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Sony

FE 20-70mm F4 G

Sony E Mount

FE 20-70mm F4 G — 20–70mm f/4 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sony lineup.

$1,099

Launch price

Released Jan 2023

vs

Sony

FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS

Sony E Mount

World's lightest 300mm F2.8 — 1470g with XD Linear AF, OSS, and G Master resolution.

$6,999

Launch price

Released Jan 2024

FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS is 1 year newer.

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Wins

5categories

FE 20-70mm F4 G

LandscapeTravel

Wins

3categories

FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS

Sports & ActionWildlife

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

FE 20-70mm F4 G wins 4 categories·FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS wins 1 categories
  • BFE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS has higher OIS effectiveness (5 stops vs 0 stops)
  • AFE 20-70mm F4 G has lower Min focus distance (30 cm vs 200 cm)
  • AFE 20-70mm F4 G has lower Weight (488 g vs 1470 g)
  • AFE 20-70mm F4 G has lower Length (99 mm vs 265 mm)
  • AFE 20-70mm F4 G has higher Max magnification (0.39 × vs 0.16 ×)

Key specs at a glance

FE 20-70mm F4 GFE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS
Focal Length20-70 mm300 mm
Max Aperturef/4f/2.8
MountSony ESony E
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
StabilizationNo5 stops
Weight488 g1470 g
Min Focus30 cm200 cm
Filter Size72 mm40.5 mm

Size and weight, to scale

FE 20-70mm F4 G

76 × 99 mm

488 g (1.08 lb / 17.21 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 300mm F2.8 GM OSS

124 × 265 mm

1470 g (3.24 lb / 51.85 oz)

FE 20-70mm F4 G is 166mm shorter and 48mm narrower than FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS.

FE 20-70mm F4 G is 982 g lighter than FE 300mm F2.8 GM 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

Use caseFE 20-70mm F4 GFE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS
Portrait
1.0Limited
4.5Fair
Sports & Action
5.5Fair
10.0Excellent
Video & Hybrid
5.0Fair
7.0Good
Landscape
8.0Excellent
4.0Fair
Travel
7.0Good
2.0Limited
Wildlife
3.0Limited
8.5Excellent
Macro & Close-up
3.5Limited
1.5Limited

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the FE 20-70mm F4 G

  • Min focus distance

    30 cm vs 200 cm — lower is better

  • Weight

    488 g vs 1470 g — lower is better

  • Special elements

    Adds 3 Aspherical, 1 Super ED

  • Length

    99 mm vs 265 mm — lower is better

  • Diameter

    76 mm vs 124 mm — lower is better

  • Max magnification

    0.39 × vs 0.16 × — higher is better

Reasons to choose the FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS

  • OIS effectiveness

    5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better

  • Special elements

    Adds 3 Super ED

  • Optical stabilization

    Only FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS supports it

  • Custom function button

    Only FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS supports it

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/2.8 vs f/4 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/2.8 vs f/4 — 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 20-70mm F4 G

Pros

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

Cons

  • No optical stabilization — relies on body IBIS
  • Slower maximum aperture limits low-light performance

FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS

Pros

  • Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • Built-in optical image stabilization
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting

Cons

  • Premium price point
  • Relatively heavy for extended handheld use

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the FE 20-70mm F4 G and FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS at major authorized retailers.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.

Full specifications

= category winner

FE 20-70mm F4 G
FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS
Focal length (Min)
20 mm
300 mm
Focal length (Max)
70 mm
300 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/4
f/2.8+1 stop wider
Max aperture (Tele)
f/4
f/2.8+1 stop wider
Elements
16
21
Groups
13
17
Special elements
3 Aspherical, 1 ED, 1 Super ED
3 Super ED, 1 ED
FE 20-70mm F4 G
FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS
Min focus distance
30 cm−170 cm less
200 cm
Max magnification
0.39 ×2.4× more
0.16 ×
Autofocus motor
2 XD Linear Motors
2 XD Linear Motors
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
FE 20-70mm F4 G
FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS
Optical stabilization
No
Yes
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
5 stops
FE 20-70mm F4 G
FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS
Weight
488 g−982 g less
1470 g
Length
99 mm−166 mm less
265 mm
Diameter
76 mm−48 mm less
124 mm
Filter thread size
72 mm
40.5 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
7
11
FE 20-70mm F4 G
FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS
Lens mount
Sony E
Sony E
Format coverage
Full Frame
Full Frame

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