Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens

Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens Summary

With the arrival of the Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens, the wait is over for the final telephoto prime for sports photography to join the Sony mirrorless lens range. It sits between the 135mm f/1.8 and 400mm f/2.8, catering to all intermediate range sporting events from tennis to track, football to horse racing and gymnastics.

With this calibre of large aperture G Master prime, users can expect the pinnacle of Sony’s optical engineering with excellent image quality, high build quality and user-friendly features to customise their workflow. The compact lens maintains superb resolution across the frame, while two XD linear motors provide fast, precise, quiet AF and tracking.

Despite its compact proportions the FE 300mm f/2.8 offers extensive control through its function ring, four customisable focus hold buttons, a focus limiter as well as additional features such as the drop-in filter holder. Optical steady shot reduces the reliance on a monopod or tripod support, while full time DMF supports focus fine-tuning at all times.

To meet the needs of rigorous professional use, the 300mm prime includes a dust and moisture resistant design, a fluorine coating, and durable magnesium internal components. Whichever environment you’re in, Sony has ensured that the FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens performs flawlessly, from blistering AF performance through stability and image sharpness.

Key Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens Features

• Essential G Master prime for sports and wildlife photographers
• At 1470g (excluding tripod mount) this is the lightest lens in its class
• High resolving power and bokeh which pops
• Two XD linear motors deliver lightning quick and precise AF
• Precise AF tracking down to f/22
• Compatible with Sony 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverter
• Optical image stabilisation built-in
• Extensive customisation and control
• Full time DMF (Direct Manual Focus)
• Linear response MF
• 11-blade circular aperture
• Supports photography and videography creators
• Fluorine coating, dust and moisture resistant design
• Drop-in 40.5mm filter holder

Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens in More Detail

G Master optical quality

Capture high resolution results and bokeh that can make images pop with the wide maximum f/2.8 aperture and a medium telephoto focal width. GM optics exhibit corner-to-corner resolution, with extremely well controlled flare and ghosting due to Nano AR II coating, for crystal clear results, even in challenging lighting.

Sony’s use of Super ED and ED glass elements subdue chromatic aberration, and are arranged into an optical design comprising of 20 elements in 16 groups (including one filter).

The combination of a single Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass element and three Super ED elements dramatically improves chromatic aberration at telephoto ranges, while reducing the weight of the lens.

11 circular aperture blades

Bring your subject into sharp focus with creamy background blur and rounded bokeh from the combination of spherical aberration control, bright maximum aperture and the 11-bladed circular aperture unit. These technologies contribute to breathtaking results, delivered by this premium G Master lens.

Teleconverter compatibility

You can add either of the Sony teleconverters to extend the focal width of the 300mm lens to 420mm with the Sony 1.4x Teleconverter Lens | SEL14TC, and 600mm when using the 2.0x Teleconverter Lens | SEL20TC.

While increasing telephoto versatility the teleconverters maintain high resolution, providing greater reach and high tracking performance. The maximum aperture will be f/5.6 and f/8 when mounting the 1.4x and 2.0x TCs respectively, however AF continues to work down to an impressive f/22.

Capture decisive sporting moments and fast moving wildlife

It becomes easier than ever to capture decisive action with the Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens, thanks to fast and precise AF tracking, all the way down to f/22 for continuous shooting. The lens provides more keepers whether working with the flagship alpha 1, high resolution A7R V, the new Sony A9 III, or any other Sony mirrorless camera.

Users are able to photograph continuously while panning to follow moving subjects, or stop down to achieve a greater depth of field, without having to worry about aperture limitations, even when photographing with a TC.

Class-leading balanced and lightweight design

With a weight of just 1470g (excluding the removable tripod foot), the Sony FE 300mm lens is the lightest 300mm f/2.8 available at launch. Its design was created in response to feedback from professional photographers who value weight savings and ideal balance while in the field, which provides reduced weight and inertia for easier shooting and transport.

Sony achieved low weight and balance by reducing the number of lens elements at the front, and by using durable magnesium alloy for internal components.

The lens measures just 122mm at the front end, by 265mm length, which enables it to be slung at the ready on a second body, without excessive size and weight.

Monopod vs handheld

Although it can be used with a monopod, the FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lends itself to handheld shooting thanks to its low weight, excellent balance and optical image stabilisation. Handheld photography is easier for panning across a wider field of view at a wider axis, and easier when shooting vertically in response to action on a court for example.

Agile handling and manoeuvrability

To further meet the needs of professional sports and wildlife photographers, Sony carefully design this telephoto lens to provide versatile handling and agile manoeuvrability.

When engaged by the full time DMF switch, users are able to immediately override the lens AF by simply rotating the focus ring, in any AF mode – AF-A/S/C. This can prove invaluable in several situations, such as when you want to gain focus from near to far, or when you want to push past an obstacle, after which you can let Face/Eye detection take over once again.

A function ring is included, which can directly control the power focus or be assigned to control APS-C/Full frame switching from a compatible body.

1. Power focus is the default setting, which initiates constant speed focusing in the specified direction.
2. APS-C/Full frame is selected in the camera menu, and once assigned, rotating the ring will instantly select between full-frame and APS-C mode, effectively adjusting the focal width to 450mm.

Highly versatile controls

Professional workflows and adaptability are required to respond to fast-paced action and changeable conditions. These are handled through an extensive list of controls found on the lens barrel, such as:

• Function ring
• Four customisable focus hold buttons
• Focus range limiter
• Full-time DMF
• AF/MF switch
• Linear response MF focus ring
• Tripod collar ring with 90º click stops, lock and release

Drop-in filter holder

A drop-in filter slot accepts 40.5mm filter types, as well as the optional VF-DCPL1 crop-in circular polarising filter, which can be rotated during shooting.

Tripod mount

After loosening the clamp knob, the tripod foot can be positioned as desired, and removed entirely to reduce weight. One 1/4-inch and one 3/8-inch holes are both provided on the tripod mount.

Dust and moisture resistant structure with Fluorine coat

Sony includes a comprehensive number of rubber seals around controls, moving parts and to the E-mount in order to keep dirt, dust and moisture at bay when shooting in tough environments with the 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens.

A fluorine coating has also been applied to help prevent dirt and fingerprints adhering to the front element, whilst also making it easier to wipe away debris, when cleaning the lens.

Magnesium alloy internal barrels

Durable magnesium alloy internal components and other refinements maximise the durability of this lens, while simultaneously reducing overall weight.

A new lock-type lens hood and a new soft case are also included with the lens.

Movie-orientated features

With popular modern platforms many photographers capture video clips of their subject alongside stills images. The Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens supports videography through a number of movie-orientated features, including:

• Refined optics offer high resolving power with beautiful bokeh, to draw out the benefits of high resolution sensors
• A balanced weight distribution errs to the aft, placing the majority of weight over the middle of the lens, above the tripod foot area. This centre of gravity enables handheld video shooting, as well as from a gimbal stabiliser or large rig.
• Smooth silent AF is provided by the low vibration AF drive, for silent operation when filmmaking
• Image stabilisation coordinated with the camera body provides highly effective stabilisation, allowing you to record video handheld with ease
• Linear response AF offers fine, responsive manual focus control

What’s in the box

• Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens
• New lock-type lens hood ALC-SH175
• Lens front cap
• Lens rear cap
• Tripod mount
• Lens strap
• New soft case

Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens Specifications