ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

It will work but you will have to put the camera in APS-C mode. I usually keep my Sony cameras in APS-C “auto” mode.

Canisdirus

Heft...the difference between the two lenses is 15 grams. You can't tell the difference in the field.
The Sony has advantages that do show up in the field. Now the 'sports' model of the Sigma is over 700 grams heavier than the Sony....now that is a difference that you will feel. Since the Sony essentially already fills the bill as a 'sports' lens...weight edge goes to Sony...big time.
Faster AF...much faster. The Sony will give you superior AF...especially on fast moving targets...which is kind of why folks need these types of lenses...right? Wildlife and sports tend to have fast moving subjects.
Speaking of AF... the Sigma has a ceiling of 15FPS. The Sony lens has no ceiling. That's a big deal. Tamron has the same limitation btw.
Internal zoom...and it is butter smooth...I can adjust it with one finger...one finger. The Sigma will require quite a bit of turning to go from 150 to 600mm. The Sony is there before you even realize it. That counts when moving back and forth in the field...a big deal. The Sony will move in and out almost effortlessly. It's so smooth, you won't lose the subject in the viewfinder...unlike the Sigma (or Tam for that matter).
The Sigma tends to be front heavy...the Sony is much more balanced...no matter what focal length you are setting it at. That difference will show up when shooting.
No teleconverter capability with the Sigma...Sony has it. Not too much of a big deal for me personally...but still. Frankly, no one should be slapping on a teleconverter to a f/6.3 lens...no matter who makes it. But the option does exist for the Sony...unlike the Sigma.
Sigma has 9 aperture blades...Sony has 11. Smoother.
While the Sigma is shorter than the Sony when at their smallest focal length (advantage in backpack)...when using the lenses fully extended (which is where most folks shoot)...the Sony is shorter...and better balanced.

So to recap...yes the Sony is 400 bucks more expensive...but the money is there in the field big time.
The Sony has a lot of advantages in the field...not as apparent when just looking at it on paper.

So..is the faster AF, smoother and shorter zoom throw, better balance and weight, and FPS superiority worth 400 bucks in the field?

You betcha it is.

So to anyone thinking about these two lenses...if you are willing to save for the Sigma...save a bit more and go all in with the Sony.
You'll get the payout in the field...where it all matters.

MDI Mainer

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, and I do respect it as such, but it is only an opinion, not objective fact, and not necessarily applicable to the universe of potential purchasers.

BTW the 700 gram "heavier" Sigma is is old Sport DSLR model, not the new mirrorless model, so that's not really a valid point of comparison.

Bill UT

I want to Thank everyone who replied. I’ve had a fair amount of time now with the Sony A7C and overall have been pleased with the weight and performance of the Sony G 70-350 lens.
Going to a camera shop in Salt Lake tomorrow to browse. Taking the Camera and the 350 to see how it works, feels and operates in relation to the A7 5.
I’m also going to look at some of the zooms recommended.

Really appreciate the thoughtful input!!

gwilliams6

First, ALL E-mount lenses are compatible with both APS-C format Sony and fullframe format Sony cameras. That Sony G 70-350mm lens is an APS-C designed lens. It will work on your fullframe Sony A7C in its APS-C mode.

If you want a fullframe zoom lens for your fullframe Sony A7C, a good place to start is here, as SAB (Sony Alpha Blog) has tested over 150 fullframe E-mount lenses from all makers for sharpness with MTF-Standard sharpness tests. Here are the charts of the results, plus you can see each zoom lens' performance at different focal lengths and at different f-stops in the individual charts within the article. Really a great resource.

https://sonyalpha.blog/2019/11/10/which-lenses-to-maximise-the-potential-of-the-sony-a7riv/

As noted: these lenses were tested on 61mp A7RIV and 50mp A1, so as SAB notes, if you are using a 24mp sensor camera like your A7C, there would NOT be noticeable sharpness differences between Outstanding and Excellent sharpness results, or any noticeable sharpness difference between Excellent and Very Good results with a 24mp sensor camera.

The Sony 100-400mm GM, and Sony 200-600mm G will take both Sony 1.4X and 2X Teleconverters. Sony does not allow third-party lenses to use any TCs on Sony bodies. The third-party lenses work fine, but no TCs can be used on ANY third party lenses, prime or zoom.

After those two Sony zoom long lenses comes the Tamron 50-400mm lens, Sigma 150-600mm DG DN, Sigma 100-400mm DG DN, Tamron 150-500mm lenses.

Another option would be a used version one of the Sony 70-200mm f2.8 GM. they are priced less now that a new version two Sony 70-200mm f2.8 GM II is out. If you get the Sony 70-200mm f2.6 GM version or version two, you can use them with both Sony 1.4X and 2X TCs, and have up to a 140-400mm f5.6, which still has excellent Image quality. This is a great smaller travel option for a long zoom.

Cheers and best to you. The A7C is an excellent camera, enjoy.

FYI, I have owned Sony A6500, A7RII, A7RIII, A7III, A9, and currently own Sony A7RIV, A1, A7SIII. I currently own 13 fullframe E-mount lenses covering 10mm to 600mm from Sony, Sigma, Tamron.

Bill UT

Much appreciated!

gwilliams6

You are welcome. I am here to help anytime.

Within the SAB article you can click on any listing for any lens you wish to know more about, and it will take you to a full test and review of that lens, very helpful. (the review also shows the list price of that lens).

Cheers and best to you.

gwilliams6

Just realize the 70-350 lens you have is a APS-C lens, it will only give you an APS-C size image with your fullframe A7C. You need a fullframe lens to shoot fullframe with your A7C.

