Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS (SEL70300G) - Review / Test Report - Sample Images & Verdict
Lens Reviews - Sony Alpha (Full Format)

Sample Images

Make SONY
Model ILCE-7RM2
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 259.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/160s
Make SONY
Model ILCE-7RM2
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 300.0mm
Aperture: f/7.1
Exposure 1/1000s
Make SONY
Model ILCE-7RM2
ISO Speed 500
Focal Length 300.0mm
Aperture: f/7.1
Exposure 1/320s
Make SONY
Model ILCE-7RM2
ISO Speed 2000
Focal Length 300.0mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure 1/320s
Make SONY
Model ILCE-7RM2
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 300.0mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure 1/1000s
Make SONY
Model ILCE-7RM2
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 150.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/320s
Make SONY
Model ILCE-7RM2
ISO Speed 400
Focal Length 153.0mm
Aperture: f/5.0
Exposure 1/1000s
Make SONY
Model ILCE-7RM2
ISO Speed 400
Focal Length 300.0mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure 1/800s
Make SONY
Model ILCE-7RM2
ISO Speed 400
Focal Length 198.0mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure 1/200s
Make SONY
Model ILCE-7RM2
ISO Speed 400
Focal Length 153.0mm
Aperture: f/5.0
Exposure 1/1600s
Make SONY
Model ILCE-7RM2
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 203.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/400s
Make SONY
Model ILCE-7RM2
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 300.0mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure 1/1250s
Make SONY
Model ILCE-7RM2
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 99.0mm
Aperture: f/10.0
Exposure 1/250s
Make SONY
Model ILCE-7RM2
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 70.0mm
Aperture: f/10.0
Exposure 1/640s

Competition

Sony FE is still a very closed system at the time of this review. Eventually Sigma may put some heat on Sony but there isn't any other lens with identical specs. However, it makes sense to take the Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS (center below) into consideration (review: HERE. Yes, it's doesn't quite reach 300mm but it's faster, better and just slightly more expensive.

Sony just released the FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS (to the right below, yet to be tested). It's a GM lens so we can probably expect higher image standards here ... in conjunction with a double price tag.

Visual comparison courtesy of camerasize.com.

Verdict

Honestly, the Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS disappointed us a little. You are buying such lenses primarily for its potential at the very long end of the range which is where the performance may not be bad but it certainly doesn't reflect the promises of a G-class lens nor its high price tag. Now that being said - the center quality is still very good at 300mm and that's where most of the action is at this setting - you rarely care for corner performance here. The quality is much better in the lower to mid range with a very sharp center and a generally decent outer image field. Lateral CAs are low. The distortion figures are well controlled for such a lens even without distortion correction. The quality of the bokeh is a bit of a mixed bag. Out of focus highlights are nothing short of rough whereas the general blur is fairly smooth. Bokeh fringing isn't relevant on a lens with a max. aperture of f/4.5-5.6.

In terms of construction quality there isn't much to complain about. The used material are of high quality and Sony implemented weather sealing. The lens extends quite a bit when zooming but then this is normal in this lens class. The AF speed is Okay on an A7R II. Sony's image stabilizer (Optical Stead-Shot) is good enough for a gain of around 3 f-stops which is roughly in line to what we've seen from other lenses in this class.

Coming to the final verdict ... well, we have doubts here. The lens is a bit expensive relative to its performance. If you want to have 300mm, you just don't have another choice at the moment but if you can live with a little less we'd rather recommend the Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS instead.

Optical Quality: to    
Mechanical Quality:
Price/Performance:
      
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