Sony 200-600mm, a bad copy? I'm primarily a real estate and headshot photographer, so I don't have much experience with long lenses, but I recently purchased a new Sony 200-600mm...

Pat F 4119 Loc: Branford, CT

I'm primarily a real estate and headshot photographer, so I don't have much experience with long lenses, but I recently purchased a new Sony 200-600mm f5.6-f6.3, and it doesn't seem to be sharp at any focal length. Also, when compared with my Sony 70-200mm f2.8II, the colors seemed to be washed out.

I'm using a sturdy tripod with fast shutter speeds and a 5 sec timer to reduce the possibility of camera shake, and the images are just not sharp in my opinion.

I've attached an example which was taken raw this weekend, and was auto corrected in LR. Am I expecting too much from this lens, or is it possible I just caught a bad one?

If anyone else has experience with this lens, please share. Thanks.

SonyA580 Loc: FL in the winter & MN in the summer

My first experience with a 600mm was similar to yours. Things like heat shimmer and haze affect a long lens much more than a shorter lens. Please provide more info i.e., aperture, exposure, ISO etc. The easiest way is to put a check in the "[]Store Original" box when uploading the photo so we can see this data in the EXIF info.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Pat F 4119 wrote:

I'm primarily a real estate and headshot photograp... (show quote)

Did you buy new? Answer this question and I will write more.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Pat F 4119 wrote:

I'm primarily a real estate and headshot photograp... (show quote)

No one can look at a thumbnail and make any relevant assessment. Best would be an unprocessed RAW, one converted by Sony's software to JPEG, but we can live with an LR conversion, if that's the best you can provide. But, you must store the attachment.

agillot

5 sec timer is a waste of time , on a tripod at 600 , you can see if you are steady . Do a google / you tube on using a long lens properly . Some demonstration of Technics to get sharp shots in the field .

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Looks OK to me.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Pat F 4119 wrote:

I'm primarily a real estate and headshot photograp... (show quote)

Also, what BODY are you using ??

Pat F 4119 Loc: Branford, CT

SonyA580 wrote:

My first experience with a 600mm was similar to yours. Things like heat shimmer and haze affect a long lens much more than a shorter lens. Please provide more info i.e., aperture, exposure, ISO etc. The easiest way is to put a check in the "[]Store Original" box when uploading the photo so we can see this data in the EXIF info.

OK, I will send the EXIF info when I get back to my studio. Thanks

Pat F 4119 Loc: Branford, CT

billnikon wrote:

Did you buy new? Answer this question and I will write more.

Yes, I purchased it new.

Pat F 4119 Loc: Branford, CT

CHG_CANON wrote:

No one can look at a thumbnail and make any relevant assessment. Best would be an unprocessed RAW, one converted by Sony's software to JPEG, but we can live with an LR conversion, if that's the best you can provide. But, you must store the attachment.

OK, thanks, I will share a better image later today, thanks.

Pat F 4119 Loc: Branford, CT

joer wrote:

Looks OK to me.

Sorry, I forgot to include the body info, I tested both on an A7RIII and an A7RIV

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Pat F 4119 wrote:

Sorry, I forgot to include the body info, I tested both on an A7RIII and an A7RIV

If you'd just attach a file with the EXIF in-tact, all this data -- and more -- will be immediately known.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Pat F 4119 wrote:

Sorry, I forgot to include the body info, I tested both on an A7RIII and an A7RIV

It MAY be what you are seeing is the lense's acuity limitation due to the HIGH pixel count of the RIV - it should look slightly better on the RIII. I am pretty sure the 70-200 has more acuity .....and may be why it perceives better.

Other users with the 200-600 and the RIV may be the most help to you.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

CHG_CANON wrote:

If you'd just attach a file with the EXIF in-tact, all this data -- and more -- will be immediately known.

Yes, I know/agree - just thought it would be nice to get this out in the open sooner - for everyone ....

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

I use that lens on a Sony 7r3 body and get very good results.