Sony has excitedly announced two new lenses, one ideal for vloggers and content creators, and the other masterfully crafted for birdwatching, sports, and capturing distant subjects. Meet the latest additions to the Sony lineup the new Sony 16mm F1.8 G and the new Sony 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS. With TCSTV reviews on both of these innovative lenses, let's take an in-depth look at what makes these new lenses stand out.
The Sony 16mm F1.8 G is a full-frame E-Mount lens that merges an ultra-wide 16mm focal length with a sleek, lightweight design to deliver exceptional image quality, smooth out-of-focus backgrounds, and precise autofocus capabilities, all thanks to its bright F1.8 aperture. Its sophisticated optical construction features two AA (Advanced Aspherical) elements to ensure outstanding resolution across all apertures. Additionally, a combination of one Super ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass element and three ED elements effectively reduces chromatic aberration, providing sharp clarity from edge to edge. With its bright F1.8 maximum aperture and an 11-blade circular diaphragm, the 16mm F1.8 G creates beautiful, creamy out-of-focus areas that highlight the subject. Its impressive close-up abilities allow for a minimum focus distance of just 0.15m (0.5ft) with autofocus and a maximum magnification of 0.25x. When switching to manual focus, these values improve to 0.13m (0.43ft) and 0.30x, allowing for unique wide-angle compositions with remarkable depth.
The lens is equipped with two XD (Extreme Dynamic) linear motors, providing rapid and precise autofocus with exceptional tracking capabilities. A newly developed control algorithm enhances responsiveness while minimizing delay and vibration, ensuring smooth, nearly silent operation. This makes it an outstanding option for both still photography and video, particularly when capturing fast-moving subjects. The 16mm F1.8 G minimizes focus breathing and fully supports the breathing compensation function available in compatible Sony Alpha camera bodies, pairing seamlessly with in-body Active Mode image stabilization to guarantee steady footage, even when shooting handheld or on the move.
Thanks to advanced optical engineering, including Sony’s high-precision AA lens elements, the 16mm F1.8 G maintains its ultra-wide capabilities while being impressively compact, measuring only 73.8 x 75mm and weighing 304g. This offers an extremely portable form factor without sacrificing image quality, ideal for professionals who are constantly on the go. The 16mm F1.8 G provides extensive manual controls, including a responsive focus ring, a customizable focus hold button, a focus mode switch, an aperture ring, and an iris lock switch. The aperture ring allows for tactile exposure adjustments, while the click ON/OFF switch increases flexibility for both photography and video applications. Built to ensure durability and reliability in challenging conditions, the 16mm F1.8 G features a dust- and moisture-resistant design along with a fluorine-coated front element, ensuring it remains resilient in various environments.
Pre-orders for the Sony 16mm F1.8 G will be live on Feb. 27th, 2025! Click here to be notified!
Let's take a closer look at TCSTV's sneak peek of the new Sony 16mm F1.8 G!
The Sony 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OS lens stands out as the longest-range full-frame E-Mount lens in Sony's lineup, setting a new standard for focal length reach within the Sony mirrorless system. Extending to an impressive 800mm, this lens is particularly advantageous for birding, wildlife, aerial, and sports photographers who require extensive lens capabilities. The versatile 400mm to 800mm zoom range allows photographers to identify subjects at the wide 400mm end before zooming in up to 800mm for detailed, close-up shots. For those who need even more distance, the 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS can be paired with 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, stretching its range up to an extraordinary 1600mm. The internal zoom mechanism ensures a balanced length and weight distribution while adjusting focal lengths, enhancing both stability and handling. The responsive zoom ring facilitates precise adjustments, featuring a short rotation throw for quick zoom changes, which is crucial for tracking fast-moving subjects. A well-thought-out structure helps prevent unintentional focal length shifts.
Designed for superior optical performance, the 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens boasts an 11-blade circular aperture that creates beautifully smooth, creamy backgrounds with stunning bokeh when shooting with a narrow depth of field. Six ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements effectively reduce chromatic aberration, while advanced coatings suppress flare and ghosting, delivering crisp, high-contrast images even in backlit conditions. For swift, precise focusing, the lens is equipped with two precision linear motors, enabling smooth tracking that matches the Alpha 9 III’s 120 fps maximum burst speed and up to 240 fps in video mode. Its quiet operation, focus range switch, and minimized focus breathing offer enhanced control, making this lens an excellent option for both photography and videography.
Whether mounted on a tripod or used handheld, the 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS's built-in Optical SteadyShot™ (OSS) image stabilization minimizes shake-induced blur. Its robust construction, optimized balance, and fixed foot maximize reliability and performance, while the tripod mount foot allows for quick rotation between horizontal and vertical orientations, providing versatility for various shooting scenarios. Designed for high-level control and dependability, the lens includes three customizable focus hold buttons positioned at 90° intervals for easy access in any orientation. Full-time Direct Manual Focus (DMF) automatically engages manual focus when the focus ring is adjusted, enabling seamless fine-tuning. The redesigned lens hood features a lock button and filter opening, ensuring effortless operation in any environment. Additionally, the dust- and moisture-resistant design enhances durability, while a fluorine-coated front element repels contaminants for easier cleaning.
Pre-orders for the Sony 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS will be live on Feb. 27th, 2025! Click here to be notified!
Let's take a closer look at TCSTV's review of the new 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS!
Featured in this blog:
Sony FE 16mm f1.8 G
Sony FE 400-800mm f6.3-8 G OSS
