From the depths of the Amazon rainforest to the frozen peaks of the Himalayas, wildlife photographer and filmmaker Dan Ng ventures where few dare to go — capturing elusive creatures in their raw, untamed world. As wildlife photography is extremely delicate, Dan relies on lenses that close the gap between himself and the animals while keeping a safe distance that protects both the photographer and the subject. Among the selection of Sony telephoto lenses, FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS telephoto zoom lens impressed Dan with its extraordinary reach and sharp image quality, making it a valuable tool for his wildlife expeditions.
Close the distance and go further with cutting-edge zoom
Weighing 2475g, the FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS is lightweight for its class of super-telephoto lenses. For Dan, its manageable weight offers the agility needed to capture fleeting moments, while letting him observe wildlife from a safe distance.
Alpha 1 II | FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS + 2x Teleconverters | Still capture from video
To put the FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS to the test, Dan brought the lens to the Himalayas in search of the Snow Leopard — one of the world’s most elusive wild animals. Being a frequent user of the FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS, Dan felt at home with the FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS. The lens proved itself capable of enduring the frigid cold at high altitudes and battling heat haze from the sun, which degrades image quality. Its Optical SteadyShot (OSS) Image Stabilisation was crucial in countering the relentless cold winds that threatened to shake Dan’s camera and tripod, ensuring a smooth and steady filming experience in harsh climates.
Above all, the FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS allowed Dan to close the distance between the elusive snow leopard and himself, unlocking a focal length of 2160mm when paired with a 2x Teleconverter. This unprecedented zoom captured not just one snow leopard, but a rare, intimate moment shared between a snow leopard and her cubs.
We were fortunate enough to spot a mother and her cubs resting on the ridge of a mountain,
three peaks away.
“After nearly half a day of waiting, they finally began to move. Thanks to a 2x Teleconverter and Alpha 1 II’s APS-C crop mode, I was able to film them playfully moving along the ridge. These cats are incredibly shy around humans, and I was over the moon to have the chance to quietly reach into their wild world, observing them in their natural habitat with zero interference. This expedition was all about reach, and this lens delivered exactly what I needed,” Dan said.
Beyond allowing him to reach deeper into the wild, telephoto lens compression pulls his background closer to his foreground, creating the illusion of a vast, dramatic backdrop.
Alpha 1 II | FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS | 135mm | 1/1000s | F16 | ISO 640
Instead of always closing the distance to my subjects, I prefer stepping back and shooting at the longest focal length possible, allowing me to seamlessly blend my subjects into their environment, offering a fresh perspective on their place in the wild.
Ready to go further with long lenses?
If you’ve read this far, you’re probably thinking of starting your journey in shooting with telephoto lenses, or if you already own a telephoto lens or two, you’re probably wondering how you can take your craft up a notch.
Even as a professional photographer, Dan acknowledges that long lenses can be intimidating to first-time users, especially when it comes to stabilisation and handheld shooting. As such, he recommends using a tripod or monopod to stabilise your shots and get a better feel for your long lens. If you’re shooting handheld, he suggests increasing your shutter speed to ensure your shots are tack sharp and in focus, helping to combat any shake if you’re not steady enough.
Alpha 1 | FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | Still capture from video
Dan’s signature style of shooting wildlife involves juxtaposing his subjects against the sun and moon to enhance scenes with a dramatic flair, and long zoom lenses such as the FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS and FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS have a vast focal range, making it easy for him to do just that. It allows him to amplify the scale of the sun or moon easily, making the scene look almost otherworldly.
Long lenses can feel intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of them, they truly open up a whole new world. Embrace the compression effect of long lenses and get creative with how you use them!
Alpha 1 II | FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS + 1.4x Teleconverter | 1120mm | 1/500s | F11 | ISO 1250
If you’re diving into wildlife photography, there are plenty of great telephoto options to explore in addition to the FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS — like the FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS, FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS, FE 600mm F4 GM OSS, and the teleconverter lenses to help you get even closer to the action.
All featured images were captured by Dan Ng using the Alpha 1 Series cameras.
