Why the Sony FE 100-400mm is a wildlife photography staple

What does a quality lens for photographing wildlife look like? Since wildlife tends to move all the time and hide in dark places, it would definitely need to be fast and excel in low-light conditions. Preferably, it should also be lightweight enough for you to focus your eyes on capturing great wildlife moments instead of getting distracted by arm and shoulder fatigue.

Large focal length

The Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS for E-mount full-frame cameras excel in each of these areas. Its versatile super-telephoto focal length range will get you close for magnificent wildlife shots.

Whether the critter is in the sea, on land or in the air, its 100-400mm reach is perfect for capturing and framing your shot without having to change lenses. It also has a zoom torque adjustment ring that lets users dial in the stiffness of the zoom mechanism. While this makes it somewhat more difficult to zoom in and out, it prevents creep.

Fast, quiet AF system

When shooting timid subjects, you have to be discreet about it. This requires a lens that is not only fast but quiet. The Sony FE 100-400mm lens’ focus is internal, which means no external noise to disturb subjects.

A combination of two autofocus motor systems – a linear motor and a Direct Drive Super-Sonic Wave Motors (DDSSM) – provides agile, highly precise focus lens control. For even faster focusing, a focus limiter switch tells the lens to ignore the close end of the zoom range when searching to find focus. The lens also offers real-time feedback from multiple position sensors allowing the body’s AF system to perform at its best.

Excellent sharpness

With wildlife photography, it’s essential that the subject remains the winner. For this, you need a lens that can deliver sharp images. Throughout the entire zoom range, the Sony FE 100-400mm renders high resolution from edge to edge. In addition to its resolution, the lens holds quality optical glass that supports taking exceptionally clear, well-defined images without chromatic aberration (often a cause of resolution falloff in telephoto lenses).

These specifications allow photographers to capture equally magnificent shots of nearby (as close as 98cm) and distant subjects. And if you need extra reach, simply attach a 1.4x or 2x teleconverter to extend focal length up to 800mm (1,200 mm on an APS-C format body).

Relatively lightweight

No telephoto lens is truly lightweight, but there’s no need to put extra strain on your arms and shoulders with an unnecessarily heavy lens. Whether pro or hobbyist, you don’t have to get fatigued from doing what you love.

Invest in a lens that keeps you mobile. The Sony FE 1000-400mm only weighs 1,395g without the (removable) tripod mount, which makes it easier to manage even when shooting handheld. And since it’s equipped with Optical SteadyShot image stabilisation, the lens will compensate for any camera movement even in low light and/or magnified zoom settings.

Dust- and weather-resistant

Shooting outside inherently exposes you and your lens to the elements – sun, rain or wind. Thankfully, the Sony FE 100-400mm has your back with a dust- and moisture-resistant construction. This lets you shoot with confidence even in challenging environments.

You will have no problem taking wildlife pictures with the Sony FE 100-400mm lens. It takes sharp images at all focal lengths, operates fast and quietly, offers excellent sharpness, supports handheld shooting and has a solid weather-sealed build. This is everything you need for capturing close-ups of birds while on safari or beautiful compressed landscapes on a scenic hike.

Learn more about the reliable and useful Sony FE 100-400mm telephoto lens.