Should I buy the 70-200mm

[Tinopener]

Hi all I have a Sony 200-600mm lens and was toying with the idea of purchasing the Sony 70-200mm is this a good idea the 200-600 is a big lens to cart around the streets ideal for the country shooting wildlife just wondered if anybody has any views ...Thank you Gary

 

[Angus Cameron]

I think it depends on what you intend to shoot, the budget you have, what other lenses you have and want.

For instance the FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II is a chunk of change and an amazing lens, however, for similar money you could get a FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II and a FE 20-70mm F4 G. Both are very good lenses.

 

[TerryL]

If I could afford it today, I would buy it in a heartbeat. I’ve heard that it is an amazing lens.

 

[iain clyne]

I’ve got both the 200-600 and the 70-200 f2.8 and use both. The 70-200 take TC’s well.

 

[AlphaWorld]

Hi all I have a Sony 200-600mm lens and was toying with the idea of purchasing the Sony 70-200mm is this a good idea the 200-600 is a big lens to cart around the streets ideal for the country shooting wildlife just wondered if anybody has any views ...Thank you Gary

There are two 70-200mm lenses to consider, and they have distinct advantages (I am talking about the Mark II versions).

70-200mm f/2.8 GM II - fixed length (like the 200-600 - does not change length with zoom or focus) - lightest f/2.8 full frame 70-200 (1.05kg). Very sharp, even wide open. Works well with 1.4x, and not bad with 2x. I carry this lens when the 200-600 is too much to carry, and I want a bit more flexibility than the 300mm GM.

70-200mm f/4 G II - lighter still, and considerably smaller at 70mm, but gets longer going to 200mm (about the same length as the GM II at 20mm). Supports 0.5 macro as-is, going to 0.7 macro with the 1.4x, and full 1.0 macro with the 2x - with the 2x you have a 1:1 macro from 140mm to 400mm.

Pretty sure I have forgotten some of the features, but that will give you an idea of the choice.

The older 70-200mm f/4 does not take teleconverters.
The older 70-200mm f/2.8 has some design issues (the Lens Rentals blog has a tear down of one, and it convinced me that I didn’t want to buy one!) - the new one has no such issues.

 

[Soundmike]

Where this lens does come into it's own is in the gloomy world of woods and forest areas, picking out a bird on a branch at 10pm on a summer's evening.

 

[MikeWPM]

It is a lovely lens, examples cropped 100%+ on a A7IV

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

Yes, and give it to me