Sony G Master SEL400F28GM 400mm
Weighing just 2,895g, this is the lightest 400mm f/2.8 full-frame lens in its class, using three fluorite elements and a magnesium alloy build to achieve that portability without sacrificing durability. Its XD Linear Motors deliver fast, accurate autofocus, while the 11-blade aperture and Nano AR Coating produce sharp images with smooth bokeh and minimal flare. This lens is best for sports and wildlife photographers who need to pan quickly and shoot handheld in low-light conditions.
Snapshot
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong af (98th percentile) 98th
- Strong bokeh (91st percentile) 91st
- Strong optical (88th percentile) 88th
- Strong aperture (84th percentile) 84th
Cons
- Below average build (7th percentile)
- Below average macro (19th percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
Based on 32 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Super-telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 400 |
| Focal Length Max | 400 |
| Elements | 17 |
| Groups | 23 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 |
| ED Elements | 1 |
| Coating | Nano AR Coating |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 11 |
Build
| Mount | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 2.9 kg / 6.4 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 41 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors |
| Stabilization | Yes |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 2700 |
| Max Magnification | 0.52x |
vs Competition
| Spec | Sony G Master SEL400F28GM 400mm | Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS | Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD | Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM | Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 | Nikon NIKKOR AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 400mm | 16-300mm | 18-300mm | 28-70mm | 28-200mm | 16-85mm |
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/3.5 | f/3.5 | f/2.8 | f/4 | f/3.5 |
| Mount | Sony E | Sony E | Fujifilm X | Canon RF | L-Mount | Nikon F |
| Stabilization | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | true | false | true | true | false |
| Weight (g) | 2895 | 615 | 92 | 495 | 413 | 59 |
| AF Type | XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors | HLA | VXD linear motor | STM | Autofocus | AF-S |
| Lens Type | super-telephoto | zoom | zoom | zoom | macro | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony G Master SEL400F28GM 400mm | 98.1 | 90.8 | 6.5 | 18.8 | 88 | 83.7 | 34.1 | 56.9 | 80.5 |
| Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Compare | 54.6 | 84 | 57.8 | 86.5 | 98.8 | 76.8 | 99.6 | 83.1 | 99.1 |
| Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Compare | 98.1 | 74.8 | 96.3 | 88.4 | 73.5 | 76.8 | 99.2 | 83.1 | 80.5 |
| Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM Compare | 85.4 | 86 | 67.2 | 77.3 | 84.4 | 83.7 | 77.5 | 88 | 98.3 |
| Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 Compare | 54.6 | 77.7 | 73.8 | 89.5 | 90.9 | 71.2 | 95.6 | 75.4 | 99.4 |
| Nikon NIKKOR AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Compare | 54.6 | 74.8 | 98.4 | 59.7 | 64.1 | 76.8 | 94.3 | 88 | 92.2 |
Usage Scores
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.
