Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM Telephoto Zoom Lens with Hood & Case

2017-05-06T20:00:00

The build quality of this lens is superb. As you would expect from a G lens, it has precise controls, a focus range limiter and focus hold buttons. Distortion is not noticeable in every day shooting. Sharpness is exceptionally good, and a considerable improvement on my 70-300 G, hitherto the sharpest zoom I own. Its versatility has to be experienced; it is startlingly sharp, even at 400mm. However, its size and weight mean that you will need a shutter speed of 1/500th minimum at 400mm and/or a tripod or monopod to get the best out of the lens. AF is fast, accurate, and silent, thanks to the SSM motor. It's a revelation when compared to the SAL 70-300G. This is simply the best zoom lens I've ever used.

Luigi_03

Originally posted at

2016-11-20T19:00:00

The best lens I have ever bought, great for sports action shots. Crystal clear pictures every time & can now get really close to the action. Way Better than any tamron or sigma.

Jouzinu

Originally posted at

2015-06-10T20:00:00

Great lens I use it for sport mainly, always get good image quality, my only fault with it is the lens hood I have often had to chase it when it gets knocked of the lens which is easy to do.

wheely

Originally posted at

2014-07-31T20:00:00

Great image quality! Built like a tank! Fast and quiet focusing with SSM! I'm going from a 70-300 lens so I'm getting acquainted with using the lens hand held due its extra weight.

PeteC

Originally posted at

2014-06-01T20:00:00

I pre-ordered this when it was launched rather than wait and I am so glad did. It went up £400 shortly after I got it. I bought this to go with my A580 to photograph aircraft and it took superb images. Then I added an A77 which again was very good. But the icing on the cake was when I used it with the A99. Superb images at all focal lengths and even very good wide open. Simply a fantastic lens. The only drawbacks are size/weight which can only be expected and the amount of rotation needed to go from 70 to 400.

MikeEGPD

Originally posted at

2014-06-01T20:00:00

Have owned this lens for nearly 2 years. Extremely pleased with the results that this lens gives linked with the A77 body.

BJW1947

Originally posted at

2014-01-26T19:00:00

All the good you have read about this lens is true. Superb build quality and performance. I bought it mainly for wildlife but have been using it more for landscape. Landscape is my favorite type of photography and I am usually shooting wides and panos. But I use this lens more and more and wouldn't think of leaving it at home when I go out landscaping. I always seem to find something to use it on. It's worth the investment. I also bought a Lenscoat cover for mine which makes it look better, protects it and also makes it easier to change focal length.

Greg M.

2013-09-23T20:00:00

The picture says it all. Just started taking pictures 2 years ago. This lens was dropped down a concrete stairs in Oregon. Fell off of a tripod, safety lock not secured. Still works fine. I like the lens so much, for the price I bought a new backup lens. Now I have two.

Thoma

Originally posted at

2013-05-09T21:00:00

Amazing sharpness for such a heavy lens shooting landscapes,action and even some portraits. Bokeh is good, Very fast and quiet focusing which makes it a joy to use with the A99. The bright viewfinder in low light is a delight to work with.

DUANE L.

2013-04-30T21:00:00

Pease note that I did not put the weight down as a negative! Yes, it is somewhat heavy,but the balance of the lens is excellent and even if you are hand holding the lens with camera, the design is such that your hand fits easily on the lens without interfering with te manual focus or focal adjustment rings. Best zoom lens I have added to my camera bag in years!

Arnie P.

2013-03-18T21:00:00

not sharp on sony 580 camera at 400 ok on a700. tamron 200-500 that I have was better on the 580. returned it. waiting to try the newer model when it is out.

Joanel

2013-02-12T19:00:00

Is this lens worth buying for the sony a37 camera?

pking

Originally posted at

2012-12-27T19:00:00

Ok so after much debate on what lens would be good I decided to buy this lens and when I first took it out of the box my jaw dropped. I am an amateur photographer only doing is for family pics, nature, and as hobby so I have never owned a real professional lens. I purchased Sony a350 from Circuit City which came with the good old 18-70mm and 70-300mm zoom lens which for being my first time owning a DSLR seemed really good. Recently I sold my a350 and got the new a57 using same lenses because I thought they were good enough and with new camera my pictures looked much better. I bought this lens after messing around with a friends lens for mid range and the pictures were insane crisp compared to anything I ever took. Well needless to say, this lens really degraded my 70-300mm and degraded it bad LOL. If you look at the pictures you will see what I mean LOL. Both were taken off same tripod, same 300mm range, setting on A for aperture priority with 2 second shutter delay to avoid camera shake. nothing was added to picture, no exposure increase, no color balancing or any other settings just default "A" with default AWB. When I loaded the pictures on my laptop I remained in shock. How could I have accepted that my current lenses are good. Mind you, they were taken at 11:30 pm with only basic low energy cheap bulbs in house (5 13w GE neon looking bulbs, 3 in dining room and 2 in living room). Images speak for themselves at the quality you get with this lens. Others have said it is heavy............. YOU THINK....... this thing is a beast compared to the tiny lenses you get with a kit LOL. And the amount of glass as well as metal construction...... I'm surprised it was not heavier, even wife said it looks more heavier than it is. My only concern and hoping it's just me (will call Sony to verify) is that when zooming from 200mm to 300mm you can see a substantial zoom but from 300mm to 400mm only seems like 25mm :/. Maybe I'm doing something wrong or miscalculating but when looking at photos that I have taken at 100mm, 200mm, 300mm, and 400mm and marking on the 100mm where the 200mm frame would be and so on, the difference between 300mm and 400mm is less than 1/2 than 200mm to 300mm. Over all, I can honestly say YOU REALLY DO GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR AND DEFINITELY WORTH EVERY PENNY.

