The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony FE 600mm F4 GM and the Hartblei Macro 120mm F4 TS for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Sony FE 600mm F4 GM is the longer of the two lenses at 449mm. The Hartblei Macro 120mm F4 TS with a length of 106mm, is 343mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sony FE 600mm F4 GM also has a larger diameter of 164mm compared to the Hartblei Macro 120mm F4 TS's 89mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Hartblei Macro 120mm F4 TS weighs 965g, 68% (2075g) lighter than the Sony FE 600mm F4 GM's weight of 3040g.
Filter Threads
The Sony FE 600mm F4 GM has a filter size of 41mm whereas the Hartblei Macro 120mm F4 TS has a 72mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 41mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony FE 600mm F4 GM:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Hartblei Macro 120mm F4 TS:
Lens Mounts
The Sony FE 600mm F4 GM has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Hartblei Macro 120mm F4 TS has the Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony FX5, Sony A7R VI and Sony A7 V for the Sony E Mount and Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II for the Sony Alpha Mount.
Hartblei Macro 120mm F4 TS is also available in Canon EF , Pentax KAF and Nikon F (FX) mounts.
Focal Range
Sony FE 600mm F4 GM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 600mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
900mm.
On the other hand, the Hartblei Macro 120mm F4 TS is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 121mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 181.5mm.
