Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens

Introducing the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II—a lens that redefines excellence and takes the classic fast zoom to new heights. Building upon the strengths of its predecessor, this lens delivers enhanced performance while reducing weight by 29%, making it the lightest in its class. Sony has implemented a brand-new AF system, promising up to four times the speed, along with various optical optimizations that will particularly appeal to video shooters, including improvements to focus breathing and focus shift. Whether you’re capturing portraits, sports, landscapes, or video, the 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II is the ideal tool.

Improved Optical Performance

The FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II upholds the hallmark of the G Master line with outstanding optical performance, combining high sharpness and smooth bokeh. Its new design ensures corner-to-corner sharpness across the entire zoom range, even when shooting wide open at f/2.8. Additionally, the newly designed 11-blade aperture contributes to soft and pleasing bokeh.
The fast f/2.8 constant aperture allows you to capture images in dim lighting conditions and achieve a shallow depth of field.
With two ED (extra-low dispersion) elements and two Super ED elements, including one aspherical ED element, chromatic and spherical aberrations are effectively suppressed.

Optimized for Video

Taking inspiration from their cinema division, Sony has optimized the 70-200mm II for video applications. Notable improvements include a significant reduction in focus breathing and focus shift, enhanced autofocus performance, and a Linear Response MF system that ensures consistent and natural-feeling operation. The lens also features Full-time Direct Manual Focus (DMF), allowing quick adjustments using the focus ring while in AF modes.

The exterior design of the lens has undergone significant changes. One notable addition is the physical aperture ring, absent in its predecessor. The aperture ring can be de-clicked with a switch for smooth iris control during shooting, providing independent controls for focus, zoom, and iris adjustments.

Fast Autofocus and Reliable Image Stabilization

The 70-200mm II boasts a vastly superior autofocus system, now equipped with 4 XD Linear motors, enabling autofocus performance up to four times faster than before. Focus tracking while zooming has also seen a specific improvement of approximately 30% compared to the previous model. High-speed continuous shooting at up to 30 fps with AF is supported, and video recording benefits from near-silent operation.

An advanced Optical SteadyShot image stabilization system ensures sharp images when shooting handheld, even at longer focal lengths. Multiple modes, including standard, panning, and the new Mode 3 for moving subjects, offer versatility and stability.

Professional Design and Durability

Designed for professional use, the 70-200mm II features advanced weather sealing, making it highly ruggedized. The weight has been reduced by approximately 29%, bringing it to just under 2.3 lb, making it one of the lightest lenses in its class. The internal zoom mechanism balances the optics, minimizing front heaviness and providing a more ergonomic center of gravity.

Other features of the lens design include three programmable focus hold buttons positioned at 90-degree increments for tactile control over select settings in both landscape and portrait orientations. A removable tripod foot adds stability when used with support systems.

Additional design features include a focus range limiter switch for optimizing performance and improving AF speed and responsiveness in specific shooting scenarios, optimized zoom ring torque, an iris lock switch to prevent accidental aperture ring movement, a fluorine coating on the front lens element for repelling water, oil, and contaminants, and an included lens hood with a locking button and a filter window for convenient adjustment of variable filters such as polarizers and ND filters

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Teleconverter Compatibility

The FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II is compatible with Sony’s optional FE 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters. These teleconverters maintain full autofocus capabilities when used, providing effective focal lengths and apertures of 98-280mm f/4 and 140-400mm f/5.6, respectively.