Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS II Telephoto zoom Lens

Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS II Lens (SEL70200G2) Summary

With a highly versatile focus range and new G image quality, the Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS II Lens is the next generation telephoto zoom for full-frame Sony Alpha cameras. The newly developed mirrorless E-mount lens arrives nine years after the original, and comes packed with upgrades for amateurs and enthusiasts who enjoy capturing a wide range of telephoto and close-up subjects. Sony has made significant improvements to the lens’ image quality, close-up macro performance and AF speed, all within a smaller and more portable design.

Whether you shoot nature and wildlife, portraits and travel, or sports and action, the second generation Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS II Lens (model SEL70200G2) is built to deliver across numerous genres. This G full-frame telephoto zoom lens adds the ability to mount teleconverters to extend the reach, and increase magnification to 1.0x life-size macro across the entire zoom range.

Four XD linear motors provide blazing fast AF speeds with precise AF tracking, while image stabilisation has been improved and now includes a third stabilisation mode, which compensates for every type of shooting scenario. There are several lens barrel controls to streamline your workflow and build quality is as high as you expect from any Sony lens, with a weather sealed design and Fluorine coated front element.

Key Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS II Features

• Corner to corner resolving power
• Fast, precise and quiet AF from four XD Linear Motors
• Lightweight design with excellent handling
• 0.5x magnification for half size macro over the entire zoom range
• Minimum focus distance of just 0.26m (wide) and 0.42m (tele)
• Compatible with Sony 1.4x Teleconverter and Sony 2.0x Teleconverter
• 1.0x magnification for life-size macro when using 2.0x TC
• 9-bladed circular aperture
• Supports breathing compensation for video recording
• 3 modes of optical image stabilisation
• x3 focus hold buttons and a focus limiter
• Zoom lock, AF/MF and full-time DMF
• 72mm filter thread

Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS II Lens in More Detail

Enhanced image quality

In the era of high resolution sensors, camera lenses must be capable of resolving increasingly intricate details. The Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS II Lens is designed with advanced optics that excel in achieving this objective.

Its optical construction comprises 19 elements in 13 groups, featuring an Advanced Aspherical (AA) element, an aspherical element, a Super ED element, and three ED elements (Extra Low Dispersion Aspherical). Together, they combine to deliver high image quality right to the edges of the frame, ensuring high clarity and beautiful details. Both the wide end and telephoto end of the zoom range demonstrate notably improved optical performance over the original.

A floating focusing design provides high resolution across all subject distances, with two independent lens focus groups also contributing to faster AF performance.

What’s more, Sony has included a 9-bladed round aperture diaphragm, which helps to render soft out of focus areas and produce more rounded bokeh, which highlight your subject and reduce background distractions.

Improved autofocus for stills and movies

This generation FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS II not only uses a floating focusing design, but also features four of Sony’s renowned XD (extreme dynamic) linear motors to achieve significantly faster autofocus with improved tracking.

The XD linear motor design provides roughly 20% faster AF speed and works seamlessly with blackout-free bursting up to 30fps, which cameras like the flagship Sony A1 delivers. The new lens design also supports AF tracking while zooming , which is ideal when your subject is moving quickly around the frame.

Excellent video capabilities

Breathing is well suppressed optically and the Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS II Lens also supports breathing compensation, which is found in compatible Sony mirrorless cameras. This makes it a great choice for video recording, especially when making use of the fast autofocus system and close focus distances.

Even at 4K/120p, you can rely on this lens to deliver smooth and precise autofocus performance thanks to its four XD linear focus motors. When the de-click feature is activated you can make silent exposure changes with the aperture, as well as access custom settings through the lens barrel buttons.

Class-leading close-up performance

Sony has developed the lens to provide excellent close-up performance with 0.5x magnification (half macro) over the entire zoom range. This opens up incredible creative opportunities to capture beautifully detailed tele-macro type shots of anything from nature and flowers to wedding bands and other frame-filling details.

At the 70mm wide end you can get as close as 0.26m to the subject and just 0.42m when shooting fully zoomed in at 200mm. The high magnification is available across all distances and any zoom, for truly versatile capabilities, with a working distance of just 9cm at the wide end and 20cm at the telephoto end. This distance from the subject to the front of the lens is significantly shorter than the previous model and allows you to fill the frame, even with very small subjects.

The floating focus design also ensures pinpoint sharpness throughout this zoom range, while the inner focus makes it easier to get closer to your subject.

Teleconverter compatible

Both of Sony’s high-quality 1.4x and 2.0x E-mount teleconverters can be used in conjunction with the FE 70-200mm f/4 mark II lens, for extended super telephoto reach of up to 400mm. This increases to 600mm when taking into account the crop factor of APS-C cameras, such as the jointly released Sony A6700 Mirrorless Camera Body.

When shooting close-ups through the 2.0 teleconverter you can achieve full life-sized macro (1x magnification) across the entire zoom range, which opens up yet more versatility from this lens.

Advanced control and customisation

The ability to customise a lens can help maintain a fast workflow and the mark II 70-200mm f/4 G lens is equipped with numerous controls to aid you in this endeavour:

1. Three focus hold buttons can be customised through the camera menu
2. Optical image stabilisation now includes three modes, with MODE 3 providing enhanced viewfinder Stabilisation for easier framing of erratic sports or wildlife
3. A tripod mount is available to support the lens on a tripod or monopod
4. Zoom lock and focus range limiter switches
5. AF/MF swift and full time DMF support

Smaller, lighter and a robust design

By adopting a variable length design, Sony managed to improve performance of the Mark II lens, while reducing its size and weight. The zoom lens is now 15% shorter at the wide end and weighs just 794g, vs 840g of the first generation, measuring a compact 82.2 x 149mm

A dust and moisture resistant design is completed by the addition of a Fluorine coating on the front lens element for easier lens cleaning and maintenance, ensuring outdoor creators can continue shooting in unexpected conditions.

Whether you prefer budget-friendly choices or premium options, the lens's compact 72mm lens filter thread accommodates a wide range of options, ensuring you can customise your shooting experience and creative vision.

Choose from a cost-effective f Hoya 72mm UX II UV Filter to reduce UV and protect the lens, or a high-end polariser, such as the Hoya 72mm HD II Circular Polarising Filter.

What’s in the box

• Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS II Lens for E-mount
• ALC-SH176 Petal shape, bayonet type lens hood
• ALC-F72S front cap
• ALC-R1EM rear cap
• Tripod mount

Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS II Lens Specifications