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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

vs

Sony

FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Sony E Mount

FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS — 200–600mm f/5.6-6.3 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sony lineup.

$1,999

Launch price

Released Jun 2019

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II is 4.3 years newer.

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Wins

5categories

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II

LandscapeSports & Action

Wins

1categories

FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

WildlifeVideo & Hybrid

2 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II wins 4 categories·FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS wins 1 categories
  • BFE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS has higher OIS effectiveness (5 stops vs 0 stops)
  • AFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II has lower Weight (547 g vs 2115 g)
  • AFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/2.8 vs f/6.3)
  • AFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II has lower Length (127 mm vs 280 mm)
  • AFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/2.8 vs f/5.6)

Key specs at a glance

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM IIFE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
Focal Length16-35 mm200-600 mm
Max Aperturef/2.8f/5.6-6.3
MountSony ESony E
CoverageAPS-CFull Frame
StabilizationNo5 stops
Weight547 g2115 g
Min Focus38 cm38 cm
Filter Size62 mm77 mm

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM IIFE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
Portrait
4.5Fair
2.5Limited
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
5.0Fair
7.0Good
Landscape
7.0Good
3.0Limited
Travel
3.5Limited
4.0Fair
Wildlife
3.0Limited
10.0Excellent
Macro & Close-up
2.0Limited
3.5Limited

Why pick one over the other

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

  • Weight

    547 g vs 2115 g — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/2.8 vs f/6.3 — lower is better

  • Length

    127 mm vs 280 mm — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/2.8 vs f/5.6 — lower is better

  • Diameter

    65 mm vs 81 mm — lower is better

Reasons to choose the FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

  • OIS effectiveness

    5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better

  • Optical stabilization

    Only FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS supports it

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 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

FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Pros

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

Cons

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

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II and FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS at major authorized retailers.

Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II

Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

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Full specifications

= category winner

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
Focal length (Min)
16 mm
200 mm
Focal length (Max)
35 mm
600 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/2.8+2 stops wider
f/5.6
Max aperture (Tele)
f/2.8+2.3 stops wider
f/6.3
Elements
16
23
Groups
12
17
Special elements
Aspherical
Aspherical
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
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 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
Optical stabilization
No
Yes
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
5 stops
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
Weight
547 g−1,568 g less
2115 g
Length
127 mm−153 mm less
280 mm
Diameter
65 mm−16 mm less
81 mm
Filter thread size
62 mm
77 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
9
9
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
Lens mount
Sony E
Sony E
Format coverage
APS-C
Full Frame

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