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Sony

FE 50mm F1.2 GM

Sony E Mount

Exquisite resolution and dreamy bokeh combine in a masterful f/1.2 prime.

$1,999

Launch price

Released Mar 2021

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 50mm F1.2 GM is 4.9 years newer.

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Wins

4categories

FE 50mm F1.2 GM

PortraitSports & Action

Wins

4categories

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

WildlifeVideo & Hybrid

TL;DR — Key differences

FE 50mm F1.2 GM wins 3 categories·FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS wins 2 categories
  • BFE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS has higher OIS effectiveness (5 stops vs 0 stops)
  • AFE 50mm F1.2 GM has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.2 vs f/5.6)
  • AFE 50mm F1.2 GM has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.2 vs f/4.5)
  • AFE 50mm F1.2 GM has lower Length (108 mm vs 170 mm)
  • BFE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS has higher Max magnification (0.25 × vs 0.17 ×)

Key specs at a glance

FE 50mm F1.2 GMFE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Focal Length50 mm70-300 mm
Max Aperturef/1.2f/4.5-5.6
MountSony ESony E
CoverageFull FrameAPS-C
StabilizationNo5 stops
Weight778 g854 g
Min Focus40 cm38 cm
Filter Size72 mm67 mm

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseFE 50mm F1.2 GMFE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Portrait
9.0Excellent
5.5Fair
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
4.5Fair
7.0Good
Landscape
3.0Limited
3.0Limited
Travel
2.0Limited
5.0Fair
Wildlife
3.0Limited
8.5Excellent
Macro & Close-up
0.0Limited
3.5Limited

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the FE 50mm F1.2 GM

  • Special elements

    Adds 3 XA (extreme aspherical)

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.2 vs f/5.6 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.2 vs f/4.5 — lower is better

  • Custom function button

    Only FE 50mm F1.2 GM supports it

  • Length

    108 mm vs 170 mm — lower is better

  • Weight

    778 g vs 854 g — lower is better

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

  • Special elements

    Adds Aspherical

  • 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 mm — lower is better

  • Max magnification

    0.25 × vs 0.17 × — higher is better

  • Min focus distance

    38 cm vs 40 cm — 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 50mm F1.2 GM

Pros

  • Outstanding sharpness wide open at f/1.2
  • Stunningly smooth, circular bokeh with 11 aperture blades
  • Extremely quiet and fast autofocus tracking
  • Manageable size and weight for an f/1.2 lens

Cons

  • Expensive investment for a single focal length
  • Heavy compared to standard f/1.8 options
  • Some visible vignetting wide open

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 50mm F1.2 GM and FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G 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 50mm F1.2 GM
FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Focal length (Min)
50 mm
70 mm
Focal length (Max)
50 mm
300 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/1.2+3.8 stops wider
f/4.5
Max aperture (Tele)
f/1.2+4.4 stops wider
f/5.6
Elements
14
23
Groups
10
17
Special elements
3 XA (extreme aspherical)
Aspherical
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Min focus distance
40 cm
38 cm−2 cm less
Max magnification
0.17 ×
0.25 ×+47%
Autofocus motor
XD Linear Motors
Linear / Stepping Motor
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Optical stabilization
No
Yes
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
5 stops
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Weight
778 g−76 g less
854 g
Length
108 mm−62 mm less
170 mm
Diameter
87 mm
70 mm−17 mm less
Filter thread size
72 mm
67 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
11
9
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
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 May 2026.