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Sony’s well-loved 70-200mm f2.8 workhorse lens is getting a makeover. Introduced on Oct. 13, the Sony 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II has a variety of enhancements, together with upgraded autofocus, an aperture ring, and improved optics. However, Sony says that the unique lens isn’t going anyplace, at the very least not but. So what’s the distinction between the 2 lenses? Is the Sony 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II definitely worth the larger worth level?
I spent every week with these two lenses on the Sony a1. The brand new optic is impressively quick and sharp. However, for the suitable worth, the unique Sony 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS isn’t essentially a nasty purchase.
Design: Sony 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II Vs. Sony 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS
The brand new lens is the one hooked up to the digicam physique.
At first look, the lenses each appear very related till you choose them up. The brand new lens is nearly 30 % lighter and weighs about 36 ounces. Whereas a couple of ounces is difficult to inform, it’s a major sufficient weight reduction to note whereas out taking pictures. Sony even says it’s the lightest full-frame f2.8 70-200mm. After all, it’s nonetheless a workhorse zoom, so it’s not mild, but it surely’s not fairly the beast of the sooner model.
The opposite main design change is the addition of an aperture ring. The press to the ring could be turned on and off. There’s an Iris Lock change that may forestall the lens from leaving the A or Auto place, whereas additionally stopping by accident spinning the aperture to A as properly.
The brand new lens additionally has a Full-Time DMF change. This lets you use the guide focus ring to regulate what the autofocus has chosen. If the autofocus isn’t fairly proper, utilizing DMF could also be simpler than utilizing guide focus from scratch. The earlier lens nonetheless has that functionality, however there’s no on-off change for it on the lens.
Autofocus: Sony 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II Vs. Sony 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS
Mounted on the Sony a1, there’s a major distinction within the autofocus efficiency between the 2 lenses. The brand new model of the lens has 4 XD linear autofocus motors. The Sony 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II had only a 5 % miss price with a toddler operating straight on the digicam. The older model of the lens had a ten % miss price. It’s minor sufficient that the distinction on Sony’s extra fundamental mannequin our bodies received’t be as noticeable. However, the older lens nonetheless missed twice as a lot.
One other main change is that the lens can focus a lot nearer. The brand new lens focuses on objects as shut as about 1.4 ft away. The older model of the lens wants greater than three ft. I seen a major distinction in my capacity to get in near topics with the brand new lens. And, getting in nearer can also be going to create smoother backgrounds than the 200mm and f2.8 alone.
The outdated lens wouldn’t have been capable of seize this shot; it wouldn’t autofocus this shut.
The autofocus can also be noticeably quieter on the brand new lens. There are generally a couple of clicks. However comparatively talking, the older lens made much more grinding noises.
Picture High quality: Sony 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II Vs. Sony 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS
Unique Lens
Mark II
Throughout my week with these two lenses, I didn’t discover main variations in colour, flare, or aberrations. What I seen was sharpness. The newer lens is sharper for extra of the body. The Mark II has some slight softness within the corners and across the edges — about 10 % in. The softness on the unique model of the lens was in all probability twice that. The softer edges began a lot sooner on the older lens. The requirements for what sharp appears to be like like have improved over the past 5 years, and the Sony 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II has sharper photos.
That’s to not say that the unique model is dangerous. However, you wish to keep away from placing particulars on the perimeters of the body with the unique extra so than the Mark II.
Is the New Lens Really Price It?
In case you shoot motion and have a more recent, sooner Sony physique, the 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II goes to ship one of the best autofocus. However, in addition to velocity, the newer lens focuses nearer. It’s sharper for extra of the picture. And, after all, there’s that stunning aperture ring and the lighter design. It’s additionally going to be extra future-proof. If, say, a photographer opts for the outdated lens as a result of they’re simply taking pictures with the a7 III, will they improve the physique and down the highway want for the newer lens? It’s a terrific workhorse lens.
If you have already got the unique lens and are dissatisfied within the autofocus, nook sharpness, and dimension, the brand new glass goes to assist these points. However, when you’re proud of the outdated lens and don’t shoot quick topics, the variations are in all probability too small to warrant dropping one other $2k+.
For photographers who don’t but have a 70-200mm, the selection goes to rely each on worth, topic, and the digicam physique that it’s paired with. The brand new lens retails for $2,799; the unique is about $200 much less new, but it surely’s unclear if the worth will drop even additional. The outdated lens is predicted to remain in the marketplace, at the very least for now. Photographers with the a1 or a9 ought to go for the sooner lens. Photographers on the entry to mid-level our bodies? It’s going to come back down to cost and the way a lot that additional sharpness, nearer focus, and aperture ring matter. If the worth distinction stays at $200 (lower than 10 % of the whole value) the added sharpness and enhanced design is price it. However, if there’s a major worth distinction and the selection is between the outdated lens and a narrower aperture lens, the outdated 70-200mm f2.8 can nonetheless seize good photographs.
All in favour of one or the opposite? Verify them out on Amazon.
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