p.18 #2 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
Barely enough light to shoot - most of the images were blurred, until I realized the IS had been turned off... but at least this little guy was kind enough to pose for few moments.
p.18 #3 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
Cliff L. wrote:
Barely enough light to shoot - most of the images were blurred, until I realized the IS had been turned off... but at least this little guy was kind enough to pose for few moments.
Wow wow wow, Cliff! 1/50 second and ISO 12800!! I wouldn't even attempt to try.
p.18 #6 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
I picked up a slightly used 400-800mm a couple weeks ago. Got it out in the field for the first time up in Washington's Skagit valley yesterday. We went for a nice walk on the dykes at Wiley Slough and had some nice light. The lens worked flawlessly.
p.18 #8 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
Peire wrote:
Douglas,do you still keep Sony 200-600G?
I sold my 200-600 after I bought the 400-800, but bought one back recently as I will be trying to learn to shoot some videos of birds and airplanes, the 200-600 is probably a more suitable lens for video. I will be using a dual gimbal setup to shoot video and still photo simultaneously, with one A1II+400-800 for still photos, and another A1II+200-600 for 4K videos, something like this picture. How to make the two cameras focus on the same subject will be very tricky.
p.18 #9 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
Douglas L wrote:
I sold my 200-600 after I bought the 400-800, but bought one back recently as I will be trying to learn to shoot some videos of birds and airplanes, the 200-600 is probably a more suitable lens for video. I will be using a dual gimbal setup to shoot video and still photo simultaneously, with one A1II+400-800 for still photos, and another A1II+200-600 for 4K videos, something like this picture. How to make the two cameras focus on the same subject will be very tricky.
So for stills 400-800 replaced 200-600 somehow.Thank you.
p.18 #10 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
Douglas L wrote:
I sold my 200-600 after I bought the 400-800, but bought one back recently as I will be trying to learn to shoot some videos of birds and airplanes, the 200-600 is probably a more suitable lens for video. I will be using a dual gimbal setup to shoot video and still photo simultaneously, with one A1II+400-800 for still photos, and another A1II+200-600 for 4K videos, something like this picture. How to make the two cameras focus on the same subject will be very tricky.
Interesting setup Douglas!
For planes, I would imagine once you hit record on the video cam, it’ll focus on whatever’s in the frame
Parallax may become an issue the closer the plane comes to you though. As the two cameras need to be toed in slightly for them both to be pointed at the plane. I think if you leave the video cam at a wider focal length it may help to keep the subject in frame though
Looks very interesting! I look forward to hearing how it goes
p.18 #11 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
Peire wrote:
So for stills 400-800 replaced 200-600 somehow.Thank you.
Yes, the 400-800 pretty much replaces the 200-600 for still. I have not taken one single picture with the 200-600 that I bought back several months ago. I will try it for video in late March or mid April. The 400-800 feels quite a bit heavier, even though it doesn't really weigh much more. The 300 GM+2x TC is fantastic but it tops out at 600mm. The 600 GM+1.4X TC is fantastic as well but it's bulky and kind of heavy too. The 400-800 is fantastic but it's F8... I pick the lens depending on the subject/distance.
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robert614 wrote:
Interesting setup Douglas!
For planes, I would imagine once you hit record on the video cam, it’ll focus on whatever’s in the frame
Parallax may become an issue the closer the plane comes to you though. As the two cameras need to be toed in slightly for them both to be pointed at the plane. I think if you leave the video cam at a wider focal length it may help to keep the subject in frame though
Looks very interesting! I look forward to hearing how it goes
Hi Robert, with the dual gimbal head, the angle of the cameras can be adjusted horizontally to enable the two camera to point at the same spot like the center of an "X", without the adjustment, the two cameras would point parallelly to each other like "II". With the two cameras adjusted to point like an "X", I think it will get very tricky if the subject flies in the lower half of the "X". I have seen several guys using dual setup like that to shoot video and still photo of bald eagles.
