In the bag of photographers, the transtandard 24-70 mm and 70-200 mm zooms often occupy a place of choice. It is this last model that Sony has chosen to update, to renew a successful zoom released in 2014. With the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II, the brand intends to offer a quality alternative to the more expensive f /2.8.
More compact, more efficient
On the menu of improvements, the first notable change concerns the size of this pebble. As photographers seek more mobility, there is a need for opticians to offer more compact and lighter lenses. This new 70-200mm is thus 26 mm shorter (149 mm) and 46 grams lighter (794 g), in exchange for a barrel with a diameter increased by 2.2 mm (82.2 mm). However, the zoom is now external, and once deployed the FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II should reach the length of the first model.
A 0.5x macro mode
In addition, Sony has improved the autofocus module, announcing it as 20% more efficient and compatible with the 30 fps burst without black veil of the Alpha 1 – against “only” 15 fps with the version 1 — while shortening the focusing distance, from 0.26m to 0.42m and a 0.5x reproduction ratio, for close-up photography enthusiasts. Finally, this new model is compatible with the manufacturer’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, to potentially obtain a telephoto lens of up to 400 mm and f/8. A valuable ally for wildlife or sports photography, provided you have very good light conditions.
A rising dive
The first model suffered from a rather relative sharpness for a zoom of the G range and obviously, Sony does not fail to improve the very good image quality of its stone, in particular on the edges of the image thanks to a formula optics composed of 19 lenses divided into 13 groups, including 3 ED (Extreme Low Dispersion) glasses, 1 Super ED glass, 1 aspherical surface and 1 “Advanced Aspherical” surface. Fluoride treatment and tropicalization are there to protect the lens in all conditions.
Price and availability
Usually intended for amateurs, these versions with a fixed aperture F/4 rather than F/2.8 are more affordable. Unfortunately, this Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II is significantly more expensive than the one it replaces. Indeed, while its eldest was in its day around 1,500 €, and is currently around 1,200 €, the newcomer sets the bar very high, with a price of 2,000 €. Not sure that the photographers it is intended for have the means to keep up. It should hit shelves by the end of July.