Good day gentlemen, I have the Sony A1 and both 600mm and 300mm. I'm a hummingbird photographer, and 99% prior to the 300mm, I shot with the 600mm. I received my 300mm on the release date and used this lens around my house. I was amazed! Since then, I have been to Colombia, where 98% of the time, I shot with 300mm and the 1.4 and 2x teleconverter. It was amazing to fill the frame with the hummingbird and how free I felt moving around. The 600mm is one amazing lens for larger or out-of-reach subjects. For instance, I used the 600mm for the Buffy Helmetcrest, which was a bit of distance. I even added the 2x converter as the Buffy was perched so I wasn't worried about flight shots and hunting for the hummer in my viewfinder. The 300mm with the teleconverters is my new favorite combo. the details are razor-sharp, and the bird AF is quick and on point. Highly recommend. I will keep and still take my 600mm as sometimes you need to photograph those shy birds that tend to go out of reach and when you need that power.
Such a good review.Thank you very much!Just bought mine 300 mm and i do not regret it a second.Please do more videos like this.Or maybe a setting tutorial for wildlife.Thanks and keep up the good work!
I’ve been shooting with the A9 III and 300 GM combo with both TCs for over a month and love it! The IQ is excellent and the lightness of the combo a huge plus when you’re out in the field. The flexibility and freedom you have with this setup is unmatched. Simply superb! 👍🏻
I have just joined you in this combo traded in the A1 such a good deal at Castle Cameras . I was going for this combo when the A9III came out but resisted until Jonathan came along with his . I will reveal my reasons for purchase in due course. See if you agree with Jonathan on Sunday when he gives his thoughts on the A1 v A9III he has both ! 🤔🙂
This information with specifically the TC feedback is exactly what I've been desperately looking for and needing to know. That's it, you've sold me on a 300 with both TCs. Thank you!!
I was very close to buy the Sony 300mm 2.8 GM Lens wit 1.4x and 2x Teleconverters, but then the excellent Sigma 500mm 5.6 DG DN OS Sports 024 Lens was announced, I ordered it at once and I was one of the first to get the Sigma 500mm which I am very happy to use and I can highly recommend it !
@@CamillaI What I have learned from 45 years of nature photography and hiking in the field are that compact gear, light weight is the most important, TS´s is not that "flexible" if you are in a hurry and have the wrong or no TC mounted, so rather a 500mm than a 300mm with TC´s ! I only use 61 megapixels Cameras, so I really do not need TC´s.
@@cameraprepper7938 Here in lies the problem with sony 3 great primes .2 really out the price for most and the 300mm really to short for birding ok you slap on your 2x but you know in your heart you want to use the the bare lens even though it is only telephoto i know that likes a 2x t/c .the sigma would be perfect choice if it were not for sonys limitations ,we need canon to open mount and put pressures on sony,Nikon has the wildlife lens sewn up with its primes and zooms
Really appreciated the observations in this video, especially the comparison to the 400 2.8 & use with teleconverters. Picking up on Jonathan’s comment about Africa & taking the 600/4 & 300/2.8 as a combo, & the general comments about the 300/2.8 being so good partly due to its weight…..I couldn’t help but think that for the price of the 600/4, you could get two 300/2.8’s & have the 2x on one on them…..& have a much lighter combo. Also, very interesting & appreciated comments re most of your long end shooting being at 600, partly due to difficulties in keeping subject in frame at greater focal lengths, and partly due to atmospheric effects progressively impacting results as you use longer focal lengths & shoot through more atmosphere. I’ve lusted after a super tele since my Canon days, but could never decide which to get, and struggled to justify the purchase, so I never purchased one. I pretty much concluded that the 400/2.8 was the ‘optimal’ option for me (on the Canon), because it was the longest 2.8 which I could mate with 1.4 & 2x converters, and I had the 70-200/2.8 to cover below 400mm (with maybe 1.4x converter)….the 300mm didn’t feel like it gave me a big enough step up from the 70-200/2.8 natively. So, yeah, very interesting to hear that the Sony 400/2.8 doesn’t play so well with the converters.
