Supertelephoto zoom lenses are some of the most versatile out there, suitable for a wide range of genres and scenarios. Sony shooters have a lot of great choices when it comes to such lenses, and this excellent video compares four of the best options from Sony, Sigma, and Tamron.
Coming to you from Stefan Malloch, this awesome video compares four lenses: the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary, Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VXD, Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS, and Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS. Personally, I think it is awesome just how many great super-telephoto zoom lenses there are nowadays. Just a decade ago, if you wanted good image quality at ultra-long focal lengths, you had very few options, and those were mostly limited to stratospherically prices professional prime options. Nowadays, consumer-level supertelephoto zooms offer excellent image quality, and thanks to the autofocus and high-ISO performance of modern bodies, the narrower apertures (compared to top-shelf primes) are not as much a hindrance as they used to be. No doubt, it is a great time to pick up such a lens. Check out the video above for Malloch's full thoughts.
The lens no one talks about is the 24-240mm (360 in aps-c mode)! Went for the Sigma 150-600 before Sony made one, Sigma has an adjustment block/update that lets you fine tune to your shooting style and tracking/focus at 10 fps (silent mode) on A7iii is superb, but the slide open design can let dirt in. No need for a 1.4x teleconverter in aps-c mode you get 1.5x cropped on sensor with better AF/tracking. Why the Sony 200-600, 1st internal zoom with fastest motors, 2nd Lens Correction ID, on Sigma not good ID, 3rd I said no need for 1.4x BUT with it and the 2x OSS/tracking can be done handheld and at 2x 1800mm in aps-c the moon fills the frame and sharp as a tack even handheld 4th Sony to Sony always the best. A little help, use a large binocular harness (sporting goods) it will hang on your chest without bother and the strong elastic straps will steady the lens best and always at the ready out on a walkabout. moon 24240mm, 200-600mm moon, Sigma 150-600 @ 900mm (aps-c mode) tracking/focus through trees on a video tripod (for level tracking) at 10 fps (silent mode) A7iii, 24240 eclipse.
I'm not a wildlife photographer, but I just met up with a guy last week who paired a Sony a6600 with the Sony 200–600mm zoom and wow… that thing had some serious reach. (300-900mm equivalent!).
These days APS-C is a professional-worthy path that doesn't give away much in features and is certainly less expensive.