Exactly,


The 600mm f4 GM is awesome, but not over SIX times better at $13K USD than the $2K 200-600mm, IMHO. Others may totally disagree and that is fine.

As I said, if you have the money then get the one you want and be happy. If I absolutely had to have that $13k lens to make my living, then I would get it as an investment. Fortunately I can make my money as a photographer with all my other lenses and the 200-600mm.

The quality of the modern long zooms and the quality of the cameras and image sensors have made it possible for those on tighter budgets to still afford excellent gear, that can produce excellent image quality in whatever format you choose, micro four thirds, APS-C and fullframe.

I know a couple hobbyists that have the $13K 600mm f4 GM, $12K 400mm f2.8 GM AND the $2K 200-600mm lens in their kits. One is a retired aviation businessman in Texas, and one is a still-practicing top medical neuro-surgeon in a well known hospital in Minnesota.

The neuro-surgeon had the 600mm f4 GM and 400mm f2.8 GM and I dared him to try the 200-600mm. He thought it would be trash at that $2k price, until he saw the fine images from folks including professional wildlife shooters like Mark Smith were producing with it. He bought the 200-600mm, and he still prefers his 600mm f4 when he has the distance and the low light need for it, but he does use the 200-600mm and gets great shots with it also when it is the right choice..

They have made their money, and this is what they choose to spend it on, mainly photographing wildlife. They both are very skilled and make stellar shots with all their lenses. We belong to a few Facebook Wildlife Photography Groups together.

More power to them if it is what makes them happy and they can afford it all.

Sometimes with my 200-600mm lens it is just a 600mm shot as a fisherman sits with his line in the Caribbean Sea as a sail catamaran cruises by on a sunset sail on island of Sint Maarten/St. Martin .

Or a 200-600mm lens, 600mm shot of cool clouds and sky as the sun goes down into the Caribbean Sea with a crouching fisherman silhouetted in it.

Click on download to see better image quality

Cheers and best to you.

Found another side-by-side image comparison from 2019 from Jared Polin, showing some side-by-side zoo animal and sports shots. Again remember this testing wasn't done with any of the later Sony cameras released since 2019.

(2019) Sony 600mm f4 vs Sony 200-600mm | Is it ACTUALLY worth $11,000 MORE???
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjn5mMvunFQ&t=788s

A shot of two wild iguanas getting cozy with each other on the Caribbean Island of Sint Maarten/St. Martin. Sony A1, Sony 200-600mm lens, 293mm, ISO 320, f6.3, 1/320 sec. handheld, all natural light.

Click on download to see better image quality.

Cheers and best to you all.

The reality is working pros use Topaz Denoise AI with images from both their 600mm f4 and 200-600mm lenses every day when they need to shoot in low light with high ISOs like night sports and indoor sports, and even low light before-sunrise, and after-sunset shots of wildlife, even shot with a 600mm f4 lens. Especially with high megapixel cameras.

Top Wildlife Pro Mark Smith; (2020) Easily Remove Noise and Sharpen Wildlife Images - Bird In Flight Images
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAL5mjYwPOU

Pros just like hobbyists, take full advantage of all the latest tools to deliver their best images even in the worst lighting conditions, whether they are using a $13K lens, or a $2K lens. Just a fact.

Cheers and best to you.