Cheers

gwilliams6

gwilliams6

As a owner of both Sony and third-party lenses for my A7RIV, A1, A7SIII, I totally agree with MDI Mainer here. There are many superb third party lenses that equal and even surpass some Sony lenses in sharpness and IQ and with less weight, more compactness, and at less cost. This longtime pro is NO Sony-Only Snob. That is the new reality, and I make my living with my quality gear from Sony and third-party makers.

https://sonyalpha.blog/2019/11/10/which-lenses-to-maximise-the-potential-of-the-sony-a7riv/

Cheers and best to you.

gwilliams6

Stop being a Sony-only snob please. The reality is that the best of Sigma and Tamron long zooms will be as sharp as the Sony 200-600mm when used on the OP's 24mp A7C.

If you actually read through the extensive SAB article (and not just browsed the chart), then you would know these tests were done on the 61mp Sony A7RIV, and SAB specifically says that there would be NO noticeable sharpness differences between two categories when used on lesser than 61mp sensor cameras.

I own and love my Sony 200-600mm on my 61mp A7RIV and my 50mp A1, but I also know top working pros around the world that use and love the excellent sharpness and IQ of their Sigma and Tamron native E-mount long zooms with their 33mp A7IV, 24mp A9, 24mp A7III, and 24mp A7C. And they have saved weight, size and price over the Sonys.

And dont even try to compare third party long zooms to the Sony primes 400mm f2.8 GM and 600mm f4 GM, those are $12,000 USD and $13,000 USD lenses respectively. But even with these lenses shot on lesser than 61mp cameras like the 24mp A7C, the sharpness differences would not be able to be seen between Outstanding and Excellent sharpness result lenses. Just a fact of the physics here. I have a Masters Degree in Digital Photography and lots of real-world experience to know that SAB is right about that.

Here is what SAB said at the end of comparisons of the Sony 200-600mm, Sigma 150-600mm Sport DG DN, and Tamron 150-500mm Di III VC VXD:
"Considering those lenses will mainly be used above 400mm the Sony is still the best choice in term of sharpness if you have 42, 50 or 61Mpix. For a 24MPix camera all will give excellent results with only minor visible difference."

The OP has a 24mp A7C, there is no sharpness advantage to the excellent Sony 200-600mm lens for the OP. You can debate other features, and the ability to use TCs or not, but not when judging sharpness and IQ. Just a fact.

And look at the charts by SAB and note all the third party primes and shorter zooms that are sharper than some Sony lenses, including some GM lenses, also a fact. I personally sold my 85mm f1.4 GM, and sold my Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM (version one), to get the sharper and faster focusing Sigma Art 85mm f1.4 DG DN lens and the overall sharper and faster focusing Sigma Art 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN lens.

https://sonyalpha.blog/2019/11/10/which-lenses-to-maximise-the-potential-of-the-sony-a7riv/

I also have the superb Sony 24-105mm f4 G OSS lens, just like the OP, and that is excellent, and the best selling Sony fullframe E-mount E-mount lens in the world for good reasons. The best selling of all E-mount lenses in the world is the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 (version one and version two).

As a successful hard working pro and Professor of Photography at a state university, I have been able to afford to use the best quality gear I need for my professional and personal work. Often that means the best of third-party lenses , and that has saved me money to use for more gear. Here is a shot of my current A7RIV, A1, A7SIII and two of those bodies use Meike battery grips (less expensive than the same Sony grip, but just as durable over years of hard pro use around the world) and one body has a Sony battery grip.

Cheers and best to you.

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Bill UT

I purchased the Sony 200-600.

Thanks again for the excellent information. I most likely will be purchasing the Sony A7 V at some point.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

I really like my Sony 200-600m maybe some day I'll get the 1.4x . You may might want to look at a used A9 or A9ii. I sold my a7iii for a used A9 and it is phenomenal. super fast focus. Also pretty good at Star photography.

Sony 200-600mm and A9 hand held. shot yesterday

Bill UT

Thanks for the thoughts. Nice pic.

gwilliams6

Love the Sony 200-600mm lens. I have used it with my 24mp A9, 61mp A7RIV, 50mp A1.

Here a few shots:

1) A9, 200-600mm lens. At a Wild Elephant Seal rookery on the Pacific Ocean coast in California, USA. A young pup squeals as it tries not to get crushed to death by a 3000 pound amorous Bull elephant seal going after one of its cows. The pup survived here this time. 600mm, ISO 400, f6.3, 1/1000 sec. handheld.

2) A1, 200-600mm lens a Snowy Egret takes off from its watery perch on the Caribbean Island of Sint Maarten/ St. Martin. 319mm, ISO 1600, f6.3, 1/4000 sec. handheld

3-4) A1, 200-600mm lens, first the full frame , then a tight crop of same shot. A Great White Egret bends its neck to clean its feathers. 591mm, ISO 1600, f6.3, 1/2000 sec. handheld

5-6) A1, 200-600mm lens. Kids being pulled by fast speedboat on Brookings Lake, Manistee National Forest. Michigan, USA. 600mm, ISO 1000, f9, 1/2000 sec. handheld

7) Famed Monument Valley, scene of countless movies, TV shows, Commercials, Navajo Lands, Arizona/Utah border, USA. A7RIV, 200-600mm lens, 207mm, ISO 100, f6.3, 1/500 sec. handheld

8) Wild Iguana, Caribbean Island of Sint Maarten/Sint Martin. A1, 200-600mm lens, 493mm, ISO 320, f8, 1/1250 sec. handheld

9) Palm trees, a sailboat and a seagull over the Pacific Ocean, at Venice Beach, Los Angeles, California, USA. A7RIV, 200-600mm lens, 200mm, ISO 200, f8, 1/2000 sec. handheld

Click on download to see better image quality.

You are going to love that lens.

Cheers and best to you.

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