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Sony Announces 70-200mm f2.8 GM Zoom
13 October 2021
Sony has announced the FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II, the newest lens in its G Master lineup, featuring a constant f2.8 aperture, four times faster autofocus, advanced video features and more.
"Sony is always listening to our customers," said Yang Cheng, vice president, Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics Inc. "Thanks to feedback from users around the world, including leading professionals, Sony continues to develop and evolve the G Master lineup.
"The FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II is lightweight and offers outstanding handling in any shooting situation. The newest addition to our G Master series will make a perfect telephoto zoom addition to any creator's kit who is looking to maximize their gear potential for both stills and video."
HIGHLIGHTS
Highlights of the new zoom include:
- E-Mount lens
- Full-frame format
- Aperture Range: f2.8 to f22
- One XA and one aspherical element
- Four ED elements and two Super ED elements
- Nano AR Coating II
- Four XD linear autofocus motors
- Optical Steady Shot image stabilization
- Dust and moisture-resistant construction
- Eleven-blade circular diaphragm
SPECIFICATIONS
Specifications for the new G Master lens include:
SONY FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II LENS SPECIFICATIONS Mount Sony E Focal Length 70mm to 200mm Aperture f2.8 to f22
11 rounded diaphragm bladesAngle of View 34° to 12°30' Optical Design 11 elements in 14 groups Autofocus Yes Image Stabilization Yes Filter Thread 77mm Dimensions 3.46 7.87 inches Weight 2.3 lbs. PRICE, AVAILABILITY
Sony said the new FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II will be available in December for $2,800. Adorama and B&H both are now accepting pre-orders.
Sony Electronics Introduces FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II
Sony's Newest G Master Lens Features Superb Resolution and Bokeh with Next-generation AF Performance in the World's Lightest Large-aperture Telephoto Zoom Lens
- Constant aperture f2.8 70-200mm telephoto zoom
- Fast, precise quiet AF (autofocus) and continuous AF tracking capabilities
- Advanced features for video creators
- World's lightest 70-200mm large-aperture telephoto zoom lens, approximately 29 percent lighter than the previous model
- Up to approximately four times faster AF, with focus tracking while zooming improved by approximately 30 percent when compared to the previous model
- Professional-level control and reliability
SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Sony Electronics Inc. announced the newest lens in their G Master lineup -- the FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II, which delivers an extraordinary combination of resolution and bokeh as well as unequalled autofocus performance known to Sony's G Master design.
"Sony is always listening to our customers. Thanks to feedback from users around the world, including leading professionals, Sony continues to develop and evolve the G Master lineup," said Yang Cheng, Vice President, Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics Inc. "The FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II is lightweight and offers outstanding handling in any shooting situation. The newest addition to our G Master series will make a perfect telephoto zoom addition to any creator's kit who is looking to maximize their gear potential for both stills and video."
Designed to perfectly pair with Sony's E-mount camera bodies, the FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II not only offers outstanding optical quality and advanced AF performance, but it is the lightest f2.8 70-200mm zoom in the world and allows for unprecedented shooting freedom and flexibility. Sony continues to strengthen the Alpha system with this newest addition to the broadest selection of mirrorless lenses on the market as the 65th lens in its E-mount lens lineup.
New Levels of Performance
The new FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II delivers outstanding image quality with high resolution and clarity. Users can expect a clean and clear image from corner to corner throughout the entire zoom range, even when the aperture is wide open. Thanks to the two aspherical lens elements, including one XA (extreme aspherical) element manufactured to 0.01-micron surface precision, the FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II effectively controls distance-related aberration variations to ensure outstanding resolution throughout the image area.
The FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II also employs two ED (extra-low dispersion) spherical glass elements and two Super ED spherical glass elements to significantly reduce chromatic aberration without color bleeding. This lens also includes an ED aspherical element for the first time in an Alpha system lens, which simultaneously suppresses chromatic and spherical aberration, common issues in other telephoto lenses.
Smooth, beautiful bokeh is made possible by a large f2.8 maximum aperture and a newly developed 11-blade circular aperture unit. In addition, the lens' advanced optical design including an XA element thoroughly suppresses the unwanted 'onion ring' effect, further enhancing the bokeh. The FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II also offers excellent close-up performance with deep bokeh. The minimum focusing distance is just 15.7 inches (0.4 meters) at 70mm and 32.3 inches (0.82 meters) at 200mm, with a maximum magnification of 0.3x. Moreover, the FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II can be easily paired with Sony's high-performance 1.4x or 2.0x teleconverter to extend the lens' focal length to 400mmiv at an f5.6 aperture, all while maintaining its G Master quality.
To avoid any unwanted flare and ghosting in challenging lighting conditions, Sony's original Nano AR Coating II produces a uniform anti-reflection coating on the surface of the lens. In addition, the FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II's optical design also effectively suppresses internal reflections to improve clarity.
Industry-leading Autofocus
The FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II's state-of-the-art lens technology brings out the best in the advanced camera body it is paired with. The new lens uses four Sony-original XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors for extraordinary fast and precise AF, making it up to approximately four times faster and with focus tracking improved by 30 percent when compared to the previous model. When paired with Sony's flagship Alpha 1, the FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II is capable of high-speed continuous shooting at up to 30 fps. Superb AF tracking is also available even when using a teleconverter. For video, the FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II offers smooth and quiet AF to reliably lock in focus and track fast-moving subjects, even while zooming, so the user can leave the focusing to the camera.
Advanced Features for Video
With its constant f2.8 maximum aperture, astounding AF performance, versatile control and solid reliability, the FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II is a perfect choice for video. The new lens was designed to dramatically reduce focus breathing, focus shift and axis shift when zooming so that there is minimal unwanted image movement and angle of view variations.
For easy video-use operation, the FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II features independent control rings for focus, zoom and aperture (iris), allowing precise manual operation. The aperture ring also has a click ON/OFF switch. Additionally, Sony's Linear Response MF ensures responsive, low-lag manual focus control. The supplied lens hood also features an opening that allows convenient operation of circular polarizing filters or variable ND filters for more creative flexibility.
Designed for Professionals
The FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II is the world's lightest f2.8 telephoto zoom lens and is approximately 29 percent lighter than the previous model, weighing just under 37 oz (1,045g). In addition to its light weight, the FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II was designed for professionals to offer an ideal balance without front-heaviness, ensuring that the lens' center of gravity falls directly above the tripod mount. It also features internal zoom to keep the center of gravity constant.
The FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II has been specifically designed for professionals based on their direct feedback. The new lens includes focus functions to support the user's professional needs such as Full-time DMF, natural and linear manual focus response and a focus-range limiter switch. The FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II also includes three customizable focus hold buttons that are provided 90[!]deg; apart for easy access and convenient control when shooting in horizontal or vertical orientation and nearly any angle.
The FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II features both a click ON/OFF switch and an iris lock switch for quick, flexible aperture control. The aperture ring click stops can be turned ON to provide tactile feedback when shooting stills or OFF for smooth, silent aperture control when shooting movies. In addition, the zoom ring torque is optimized and now includes image stabilization with MODE 3vi for moving subjects.
Based on feedback from professionals, the FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II is designed to be reliable in even the most challenging environments. It features dust and moisture resistancevii, equal to the FE 400mm f2.8 GM OSS and FE 600mm f4 GM OSS. The front lens element features a fluorine coating that repels water, oil and other contaminants, while making it easier to wipe off any contaminants or fingerprints that may become attached to the lens surface.
Pricing and Availability
The new FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II will be available in December for approximately $2,800 and $3,500 CAD. It will be sold at a variety of Sony's authorized dealers throughout North America.