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FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II

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
FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II

Sony

FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II

Sony E Mount

FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II — 70–200mm f/4 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sony lineup.

$1,799

Launch price

Released Jul 2023

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II is 2 months newer.

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Wins

5categories

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II

LandscapeSports & Action

Wins

3categories

FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II

Video & HybridSports & Action

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II wins 3 categories·FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II wins 2 categories
  • BFE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II has higher OIS effectiveness (5 stops vs 0 stops)
  • BFE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II has higher Max magnification (0.5 × vs 0.32 ×)
  • AFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II has lower Weight (547 g vs 794 g)
  • AFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/2.8 vs f/4)
  • AFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/2.8 vs f/4)

Key specs at a glance

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM IIFE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II
Focal Length16-35 mm70-200 mm
Max Aperturef/2.8f/4
MountSony ESony E
CoverageFull-FrameFull-Frame
StabilizationNo5 stops
Weight547 g794 g
Min Focus22.1 cm26 cm
Filter Size82 mm72 mm

Size and weight, to scale

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II shown to scale

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II

88 × 112 mm

547 g (1.21 lb / 19.29 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II shown to scale

FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II

82 × 149 mm

794 g (1.75 lb / 28.01 oz)

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II is 38mm shorter and 6mm wider than FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II.

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II is 247 g lighter than FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II.

Diameter (⌀) is the maximum barrel width; length is measured from the mount to the front of the lens.

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM IIFE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II
Portrait
4.5Fair
5.5Fair
Sports & Action
6.5Good
8.5Excellent
Video & Hybrid
5.0Fair
9.0Excellent
Landscape
7.0Good
3.0Limited
Travel
3.5Limited
4.0Fair
Wildlife
3.0Limited
5.5Fair
Macro & Close-up
3.5Limited
7.0Good

Why pick one over the other

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

  • Weight

    547 g vs 794 g — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/2.8 vs f/4 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/2.8 vs f/4 — lower is better

  • Length

    111.5 mm vs 149 mm — lower is better

  • Min focus distance

    22.1 cm vs 26 cm — lower is better

Reasons to choose the FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II

  • OIS effectiveness

    5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better

  • Optical stabilization

    Only FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II supports it

  • Max magnification

    0.5 × vs 0.32 × — higher is better

  • Diameter

    82.2 mm vs 87.8 mm — lower is better

Shared specifications

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 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II

Pros

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

Cons

  • Slower maximum aperture limits low-light performance
  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II and FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II at major authorized retailers.

Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II

Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II

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Full specifications

= category winner

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II
Focal length (Min)
16 mm
70 mm
Focal length (Max)
35 mm
200 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/2.8+1 stop wider
f/4
Max aperture (Tele)
f/2.8+1 stop wider
f/4
Elements
15
19
Groups
12
13
Special elements
Aspherical
Aspherical
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II
Min focus distance
22.1 cm−4 cm less
26 cm
Max magnification
0.32 ×
0.5 ×+56%
Autofocus motor
Linear / Stepping Motor
Linear / Stepping Motor
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II
Optical stabilization
No
Yes
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
5 stops
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II
Weight
547 g−247 g less
794 g
Length
111.5 mm−38 mm less
149 mm
Diameter
87.8 mm
82.2 mm−6 mm less
Filter thread size
82 mm
72 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
11
9
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II
Lens mount
Sony E
Sony E
Format coverage
Full-Frame
Full-Frame

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