Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM + 2.0X Teleconverter vs Sony FE 600mm F4 GM without the hoods
Out of all the E-mount glass I have tried, the Sony FE 300mm f2.8 GM OSS is the standout. It is razor sharp, it takes both the FE 1.4x and FE 2x teleconverters without falling apart, and it is shockingly compact for what it can do. As a 'proud' owner of the Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS, I am honestly asking myself if I still need that giant. The 600 is optically unbelievable, but for someone who shoots handheld all the time it is a workout. It is cumbersome to carry and store, and the $13K price tag adds stress any time you leave it in the car or set it down in a public place. The 300mm, while not cheap at $6.5K (+ $600 for the 2.0x TC), is still half the price, slips into smaller backpacks when you do not want to leave it behind, and it does not attract the same bazooka-in-the-park attention the 600mm does.
Also read: Sony 300mm F2.8 GM + 2x vs 600mm F4 GM - Real-life sharpness comparison
Weight
The FE 300mm + 2.0× TC totals 1,677 g (1,470 g + 207 g) / 3.7 lb . The FE 600mm is 3,040 g / 6.7 lb. That’s 1,363 g / 3.0 lb lighter!
Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM + 2.0X Teleconverter vs Sony FE 600mm F4 GM without the hoods and CamDec Lens Caps
TIP: Consider our Heavy-Duty Lens caps to turn these lenses in to even smaller packages.
CamDec Lens Cap vs Sony FE 300mm F2.8 Soft Case
The Sigma 300-600mm F4 I reviewed was even more of a workout than the Sony 600mm. At 3970 g, the Sigma is almost 1 kg heavier and 21mm longer. Meanwhile, the FE 300mm F2.8 with a 2.0x TC gives me a very similar look at an effective 600mm F5.6, and it is a far easier package to carry.
Sigma 300-600mm F4 vs Sony FE 600mm F4 vs Sony FE 400-800mm F5.6-8 vs Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 Size Comparison
I am working on a full image-quality comparison of these two which I am planning to publish soon. Spoiler: the 600mm F4 is still better than the 300mm F2.8 plus 2.0x TC, but the gap is smaller than you might think. Before I post charts and crops, I wanted to show how dramatic the size difference is in real life. When you see the FE 300mm F2.8 with the 2.0x next to the 600mm F4, it is hard not to be tempted by the smaller setup.
Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM + 2.0X Teleconverter vs Sony FE 600mm F4 GM with hoods reverseds
Comparison Table
| FEATURE and SPECS COMPARISON | |  |  |
| Model | Sony FE 300mm f2.8 GM | Sony FE 600mm F4 GM |
| Lens Type | Prime | Prime |
| Lens Mount | Sony E | Sony E |
| Focal Length | 300mm | 600mm |
| Max Format | 35mm FF | 35mm FF |
| Image Stabilization | | |
| Number of Diaphragm Blades | 11 | 11 |
| Optical Elements | 20 | 25 |
| Optical Groups | 16 | 18 |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 2m | 4.5m |
| Max Magnification | 0.16x | 0.14x |
| Weight | 1470g | 3040g |
| Length | 264mm | 449mm |
| Diameter | 124mm | 164mm |
| Filter Thread | 41mm | 41mm |
| Weather Sealing | | |
| Price | Amazon, B&H Photo | Amazon, B&H Photo |
