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 priceReleased Aug 2023
Sony
FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Sony E Mount
FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS — 70–300mm f/4.5-5.6 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sony lineup.
$1,199
Launch priceReleased Apr 2016
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II is 7.3 years newer.
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Wins
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
Wins
FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- BFE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS has higher OIS effectiveness (5 stops vs 0 stops)
- AFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/2.8 vs f/5.6)
- AFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II has lower Min focus distance (22.1 cm vs 38 cm)
- AFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/2.8 vs f/4.5)
- AFE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II has lower Weight (547 g vs 854 g)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this lens size diff to share
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
⌀88 × 112 mm
547 g (1.21 lb / 19.29 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
⌀70 × 170 mm
854 g (1.88 lb / 30.12 oz)
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II is 59mm shorter and 18mm wider than FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS.
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II is 307 g lighter than FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS.
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
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose the FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
- ✓
Max aperture (Tele)
f/2.8 vs f/5.6 — lower is better
- ✓
Custom function button
Only FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II supports it
- ✓
Min focus distance
22.1 cm vs 38 cm — lower is better
- ✓
Max aperture (Wide)
f/2.8 vs f/4.5 — lower is better
- ✓
Weight
547 g vs 854 g — lower is better
- ✓
Length
111.5 mm vs 170 mm — lower is better
- ✓
Max magnification
0.32 × vs 0.25 × — higher is better
Reasons to choose the FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
- ✓
OIS effectiveness
5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
- ✓
Optical stabilization
Only FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS supports it
- ✓
Diameter
70 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
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 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 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
- –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 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS at major authorized retailers.
Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.