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Sony 300mm F/2.8 GM Lens for Pro Sports

With 10 Years of Sony Alpha full-frame mirrorless there’s no shortage of Sony FE lenses, however for professional sports photographers there has been one niggling gap in the range. That’s all water under the bridge with the newly released Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens for Pro Sports and wildlife photography.

Sony’s premium G Master medium telephoto prime arrives in good time for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where all of the major camera brands are as competitive as athletes, vying to show off their sports equipment to the world.

Although we didn’t receive a copy of the 300mm lens for Sony E mount for this review, we do have all of the specs, images and what you can expect from the world’s lightest 300mm f/2.8 in its class from Sony.

When did the Sony 300mm F/2.8 GM Lens come out?

Following a lens development announcement earlier in the year, the Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens was released on 7 November 2023. This arrival is earlier than expected, and will be extremely welcome to pro sports and wildlife photographers, who have been waiting patiently for this particular telephoto prime.

How much is the Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens?

The Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens price is £5799.00, which is in-line for a G Master prime lens, which is squarely aimed at professional photographers. It promises to be one of the best Sony lenses, and is priced accordingly, with professional capabilities for intermediate range sporting events.

Where does the 300mm f/2.8 GM fit into the lens lineup?

There’s a comprehensive range of telephoto and super telephoto Sony G Master lenses for professional sports, wildlife and action photography. The newer 300mm f2.8 Sony sits between the 135mm f/1.8 and 400mm f/2.8, while complementing the 600mm f/4 GM OSS Lens perfectly in a dual camera setup.

With an f/2.8 aperture at this focal length, users gain remarkable light gathering capabilities for middle distance telephoto subjects, both indoors and out.

Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens key features

The 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens is packed with the latest technology and features, which cater to professional creators, thanks to ample support for both stills photography and video recording. The most notable features of this lens include:

• The lightest 300mm lens in its class at just 1470g (excluding tripod mount)
• High resolving power across the frame from refined GM optics
• 11-blade circular aperture renders rounded bokeh
• Two XD linear motors with fast and precise AF, down to f/22
• Accepts Sony 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverter for 450mm and 600mm focal lengths
• Built-in optical image stabilisation
• Numerous customisable controls including Full time DMF (Direct Manual Focus)
• Dust and moisture resistant and Fluorine coating
• Drop-in 40.5mm filter holder

What is the Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 for?

In terms of sports, the Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 lens can be used across the board for intermediate range subjects, indoors and out, which include:

• Tennis
• Volleyball and basketball
• Track events
• Football
• Swimming
• Baseball
• Gymnastics
• Horse racing
• Alpine skiing and boarding
• Skating and curling
• Water sports including wakeboarding

It’s also a brilliant wildlife telephoto lens, with a wide maximum aperture, teleconverter-ready design and comprehensive weather sealing.

Sony professional sports prime lens comparison

The table below provides a side-by-side comparison of essential specifications for three Sony full frame lenses, ideally suited for sports photography, ranging from 300mm to 600mm and extending up to 1200mm with the use of a 2.0x teleconverter.

Each Sony prime lens in our comparison boasts the latest in optical engineering, incorporating ED, Super ED elements, and, in the case of the 400mm and 600mm, Fluorite glass, to deliver truly stunning results.

Notably, the newer Sony 300mm f2 8 offers a combination of all of the best features, with dual focus motors, lens-based OSS, Nano AR II coating and a very manageable size and weight.

Ergonomics and handling

A professional-grade prime lens should be user-friendly and adaptable to cater to the requirements of fast-paced sports and wildlife photography. The Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS offers a comprehensive range of features to improve its ease of use and customisation.

1. Weight and centre of balance is to the aft, which means it’s easier to handhold while panning or tracking, without needing a monopod
2. A customisable control ring can be set to instantly control camera functions, such as switching between APS-C/full-frame modes
3. Four customisable focus hold buttons are available on the barrel
4. Focus range limiter (6m)
5. Full-time DMF Direct manual focus is instantly available when selected
6. AF/MF switch
7. Linear response MF focus ring
8. 90º click stops on tripod collar, with a lock and release lever
9. 1/2/3 OSS modes for normal, panning and dynamic (unpredictable) movements

Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM Build quality

In a bid to reduce weight while enhancing durability, Sony has used a combination of high-strength plastic and magnesium alloy for internal components in the 300mm f/2.8 GM lens. It’s also extensively weather sealed across rings and moving parts, features a Fluorine coating and removable tripod collar.

Additionally, it comes with a newly designed locking lens hood featuring a rubber tip, as well as an improved lens strap, enhancing convenience when shooting, storing, or traveling with a lens of this type.

Sony has pulled out all the stops to provide a medium range telephoto lens for professional applications. It combines the best of Sony’s G Master optical technology, fast focus motors and build quality, while being lightweight and endlessly customisable.

If you shoot indoor sports, outside action, wildlife or any number of medium telephoto subjects, this may be the lens to choose above all others for the Sony mirrorless camera system. When using an A1, new A9 mark III or an A7 body, the combination of face / eye subject detection and tracking will provide formidable AF capabilities, all the way down to f/22, ensuring you can work efficiently with or without teleconverters, inside or outside.

Reserve your Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens today and make sure you come away from every event with decisive images for your editor, who will undoubtedly thank you profusely for investing in this lens.

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By Nick Dautlich on 07/11/2023