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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

vs

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 price

Released Apr 2016

FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS is 7.8 years newer.

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Wins

2categories

FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS

Sports & ActionWildlife

Wins

5categories

FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS

WildlifeVideo & Hybrid

1 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS wins 2 categories·FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS wins 3 categories
  • BFE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS has lower Min focus distance (38 cm vs 200 cm)
  • AFE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/2.8 vs f/5.6)
  • BFE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS has lower Diameter (70 mm vs 124 mm)
  • BFE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS has lower Weight (854 g vs 1470 g)
  • AFE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/2.8 vs f/4.5)

Key specs at a glance

FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSSFE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Focal Length300 mm70-300 mm
Max Aperturef/2.8f/4.5-5.6
MountSony ESony E
CoverageFull FrameAPS-C
Stabilization5 stops5 stops
Weight1470 g854 g
Min Focus200 cm38 cm
Filter Size40.5 mm67 mm

Size and weight, to scale

FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS

124 × 265 mm

1470 g (3.24 lb / 51.85 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 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS

70 × 170 mm

854 g (1.88 lb / 30.12 oz)

FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS is 95mm longer and 54mm wider than FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS.

FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS is 616 g heavier 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

Use caseFE 300mm F2.8 GM OSSFE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Portrait
4.5Fair
5.5Fair
Sports & Action
10.0Excellent
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
7.0Good
7.0Good
Landscape
4.0Fair
3.0Limited
Travel
2.0Limited
5.0Fair
Wildlife
8.5Excellent
8.5Excellent
Macro & Close-up
1.5Limited
3.5Limited

Why pick one over the other

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

  • Special elements

    Adds 3 Super ED, 1 ED

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/2.8 vs f/5.6 — lower is better

  • Custom function button

    Only FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS supports it

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/2.8 vs f/4.5 — lower is better

Reasons to choose the FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS

  • Special elements

    Adds Aspherical

  • Min focus distance

    38 cm vs 200 cm — lower is better

  • Diameter

    70 mm vs 124 mm — lower is better

  • Weight

    854 g vs 1470 g — lower is better

  • Length

    170 mm vs 265 mm — lower is better

  • Max magnification

    0.25 × vs 0.16 × — higher is better

Shared specifications

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Optical stabilization

Both support optical stabilization

OIS effectiveness

Both 5 stops

Weather sealing

Both support weather sealing

Control ring

Both support control ring

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

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

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 300mm F2.8 GM OSS and FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS at major authorized retailers.

Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS

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Full specifications

= category winner

FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS
FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Focal length (Min)
300 mm
70 mm
Focal length (Max)
300 mm
300 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/2.8+1.4 stops wider
f/4.5
Max aperture (Tele)
f/2.8+2 stops wider
f/5.6
Elements
21
23
Groups
17
17
Special elements
3 Super ED, 1 ED
Aspherical
FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS
FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Min focus distance
200 cm
38 cm−162 cm less
Max magnification
0.16 ×
0.25 ×+56%
Autofocus motor
2 XD Linear Motors
Linear / Stepping Motor
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS
FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Optical stabilization
Yes
Yes
OIS effectiveness
5 stops
5 stops
FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS
FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Weight
1470 g
854 g−616 g less
Length
265 mm
170 mm−95 mm less
Diameter
124 mm
70 mm−54 mm less
Filter thread size
40.5 mm
67 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
11
9
FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS
FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Lens mount
Sony E
Sony E
Format coverage
Full Frame
APS-C

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