Description
G Master Super-Telephoto Reach in a Lightweight Design
The Sony FE 400mm F4.5 GM OSS Lens combines exceptional G Master optical performance with a remarkably compact and lightweight design. Built for Sony E-mount full-frame cameras, this super-telephoto prime delivers a powerful 400mm focal length, fast f/4.5 aperture, responsive autofocus, and Optical SteadyShot image stabilization in a lens weighing just 994 g. Whether you are photographing wildlife, birds, sports, motorsport, aviation, or other distant subjects, the FE 400mm F4.5 GM OSS provides the reach and responsiveness required for demanding shooting situations.
Lightweight Design for Handheld Super-Telephoto Shooting
Super-telephoto lenses are traditionally associated with considerable size and weight, but the FE 400mm F4.5 GM OSS is designed specifically to make 400mm handheld photography more practical. Weighing approximately 994 g (35.1 oz.) and measuring just 242 mm in length, the lens provides an excellent balance between reach, aperture, and portability.
Its compact construction and carefully positioned center of gravity help keep the lens well balanced when mounted to a compatible Sony Alpha camera. This makes it easier to track wildlife, follow athletes, or compose distant subjects without being restricted to a tripod or monopod. The removable and rotating tripod collar can also be detached when maximum portability is required.
G Master Optical Performance and Exceptional Detail
The FE 400mm F4.5 GM OSS features a sophisticated optical design consisting of 22 elements in 16 groups, including Super ED and ED glass elements to suppress chromatic aberration and maintain high levels of sharpness across the image frame.
Sony’s Nano AR Coating II helps reduce flare and ghosting, preserving contrast and colour when shooting in challenging lighting conditions, including backlit outdoor scenes. Combined with the lens’s high-resolution G Master design, the optical system is well suited to subjects where fine detail and cropping flexibility are important.
Fast f/4.5 Aperture and Smooth Background Separation
The maximum f/4.5 aperture provides a useful balance between light-gathering capability, portability, and subject isolation. At 400mm, the lens naturally compresses perspective and helps separate distant subjects from their backgrounds, while the rounded 11-blade diaphragm contributes to smooth, natural-looking bokeh.
This combination is particularly effective for wildlife and bird photography, where a soft background can help isolate a subject from busy surroundings. It is equally useful for sports, motorsport, aviation, and other applications where strong subject separation is desirable.
Fast, Precise Autofocus for Wildlife and Sports
The FE 400mm F4.5 GM OSS uses dual XD (Extreme Dynamic) Linear Motors to drive its focusing system with speed, precision, and low operating noise. The internal focusing design helps maintain the lens’s compact physical length while supporting responsive autofocus performance.
On compatible Sony cameras, the lens supports continuous autofocus and high-speed continuous shooting capabilities, including cameras capable of shooting up to 120 frames per second. This makes the lens particularly well suited to rapidly changing action, including birds in flight, athletes, motorsport, and other unpredictable subjects.
Optical SteadyShot for Stable Handheld Shooting
At a 400mm focal length, camera movement can become particularly noticeable, especially when shooting handheld. Sony’s Optical SteadyShot (OSS) image stabilization system helps compensate for camera shake to produce sharper images and more stable framing.
The lens provides selectable stabilization modes designed for different shooting situations, including standard stabilization and modes optimized for panning and moving subjects. This gives photographers greater control when following wildlife or tracking fast-moving sports action.
Built for Challenging Outdoor Conditions
Wildlife, sports, and outdoor photography can expose equipment to dust, moisture, and changing weather conditions. The FE 400mm F4.5 GM OSS features a dust- and moisture-resistant design with sealing around the lens structure and a rubber sealing ring around the mount.
The front element also features a fluorine coating that helps repel water, oil, and other contaminants while making the surface easier to clean. A 95mm front filter thread provides compatibility with a wide range of screw-in filters.
Extend Your Reach with Sony Teleconverters
For subjects that demand even greater reach, the FE 400mm F4.5 GM OSS is compatible with Sony’s optional 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters.
Adding the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter SEL14TC converts the lens into a 560mm f/6.3 combination, while the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter SEL20TC extends the effective focal length to 800mm at f/8. Both configurations retain autofocus and auto-exposure functionality, providing additional flexibility for distant wildlife, birds, sports, and aviation photography.