Excellent video thank you , I was really looking into the 300mm f2.8 but when you said there’s no pre focus button 🤦♂️. This is a feature I really wanted and one of the main features I miss with my 200-600 . For birds in reeds , branches etc this feature is great if your focus jumps to the background so this gives you instant ability to bring it back to the foreground. This does not happen all the time but occasional problem plagued with all the mirrorless I’ve tried . The latest A1 fw adds the feature but only with compatible lenses . I’ll have to check this out , it doesn’t work with the 200-600 .
300 f2.8 always a winning combination, this ultra light Sony just takes it to another level, presumably the optics are outstanding! Don't forget you can put a 1.4 TC on a 600mm to give 840mm f5.6 you can't get that with the 300,mm unless you move to crop sensor apsc camera body! As you guys know a zoom can often save the day, Imagine if Sony made an ultra high quality 200-600 mm F5.6 maybe at twice the price of the original, if it was ultra sharp and as light as possible I reckon it could be worthy of consideration!
Yes this is a real winning combination the lightest 300mm with the TC's working so well making a 420 f4 & 600mm f5.6 amazing. However I will be keeping the 600mm f4 for a 840mm f5.6 & 1200mm F8 when it is possible to use 🙂
I would love to see a 100-500mm gmaster, as long as it's slighter better than Canon's, either being lighter or brighter than F7.1. They probably will just bring out a Mk2 of 100-400mm gm. Otherwise for primes I would love to see a 600mm F5.6, or 800mm F6.3. I want the sigma 500mm F5.6, but frame rate and TC limitations are a deal breaker so I'm just waiting for Sony to being something out with more reach than the 300mm F2.8.l
surprised the 400mm f2.8 performs so badly with t/c ,i always wanted one i have tried and used one for an hour ,the focus was slower than my 70-200mm gm mk2 which really surprised me but a definite no go if it plays poorly with t/c .
I had to decide between the 400mm & 600mm and I was very pleased I opted for the 600mm that performs very well with TC's too. Apparently the f2.8 bokeh is very good though with the 400. Jonathan says that is the best of the three long primes for bokeh 🤔
This 300 made me stop using everything else. For a while, I was using it with the A7cR, then some newly used A9iii bodies were showing up. I then sold my R3 as I was never going to get the 100-300. The flexibility of that lens is nice but the weight and price is not. I can say I made the right decision. I do prefer the A9iii over the Canon and mainly because of the lenses. Even the Sony 70-200 f4 II macro G lens is much better than the RF 70-200 f4. I will get the 2.8 again one day as well as the A1II to go alongside the A7cr and a9iii, but I’m very happy where I’m at with it. I’ve been using the 300 a lot and can’t stop using it. So I don’t have much need for anything else.
Well don't tell anyone but I have just swapped my A1 for an A9III and it is insane. Beats the A1 on everything except on the mp front . I too am getting ready for the A1 mark 2 . Using the new Tech on the A9III. The 300mm combined with the A9III is just insane as long as your subject is in range, ie under 600mm and you are not doing massive crops. 🤔👌🙂
@@CamillaI agreed. I haven’t shot any birds with it yet but I shot a marathon, aerial event and soccer and it’s insane the certain shots you can achieve with pre capture and up to 120 fps. But then going through over 5000 images…
Good day gentlemen, I have the Sony A1 and both 600mm and 300mm. I'm a hummingbird photographer, and 99% prior to the 300mm, I shot with the 600mm. I received my 300mm on the release date and used this lens around my house. I was amazed! Since then, I have been to Colombia, where 98% of the time, I shot with 300mm and the 1.4 and 2x teleconverter. It was amazing to fill the frame with the hummingbird and how free I felt moving around. The 600mm is one amazing lens for larger or out-of-reach subjects. For instance, I used the 600mm for the Buffy Helmetcrest, which was a bit of distance. I even added the 2x converter as the Buffy was perched so I wasn't worried about flight shots and hunting for the hummer in my viewfinder. The 300mm with the teleconverters is my new favorite combo. the details are razor-sharp, and the bird AF is quick and on point. Highly recommend. I will keep and still take my 600mm as sometimes you need to photograph those shy birds that tend to go out of reach and when you need that power.
