AF of the standard lens. One note here though, I have found that SSM definitely eats the batteries so make sure that you own a spare battery or better yet a battery grip.
Hood
The hood for the lens is a bit of a mixed bag. I like the petal design of the hood and Sony have included a very clever little hatch/switch on the hood to allow access to a circular polarising filter. On the negative the inside of the hood is covered in a black velvet type covering and although it’s effective in stopping light reflecting in does attract dust at an alarming rate. One of the criticisms I’ve seen levelled at the lens is that the Lens hood is to light and not robust enough. I can only think that Sony were trying to add as little weight here to an already heavy lens. It has also been reported that the hood tends to unmount itself, I can only talk from experience and at this stage I have yet to experience this problem.
Negatives
- Weight
- AF SSM is quicker that screw driven AF but not lighting fast
Positives
- Image quality
- Image Colour
- SSM AF
- Tele-converter compatibility
- Very useful wide zoom range 70-400mm
- Excellent build quality
Image Examples
400mm F5.6 ISO 400
400mm F5.6 ISO 800
Rating out of 5: 4.83
Overall ratings: 5
Sharpness rating: 5
Colour rating: 5
Build rating: 4
Distortion rating: 5
Flare control: 5
