FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II

Released July 2023

A full-frame E-mount F4 telephoto zoom with optical stabilisation, half-life-size magnification throughout its zoom range and teleconverter support.

Mount: Sony E
Focal length: 70–200 mm
Max aperture: f/4
Stabilisation: Yes
Weight: 794 g

What reviewers say

Both praise sharpness across the zoom range, rapid quiet autofocus, compact handling and versatile half-life-size close-ups. Both find uncorrected pincushion distortion. Digital Camera World measures only about three stops of combined stabilisation and flags the extending barrel; Amateur Photographer reports occasional missed focus on very close moving subjects and questions the price increase over the original.

From amateurphotographer.com and digitalcameraworld.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Optics

Lens type: Zoom
Focal length: 70–200 mm
Maximum aperture: f/4
Minimum aperture: f/22
Macro lens: Yes
Optical construction: 19 elements in 13 groups
Special elements: One AA advanced-aspherical element, one aspherical element, three ED and one Super ED glass elements
Coatings: Fluorine coating on the front element
Diaphragm: Nine rounded blades
Angle of view: 34°–12°30′ full frame; 23°–8° APS-C

Mount and compatibility

Mounts: Sony E
Image circle: Full frame
Image circle detail: Full-frame coverage; 105–300 mm equivalent field of view on APS-C
Teleconverter support: SEL14TC gives F5.6 maximum aperture; SEL20TC gives F8 maximum aperture, up to 400 mm reach and 1.0× magnification throughout the zoom range

Focus and stabilisation

Autofocus: Yes
Minimum focus distance: 0.26 m
Maximum magnification: 0.5×
Optical stabilisation: Yes
Autofocus detail: Four XD linear motors with floating focus groups; compatible with Alpha 1 30 fps bursts under specified shutter-speed, exposure and AF conditions
Focus distance detail: Minimum focus 0.26 m at 70 mm or 0.42 m at 200 mm; Linear Response MF and switchable full-time DMF; focus limiter selects full, 3 m–infinity or macro
Magnification detail: Maximum magnification 0.5× throughout the zoom range without teleconverter; 1.0× requires separately sold SEL20TC
Stabilisation detail: Optical SteadyShot with modes 1, 2 for panning and 3 for erratic subjects; mode 3 may require compatible body firmware. Digital Camera World measured about three stops of combined lens/body benefit on Alpha 7 IV, not a maker rating
Video features: Low-noise focusing and aperture operation; compatible-body breathing compensation; body compatibility applies

Design

Dust and moisture resistant: Yes
Filter diameter: 72 mm
Maximum diameter: 82.2 mm
Length: 149 mm
Weight: 794 g
Controls: AF/MF, full-time DMF, focus-range and OSS switches; three focus-hold buttons; zoom lock at 70 mm; no aperture ring
Zoom design: Extending barrel; 149 mm length is at the wide-angle setting
Weather resistance: Dust- and moisture-resistant design; not guaranteed completely dust- or moisture-proof
Dimensions detail: Maximum diameter 82.2 mm; length 149 mm at 70 mm
Weight detail: Approximately 794 g excluding the removable tripod mount; separate hood and caps excluded. Digital Camera World’s 749 g specification conflicts with Sony’s published 794 g
Tripod mount: Removable rotating tripod mount supplied. Reviews disagree about Arca-Swiss compatibility, so no compatibility claim is made here
Lens hood: ALC-SH176 petal bayonet hood
In the box: ALC-SH176 hood, ALC-F72S front cap, ALC-R1EM rear cap and tripod mount; no case listed by Sony Japan
Release detail: Sony Europe specified availability by the end of July 2023; Japan specified 28 July, distinct from 18 July pre-orders. Main date retains July precision for regional availability. Maker front coating is fluorine; Amateur Photographer’s flare-coating description is not imported as a maker coating claim

Pros and cons

Pros

0.5× magnification throughout the zoom range
Optical stabilisation
Compatible with 1.4× and 2× teleconverters

Cons

Extends when zooming
No aperture ring

Closest rivals

Model	Mount	Focal length	Max aperture	Stabilisation	Weight	Released
SonyFE 70–200mm F2.8 GM OSS II	Sony E	70–200 mm	f/2.8	Yes	1,045 g	Nov 2021
SonyFE 70-200mm F4 G OSS	Sony E	70–200 mm	f/4	Yes	840 g	Mar 2014
SonyFE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS	Sony E	70–200 mm	f/2.8	Yes	1,480 g	Sept 2016

Sources

Photo: sony.jp

Sony FE 70–200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens focus-range limiter control detail: sony.jp/products/picture/original_SEL70200G2_FocusRangeLimiter.jpg
Sony FE 70–200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens Full-time DMF switch detail: sony.jp/products/picture/original_SEL70200G2_Fulltime-DMF.jpg
Sony FE 70–200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens, control-side view with tripod foot: sony.jp/products/picture/SEL70200G2_side_01.jpg
Sony FE 70–200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens, control-side view without tripod foot: sony.jp/products/picture/SEL70200G2_side_02.jpg
Sony FE 70–200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens, opposite-side view with tripod foot: sony.jp/products/picture/SEL70200G2_side_03.jpg
Sony FE 70–200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens, opposite-side view without tripod foot: sony.jp/products/picture/SEL70200G2_side_04.jpg
Sony FE 70–200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens with hood, side view and tripod foot: sony.jp/products/picture/SEL70200G2_side_05.jpg
Sony FE 70–200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens mounted on Sony A7 IV camera, three-quarter view: sony.jp/products/picture/SEL70200G2_with_ILCE-7M4_01.jpg
Sony FE 70–200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens mounted on Sony A7 IV camera, front and top view: sony.jp/products/picture/SEL70200G2_with_ILCE-7M4_front_top.jpg
Sony FE 70–200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens focus mode switch detail: sony.jp/products/picture/original_SEL70200G2_FocusMode.jpg

Spot a mistake? Tell us