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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 70-300mm 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 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II is 5.5 years newer.

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Wins

3categories

FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II

Sports & ActionPortrait

Wins

5categories

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

WildlifeVideo & Hybrid

TL;DR — Key differences

FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II wins 3 categories·FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS wins 2 categories
  • AFE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/2.8 vs f/5.6)
  • AFE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/2.8 vs f/4.5)
  • BFE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS has lower Diameter (70 mm vs 88 mm)
  • BFE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS has lower Weight (854 g vs 1045 g)
  • AFE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II has higher Max magnification (0.3 × vs 0.25 ×)

Key specs at a glance

FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS IIFE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Focal Length70-200 mm70-300 mm
Max Aperturef/2.8f/4.5-5.6
MountSony ESony E
CoverageFull FrameAPS-C
Stabilization4.5 stops5 stops
Weight1045 g854 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 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Portrait
7.5Good
5.5Fair
Sports & Action
9.5Excellent
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
7.0Good
7.0Good
Landscape
4.0Fair
3.0Limited
Travel
4.0Fair
5.0Fair
Wildlife
5.5Fair
8.5Excellent
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 (Tele)

    f/2.8 vs f/5.6 — lower is better

  • Custom function button

    Only FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II supports it

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/2.8 vs f/4.5 — lower is better

  • Max magnification

    0.3 × vs 0.25 × — higher is better

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

  • Special elements

    Adds Aspherical

  • Control ring

    Only FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS supports it

  • Diameter

    70 mm vs 88 mm — lower is better

  • Weight

    854 g vs 1045 g — lower is better

  • Length

    170 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

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 70-300mm 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 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II and FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS at major authorized retailers.

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

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

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Full specifications

= category winner

FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Focal length (Min)
70 mm
70 mm
Focal length (Max)
200 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
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 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
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 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Optical stabilization
Yes
Yes
OIS effectiveness
4.5 stops
5 stops+11%
FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
Weight
1045 g
854 g−191 g less
Length
200 mm
170 mm−30 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 70-300mm 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.