Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS vs Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS compared with FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS
SonyFE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSSSonyFE 70-200mm F4 G OSS
Overview
ReleasedSeptember 2016March 2014
Optics
Lens typeZoomZoom
Focal length70–200 mm70–200 mm
Maximum aperturef/2.8f/4
Minimum aperturef/22f/22
Optical constructionTwenty-three elements in eighteen groupsTwenty-one elements in fifteen groups
Special elementsIncludes XA extreme aspherical, ED and Super ED elementsIncludes two AA advanced aspherical elements and Super ED glass
CoatingsSony Nano AR coating and front fluorine coatingSony Nano AR coating
DiaphragmEleven rounded bladesNine rounded blades
Angle of view34°–12°30′ full frame; 23°–8° APS-C34°–12° full frame; 22°–8° APS-C
Mount and compatibility
MountsSony ESony E
Image circleFull frameFull frame
Image circle detailFull-frame coverage; 105–300 mm equivalent field of view on APS-CFull-frame coverage; 105–300 mm equivalent field of view on APS-C
Teleconverter supportCompatible with Sony SEL14TC 1.4× and SEL20TC 2× teleconvertersNot compatible with Sony E-mount teleconverters
Focus and stabilisation
AutofocusYesYes
Minimum focus distance0.96 m1 m
Maximum magnification0.25×0.13×
Optical stabilisationYesYes
Autofocus detailRing-drive SSM for front focus group and two linear motors for rear group; floating focus mechanismTwo linear motors with internal focusing
Focus distance detail0.96 m minimum focus distanceMinimum focus distance AF 1.0–1.5 m across zoom range; MF 1.0–1.35 m
Magnification detail0.25× maximum magnification0.13× maximum magnification
Stabilisation detailBuilt-in Optical SteadyShot; compatible body stabilisation can combine for five-axis correction. Mode 1 normal and mode 2 panning (Photography Blog and OpticalLimits); no maker stop rating in read pagesBuilt-in Optical SteadyShot; mode 1 normal and mode 2 panning (Photography Blog); no maker stop rating in read pages
Video featuresConstant overall lens length during zoom and focus; quiet autofocusQuiet linear-motor focusing; constant overall barrel length during focus and zoom
Design
Dust and moisture resistantYesYes
Filter diameter77 mm72 mm
Maximum diameter88 mm80 mm
Length200 mm175 mm
Weight1,480 g840 g (better)
ControlsFocus and zoom rings, AF/MF switch, focus-hold buttons, focus-range limiter and stabilisation controlsFocus and zoom rings, AF/MF switch, focus-hold buttons, focus-range limiter and stabilisation controls
Zoom designInternal zoom and focusing; overall length remains constantInternal zoom and focusing; overall length remains constant
Filter detail77 mm front filter thread; supplied hood has filter-access window72 mm front filter thread
Weather resistanceDust and moisture resistant design with mount rubber ring; not guaranteed to prevent all ingressDust and moisture resistant design; not guaranteed to prevent all ingress
Dimensions detail88 mm maximum diameter × 200 mm length80 mm maximum diameter × 175 mm length
Weight detailApproximately 1480 g, explicitly excluding separate tripod mount; hood and caps excludedApproximately 840 g, explicitly excluding separate tripod mount; hood and caps excluded
Tripod mountRotating collar with detachable tripod foot and safety locking mechanism, suppliedRemovable tripod mount supplied
Lens hoodALC-SH145 petal bayonet hood with lock and opening filter-access window, suppliedALC-SH133 round bayonet hood, supplied
In the boxALC-SH145 hood, ALC-F77S front cap, ALC-R1EM rear cap, soft carrying case and tripod mountALC-SH133 hood, front and rear caps, soft case and tripod mount
Release detailSony Canada G Master announcement dated 3 February 2016; final Sony Japan notice dated 26 September confirms sale on 30 September after launch delay. Main release September, exact first global sale day unconfirmed. Two full independent exact reviews read: Photography Blog Mark Goldstein and OpticalLimits Klaus Schroiff, both Alpha 7R II. Conflicting AF reliability and measured stabilisation preserved; OL sample centring imperfect. Blog five-axis wording describes combination with body rather than lens alone, corrected. Main1480g explicitly excludes tripod mount. No inferred predecessor linkSony original full-frame E-mount announcement dated 16 October 2013; Sony Japan final notice dated 7 March 2014 confirms local sale on 20 March. Main release retains March month because exact first global sale day unconfirmed. Two full independent reviews read: Photography Blog Mark Goldstein Alpha 7R II and OpticalLimits Klaus Schroiff original Alpha 7R. Different body stabilisation, shutter vibration, AF capability and mediocre OL sample centring qualified. OL erroneous fourteen-group count and petal-hood description corrected to maker fifteen groups and round SH133. Blog erroneous 0.3m limiter corrected by exact photo infinity–3m; review measurements are not maker stop claims. No inferred predecessor link

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