CrashOverride

Originally posted at

2012-12-20T19:00:00

I bought this for use with my Sony Nex-5 and 7. While I purchased the appropriate attachment for auto zoom focus it has never worked. I travel extensivly and the main purpose was so that I could get pictures of stain glass at the top of cathedrals (i.e. Notre Dame, the Domo in Milan, the Vatican etc). The most impressive works are always closest to GOD and kept farthest away from the peasants (whether it is glass or stone work on the top or huge monuments). The lighting is always very challenging in most historical buildings, coupled with the crush of other people, can make for a trying environment at times. A quick, accurate focus for a once in a life time shot. Places where you can use a camera you cannot use a flash. The sensor in the Nex is up to the challenge though (i.e. the tapestry in the Cluny). I got it for that reason. Turned into a very expensive but nice paperweight. I own every lens and attachment for the Nex series of cameras. By far the best lens is the Sony 18-200 (which they do not make in the 1st generation configuration anymore). This lens is outstanding for most day to day stuff but just will not zoom enough to get the things I want to see initially without being forced to resort to manipulating the photos afterwords on my computer.

BRADLEY C.

2012-10-16T20:00:00

When you can shoot this lens at f/8 or smaller the lens is very sharp. If you are using this lens for action photography you are limited to daytime shooting. This lens is all but useless when shooting in poor lighting. Would not recommend for inside action or sports under the lights. When shooting wide open the image becomes very soft to the point I thought the lens was not focusing properly. I was so bothered by the images wide open that I contacted a Sony Technician. He was very helpful but the conclusion was the lens appears to working properly but he agreed the images were extremely soft wide open. These were even shot on tripod with cable release. The lens is heavy but this is what you would expect for a zoom of this size. The hood is more flimsy than it should be. If you plan to shoot during the day and aperture at 8 or smaller than this lens is very good. I make this lens sound less than adequate but one really good thing about this lens is at f/8 or smaller, the lens is sharp throughout its full zoom which is very excessive (70 to 400). It definitely reaches most of my shot needs. If this lens was sharp wide open it would be perfect.

Poke

Originally posted at

2012-03-24T20:00:00

Once I experienced the joy of photographing soccer matches with the perfect reach of the 590 mm G glass on my HDR-FX1000 camcorder, my SAL70300G, sharp as it is, was not quite doing the job for capturing sports action still images on the far side of the full-size field. The SAL70400G allows me to effortlessly cover all the intimate sports action from one strategic location. It works wonderfully well with my smooth-tracking SONY VCT-1170RM camcorder tripod. I have temporarily brought my trusty A700 back into service, and I expect to soon purchase an A77 body (or it's successor). Quiet motor. Outstanding near-professional results. No buyer's remorse ever on higher end SONY gear. Will enjoy it for years to come.

Oldmanriver

Originally posted at

2012-03-13T20:00:00

I have been using this lense since July 2011. It allows me to take great pictures but often need a tripod or monopod to steady. It is heavy and does not carry well for a day outing

GaryT

Originally posted at

2011-12-04T19:00:00

It is a heavy lens - lots of glass Use it for all types of shots. Shooting grand kids is great can get far enough away so they do not become camera shy. Also can get fairly close. It is a great value for its versatility, its range and overall build and quailty

ROBERT W.

2011-11-20T19:00:00

Perfect for my main interest, wildlife

smokey j.

2011-11-06T19:00:00

It is a little heavy to use free handed but not bad. I use it when I am in close to wildlife and need to move the camera around without any restrictions.

john k.

2011-10-29T20:00:00

I just got back from Africa where I took about 6000 shots with this lens, and I can't imagine shooting without it. The images are super clear and bright, with faithful colors. The build is tough, and held up to three weeks of dust and vibration (although I did scratch it -- my fault -- good thing I have the warranty). I especially like the silent SSM focus, which is super quick and doesn't search around like some other lenses. The three (count 'em) focus hold buttons allow for versatility. It comes with a nifty case that can be quickly opened, giving instant access to the lens, which I appreciated when I wanted to change without missing any action. The lens tripod mount is handy, and quick tilts to portrait mode are possible with the release screw. On the downside, the zoom is a bit sticky, and using it while shooting video is very difficult to do without significant shake. The bokeh with this lens is distinctive, and in my opinion, a bit rough when compared to prime lenses. But that's the price to pay for the versatility of a zoom. Also, it's quite heavy, but that's to be expected with all that quality optical glass. The light colored plastic on the lens hood tends to pick up scuffs, and the filter access window, while a good idea, is easy to leave open by mistake, letting in unwanted light. Even when closed, it's not a complete seal, and while the effect on photos should be minimal, there is some leakage of excess light through the edges of the small sliding panel on the hood. But those are really minor complaints. It, along with the Zeiss 85 1.4, are the two best lenses you can buy for Sony in my opinion. Add in the Zeiss 16-80, and you've got just about everything you'd ever need.

