Last spring Sony released a new super telephoto zoom the FE 400–800 mm F6.3–8 G OSS  . Prerelease reviews said was one of the best bird and nature photography lenses on the market. I was very hesitant, the base price is $4099.99 in Canada.

After months of mostly glowing reviews the tempetation was increasing. Here in Kitimat, if you are shooting shorebirds, the safe shoreline in many places is often actually far off from the ocean. That has frustrated me for the past decade. I do use a Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS that has produced some wonderful bird images, but too often the birds or animals I wanted to capture were beyond its capabilities.

After reading more views and online videos, with positive reviews outnumbering those with some criticism, I made the decision to blow my photography budget and ordered the lens.

I am using the Sony Alpha 7II with has a full frame sensor. On an APS-C narrower sensor, Sony says the lens is 600–1200 35mm equivalent.

Officially the lens weighs 87.4 oz. or 5.45 pounds or 2475 grams, which is a bit hefty for a senior shooter with back problems. The weight is manageable with the monopod I am currenlty using.

Carrying and shooting with the lens does need getting used to. Sony provides and recomends a carrying strap for the lens. I haven’t seen any photographs of users with the strap or reviews that mention that strap (most are of or by people much younger than I am). I do recomend using the strap, especially if you are an older photographer or hiking and shooting in rougher terrain.

Once you arrive at a shooting location, recheck all the buttons and dials on the camera before beginning to shoot. I found that carrying the lens, even in moderately rough terrain, using a hiking pole as well for support, caused me to inadvertantly move some of the buttons or dials, most often the exposure compensation dial, which is the most exposed.(pun intended)

On August 5, the day the lens arrived, there was heavy rain in Kitimat, rain that would continue for more than two weeks, so I wasn’t able to get out to the usual photo spots.

I did test the lens by shooting fireweed through my bedroom window, which produced a lovely shot which I posted earlier on the blog.

Fireweed in heavy rain

It was August 22 before the weather improved and I went out to the waterfront to capture the first bird images, first at Minette Bay West Park. The ones that worked there were Great Blue Herons.

Overall, for the past couple of weeks, bird activity has been really slow.

As part of my testing of the lens, I aimed at 800mm across the water to the distant estuary. There was a great blue heron in the lower left of the frame.

I then drove down to MK Bay Marina.

I did capture another great blue heron flying far offshore at 800mm.

After that, on a couple of days, when I went to MK and Minette Bay West, there was little to shoot, not even many gulls.

This holiday weekend, with the waxing moon over the mountains and Douglas Channel, on August 29, I decided the best way to practice was too shoot the moon from my front driveway.

Plans changed. Over the 40 minutes I was shooting, I saw a wonderful view of dozens, if not hundreds of gulls over the mountains and Channel. All the birds meant that I needed a wider view. Most of the images were taken with the Sony Alpha RX10III bridge camera.

Ravens, gulls, sunset and a crescent moon

On the blog page, the last two shots of the moon setting are from the Sony 400-800.

Last night, August 30, again from my driveway, I mostly concentrated on the 400-800.

With the first quarter moon over the mountain and ocean at Kitimat, it was another good evening to practice with the new lens.

The lens is a keeper

Here are industrial shots, a little different from nature.

After some moon images, I decided to try for the Liquefied Natural Gas facility on the shore and the flare tower which, in the dark, provided interesting light. The results convinced me I had made the right decision in buying the Sony 400-800. So I using the Alpha 7II, with a monopod, ISO Auto which always came to 6400, shutter priority. The close image of the flare at 1/25 above was the one that told me this is a keeper. Tech details with images. Two wider shots with from Alpha 6000, Sony G 70 to 300 for perspective how far away the plant is.