Kodiak Island always seems to have a few surprises waiting. While exploring some of the island's backroads with Julie, this Orange-crowned Warbler suddenly appeared and gave me a fleeting opportunity for a flight photograph. These tiny songbirds are fast, unpredictable, and rarely fly exactly where you'd like them to.

This image was made with the new Sony FE 100–400mm GM, Sony a9 III, and the 2X Teleconverter—a combination I had been putting through its paces during our Alaska trip. Despite the effective 800mm focal length, autofocus locked on quickly, and the remarkable frame rate of the a9 III made capturing the perfect wing position much easier than it would have been only a few years ago.

Photographs like this are why I spend so much time field testing equipment before forming an opinion. Laboratory tests and specifications are interesting, but it's moments like these—when a tiny warbler launches unexpectedly—that reveal how gear performs when it really matters.

If you haven't already, be sure to read my previous post for my real-world review of the Sony FE 100–400mm GM, where I share my experience after field testing it in torrential rain along Alaska's Katmai Coast, on Kodiak Island, and around Anchorage. If you're considering this lens, I think you'll find the review worthwhile.