Tale-of-the-Tape: Sony FE 100-400mm Lenses

Published: August 5, 2026

With the announcement of the compact and lightweight Sony FE 100-400mm f/5.6-8 OSS lens, the Sony full frame E-mount lens line-up includes three Sony FE 100-400mm lenses including the Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5 GM OSS and FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lenses. Let’s take a look at how they compare.

Lens	Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5 GM OSS	Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS	Sony FE 100-400mm f/5.6-8 OSS
Price	$4,299	$2,698	$849
Dimensions (ø x L)	4.7 x 12.9″ / 119.8 x 328 mm	3.7 x 8.07″ / 93.9 x 205 mm	3.08 x 6.48″ / 7.82 x 16.46 cm
Weight	4 lb / 1840 g	3.1 lb / 1395 g	1.4 lb / 654 g
Filter Size	95 mm (Front) \| 40.5 mm (Drop-In)	77mm (Front)	67mm (Front)
Maximum Aperture	f/4.5	f/4.5 to 5.6	f/5.6 to 8
Angle of View	24° to 6° 10′	24° to 6° 10′	24° to 6° 10′
Minimum Focus Distance	2.1’/64 cm (wide) to 4.9’/1.5 m (tele)	3.2’/98 cm	3.7’/1.1 m (wide) to 2.8’/0.9 m (tele)
Maximum Magnification	0.25x	0.35x	0.41x
Optical Design	28 Elements in 20 Groups	22 Elements in 16 Groups	15 Elements in 10 Groups
XA (extreme aspherical) element	Yes	Yes	No
Diaphragm Blades	11, Rounded	9, Rounded	9
Auto Focus Type	XD Linear	XD Linear	XD Linear
Tripod Collar	Removable and Rotating Collar	Removable and Rotating Collar	No

The Bottom Line:

Sony offers something for everyone. Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5 GM OSS is the ideal lens for sports photographers who want a the ultimate image quality and best-in-class autofocus with a fast fixed aperture that maintains the same length and balance as you zoom. Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS lenses offers premium G Master image quality in a relatively compact size that comes in handy when traveling. Finally, the Sony FE 100-400mm f/5.6-8 OSS is the lightest and most compact of the three at a great price for hobbyists searching for value.

Order Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5 GM from B&H Photo | Sony
Order Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS from B&H Photo | Amazon | Sony
Order Sony FE 100-400mm f/5.6-8 OSS Lens from B&H Photo | Sony