Sony FE 400mm F4.5 GM OSS

Early reviews found it very sharp at f/4.5, so most users will not need to stop down, and its sharpness holds up well against the far more expensive f/2.8. Autofocus is described as very fast and quiet. Background blur is pleasant and clean but cannot match the separation of an f/2.8 lens.

The criticisms are the tripod foot, which is not Arca-Swiss compatible, a slow and indirect manual-focus feel, and AF that has to work harder in poor light because of the slower aperture. Testers see it as a lighter, sharper alternative to the 100-400 GM and the 200-600 G for people who mostly shoot at 400mm.

The lens has only been shipping since mid-October 2026, so owner feedback is still thin. Early buyers are mostly bird and wildlife shooters coming from 100-400 and 200-600 zooms. They mention how easy it is to hand-hold for long periods and the quality they get with the 1.4x converter.

The early complaints echo the reviews: a tripod foot that needs an Arca adapter plate, the price against zooms that cover 400mm, and low-light performance at f/4.5, particularly with a teleconverter.