Sony's 400mm and 600mm G Master Primes Are the Lightest in the World — and Cheaper Than Nikon's
Sony dropped two super-telephoto prime lenses on September 8, and the specs are going to make wildlife and sports photographers do a double-take. The new FE 400mm f/4.5 GM OSS and FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS both weigh under one kilogram. Both undercut Nikon's competing Z-mount primes on price. Both are shipping soon.
This is a big deal for anyone who's spent a full shoot day lugging a 3kg telephoto on a gimbal head. Sony is taking the "lightest in class" crown and putting it on two G Master lenses that wildlife photographers have been asking for.
The numbers that matter
The FE 400mm f/4.5 GM OSS weighs 994 grams (2.19 lbs). Compare to Nikon's Nikkor Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S at 1,160 grams (2.56 lbs) — Sony is 166 grams (14.3%) lighter. The dimensions are 108 × 242 mm. The lens is slightly longer and thicker than the Nikon, but the weight difference is what matters when you're carrying it for 8 hours.
The FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS is even more dramatic: 995 grams (2.19 lbs). The Nikkor Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S weighs 1,390 grams (3.06 lbs) — Sony is 395 grams (28.4%) lighter. Dimensions are 108 × 263 mm. For comparison, Sony's existing FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS weighs 3,040 grams. The new f/6.3 version is one-third the weight of the f/4, at a much lower price.
Pricing: undercutting Nikon by a real margin
Sony FE 400mm f/4.5 GM OSS: $2,699–$2,899 USD, EU €3,000. Nikon's Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lists at around $3,400. Sony is $500 cheaper.
Sony FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS: approximately $3,800 USD, EU €4,200. Nikon's Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S lists around $5,000. Sony is approximately $1,200 cheaper.
In the super-telephoto market, where $500 price differences usually mean a generation of technology, this is significant. Sony is competing directly with Nikon's newest Z-mount glass, and winning on both weight and cost.
What you give up
The Sony 600mm f/6.3 is slower than the existing Sony 600mm f/4 by two-thirds of a stop. For most wildlife use, f/6.3 at 600mm is fine — you don't usually need f/4 unless you're shooting indoor sports or low-light wildlife. The weight savings make it dramatically more usable handheld and on lighter tripod heads.
Both lenses support Sony's 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters, so you can push the 400mm to 560mm f/6.3 or 800mm f/9, and the 600mm to 840mm f/9 or 1200mm f/13. The 800mm reach on the 400mm via 2x converter is genuinely interesting for bird photography.
Who this is for
Wildlife photographers running Sony bodies, full stop. The weight difference between 994g and 1,160g might not sound like much on paper, but it adds up over a full day of handheld shooting. If you're carrying the lens on a gimbal head on a tripod for hours, the lighter option is also less taxing.
Sports photographers — the f/4.5 400mm has enough speed for outdoor daytime sports, especially with modern high-ISO bodies like the A7R V and A1 II. The A9 III's 120 fps burst mode can take advantage of the lighter weight too.
Anyone considering switching from Nikon Z to Sony E-mount — Sony just removed one of the last remaining reasons to choose Nikon over Sony for wildlife work. Nikon's Z 400mm f/4.5 and 600mm f/6.3 are excellent, but they're heavier and more expensive. For new system buyers, Sony wins on super-telephoto.
My take
I've been a Sony wildlife shooter for years, and my biggest complaint has always been the weight of the super-tele primes. The 600mm f/4 GM is fantastic, but at 3kg it's not something you handhold for long. A 995g 600mm prime changes the math entirely.
The price is the bigger surprise. Sony undercutting Nikon by $500 to $1,200 on competing glass is aggressive. This isn't a Sony-priced like a third-party situation — these are first-party GM lenses with first-party autofocus, weather sealing, and compatibility with teleconverters, at prices that beat the Nikon equivalents.
Pre-orders opened September 8. The 400mm and 600mm should ship by late September or early October based on Sony's typical release timeline.
If you're a Sony shooter who has been waiting for lighter super-tele glass, your wait is over. If you're a Nikon shooter weighing whether to switch, Sony just made the decision harder for you.