ElGueroMasLoco

Originally posted at

2011-10-16T21:00:00

An excellent lens that produces beautiful images. They are sharp, crisp with great color. The lens weighs between 3 and 4 pounds but is well balance. I do not hand hold this lens. I would rather use it on a tripod or a monopod. I have read some comlpaints regarding its silver color and the lens hood, but neither have been a problem for me.The lens is expensive, but worth every penny. I have even used this lens with a Kenko 1.5 lens extender with very good results.

bill

2011-09-24T21:00:00

I use this lens with my Sony A700 and get excellent results. I'll be upgrading to the Sony A77 when it comes out and expect to get even better use from this lens.

BEVERLY M.

2011-09-03T21:00:00

Excellent image quality. Good build. Silver color not a problem. Great for wildlife photos especially with a 1.4x teleconverter. Can sometimes be a touch slow in focusing although focus limiter switch does help some.

Sequoia

2011-08-17T20:00:00

I first bought the Sony 70-300G. This is a very nice lens, but it does not come with a tripod collar. This makes it tough for my sort of nature photography. Anyway, I ordered the 70-400G when my wife was not looking, and I got it a few days later. When I opened the box, I was shocked at the weight of the lens. This lens is heavy! You will need a nice tripod to support this (if your shooting requires a tripod). Anyway, I took it out and shot some close up images with it. I accomplish this by adding extension and diopters to the front. The images I took with this were razor sharp. To my eyes, the images actually look slightly sharper than the Tamron 180mm macro, which is a prime lens. Sony did not mess around with this beast. This is the real deal. This is a very impressive lens. I have tried to find a reason to return it, but I get an amazing shot every time I plan on putting it back in the box. I have also used this lens to photograph my children hand held. The working distance is amazing. I was so far away that they did not even realize that I was taking their picture. I take the tripod collar off when doing hand held shots, and this does reduce the weight a little bit. All in all, this is an amazing lens. In this case, you do get what you pay for. My only complaint is that the lens hood is somewhat flimsy. I go into swamps and other habitats with this. I have almost lost the lens hood on several occasions.

Vespula

Originally posted at

2011-07-24T20:00:00

The lowest user rating on any photography site was 4/5 given by 10% of users at the maximum. Now I know why!!!!People have listed some drawbacks. Here is my opinion on those: 1) Expensive: it’s totally worth it and Image quality is stunning also the price range is same as canon and Nikon 2) Heavy: Very rugged construction. The weight is perfectly balanced near the tripod mount. After 3 days in your hand you won't even feel weight as an issue! 3) Lens hood is weak: Not at all. It is perfect. It has a small window to adjust the filters as well. Some major concerns for me: 1) Battery: as it is SLT cameras with electronic view finders consume lot of battery. I have SLT a55 and with this lens I got hardly 200-250 shots per charge (as opposed to some 400 approx. advertised with the 18-55 lens) 2) Careful with the lens mount: the camera weighs approx 1lb and the lens weighs 3 lb! Be careful and hold the lens correctly in your hand without putting any force on the camera-lens mount Very minor suggestions to Sony from my side: 1) Slightly bigger tripod mount so it can be also used as a handle 2) It should be possible to remove the tripod mount even when the lens is mounted on the camera! Great job Sony! its just a matter of time when sony becomes a leader in DSLR/SLT market!

ProfessionalAmateur

Originally posted at

2011-05-04T20:00:00

Although this is not a prime lens, it has image quality rivaling primes in all it's focal length. Simply the best zoom lens in this focal range compared to competitors. Wish it had weather sealing. Very good companion to my A900.

Prad

Originally posted at

2011-04-10T20:00:00

takes amazing wildlife pictures they look almost 3D!

BirdmanofBuffalo

Originally posted at

2011-02-08T19:00:00

I decided to take the plunge with this lens and see what all the fuss was about. I definitely found out. Wow! I love this lens and it stays mounted on my camera unless I need a wide shot. It is sharp throughout its range even wide open! I have found that I have a higher "keep" rate with my pictures as compared to other tele lenses I have used. The sharpness of the images taken with this lens is in another league when compared to the other teles I have used. What an amazing lens! It even autofocuses with my Sigma 1.4TC EX DG non HSM. If you can afford it you will not be disappointed.

klw10

Originally posted at

2011-01-12T19:00:00

I love the clarity and sharpness of the photos. The negatives of this lens are it's heavy and slow to focus. Best used on a tripod.

Linda U.