Alongside today’s announcement of the new Sony a6700 entry-level mirrorless camera, Sony also introduced a new telephoto zoom lens, the Sony FE 70-200MM F4 Macro G OSS II. Let’s take a closer look at its capabilities.
Telephoto lenses tend to be quite heavy due to the amount of glass that’s needed to build them with a decently fast aperture. However, truth be told, they are often the “extra” lenses we bring to a shoot and are certainly used less than a standard zoom in the range of 24-70mm, for example. Also, the difference in looks you can get between the f/2.8 and the f/4 version of telephoto lenses can be negligible while the difference in price and weight can be massive. So it makes a lot of sense for Sony to focus on releasing a new f/4 version of their 70-200mm telephoto lens for E-Mount for 35mm full-frame cameras.
Focus on “Half Macro” capability
Sony emphasizes that this is the first lens in the world that has “half macro” capabilities through the entire zoom range. What they mean by this is a maximum magnification of 0.5x from 70 to 200mm. Using a teleconverter (which isn’t included with this lens), the lens will project a field of view of up to 400mm and 1:1 macro magnification.
Better AF tracking, new MODE3 of SteadyShot
Sony says that autofocus speed has been increased by 20%, with tracking performance for moving subjects twice as good as before. No word about the actual focus breathing on the lens, but we assume that’s compensated by the camera rather than the lens construction.
There is also a new SteadyShot image stabilization mode, MODE3, which supposedly optimizes the camera shake algorithm specifically when tracking moving subjects while trying to keep the frame stable. It works together with the IBIS in compatible Sony camera bodies.
Full official press release about the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens
Sony Expands the Range of Shooting Possibilities with introduction of the FE 70-200MM F4 Macro G OSS II LensTM offering Supreme Image Quality and AF performance
“FE 70-200MM F4 Macro G OSS II” telephoto zoom lens with compact and lightweight design.
World’s first1 half-macro shooting with a maximum magnification of 0.5x throughout the zoom range
12th July 2023, Sony introduces the telephoto zoom lens “FE 70-200MM F4 Macro G OSS II” (product name SEL70200G2) that covers focal lengths from 70mm to 200mm with an F4 maximum aperture, compatible with 35mm full-frame αTM (AlphaTM) E-mount series.
The FE 70-200MM F4 Macro G OSS II is a compact, lightweight telephoto zoom lens that can be used in a wide range of situations. Not only does the FE 70-200MM F4 Macro G OSS II contain superb high-speed and high-performance AF that are unique to G lenses, this is the world’s first1 zoom lens to offer half macro capability throughout the zoom range, with a maximum magnification of 0.5×2 throughout. In addition, with a teleconverter (sold separately), super-telephoto shooting up to 400mm and life-size 1:1 magnification macro shooting throughout the entire zoom range is possible4.
This launch marks Sony’s 50th full-frame E-mount lens. Since the very first lens, Sony has remained committed to supporting the creative activities of photographers and videographers by bringing together the latest technologies and expanding the E-mount lineup that covers both full-frame and APS-C size formats.
A compact and lightweight model capable of excellent shooting from distant to close-up, and compatible with a teleconverter
With a total length of 149mm and a weight of approximately 794g (excluding tripod mount), the FE 70-200MM F4 Macro G OSS II is a zoom lens that can be used for a wide range of purposes, including sports scenes, landscapes, wild birds, and even macro photography.
Shooting from 70mm to 200mm, the lens also enables the world’s first1 half-macro shooting, with a maximum magnification of 0.5x throughout the zoom range. The advanced aspherical lenses contribute to uniformly excellent corner-to-corner resolution and contrast. In addition, ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass suppresses chromatic aberration.
It also supports a high-performance teleconverter6 (sold separately). With a super-telephoto of up to 400 mm (equivalent to 600 mm when using with an APS-C camera), you can capture distant subjects in a larger size, along with beautiful bokeh. When the SEL20TC is attached, it is possible to take macro shots at up to 1:1 over the entire zoom range.
Fast autofocus and excellent video recording performance
Sony’s unique XD (extreme dynamic) linear motor increases the autofocus speed by up to 20%. Tracking performance for moving objects has also improved approximately twice as much compared to the previous model7, so it continues to track the target subject with high accuracy. Whilst focus tracking performance during zooming has also been greatly improved. When paired with the flagship α1 body, it is possible to shoot high-speed bursts at up to 30 frames per second.
In addition, a new MODE3 setting of SteadyShot has been added that optimises the camera shake correction algorithm, emphasising framing stability when shooting moving subjects. By combining with a compatible camera body, you can more effectively compensate for camera shake and shoot stable movies.
Intuitive operability and high reliability for safe use in harsh shooting environment
The FE 70-200MM F4 G OSS II provides intuitive and secure operability that supports the photographers and videographers. In addition to a focus range limiter and a full-time DMF switch that instantly switches from AF to MF (manual focus), the detachable tripod mount included in the box provides a sense of stability during super-telephoto and macro-shooting.
In addition, the front lens element features a fluorine coating, which makes it easy to remove fingerprints, dust, oil, and other contaminants from the lens surface. The dust and moisture-resistant design provides extra reliability for outdoor use in challenging conditions and expands the freedom of shooting.
Pricing and Availability
Sony FE 70-200 mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens: 2.000,00 Euros
The new FE 70-200MM F4 Macro G OSS II will be available from the end of July 2023. It will be sold at a variety of Sony’s authorized dealers throughout Europe.