Yes thanks for sharing . You seem to be backing up my initial thoughts on this Combo . An Amazing lens 👍
Such a good review.Thank you very much!Just bought mine 300 mm and i do not regret it a second.Please do more videos like this.Or maybe a setting tutorial for wildlife.Thanks and keep up the good work!
I am currently working on a video comparing the Sony 300mm f2.8 with TC's v the Sony 600mm f4 👌
I’ve been shooting with the A9 III and 300 GM combo with both TCs for over a month and love it! The IQ is excellent and the lightness of the combo a huge plus when you’re out in the field. The flexibility and freedom you have with this setup is unmatched. Simply superb! 👍🏻
I have just joined you in this combo traded in the A1 such a good deal at Castle Cameras . I was going for this combo when the A9III came out but resisted until Jonathan came along with his . I will reveal my reasons for purchase in due course. See if you agree with Jonathan on Sunday when he gives his thoughts on the A1 v A9III he has both ! 🤔🙂
This information with specifically the TC feedback is exactly what I've been desperately looking for and needing to know. That's it, you've sold me on a 300 with both TCs. Thank you!!
Going by the results so far I will be using the 300mm & TC's most of the time in future. Awesome 👍
@@CamillaI earned my sub! Cheers from the USA!
@@TommyPanigale Thank you 👍
I was very close to buy the Sony 300mm 2.8 GM Lens wit 1.4x and 2x Teleconverters, but then the excellent Sigma 500mm 5.6 DG DN OS Sports 024 Lens was announced, I ordered it at once and I was one of the first to get the Sigma 500mm which I am very happy to use and I can highly recommend it !
Yes it is an excellent cheaper Alternative . Not as flexible without TC"s but a very sharp option 👍
@@CamillaI What I have learned from 45 years of nature photography and hiking in the field are that compact gear, light weight is the most important, TS´s is not that "flexible" if you are in a hurry and have the wrong or no TC mounted, so rather a 500mm than a 300mm with TC´s ! I only use 61 megapixels Cameras, so I really do not need TC´s.
@@cameraprepper7938 Here in lies the problem with sony 3 great primes .2 really out the price for most and the 300mm really to short for birding ok you slap on your 2x but you know in your heart you want to use the the bare lens even though it is only telephoto i know that likes a 2x t/c .the sigma would be perfect choice if it were not for sonys limitations ,we need canon to open mount and put pressures on sony,Nikon has the wildlife lens sewn up with its primes and zooms
Really appreciated the observations in this video, especially the comparison to the 400 2.8 & use with teleconverters.
Picking up on Jonathan’s comment about Africa & taking the 600/4 & 300/2.8 as a combo, & the general comments about the 300/2.8 being so good partly due to its weight…..I couldn’t help but think that for the price of the 600/4, you could get two 300/2.8’s & have the 2x on one on them…..& have a much lighter combo.
Also, very interesting & appreciated comments re most of your long end shooting being at 600, partly due to difficulties in keeping subject in frame at greater focal lengths, and partly due to atmospheric effects progressively impacting results as you use longer focal lengths & shoot through more atmosphere.
I’ve lusted after a super tele since my Canon days, but could never decide which to get, and struggled to justify the purchase, so I never purchased one. I pretty much concluded that the 400/2.8 was the ‘optimal’ option for me (on the Canon), because it was the longest 2.8 which I could mate with 1.4 & 2x converters, and I had the 70-200/2.8 to cover below 400mm (with maybe 1.4x converter)….the 300mm didn’t feel like it gave me a big enough step up from the 70-200/2.8 natively. So, yeah, very interesting to hear that the Sony 400/2.8 doesn’t play so well with the converters.
