Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II
GM II · 1045g · OIS · L-Series benchmark
Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD
Prime/Zoom
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lands at 96 and Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD at 88. That puts Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II ahead by 8 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II if…
- ✓29% lighter than original 70-200 GM
- ✓Industry-best AF with linear motors
- ✓Excellent close focus
Pick Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD if…
- ✓Fast aperture
- ✓Quiet autofocus
- ✓Weather-sealed (most)
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testAutofocus
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS IICompared on the autofocus sub-score
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II leads on af (100 vs 86).
Sharpness
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS IICompared on the sharpness sub-score
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II leads on sharpness (96 vs 88).
Build
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS IICompared on the build sub-score
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II leads on build (96 vs 88).
Value for money
Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXDSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD more score per dollar ($1,399 vs $2,799).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II | Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD |
|---|---|---|
| Mount | Sony E | — |
| Focal length | 70-200 mm | — |
| Aperture | f/2.8 | — |
| Construction | 17 elements / 14 groups | — |
| Stabilization | OSS | — |
| Min focus | 0.40 m (wide) / 0.82 m (tele) | — |
| Filter | 77 mm | — |
| Weight | 1045 g | — |
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II
- +29% lighter than original 70-200 GM
- +Industry-best AF with linear motors
- +Excellent close focus
- −Premium pricing
- −Heavy at 1045g
- −External zoom changes balance
Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD
- +Fast aperture
- +Quiet autofocus
- +Weather-sealed (most)
- −Mount-specific
- −Weight varies
- −Price scales with quality
FAQ: Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II vs Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD
Which is better, Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II or Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD? +
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 8. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II worth the price? +
At $2,799, Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in af.
Is Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD worth the price? +
At $1,399, Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in sharpness.
Does Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II or Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for autofocus, Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II or Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD? +
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II — leads on af (100 vs 86). Compared on the autofocus sub-score.
Which is better for sharpness, Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II or Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD? +
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II — leads on sharpness (96 vs 88). Compared on the sharpness sub-score.