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Sony

FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II

Sony E Mount

The standard telephoto zoom, completely redesigned to be 29% lighter and significantly sharper.

$2,799

Launch price

Released Oct 2021

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 70-200mm F4 G OSS II is 1.8 years newer.

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Wins

3categories

FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II

Sports & ActionPortrait

Wins

5categories

FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II

Video & HybridSports & Action

TL;DR — Key differences

FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II wins 2 categories·FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II wins 3 categories
  • AFE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/2.8 vs f/4)
  • AFE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/2.8 vs f/4)
  • BFE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II has lower Weight (793 g vs 1045 g)
  • BFE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II has lower Diameter (70 mm vs 88 mm)
  • BFE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II has lower Length (161 mm vs 200 mm)

Key specs at a glance

FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS IIFE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II
Focal Length70-200 mm70-200 mm
Max Aperturef/2.8f/4
MountSony ESony E
CoverageFull FrameAPS-C
Stabilization4.5 stops5 stops
Weight1045 g793 g
Min Focus40 cm38 cm
Filter Size77 mm67 mm

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseFE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS IIFE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II
Portrait
7.5Good
5.5Fair
Sports & Action
9.5Excellent
8.5Excellent
Video & Hybrid
7.0Good
9.0Excellent
Landscape
4.0Fair
3.0Limited
Travel
4.0Fair
4.0Fair
Wildlife
5.5Fair
5.5Fair
Macro & Close-up
3.5Limited
3.5Limited

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II

  • Special elements

    Adds 1 XA, 1 Aspherical, 1 Super ED…

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/2.8 vs f/4 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/2.8 vs f/4 — lower is better

  • Max magnification

    0.3 × vs 0.25 × — higher is better

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

  • Special elements

    Adds Aspherical

  • Control ring

    Only FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II supports it

  • Weight

    793 g vs 1045 g — lower is better

  • Diameter

    70 mm vs 88 mm — lower is better

  • Length

    161 mm vs 200 mm — lower is better

  • OIS effectiveness

    5 stops vs 4.5 stops — higher is better

  • Min focus distance

    38 cm vs 40 cm — lower is better

Shared specifications

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Optical stabilization

Both support optical stabilization

Weather sealing

Both support weather sealing

Custom function button

Both support custom function button

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II

Pros

  • Extremely lightweight for an f/2.8 telephoto zoom (only 1045g)
  • Virtually instantaneous and silent autofocus with 4 XD Linear motors
  • Stunning optical performance and contrast across entire range
  • Outstanding built-in Optical SteadyShot stabilization
  • Dedicated physical aperture ring with click and lock switches

Cons

  • Very high price tag
  • Lens hood is bulky and can block storage space easily

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 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II and FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II at major authorized retailers.

Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II

Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II

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Full specifications

= category winner

FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II
Focal length (Min)
70 mm
70 mm
Focal length (Max)
200 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
17
23
Groups
14
17
Special elements
1 XA, 1 Aspherical, 1 Super ED, 2 ED
Aspherical
FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II
Min focus distance
40 cm
38 cm−2 cm less
Max magnification
0.3 ×+20%
0.25 ×
Autofocus motor
4 XD Linear Motors
Linear / Stepping Motor
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II
Optical stabilization
Yes
Yes
OIS effectiveness
4.5 stops
5 stops+11%
FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II
Weight
1045 g
793 g−252 g less
Length
200 mm
161 mm−39 mm less
Diameter
88 mm
70 mm−18 mm less
Filter thread size
77 mm
67 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
11
9
FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II
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.