Yes I thought the same on Safari take two 300mm, but the 600mm does give better low light performance 🤔
Excellent video thank you , I was really looking into the 300mm f2.8 but when you said there’s no pre focus button 🤦♂️. This is a feature I really wanted and one of the main features I miss with my 200-600 . For birds in reeds , branches etc this feature is great if your focus jumps to the background so this gives you instant ability to bring it back to the foreground. This does not happen all the time but occasional problem plagued with all the mirrorless I’ve tried . The latest A1 fw adds the feature but only with compatible lenses . I’ll have to check this out , it doesn’t work with the 200-600 .
Thank you. The direct manual focus is also very easy to override a miss focus on the lens Barrel👌
La fonction prefocus est disponible dans le menu de l A1 et de l A9III .Il est possible d assigné un bouton dédié
Merci Beaucoup 👍
300 f2.8 always a winning combination, this ultra light Sony just takes it to another level, presumably the optics are outstanding! Don't forget you can put a 1.4 TC on a 600mm to give 840mm f5.6 you can't get that with the 300,mm unless you move to crop sensor apsc camera body! As you guys know a zoom can often save the day, Imagine if Sony made an ultra high quality 200-600 mm F5.6 maybe at twice the price of the original, if it was ultra sharp and as light as possible I reckon it could be worthy of consideration!
Yes this is a real winning combination the lightest 300mm with the TC's working so well making a 420 f4 & 600mm f5.6 amazing. However I will be keeping the 600mm f4 for a 840mm f5.6 & 1200mm F8 when it is possible to use 🙂
I would love to see a 100-500mm gmaster, as long as it's slighter better than Canon's, either being lighter or brighter than F7.1. They probably will just bring out a Mk2 of 100-400mm gm. Otherwise for primes I would love to see a 600mm F5.6, or 800mm F6.3.
I want the sigma 500mm F5.6, but frame rate and TC limitations are a deal breaker so I'm just waiting for Sony to being something out with more reach than the 300mm F2.8.l
surprised the 400mm f2.8 performs so badly with t/c ,i always wanted one i have tried and used one for an hour ,the focus was slower than my 70-200mm gm mk2 which really surprised me but a definite no go if it plays poorly with t/c .
I had to decide between the 400mm & 600mm and I was very pleased I opted for the 600mm that performs very well with TC's too. Apparently the f2.8 bokeh is very good though with the 400. Jonathan says that is the best of the three long primes for bokeh 🤔
This 300 made me stop using everything else. For a while, I was using it with the A7cR, then some newly used A9iii bodies were showing up. I then sold my R3 as I was never going to get the 100-300. The flexibility of that lens is nice but the weight and price is not. I can say I made the right decision. I do prefer the A9iii over the Canon and mainly because of the lenses. Even the Sony 70-200 f4 II macro G lens is much better than the RF 70-200 f4. I will get the 2.8 again one day as well as the A1II to go alongside the A7cr and a9iii, but I’m very happy where I’m at with it. I’ve been using the 300 a lot and can’t stop using it. So I don’t have much need for anything else.
Well don't tell anyone but I have just swapped my A1 for an A9III and it is insane. Beats the A1 on everything except on the mp front . I too am getting ready for the A1 mark 2 . Using the new Tech on the A9III. The 300mm combined with the A9III is just insane as long as your subject is in range, ie under 600mm and you are not doing massive crops. 🤔👌🙂
@@CamillaI agreed. I haven’t shot any birds with it yet but I shot a marathon, aerial event and soccer and it’s insane the certain shots you can achieve with pre capture and up to 120 fps. But then going through over 5000 images…
@@davetv8171 You need photo mechanic or Duade down under just showed some free software on his latest video amazing
@@CamillaI I’ll check it out
Why not just use a Sony arc so you can shoot 300 or 420 by just using the crop mod then you’ll have 420 and still 2.8
Sony ARV
Yes it is certainly possible to do that, but you lose overall frame size and can crop to gain the same effect with FF👌