Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS Lens Review

The eagerly anticipated Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS has finally arrived, and it delivers phenomenal performance befitting Sony’s flagship super-telephoto prime. As an avid wildlife photographer, I was thrilled to get my hands on this lens and put it through its paces.

As soon as I took the FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS out of the box, I was struck by its surprisingly compact size. Weighing in at just 51.9 oz, it feels remarkably light and balanced in hand for a 300mm f/2.8 lens. The design concentrates weight closer to the camera body, making handholding comfortable even during long shoots. The build quality is excellent with a weather-sealed metal construction.

Image Quality

Right off the bat, I was blown away by the incredible resolving power of this lens. Photographing shorebirds along the coast, I was able to zoom in and see every tiny feather in stunning clarity. Fine details like fur patterns and facial expressions of wildlife are rendered with lifelike precision. The sharpness remains consistent across the entire frame, even when shooting wide open at f/2.8.

The advanced optics and circular 11-blade aperture produce truly gorgeous, dreamy bokeh. I loved being able to isolate my subject against a soft, creamy background. Bokeh highlights are round and smoothly graduated. Out-of-focus areas have a naturally diffused look that draws attention to my subject.

I was very impressed by how well Sony has controlled chromatic aberration, flare, and other optical defects. Shooting toward the sun yielded images with excellent contrast, vivid colours, and minimal veiling flare. In all conditions, the FE 300mm GM maintained high resolution and beautiful rendering from corner to corner.

Autofocus

Thanks to its dual XD Linear Motors and upgraded control algorithm, the autofocus on this lens is lightning-fast and accurate. It was able to quickly acquire focus and track even erratically flying birds with a high degree of accuracy. The speed and precision remain equally impressive whether shooting wide open at f/2.8 or stopped down to f/22.

At a packed stadium, I was able to reliably track athletes running, jumping, and dodging on the field without any missed focus. The AF speed and tenacity for sticking to moving subjects is simply incredible. Manual focus override through the linear focusing ring also provides precise control when needed. Best of all, these amazing autofocus capabilities are nearly silent for unobtrusive performance.

Image Stabilization

Sony’s class-leading stabilization allows me to successfully handhold the 300mm lens at surprisingly low shutter speeds. While photographing shorebirds, the Mode 2 IS was very effective, allowing me to pan fluidly to track them in flight. For more random subject movement, like animals darting through foliage, Mode 3 IS gave me that extra bit of stabilization, especially helpful at the full 600mm reach when paired with the 2x teleconverter.

Being able to handhold a super telephoto lens like this in moderate light thanks to the 5-axis stabilization is a game changer. Allowing the use of slower shutter speeds expands my creative flexibility when lighting conditions aren’t ideal. This advantage truly unleashed my potential to capture sharp wildlife images in the field.

Handling and Control

The lens includes a wealth of customizable controls that allow me to tailor operations for different shooting scenarios. I loved being able to instantly activate Eye AF by customizing a focus hold button. This gave me reliable focus on animal eyes even through obstructions like foliage and mesh fencing at the zoo. The function ring allowed me to quickly toggle between full frame and APS-C mode to adjust my angle of view and magnification.

I appreciated the tripod collar’s smooth rotation on bearings with precise click stops to track action in portrait or landscape orientation. The locking knob ensured my framing remained stable while shooting. The lens attaches securely to tripods and monopods using the reversible foot. Zoom and focus controls operate crisply, enhancing professional, confident handling.