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Sony

FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS

Sony E Mount

FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS — 100–400mm f/4.5-5.6 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sony lineup.

$2,499

Launch price

Released Jul 2017

vs

Sony

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II

Sony E Mount

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II — 16–35mm f/2.8 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sony lineup.

$2,299

Launch price

Released Aug 2023

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II is 6.1 years newer.

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Wins

1categories

FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS

WildlifeVideo & Hybrid

Wins

5categories

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II

LandscapeSports & Action

2 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS wins 1 categories·FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II wins 4 categories
  • AFE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS has higher OIS effectiveness (5 stops vs 0 stops)
  • BFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II has lower Weight (547 g vs 1395 g)
  • BFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/2.8 vs f/5.6)
  • BFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II has lower Length (127 mm vs 245 mm)
  • BFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/2.8 vs f/4.5)

Key specs at a glance

FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSSFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
Focal Length100-400 mm16-35 mm
Max Aperturef/4.5-5.6f/2.8
MountSony ESony E
CoverageFull FrameAPS-C
Stabilization5 stopsNo
Weight1395 g547 g
Min Focus38 cm38 cm
Filter Size77 mm62 mm

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseFE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSSFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
Portrait
5.5Fair
4.5Fair
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
7.0Good
5.0Fair
Landscape
3.0Limited
7.0Good
Travel
5.0Fair
3.5Limited
Wildlife
9.5Excellent
3.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
3.5Limited
2.0Limited

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS

  • OIS effectiveness

    5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better

  • Optical stabilization

    Only FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS supports it

Reasons to choose the FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II

  • Weight

    547 g vs 1395 g — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/2.8 vs f/5.6 — lower is better

  • Length

    127 mm vs 245 mm — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/2.8 vs f/4.5 — lower is better

  • Diameter

    65 mm vs 81 mm — lower is better

Shared specifications

Min focus distance

Both 38 cm

Max magnification

Both 0.25 ×

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Weather sealing

Both support weather sealing

Control ring

Both support control ring

Custom function button

Both support custom function button

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS

Pros

  • Versatile zoom range covers multiple focal lengths in one lens
  • Built-in optical image stabilization
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting

Cons

  • Premium price point
  • Relatively heavy for extended handheld use
  • Slower maximum aperture limits low-light performance

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II

Pros

  • Versatile zoom range covers multiple focal lengths in one lens
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting
  • Native Sony E mount compatibility

Cons

  • Premium price point
  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS and FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II at major authorized retailers.

Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS

Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II

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Full specifications

= category winner

FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
Focal length (Min)
100 mm
16 mm
Focal length (Max)
400 mm
35 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/4.5
f/2.8+1.4 stops wider
Max aperture (Tele)
f/5.6
f/2.8+2 stops wider
Elements
23
16
Groups
17
12
Special elements
Aspherical
Aspherical
FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
Min focus distance
38 cm
38 cm
Max magnification
0.25 ×
0.25 ×
Autofocus motor
Linear / Stepping Motor
Linear / Stepping Motor
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
Optical stabilization
Yes
No
OIS effectiveness
5 stops
0 stops
FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
Weight
1395 g
547 g−848 g less
Length
245 mm
127 mm−118 mm less
Diameter
81 mm
65 mm−16 mm less
Filter thread size
77 mm
62 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
9
9
FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
Lens mount
Sony E
Sony E
Format coverage
Full Frame
APS-C

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.