Since its launch in 2013, Sony's mirrorless technology has evolved greatly. A wide range of lenses are available from both first and third parties, such as ultra-wide-angle and macro primes and fast primes. There is also a variety of manual focus options. The FE 24-240mm F3.5–6.3 OSS is the most telephoto-friendly option at this time. Although it has a wider coverage, the FE 70-30mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS (1,199.99) increases that range. This is a great performer and a good choice to cover wildlife and sports using the Sony system.
Related Reading: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24mm f/1.8G ED Review
Design
Although the 70-300mm is quite heavy, it's still a good size for a full-frame telezoom. When set at 70mm, it measures approximately 5.7x3.3inches (HD), and weighs in at 1.9lbs. It also supports 72mm front filters. The barrel extends as you zoom in, and there is a switch to prevent it from slipping out of place when your lens hangs downward. It also includes a reversible lens cover.
The 70-300mm, like the premium APS-C Alpha 7 series and premium APS-C Alpha 6,300 and 6500 models is protected against moisture and dust. The 70-300mm is optically stabilized, providing steady shots with bodies without sensor-based stabilization. It can also work in tandem with internal stabilized cameras for additional steadying.
On the barrel, there are several toggle switches as well as a button to control it. You can activate Focus Hold by pressing the button. This allows you to lock focus and then recompose the shot. The lens can be left to hunt across its full range or attempt to focus on distant objects (from 3 meters to infinity). This will allow you to speed up target acquisition for subjects shot at distances and stop objects from slipping off the track if they are closer.
Even at 300mm, close focus can be achieved up to 295 feet (9.9-meter) away. The lens has a maximum macro magnification of 1:3 when zoomed in all the way. Subjects are projected onto the sensor at one third size. This gives the lens some versatility. Even though the maximum aperture of the lens is only f/5.6, it produces sharp images when the minimum focus distance is reached.
The barrel's zoom ring is located behind the front element. It occupies an extensive area of the barrel. The textured rubber finish gives it a swathe of barrel. It has markings at 70, 100 and 135, 130, 200 and 300 mm. It is surrounded by the manual focus ring. The ring is narrower and has a rubber texture to improve gripping. Manual focus, like almost all Sony lenses, is electronic. Although it is not the best choice for those who want tactile feedback from a manual focus system with mechanical controls, this lens will be more popular among autofocus users.
Related Reading: Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art Review
Image quality
The 70-300mm was tested with the 42MP Alpha7R II at Dell ($1,799.99). It scores 3,848 lines per picture on Imatest's standard center-weighted method at 70mm f/4.5, which is an outstanding result. The frame performs very evenly across its dimensions, with edges and mid-sections scoring more than 3,700 lines. We want 2,200 lines when looking at photographs from high-resolution bodies like the 7R II. This type of resolution power will allow you to see crisp details, even when cropping or printing large prints.
As you slow down, there is an increase infidelity. The score rises to 4,159 lines at f/4.5. At f/8, it reaches 4,176 lines and peak at f/11 (4.227 lines). Image quality is affected at f/16 (3.915 lines), but it's more noticeable at f/22 (2.804 lines).
The maximum aperture at 135mm has been reduced to f/5. At 4,048 lines, image quality is excellent. At f/5.6 it is stable and increases at f/8 (4.232 lines) or f/11 (4.240 lines). A slight decrease is seen at f/16 (3.937 lines), and an even more dramatic one at f/22 (2.961 lines).
At 200mm the maximum f-stop of the lens is f/5.6. This means that it loses some sharpness. It still has 3,393 lines and good performance throughout the entire frame. The edges are moving towards the soft side at 2,478 lines.
This can cause problems if you make large enlargements but it isn't a problem in most cases. You can stop down to f/8 if edge quality is more important—the average score jumps to 3,779 lines and edges show 3,141 lines. The image quality is strong at f/11 (3920 lines), f/16 (3866 lines), but diffraction starts to show its ugly head at the f/22 (2 857 lines).
The 300mm f/5.6 lens performs just as well wide open as at 70mm. This averages 3,822 lines. It also has strong performance from end to end. A slight increase is seen at f/8 (3.951 lines), with similar results at f/11. The trend towards a downward resolution is evident at f/16 (3.625 lines), and f/22 (2.642 lines).
Some distortion is visible. You can see pincushion distortion at 70mm. This causes straight lines to appear with an inward bow. The distortion increases slightly at 135mm (1.9%), but drops at 200mm (1.4%) and 300mm (0.8%). You can eliminate distortion in images processed in Adobe Lightroom ($9.99/Month, Adobe).
The corner illumination works well across the entire zoom range. The corners of the lens are a little less than the middle, with a difference in -1EV. The deficit is reduced to a mere 0.5EV by lowering the stop down. This difference in real-world usage is negligible.
Related Reading: Voigtlander 10mm/1:5.6 Hyper Wide Heliar E Review
Conclusions
Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS is a compact, all-weather telezoom. The FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS has a good range and is compatible with full-frame and APS-C Sony mirrorless cameras. It also delivers sharp results across its entire zoom range. Although the $1,200 price tag is a bit high, it offers a solid performance. It may be too small for some photographers with a keen eye for wildlife.
They will have to wait until a Sony native mirrorless lens that has a very extreme telephoto reach is available. If a 70-300mm lens is what you need, Sony's new model will be an excellent choice.