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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

Tamron

17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD

Sony E Mount

17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD — 17–28mm f/2.8 for Sony E, a popular choice in the tamron lineup.

$899

Launch price

Released Jun 2019

FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II is 2.3 years newer.

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Wins

2categories

FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II

Sports & ActionPortrait

Wins

4categories

17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD

LandscapeSports & Action

2 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II wins 2 categories·17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD wins 3 categories
  • AFE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II has higher OIS effectiveness (4.5 stops vs 0 stops)
  • B17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD has lower Weight (420 g vs 1045 g)
  • B17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD has lower Length (109 mm vs 200 mm)
  • AFE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II has higher Max magnification (0.3 × vs 0.25 ×)
  • B17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD has lower Min focus distance (38 cm vs 40 cm)

Key specs at a glance

FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
Focal Length70-200 mm17-28 mm
Max Aperturef/2.8f/2.8
MountSony ESony E
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
Stabilization4.5 stopsNo
Weight1045 g420 g
Min Focus40 cm38 cm
Filter Size77 mm82 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 II17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
Portrait
7.5Good
4.5Fair
Sports & Action
9.5Excellent
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
7.0Good
4.0Fair
Landscape
4.0Fair
7.0Good
Travel
4.0Fair
5.0Fair
Wildlife
5.5Fair
3.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
3.5Limited
2.0Limited

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…

  • OIS effectiveness

    4.5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better

  • Optical stabilization

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

  • Custom function button

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

  • Max magnification

    0.3 × vs 0.25 × — higher is better

Reasons to choose the 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD

  • Special elements

    Adds Aspherical

  • Weight

    420 g vs 1045 g — lower is better

  • Length

    109 mm vs 200 mm — lower is better

  • Min focus distance

    38 cm vs 40 cm — lower is better

  • Diameter

    86 mm vs 88 mm — lower is better

Shared specifications

Max aperture (Wide)

Both f/2.8

Max aperture (Tele)

Both f/2.8

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

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

17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD

Pros

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

Cons

  • 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 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD at major authorized retailers.

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

Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD

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Full specifications

= category winner

FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
Focal length (Min)
70 mm
17 mm
Focal length (Max)
200 mm
28 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/2.8
f/2.8
Max aperture (Tele)
f/2.8
f/2.8
Elements
17
16
Groups
14
12
Special elements
1 XA, 1 Aspherical, 1 Super ED, 2 ED
Aspherical
FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
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
17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
Optical stabilization
Yes
No
OIS effectiveness
4.5 stops
0 stops
FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
Weight
1045 g
420 g−625 g less
Length
200 mm
109 mm−91 mm less
Diameter
88 mm
86 mm−2 mm less
Filter thread size
77 mm
82 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
11
9
FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
Lens mount
Sony E
Sony E
Format coverage
Full Frame
Full Frame

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