Sony today (9/22) announced in Taiwan two new G Master super-telephoto prime lenses: the FE 400mm F4.5 GM OSS and FE 600mm F6.3 GM OSS. The most appealing aspect of these two lenses is their weight: only 994g and 995g respectively, both under one kilogram, making them the world’s lightest lenses in their respective classes. For wildlife and sports photographers, this means the 400mm and 600mm big guns that previously required a tripod or monopod for extended use can now be easily carried and shot handheld. Sony has continued to push lightweighting in super-telephoto lenses in recent years, and these two new lenses truly bring “handheld super-telephoto” to a new level of practicality.
Lightweight lens design: center of gravity close to the camera body for more stable handheld focus tracking.
FE 400mm F4.5 GM OSS weighs approximately 994g, and FE 600mm F6.3 GM OSS weighs approximately 995g. Both have a maximum diameter of 108mm, and their lengths are 242mm and 263mm respectively. Although the 600mm version has a longer focal length and more optical elements, it weighs only 1 gram more than the 400mm version.
The key design is shifting the lens’s center of gravity toward the camera body. This stabilizes composition and lets photographers pan more smoothly when tracking birds in flight or athletes moving at high speed on the field. In environments where setting up a tripod is difficult, or in situations that require long periods of handheld waiting for the decisive moment, this design difference translates directly into a higher shooting success rate.
G Master optical quality: three Super ED lens elements + Nano AR Coating II
Both lenses use the advanced optical design of the G Master series. The FE 400mm F4.5 GM OSS has a 16-group, 22-element construction, while the FE 600mm F6.3 GM OSS has a 17-group, 24-element construction; the latter mainly adds more optical elements near the mount to achieve a longer focal length. Both are equipped with three Super ED (extra-low dispersion) elements and one ED element, effectively suppressing chromatic aberration and other optical aberrations commonly seen in super-telephoto focal lengths and achieving high resolving power from center to edge.
In terms of coating, it features Sony’s exclusive Nano AR Coating II anti-reflective nano coating, which significantly reduces ghosting and flare even in backlit conditions. For bokeh performance, both lenses are equipped with 11 circular aperture blades and have spherical aberration precisely tuned during design and manufacturing, balancing delicate rendering of the subject with the smooth, soft bokeh characteristic of G Master.
High-speed autofocus + optical image stabilization: full support for Alpha 9 III 120fps continuous shooting
For autofocus, both lenses are equipped with dual XD (extreme dynamic) linear motors, combined with dedicated optimized control algorithms to deliver fast, precise, and quiet focusing performance. When paired with the Alpha 9 III, they fully support high-speed continuous shooting at up to 120 frames per second while continuously performing AF/AE tracking. For photographers who need to capture the moment a bird takes off or an athlete’s key action, the responsiveness of this combination is critical.
Both lenses feature built-in optical image stabilization and support Active Mode stabilization that works in tandem with the camera, further reducing image blur during handheld shooting. They also support in-camera breathing compensation when recording video, which corrects changes in angle of view caused by shifts in focus position.
Teleconverter Extension: Up to 1200mm
With an optional Sony-compatible teleconverter, the FE 400mm F4.5 GM OSS can extend up to 800mm (with a 2x teleconverter), while the FE 600mm F6.3 GM OSS can reach 1200mm (with a 2x teleconverter, with the aperture becoming F13). For applications such as birdwatching or aviation photography that require extreme telephoto focal lengths, a lens weighing less than one kilogram paired with a teleconverter can achieve a 1200mm focal length—a lightweight setup that would have been unimaginable in the past.
Control Configuration and Protection Design
Both lenses feature four customizable focus hold buttons and come with a function ring, focus range limiter, full-time DMF switch, focus mode switch, and image stabilization mode switch, allowing intuitive operation to suit different shooting needs. DCFever notes that the function ring lets photographers use muscle memory to instantly switch between APS-C crop, focus preset, or tracking focus mode, greatly improving the success rate in real-world shooting.
In terms of protection, both lenses feature a dust- and drip-resistant design, and the front lens element has a fluorine coating to reduce dirt adhesion, making them suitable for use in harsh outdoor environments.
Taiwan pricing and release information
The FE 400mm F4.5 GM OSS and FE 600mm F6.3 GM OSS will officially launch in Taiwan on October 2, 2026, with suggested retail prices of NT$82,980 and NT$115,980 respectively. Preorders open today, and purchases through all channels until November 29, 2026, with product registration completed by December 6, will receive the Alpha Photography Companion Gift (genuine leather memory card case, microfiber cleaning cloth, brand metal badge) and a six-month extended warranty (24+6 months of warranty total).
In addition, Sony will set up a booth at the Taipei Photography Equipment and Audiovisual Creation Equipment Exhibition from October 2 to October 5, 2026, allowing the public to experience firsthand the lightweight design and focusing performance of the two new lenses.
Specifications Comparison
- FE 400mm F4.5 GM OSS（SEL400F45GM）Focal length 400mm / Aperture F4.5 / 16 groups / 22 elements / Minimum focus distance 2.5m / Magnification 0.18x / Dimensions Φ108×242mm / Weight 994g / Suggested retail price NT$82,980
- FE 600mm F6.3 GM OSS（SEL600F63GM）: Focal length 600mm / Aperture F6.3 / 17 groups, 24 elements / Minimum focus distance 2.5m / Magnification 0.25x / Dimensions Φ108×263mm / Weight 995g / Suggested retail price NT$115,980
Source: KOCPC Chinese