I know very little about shooting videos with cameras. I have talked to a friend who uses similar dual setups, and did quite a bit of digging in ChatGPT (I just started using ChatGPT about a week ago). Of course, I can't trust everything ChatGPT comes up with 100%. According to my friend and ChapGPT, with the A1II, if I record 4K 60P video to an external recorder like the Atomos Ninja that I just bought, I can take still photo simultaneously. But the problem is, the still photo's shutter speed has to be the same at the video's shutter speed, or it will cause some issues. If I shoot 4K 60P at 1/120 second shutter speed, the shutter speed for still photo better be the same. It should work perfectly for propeller planes but won't work for jets or birds which require higher shutter speed. So, If I need to have different shutter speed for video and still, or shoot 4K 120P, I still need two cameras, one is dedicated to shooting video, the other for still photos. I believe the biggest challenge is making the two cameras focus on the same thing in the ideal position in the frame. My plan is to use the longer lens for still and the wider lens for video, as you suggested. Will find out in a month or two.
p.18 #12 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
Douglas L wrote:
Yes, the 400-800 pretty much replaces the 200-600 for still. I have not taken one single picture with the 200-600 that I bought back several months ago. I will try it for video in late March or mid April. The 400-800 feels quite a bit heavier, even though it doesn't really weigh much more. The 300 GM+2x TC is fantastic but it tops out at 600mm. The 600 GM+1.4X TC is fantastic as well but it's bulky and kind of heavy too. The 400-800 is fantastic but it's F8... I pick the lens depending on the subject/distance.
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Hi Robert, with the dual gimbal head, the angle of the cameras can be adjusted horizontally to enable the two camera to point at the same spot like the center of an "X", without the adjustment, the two cameras would point parallelly to each other like "II". With the two cameras adjusted to point like an "X", I think it will get very tricky if the subject flies in the lower half of the "X". I have seen several guys using dual setup like that to shoot video and still photo of bald eagles.
I know very little about shooting videos with cameras. I have talked to a friend who uses similar dual setups, and did quite a bit of digging in ChatGPT (I just started using ChatGPT about a week ago). Of course, I can't trust everything ChatGPT comes up with 100%. According to my friend and ChapGPT, with the A1II, if I record 4K 60P video to an external recorder like the Atomos Ninja that I just bought, I can take still photo simultaneously. But the problem is, the still photo's shutter speed has to be the same at the video's shutter speed, or it will cause some issues. If I shoot 4K 60P at 1/120 second shutter speed, the shutter speed for still photo better be the same. It should work perfectly for propeller planes but won't work for jets or birds which require higher shutter speed. So, If I need to have different shutter speed for video and still, or shoot 4K 120P, I still need two cameras, one is dedicated to shooting video, the other for still photos. I believe the biggest challenge is making the two cameras focus on the same thing in the ideal position in the frame. My plan is to use the longer lens for still and the wider lens for video, as you suggested. Will find out in a month or two.
A few shots with the 400-800 this morning....Show more →
Nice shots Douglas!
Looking forward to hearing how the dual setup works out. Keep us posted!
p.18 #15 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
dolina wrote:
Awesome images everyone.
A question, who here replaced their Sony 200-600mm to a 400-800mm because they found themselves using 600mm nearly 100% of the time?
I sold my 200-600 as soon as I bought the 400-800 last year. It's my airshow lens, I can use 800mm more than 200mm. But I am starting to learn to shoot some videos, so I recently bought back a 200-600 for that. From what I read, the focal range of the 200-600 is more suitable for video than the 400-800, don't ask me why. I am keeping the 400-800 for still photos.
p.18 #17 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
dolina wrote:
Awesome images everyone.
A question, who here replaced their Sony 200-600mm to a 400-800mm because they found themselves using 600mm nearly 100% of the time?
That is me, my 200-600 might as well have been a 600 I bet 97% of the time I was shooting at 600 trying to twist the ring for more reach. Found myself at times using crop mode for more reach with the 200-600. The 400-800 is a big help, now if I go crop mode I have even more reach, I primarily shoot small birds so reach is beneficial for sure.
