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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 70-200mm F4 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

1categories

FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II

Video & HybridSports & Action

2 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II wins 4 categories·FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II wins 1 categories
  • BFE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II has higher OIS effectiveness (5 stops vs 0 stops)
  • AFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II has lower Weight (547 g vs 793 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)
  • AFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II has lower Length (127 mm vs 161 mm)

Key specs at a glance

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM IIFE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II
Focal Length16-35 mm70-200 mm
Max Aperturef/2.8f/4
MountSony ESony E
CoverageAPS-CAPS-C
StabilizationNo5 stops
Weight547 g793 g
Min Focus38 cm38 cm
Filter Size62 mm67 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 70-200mm F4 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
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 793 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

    127 mm vs 161 mm — lower is better

  • Diameter

    65 mm vs 70 mm — lower is better

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

  • OIS effectiveness

    5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better

  • Optical stabilization

    Only FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II 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 70-200mm F4 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 G OSS II at major authorized retailers.

Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II

Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II

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Full specifications

= category winner

FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
FE 70-200mm F4 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
16
23
Groups
12
17
Special elements
Aspherical
Aspherical
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS 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 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II
Optical stabilization
No
Yes
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
5 stops
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II
Weight
547 g−246 g less
793 g
Length
127 mm−34 mm less
161 mm
Diameter
65 mm−5 mm less
70 mm
Filter thread size
62 mm
67 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
9
9
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II
Lens mount
Sony E
Sony E
Format coverage
APS-C
APS-C

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