Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS
£2,500/$2,600 Sony’s new lens aims to master the art of telephoto
A nice, fast 70200mm telephoto zoom is often regarded as an essential component of a
camera outfit. Sony’s new range-topping G Master edition for E-mount cameras is about twice the weight and double the price of its older f/4 lens – but is it twice as good?
Build & handling
The f/4 zoom is undeniably a high-performance lens, but the f/2.8 ups the ante in several key areas. Both lenses contain advanced aspherical and ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements, but the f/2.8 adds an ultra-high tolerance XA (eXtreme Aspherical) element for greater control of colour fringing and enhanced bokeh. Along with four ED and two Super ED elements, the f/2.8 lens also increases the number of diaphragm blades from nine to 11, enabling an even better-rounded aperture.
Optical image stabilisation is retained, with switchable static and panning modes; as in the older lens, it can be used with the sensor-shift stabilisation in latergeneration Sony A7 cameras, for enhanced performance. Further similarities between the two lenses include nano-structure coatings for reduction of ghosting and flare, but the f/2.8 adds a moisture-repellent fluorine coating on the front element.
Whereas both lenses feature dual linear motors for autofocus, the f/2.8 incorporates a ring-type SSM (Super Sonic Wave Motor) actuator, which is used to drive a secondary group of elements.
Performance
Autofocus is accurate, but not as fast as in most competing lenses on DSLR bodies. Performance of the optical stabiliser is a little lacklustre, equating to about two stops without further help from sensor-shift stabilisation, where available in a host camera body.
Sharpness and contrast are excellent throughout the entire zoom range, even at f/2.8. Resistance to colour fringing, ghosting and flare also impresses.