What I miss about the 200-600 is the short throw on the zoom ring, but leaving the 400-800 set for 600 then zooming to 800 is a good compromise for faster acquisition of subject then zoom tighter. For me the weight difference is not really any strain, the lens to me seems to be faster focusing as well.
p.18 #18 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
dolina wrote:
Awesome images everyone.
A question, who here replaced their Sony 200-600mm to a 400-800mm because they found themselves using 600mm nearly 100% of the time?
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Douglas L wrote:
I sold my 200-600 as soon as I bought the 400-800 last year. It's my airshow lens, I can use 800mm more than 200mm. But I am starting to learn to shoot some videos, so I recently bought back a 200-600 for that. From what I read, the focal range of the 200-600 is more suitable for video than the 400-800, don't ask me why. I am keeping the 400-800 for still photos.
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Karl Witt wrote:
That is me, my 200-600 might as well have been a 600 I bet 97% of the time I was shooting at 600 trying to twist the ring for more reach. Found myself at times using crop mode for more reach with the 200-600. The 400-800 is a big help, now if I go crop mode I have even more reach, I primarily shoot small birds so reach is beneficial for sure.
What I miss about the 200-600 is the short throw on the zoom ring, but leaving the 400-800 set for 600 then zooming to 800 is a good compromise for faster acquisition of subject then zoom tighter. For me the weight difference is not really any strain, the lens to me seems to be faster focusing as well.
I'm following this discussion closely, as 99.5% of my shots with the 200-600 are at 600, so the extra reach would be hugely beneficial. On the other hand, it's been cloudy/dark this winter & I've found myself short of photons most of the time I've been out, and that's made me look at the conversations here about the 300 + 2X TC. That extra stop or so might be more useful to me than reach. On the other hand, I do shoot more in the summer, with more light. So, which way I go may end up depending on whether I make the decision in summer or winter.
Question: can anyone comment on the relative bokeh properties? For samples I've seen here, the bokeh looks a bit more structured for the 400-800 (as it is with the 200-600), and the 300X2 appears smoother, but that may also be a function of how the different folks here frame & process images, so informed comments are welcome.
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p.18 #19 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
I'm following this discussion closely, as 99.5% of my shots with the 200-600 are at 600, so the extra reach would be hugely beneficial. On the other hand, it's been cloudy/dark this winter & I've found myself short of photons most of the time I've been out, and that's made me look at the conversations here about the 300 + 2X TC. That extra stop or so might be more useful to me than reach. On the other hand, I do shoot more in the summer, with more light. So, which way I go may end up depending on whether I make the decision in summer or winter.
Question: can anyone comment on the relative bokeh properties? For samples I've seen here, the bokeh looks a bit more structured for the 400-800 (as it is with the 200-600), and the 300X2 appears smoother, but that may also be a function of how the different folks here frame & process images, so informed comments are welcome. ...Show more →
The 300 GM at 600mm (i.e., with the 2X TC), which is what you say you are at almost all the time is an f/5.6 lens. That is just a third of a stop more light than the 200-600 at 600mm. If you want the smaller size or the faster focussing the 300 GM could make a lot of sense, but it isn't going to bring you a lot more light. For that you will need the 600 f/4 GM.
Also note if you need/would use 800mm the 400-800 also gets you about a third of a stop more light than the 200-600. The 200-600 with the 1.4X TC gets you to about 800mm but at f/9 instead of f/8. That is also a third of a stop. Again, if you want significantly more light the 600 f/4 GM with the 1.4X TC will give you a lot more light as it will be a little over 800mm and f/5.6. There really is no substitute for a big opening/front element of a lens when you want more light.
p.18 #20 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
I own all the above lenses, and surprisingly, the 400/800 is my favorite for birds. I thought the darkness would be a no-go, but it hasn't been a problem. The 300 is my next favorite. I am getting too old to comfortably take out the 400f2.8 or 600f4.
I wouldn't even attempt to try. 
I bet 97% of the time I was shooting at 600 trying to twist the ring for more reach. Found myself at times using crop mode for more reach with the 200-600. The 400-800 is a big help, now if I go crop mode I have even more reach, I primarily shoot small birds so reach is beneficial for sure.
