Sony

Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens Bundle

4.7 (221 reviews)
f/4.5f/40

Track a bird in flight or isolate a distant athlete with the reach and sharpness that only a GM-grade telephoto delivers.

$2,798.00*
Check availability

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jul 15, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

Affiliate Disclosure: Studio Supplies may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you. This helps support our editorial team.

Notice a mistake? Let Us Know

Overview

The Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS is the lens that puts professional-grade super-telephoto capability into the hands of the nature photographer stalking herons at a wetland reserve, the motorsport shooter tracking cars through a chicane, and the photojournalist who needs reach and autofocus reliability simultaneously. The GM (G Master) optical formula — built around one Super ED element and two ED elements with Nano AR and Fluorine coatings — produces images with crisp subject separation and controlled chromatic aberration even when shooting at maximum aperture against complex, high-contrast backgrounds. At 400mm on a full-frame Sony body, the compression and background isolation this lens delivers translates directly into the kind of frames that stop a wildlife portfolio scroll: a raptor's eye sharp against a blurred treeline, every feather rendered with the contrast and detail that separates a great image from a merely acceptable one.

In hand, the lens balances predictably on Sony's Alpha full-frame bodies when mounted on its tripod collar, which is the practical field setup for most telephoto work. The DDSSM autofocus motor operates silently and tracks subject movement with low hesitation — you can hear the difference from conventional AF motors in video clips, and you feel the difference in action burst sequences where the lens re-acquires between frames rather than hunting through a range. The fluorine coating on the front element behaves exactly as intended in the field: water beads and runs off during rain rather than sitting on the element and diffusing light into your frame. The zoom torque ring, easily overlooked on a spec sheet, earns its place on every outdoor shoot where lens orientation and travel surfaces would otherwise send the barrel drifting. The included accessories bundle — UV filter, cleaning kit, lens pen, cap keeper, and microfiber cloth — equips you for field maintenance without an additional accessories order.

Key Features

Kit Includes 6 Products -- All BRAND NEW Items with all Manufacturer-supplied Accessories + Full USA Warranties:

[1] Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens + [2] 77mm UV Filter + [3] 5-Piece Camera & Lens Cleaning Kit with Blower Brush, Fluid, Cloth, Tissues & Tips + [4] Cleaning Lens Pen + [5] Lens Cap Keeper + [6] Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens Features: E-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format, Aperture Range: f/4.5 to f/40, One Super ED Element and Two ED Elements, Nano AR Coating and Fluorine Coating, Direct Drive Super Sonic Wave AF Motor, Optical SteadyShot Image Stabilization, Zoom Torque Adjustment Ring, Internal Focus

Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens Box Includes: Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens, Sony ALC-F77S 77mm Front Lens Cap, Sony ALC-R1EM Rear Lens Cap, Sony ALC-SH151 Lens Hood, Tripod Mount, Lens Case

Specifications

Lens Mount
Sony E-Mount
Format Compatibility
Full-Frame
Focal Length
100–400mm
Aperture Range
f/4.5–f/40
Optical Elements
1 Super ED, 2 ED elements
Coatings
Nano AR Coating, Fluorine Coating
Autofocus Motor
Direct Drive Super Sonic Wave (DDSSM)
Image Stabilization
Optical SteadyShot (OSS)
Focus Type
Internal Focus
Diaphragm Blades
9 (rounded)
Filter Diameter
77mm

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • The Direct Drive Super Sonic Wave AF Motor acquires and tracks fast-moving subjects at 400mm with minimal hunting — critical when birds, aircraft, or athletes spend only seconds in the ideal frame position.
  • One Super ED element and two ED elements control chromatic aberration across the zoom range, keeping color fringing minimal even at maximum aperture against bright skies or backlit subjects.
  • The Nano AR Coating and Fluorine Coating combination resists flare during contre-jour shooting and sheds rain and spray in the field, making this a weather-ready lens for serious outdoor work.
  • The Zoom Torque Adjustment Ring prevents zoom creep during downward-pointed shooting while allowing quick focal length changes during active subject tracking — a small feature with a real impact on keeper rate.
  • OSS optical stabilization keeps frames sharp in handheld bursts at 400mm, enabling shots in situations where setting up a tripod would mean missing the moment entirely.

👎 Cons

  • At approximately 1.4kg, the lens becomes fatiguing during handheld tracking sessions longer than an hour — the weight demands a monopod or beanbag rest for sustained outdoor wildlife and sports work.
  • The variable maximum aperture (f/4.5 at 100mm, f/5.6 at 400mm) means that shooting in overcast conditions or during the golden hour at the long end requires higher ISO settings to maintain action-stopping shutter speeds.
  • The 77mm filter thread accepts standard filters, but high-quality 77mm circular polarizers and ND filters represent a significant additional investment for photographers who use filtration regularly.
  • The lens's physical size — it extends noticeably when zoomed — makes it conspicuous in environments where a lower profile would be preferable for candid or event shooting.
  • The included soft lens case offers minimal impact protection for transport — most shooters quickly replace it with a hard case or dedicated foam insert for checked luggage or rough travel conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Optical SteadyShot (OSS) in this lens is genuinely effective at telephoto focal lengths — it compensates for the mirror-up vibration and natural hand tremor that would otherwise blur images at 400mm. When paired with an A6x00 or Alpha body with IBIS, the combined stabilization extends the range of sharp handheld frames you can pull from a burst, particularly useful during wildlife or aviation shoots where a tripod would slow your tracking.
The Direct Drive Super Sonic Wave AF Motor (DDSSM) is nearly silent in operation — a meaningful practical advantage when shooting video of wildlife or events where mechanical AF noise bleeding into audio would compromise the clip. Focus breathing is also minimal, which keeps subject size consistent during rack-focus moves in video work.
At approximately 1.4kg the lens is substantial, and tracking birds or athletes through a two-to-three hour session at a wildlife refuge or sporting event will be felt in your supporting arm. The tripod mount collar allows proper balance on a monopod, which is the recommended field setup for extended telephoto sessions — shooting handheld is viable for shorter bursts but fatiguing over long periods.
Yes — the fluorine coating repels water droplets, fingerprints, and airborne particulates from the front element surface, which matters practically when you're shooting in coastal spray, light rain, or dusty environments. Cleaning the front element after a beach or desert session takes seconds rather than careful solvent work, and the hydrophobic effect visibly sheds water during active rain rather than letting droplets sit and diffuse light.
The Zoom Torque Adjustment Ring lets you dial the friction resistance of the zoom barrel to your preference — heavier torque prevents zoom creep when the lens is pointed downward, lighter torque allows faster focal length changes. Wildlife and sports shooters who frequently adjust zoom while tracking subjects typically prefer a lighter setting; photographers who lock a focal length and wait for subjects to come into the frame prefer heavier resistance to prevent accidental drift.